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After an injury-filled 6-11 season, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to not panic and make any drastic changes to the organization. Team president Mike Brown released a statement after the regular season, in which he stated that the Bengals were retaining head coach Zac Taylor and general manager Duke Tobin. Brown said, “I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.”Regarding his job security and his feelings going into next season, head coach Zac Taylor said, “I’m excited about the direction we’re headed.” He also said that he expected no changes in their current coaching staff. However, a new report may change those plans for Cincinnati. Cincinnati Bengals Could Lose Offensive Coordinator View this post on Instagram Despite their losing record, Cincinnati once again had one of the league’s top offenses. Even when starting quarterback Joe Burrow was out, the team was able to put up points with veteran Joe Flacco. As a result, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher has been garnering interest around the league. On Jan. 9, Pitcher had an interview with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy. Fortunately for the Bengals, Pitcher has not been scheduled for a second interview with the Browns as of now. Despite this, Pitcher’s future may still be with another NFL team as NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Pitcher will interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their offensive coordinator job. The offensive coordinator role in Tampa Bay would represent a lateral move for Pitcher from his current role, meaning the Bengals could opt to deny the request to interview him. However, Rapoport’s report also indicates that head coach Zac Taylor is allowing Pitcher to explore outside opportunities.Despite being with the Bengals in a variety of different roles since 2016, Pitcher has never called plays. The current playcaller for the Bengals is Zac Taylor, meanwhile, Pitcher would call plays for the Tampa Bay offense.Why Pitcher Might Consider LeavingA lateral move from a coordinator is rare in the NFL. When it does happen, it’s usually because a coach wants to increase their profile in hopes of improving their chances at landing a future head coaching job. A recent example of this is Eric Bienemy. He served as the Kansas City offensive coordinator for five seasons, but after several head coaching interviews that did not land him the job, he opted to leave Kansas City in a lateral move and go to Washington. The move did not work out for Bienemy as he lasted only a year with the Commanders.Fortunately for the Bengals, if Pitcher were to leave, a replacement is likely already in mind. Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien wrote that Brian Callahan would be a natural replacement for Pitcher. Callahan held the offensive coordinator job for four seasons with the Bengals, before taking on the Titans head coaching job in 2024. After being fired following the 2025 season, he could return to his former job with the Bengals. However, Callahan is also a candidate with the Chargers, Falcons, and Tampa Bay for their coordinator vacancy. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Bengals Dealt Potential Blow as Coach Explores Other Options appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Miami Heat have been caught in the middle of the Eastern Conference this season. They currently sit eighth in the standings, which has mostly been fueled by poor offense. Right now, the Heat have the 19th-best offense in the NBA.A large reason why the offense has struggled has been the health of Tyler Herro. Herro has only played in 11 games so far this season. His most recent injury was a rib injury. Recently, Herro got some imaging to determine the severity of the injury.Miami now knows what the injury is, but they are still unclear about how much time he will miss due to the injury. Simply put, the MRI was not good news for the Heat. GettyMiami Heat guard Tyler Herro holds the ball. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Tyler Herro to Miss Indefinite Period of TimeAfter getting the MRI, Herro was found to have a costochondral issue with his ribs, according to Heat reporter Ira Winderman. Winderman reported that this is an issue of pain tolerance, and this issue is typically highly painful. Because of that, Herro is unlikely to rejoin the team during Miami’s five-game road trip.With this being a pain tolerance issue, the Heat is unsure how much time Herro will miss. With how many games he has missed this season, Herro hasn’t been able to develop a rhythm. He is the best player that Miami has at creating shots off the dribble.Without Herro in the lineup, the Heat have to rely more on Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins to create shots off the dribble. Bam Adebayo is not a player who can really do that. Herro is also someone who organizes the offense, something else Miami struggles with.Herro has also been mentioned in some trade rumors. This latest injury might keep a team from making a concerted effort to bring him in. If he can’t stay healthy this season, it wouldn’t make much sense for a team to give up assets for Herro. GettyMiami Heat guard Tyler Herro celebrates. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Heat Will Likely Still try to be Active at the Trade DeadlineEven with Herro out of the lineup, Miami is likely going to be active at the trade deadline. They don’t want to be left out of the playoffs. Herro isn’t supposed to be out for an extended period of time, so getting him back should help the offense.Without Herro, the Heat will need an offensive-minded player even more. They have been linked to possibly pursuing Ja Morant, but that is far from a sure thing. Miami needs some guards who can organize the offense and make some shots from beyond the 3-point arc.Herro’s injury-plagued season has derailed what started out as a fun season for the Heat. The offense was free-flowing and was getting up and down the court at a faster pace. Without Herro driving that, the offense grows stagnant. That means they are in danger of missing the playoffs. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Miami Heat Get Bad News on Tyler Herro After MRI appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The New York Yankees are trying to project confidence in their offseason plan, even as one of the winter’s biggest unresolved contract standoffs drags on. With Cody Bellinger and agent Scott Boras still locked in a stalemate, the organization has been forced to operate in a space between expectation and contingency—preparing for outcomes it would prefer not to confront, but cannot ignore.For a franchise accustomed to decisive moves, this period of uncertainty has quietly reshaped the margins of the roster. New York is no longer just waiting. They are positioning.A Familiar Yankees Pattern Takes ShapeThe Yankees have spent much of the offseason signaling a commitment to discipline. After watching the Dodgers and Mets blow past traditional spending limits, New York has instead emphasized leverage, depth, and flexibility—even when that approach risks losing marquee names.That philosophy is most visible in the Bellinger negotiations. The Yankees believe they have made a fair offer and appear prepared to walk away rather than stretch years or dollars beyond their internal valuation. If that happens, the ripple effects will touch first base, the corner outfield spots, and the designated hitter rotation.It is in that context—not as an isolated transaction—that the Yankees’ latest roster move begins to make sense.Only after weeks of uncertainty surrounding Bellinger did the Yankees quietly agree to a minor league deal with first baseman/outfielder Seth Brown, a move that initially registered as procedural but carries subtle significance.Why Seth Brown Fits the MomentBrown, 33, brings a profile the Yankees have long gravitated toward when depth becomes a priority: left-handed power with positional flexibility and no long-term obligation. He can play first base and both corner outfield spots, a skill set that grows more relevant the longer the Bellinger situation remains unresolved.At his peak with the Athletics, Brown was a legitimate power threat. Across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he hit 45 home runs and posted a 111 wRC+, producing well above league average despite a high strikeout rate. That version of Brown offered real middle-of-the-order damage.The decline came swiftly. Over the next two seasons, his production slipped below average, and in 2025, he struggled badly at the major league level, leading to a DFA, release, and an unfulfilled stint on a minor league deal with Arizona. In just 76 big league plate appearances last season, Brown hit .185 and failed to regain traction.Yet the raw tools have not vanished. In Triple-A, Brown torched pitching with a .352/.416/.697 line, reminding evaluators that the power remains intact, even if consistency does not. For the Yankees, that upside is worth exploring, especially at zero cost.Brown does not block prospects. He does not demand playing time. He simply adds another left-handed bat into a system that may need one quickly if negotiations with Cody Bellinger collapse.If Bellinger returns, Brown is likely to become organizational depth. If he doesn’t, the Yankees will suddenly be grateful they prepared for a future they hoped to avoid.In that light, this signing isn’t about Seth Brown alone. It’s about a front office bracing for uncertainty—and making sure it is never caught without options. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Yankees Land 6-Foot-1, 223-Pound Power Bat as Cody Bellinger Talks Stall appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Denver Broncos need any sort of help they can get on offense in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, where they already know they will be without starting quarterback Bo Nix.That help might come with the return of veteran running back J.K. Dobbins, who has been on the injured reserve since he injured his foot in a Week 10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders which required surgery and was previously thought to be a season-ending injury.“Sources: Broncos are opening the practice window for RB J.K. Dobbins, who suffered what was thought to be a season-ending foot injury in Week 10 against the Raiders,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Dobbins has a chance to play in Sunday’s AFC championship game vs. the Patriots.”Hopes started to rise Dobbins might return last week, when he was seen doing some minor workouts during practices before Denver’s 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.“Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins was doing side-field rehab work at practice today,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans wrote on X on January 14. “First time I’ve seen him out and over there since he went on IR in November.”Without Nix, the Broncos are 5.5-point underdogs at home against the Patriots.“If J.K. Dobbins is even close, this changes Denver’s offensive math,” NFL statistician Dabs wrote on X. “Opening the window for an AFC title game isn’t procedural — it’s intent.”Dobbins on Pace for 1,000-Yard Season Before InjuryDobbins was on pace to become the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2019, with 772 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns through 10 games and averaged a robust 5.0 yards per carry.Before the injury, Dobbins represented a pretty robust return on investment for the Broncos, who signed him to a 1-year, $2 million contract on June 10.With Dobbins and rookie second round pick RJ Harvey, the Broncos have gone from having arguably the NFL’s worst rushing attack in 2024 to having one of its best with Dobbins and Harvey both healthy.Denver has still been formidable with just Harvey, who rushed for over 1,400 yards in each of his final 2 seasons at UCF and had 896 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns in 2025.Harvey Likely Featured Back for Broncos in 2026Whether Dobbins returns for speculative appearances in the AFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl, there’s a good possibility this is his lone season in Denver.As long as he’s healthy, it would be difficult to envision the Broncos not having Harvey as the featured back in 2026. Conversely, Dobbins may have done enough to earn another 1-year contract somewhere else. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay predicts Dobbins will join the Dallas Cowboys and become the second Broncos running back in as many years to do so following Javonte Williams, who cracked 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career with the Cowboys in 2025.“Dobbins will be well worth rolling the dice on for a cash-strapped club like the Dallas Cowboys,” Kay wrote on December 30. “The team could be priced out of retaining Javonte Williams and will want to make up that lost production by coming to terms on a cheap, incentive-laden deal with Dobbins.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Broncos Make Major Decision on Injured RB J.K. Dobbins appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels suffered through a horrific first season together during the 2025 campaign. There were rumblings throughout the year that the two parties could part ways after just one year together.To this point in time, Belichick remains the head coach of the Tar Heels. Could that still change?Quite a few NFL teams have head coaching vacancies that they’re looking to fill. Belichick hasn’t been talked about a lot as a potential candidate at the professional level, but it does make one wonder whether or not he would consider an opportunity if it were offered to him.Keeping that in mind, one surprising NFL team has been linked as a potential Belichick destination.Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan spoke out during a segment of “Get Up” and revealed where he thinks Belichick could land. He believes that the Buffalo Bills could be the perfect fit for the legendary head coach.“I thought this could have happened three years ago, and everybody looked at me like I had three heads of the guy that I thought they would … try to make a move for was actually Bill Belichick,” Ryan said.“And if you want to bring in Brian Daboll, bring him back as the offense coordinator, with Belichick as the head coach, I’m telling you. ‘Oh, you’re crazy.’ We’ll see how crazy I am.”Could Bill Belichick Actually Leave North Carolina for the Buffalo Bills?When Belichick took the job with the Tar Heels, he was expected to quickly turn North Carolina into a contender. That couldn’t have been further from the case.Following all of the in-season drama and bad losses, the Tar Heels finished the year with a brutal 4-8 record and missed out on a bowl game.There were plenty of negative stories that came out about Belichick during the season. Most of those negative stories had to do with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.Perhaps he would consider making a leap back to the NFL. North Carolina also might have interest in allowing that to happen to get out of the shadow of Belichick.It’s also quite possible that both the Tar Heels and Belichick still feel that the future is bright.Buffalo Makes Perfect Sense for a Belichick Return to the NFLShould the Bills register interest in Belichick, it would be hard to think that he wouldn’t be interested.Having an opportunity to return to the NFL coaching a rival of the New England Patriots would be intriguing, to say the least. Making that return with a quarterback like Josh Allen would be a dream scenario for a head coach.Even though the Bills lost in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs once again this season, they’re still close to being a Super Bowl team. They just need something to get them over the hump. Perhaps that something is Belichick.This is all speculation at this point in time. Ryan has shared his opinion on something that could make sense. Now, it will be interesting to see if Belichick does receive interest from Buffalo or any other NFL team. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Bill Belichick Could Leave North Carolina for Surprising NFL Opportunity appeared first on Heavy Sports.