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Former WBZ anchor Kate Merrill is pushing back at the Boston station for trying to toss portions of her “reverse discrimination” lawsuit. Merrill — who left the media outlet under a cloud of mystery — is suing WBZ, CBS and others for racial and gender discrimination. She claims that she was illegally pushed out from the station after more than 20 years as WBZ advanced “a DEI agenda.” A couple months ago, WBZ and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss for many of her claims. Merrill’s lawyers have now responded with an “opposition to the defendant’s motion to dismiss.” WBZ and the other defendants are trying to toss her gender discrimination, defamation, and actual malice claims. WBZ’s lawyers argued that she didn’t “plausibly allege” discrimination because of her gender. “Their argument is unavailing,” Merrill’s lawyers wrote in their response. “In her Complaint, Ms. Merrill alleged and pleaded facts that support that she, a woman, was subjected to disparate treatment in discipline compared to her male peers.” Merrill joined WBZ as a reporter in 2004. The station promoted her from reporter to anchor, and in 2016, she became the lead 11 p.m. reporter and weekend anchor. In 2017, WBZ named Merrill co-anchor for WBZ This Morning and WBZ News at Noon. Then in 2024, Merrill learned that she was being investigated for allegedly treating colleagues differently because of their race. One of those colleagues was Jason Mikell, a Black meteorologist from Mississippi. When he was hired, he reportedly asked Merrill to help him with the pronunciation of local cities and towns. Then last April, she texted him during a commercial break to correct his on-air pronunciation of Concord. “… Defendant Mikell immediately confronted Ms. Merrill, loudly yelling at her on the studio floor and asserting that she was being critical of him,” her suit reads. “His tone was aggressive and unprofessional. Ms. Merrill immediately lodged a complaint with WBZ’s Human Resources department.” The station didn’t investigate her complaint against Mikell, she claims. Instead, she said an investigation was launched into allegations that she treated colleagues differently because of their race. The station concluded that Merrill’s behavior was grounded in microaggressions or unconscious bias, and it led to a “very unwelcoming work environment.” She received a written warning, and she was required to complete unconscious bias training. Merrill was then demoted from co-anchor of the Weekday Morning Show to working weekend nights. She ended up resigning soon after. In her lawyers’ recent federal filing, they argued that she was discriminated against based on her gender because, in part, the station GM did not announce the demotions of any male anchors like he did with Merrill’s demotion. The defendants “did not discipline Defendant Mikell for publicly and aggressively confronting Ms. Merrill on the studio floor, while disciplining Ms. Merrill,” her attorneys wrote. Also, Merrill claims that Mikell while on air made a sexually-charged comment about her. The defendants “did not discipline Defendant Mikell (who is a male) for making an inappropriate sexually-charged comment about Ms. Merrill on air, notwithstanding Ms. Merrill’s (and others’) complaints about same,” the lawyers wrote. “Ms. Merrill’s Complaint alleges Defendants treated her disparately (more harshly) in its investigation into her alleged misconduct and in discipline compared to her male colleagues,” they added. “These are allegations of gender discrimination.” Merrill’s attorneys also pushed back against the defendants for trying to dismiss her defamation claim. Related Articles WBZ and others sued by ex-anchor Kate Merrill try to toss claims in ‘reverse discrimination’ lawsuit Jon Keller teases ‘more to come’ after being let go from WBZ WBZ’s Jon Keller and other employees let go by Boston TV station Kate Merrill, who’s suing WBZ for discrimination, drops claims against former colleague “Immediately…

The New York Jets released their interview list for the vacant defensive coordinator job.Candidly, the list lacked sizzle.Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explained why head coach Aaron Glenn’s list lacked “household names.”“Other candidates the Jets looked into weren’t interested in the job. That’s what Glenn is up against as he attempts to rebuild his coaching staff, especially on the defensive side: This is not the most appealing opportunity. The biggest reason is the perception that Glenn could be on the hot seat with another bad season, and sought-after coordinators typically aren’t eager to take jobs if the head coach is a lame duck,” Rosenblatt wrote.“There has been no indication from Jets owner Woody Johnson that Glenn is on the hot seat heading into 2026, but Johnson also hasn’t spoken since the league meetings in October, when he placed blame for the Jets’ struggles on the shoulders of Justin Fields and expressed his belief that Glenn was still the man for the job,” Rosenblatt added.The Biggest Name on Jets List Is the One to WatchThe Jets rumored interest in Wink Martindale continues to churn.Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed that Martindale is a “leading contender” and an “early front runner for the job.”Head coach Aaron Glenn “spoke” with Martindale before the end of the season about the vacancy. Rosenblatt said it’s unclear if Glenn spoke with any of the other candidates on the list before the season was over.Will the Real Problem Please Stand Up?Another unattractive part of this Jets DC gig is the talent level on the defensive side of the ball.“This is a defense that currently lacks blue-chip players and is certainly lacking playmakers (you don’t go an entire season with zero interceptions if you’re brimming with ballhawks). That’s not to say there’s no talent — at their best, Jowon Briggs, Harrison Phillips, Will McDonald, Jermaine Johnson, Jamien Sherwood, and Brandon Stephens can all be starting-caliber players, though most of them lacked any sort of consistency in 2025,” Rosenblatt bluntly explained.“Young players such as Jarvis Brownlee, Azareye’h Thomas, and Malachi Moore also flashed, though Brownlee and Thomas missed much of the season with injuries. But the Jets have to contend with the other teams in search of a new defensive coordinator, and most of them have more appealing rosters,” Rosenblatt said.The real question is, who was the problem in 2025?Did some of these players, like McDonald, Johnson, and Sherwood, regress because they aren’t that good? Or was it the scheme that Steve Wilks ran that made them look not good?That is a fundamental question the Jets need to answer inside their building. If it were a scheme problem, then hopefully the next DC can fix that by putting his players in better positions.However, if it were a talent issue, the Jets need to make some big-boy decisions on several of those players. Do you keep McDonald and/or Johnson? Or do you ship them off to the highest bidder via trade and start from scratch?Sherwood, you paid $45 million this past offseason to be the straw that stirs the drink. If you think he is shot, do you just sell him off to another team that believes in his upside? Or do you hope he can turn it around in your new scheme?We have a lot more questions than answers at this point. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Jets Were Rejected by Coaches Amid DC Search, Says Insider appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ injury report ahead of Monday night’s home matchup against the Indiana Pacers raises familiar questions, not new concerns. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George are listed as questionable due to left knee injury management. The designation reflects caution more than alarm, especially given the schedule context. Monday’s game opens a back-to-back, with the Phoenix Suns visiting Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday. That reality, more than Indiana itself, drives Philadelphia’s decision-making. A Back-to-Back That Forces a Choice The Sixers have handled Embiid and George carefully all season. Neither has played both games of a back-to-back. That trend has held steady for months. Both stars have appeared in nine of Philadelphia’s last 10 games. Each missed the same matchup last week in Toronto, which also came on a back-to-back. That pattern suggests Monday’s questionable tag centers on workload, not health regression. Indiana presents the more favorable matchup. Phoenix does not. That gap creates three clear options. Philadelphia could play both stars Monday to secure a likely win. It could hold them out and save them for the Suns. Or it could stagger their availability across the two games. George’s status adds intrigue. He was a late scratch in the first leg of the Toronto back-to-back. The timing suggested a feel-based decision, not a firm restriction. Whether that changes soon remains unclear. Limited Depth Complicates the Picture The injury report tightens behind the top of the roster. Second-year guard Jared McCain is listed as doubtful due to a G League assignment with the Delaware Blue Coats. McCain recently faced the Pacers’ G League affiliate, the Noblesville Bloom, logging heavy minutes in a loss. Efficiency again proved an issue. After a promising rookie season ended early, McCain has struggled this year. Through 30 games, he averages 6.3 points while shooting 35.4 percent from the field. MarJon Beauchamp and Johni Broome are also doubtful while remaining with the Blue Coats. That limits rotational flexibility if Philadelphia rests starters. Signs of Momentum, Not Panic There is positive news. Kelly Oubre Jr. is available despite wearing a left knee brace. He has appeared in every game since Jan. 7 after missing nearly two months earlier this season. Embiid’s play also offers encouragement. He is averaging 26.3 points in January while shooting over 53 percent across eight games. His rhythm has returned. George has contributed steady two-way production this month, averaging 15.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Philadelphia sits at 5–4 in January but has lost three of its last four games. That stretch adds urgency to how the Sixers manage this back-to-back. Monday’s decision won’t define the season. It will reveal how aggressively Philadelphia plans to balance patience with results. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Embiid, George Questionable as 76ers Open Back-to-Back vs Pacers appeared first on Heavy Sports.

After another disappointing season, the Cleveland Browns are making changes. In the wake of a 4-13 campaign, head coach Kevin Stefanski has lost his job, with the Atlanta Falcons quickly swooping in to hire him. Since then, the Browns have launched yet another head coaching search, but before they found a new leader, they ended up losing another member of their coaching staff.Typically, whenever a head coach is fired, that forces the rest of their staff to scramble to find another job, as the incoming coach will likely bring in their own guys to make up their coaching staff. Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea got ahead of the curve, as reports indicate he has landed a new gig with Stefanski no longer being in charge of Cleveland.Chad O’Shea Latches on with Chiefs After Kevin Stefanski’s Firing The Chiefs are hiring Chad O’Shea as their wide receivers coach, per source. O’Shea got into the NFL as a volunteer assistant with Kansas City in 2003. Over two decades later, he’s back as Andy Reid remodels his offensive staff. pic.twitter.com/BW7koHxbi3 — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2026 Despite winning Coach of the Year twice during his time with the Browns, a poor 2025 campaign was enough to cost Stefanski his job. While he’s landed with the Falcons as noted above, that has left the rest of his prior staff in limbo. Some will join him in Atlanta, some will stay in Cleveland, and some will have to latch on elsewhere.For O’Shea, the third option on that list appears to be the answer. After spending 10 years working as the New England Patriots‘ wide receivers coach, O’Shea worked as the Miami Dolphins’ offensive coordinator for one year in 2019 before finding his way to the Browns. Since 2020, O’Shea has worked as the team’s wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.With Stefanski gone, though, there’s no guarantee that O’Shea will have a job in Cleveland next year. As a result, he began exploring other opportunities across the league, and he has landed with the Kansas City Chiefs, who he previously spent three seasons with from 2003 to 2005. Similar to his previous stints, O’Shea will be working as the team’s new wide receivers coach.“The Chiefs are hiring Chad O’Shea as their wide receivers coach, per source,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “O’Shea got into the NFL as a volunteer assistant with Kansas City in 2003. Over two decades later, he’s back as Andy Reid remodels his offensive staff.”Browns Hoping to Find New Head Coach Soon GettyThe Browns have lost Chad O’Shea to the Chiefs after firing Kevin Stefanski Finding a new head coach isn’t exactly an easy process for NFL teams, but the Browns may need to act with a sense of urgency in the wake of O’Shea’s departure. Other coaches could be on the move soon, too, and if they don’t act quickly enough, their new head coach may have a difficult time when it comes to filling out their staff.To this point, it remains to be seen which way Cleveland is leaning when it comes to its head coach search. Several candidates have earned second interviews with the team, but it’s tough to tell who is the frontrunner at this stage of the game. As a result, this week will be important for the Browns as they attempt to rebuild their coaching staff in the wake of Stefanski’s departure. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Former Browns Coach Lands New Job with Chiefs After Kevin Stefanski Firing appeared first on Heavy Sports.