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The 2026 NBA All-Star starters have officially been announced, based on voting by fans (50% of the vote), current players (25%), and members of the media (25%). Eastern Conference All-Star Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen BrownWestern Conference All-Star Starters: Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Stephen Curry, and Victor WembanyamaBut while there weren’t any major surprises for the list of starters from both the Eastern and Western Conference, barring LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, who had his historic 20-year streak of being named an All-Star starter snapped, there were some wild names who received votes. LeBron James’ Historic Streak Ends As NBA Announces All-Star Starters Of those included, LeBron’s son and teammate, Bronny James, Boston Celtics star who has yet to play this season, Jayson Tatum, as well as Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors, who hasn’t played in over a month, along with a loaded list of other shocking All-Star nominees. Rich Paul Doesn’t Want “Charity” All-Star Selection For LeBron Granted, those just mentioned and about to be named were all given votes by current players, (as the list of names voted on by the fans is even longer), as Tim Cato of DLLS Sports put it, ‘NBA players still don’t take their All-Star votes seriously. Just look at the ballots.’The list of players who received votes from their own peers is shocking to say the least. To give full context, here are some notable players who got All-Star votes from both the East and West. Surprising Western Conference Players Given All-Star Votes By Their PeersStarting with Bronny James, he received two All-Star votes from current players. The son of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is putting up averages of 1.5 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists on 31.8/30.2/81.3 shooting splits in 6.9 minutes in 24 total games, with one start.James has been putting up stronger numbers on the Lakers’ G-League affiliate, but hasn’t played more than 20 minutes in a game this season. Perhaps players think his father’s genes will finally be proven true, or perhaps his father himself, along with someone else, thought he was deserving, or not, of the All-Star nod. As mentioned, Kuminga got a vote from a player, but after a long saga with the Warriors, demanded a trade, hasn’t played since mid-December, and while putting up lower averages than in years past, looks to have played his last game in Golden State. Warriors Add Surprise 3-And-D Target In Bold Kuminga Trade Idea Several other role players for both the Lakers and Warriors received All-Star votes, and while the fan voting might indicate the same, it is somewhat surprising from a player’s perspective.Dario Saric of the Sacramento Kings, with a total of five appearances on the year in 8.2 minutes per game, got a vote. Cody Williams, a struggling second-year wing with the now-famous record of the worst plus/minus in NBA history, got at least one vote. Dejounte Murray and Damian Lillard, who has yet to play this season ,also each got a vote. 39-year-old Jeff Green of the Rockets, with only 32 points on the year, received one vote as well.Many players with alarming statlines got votes as well. Here is the full list of All-Star voting for the Western Conference.Shocking Eastern Conference Players Given All-Star Votes By Fellow PlayersTatum is likely the most notable player to receive votes from the East, because, regardless of any injury return rumors, he has yet to play this season after tearing his Achilles in the playoffs, getting one player vote. View this post on Instagram Miami Heat rookie Vladislav Goldin, with just one total minute in one appearance and no points on the year, got a vote. Taurean Prince of the Bucks, who is set to miss the rest of the season with injury, also got one nod from a fellow player. Collin Castleton from Orlando, who hasn’t played this year, got a vote. Emanuel Miller of the Bulls, a team…

If the Seattle Seahawks want to reach the Super Bowl, Sam Darnold will need to take care of the football, something he’s struggled with against the Los Angeles Rams. Darnold had a passer rating of 62.4 with 549 passing yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions in two games versus the Rams this season, per StatMuse. Los Angeles have been a thorn in the Seahawks’ side this season. As a result, former Seahawks star Richard Sherman believes that Darnold will need to overcome this hurdle that plagued him this season to get Seattle to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. “If you’re Sam Darnold, you thought you overcame your nightmares with the Rams,” Sherman said on the Jan. 19 edition of “The Richard Sherman Podcast.” “You thought you had overcome them. You thought, ‘Hey, I only had to see it once. I killed Freddy Krueger. I killed him. He’s dead.’“… But he’s going to have to overcome. They’re going to bring back all the stats about the Rams’ pressure and how Sam Darnold struggled against it. And so, as high as we are for the Seattle Seahawks right now, they’re on the moon. They are freaking playing lights-out football defensively.”Seahawks Need to Lean on Ground Game Against RamsDarnold’s two touchdowns came in the Seahawks’ comeback overtime win on Dec. 18, which put Seattle in the driver’s seat to win the NFC West and secure the No. 1 seed in the conference. Because of that performance late in the regular season, Darnold could have the belief that he can perform well for four quarters against Los Angeles. “Now, if I’m Sam Darnold, I watched the last drive in the fourth quarter of that game against the Rams, and I feel pretty good,“ Sherman added. “You were cooking with grease. You were James Harden in the clutch, cooking. So, let’s get back to cooking. Run the football. [Kenneth Walker III] is running as good as he has in his entire career. “Had three touchdowns in the last game, tying Shaun Alexander for the franchise record [in a postseason game]. If they can do that let that defense just eat, Seattle Seahawks back in the Super Bowl.”Sam Darnold Gets Clear Warning Before Rams GameMeanwhile, former NFL player Emmanuel Acho believes that the Seahawks signal-caller is under pressure not to turn the ball over, as he has against the Rams this campaign, if Seattle hopes to punch its ticket to the Super Bowl.“Ram [and] Seahawks, they’ve played each other twice this season. Matthew Stafford has five touchdowns [and] no interceptions,“ Acho said on the Dec. 18 edition of “Speakeasy.” “Sam Darnold has two touchdowns [and] six interceptions. Let that sink in. It’s not a conversation. The game of football is all about the football.“Matthew Stafford got five [touchdowns], no picks, in the two games combined. Sam Darnold got six picks in the two games combined. Average three picks a game. If Sam Darnold goes out there and starts throwing these picks, it’s going to be blouses before it gets started.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Richard Sherman Hits Seahawks’ Sam Darnold With Strong Words appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Something must be in the water in Minnesota.After years of frustration surrounding second-round pick Ed Ingram‘s performance, the Minnesota Vikings traded him to the Houston Texans in exchange for a sixth-round pick.It was a necessary recoup on the draft stock spent on Ingram, who, before he was benched in Week 11, led the NFL with 129 pressures across 41 career games since entering the league in 2022.But something flipped for Ingram in Houston.Ingram rewrote the narrative of his career in the final year of his rookie contract. He was graded as the 11th-best guard by Pro Football Focus (PFF) this season. He emerged as one of the best run blockers at his position and improved in pass protection, allowing 30 pressures on 635 pass-blocking snaps.Overall, his breakout is evidence of something being awry in Minnesota with its offensive line development. The team decided not to retain offensive line coach Chris Kuper, who arrived as an original Kevin O’Connell staffer in 2022.Meanwhile, Ingram is expected to garner a considerable contract just months after many Minnesota fans felt he couldn’t hold a starting job in the NFL. According to Spotrac, Ingram is projected to land a three-year, $39 million deal worth $13 million a season.Vikings’ Investment in Will Fries Remains to Be SeenOn the surface, the investment in former Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries looks bad. Fries signed a five-year, $87.7 million contract in free agency as one of the premier guards to hit the market in the 2025 offseason.But while Ingram ranked 11th among qualifying guards by PFF’s grading, Fries finished 35th this season.However, offensive line play, especially in the interior, is the sum of its parts.Fries deserves credit as the only starter who did not miss a game this season. He was a lock to an otherwise constantly shuffling offensive line group that deployed 20 different combinations this season.He was without his starting center from Indianapolis, Ryan Kelly, for most of the season as well.It’s made Fries’ evaluation difficult after one season, which was a trial year with his base salary just $1.4 million. Next season, the cap hits begin to get serious, starting with a $17.2 million cap hit in 2026.While Fries showed promise in Indianapolis, his health was the biggest question attached to his contract after he had his 2024 season shut down after just five games due to a fractured tibia.Fries playing every snap this season was a positive heading into next season.Ed Ingram Among Ex-Vikings Linemen Thriving Elsewhere in the NFLIngram isn’t alone in finding greener pastures elsewhere in the NFL.A 2018 first-round pick, Garrett Bradbury allowed a career-low 21 pressures with the New England Patriots and did not surrender a sack this season.A 2020 second-round pick, Ezra Cleveland is coming off his best season as a pass protector with the Jacksonville Jaguars, tallying a 71.4 pass protection grade after sub-60.0 grades throughout his tenure in Minnesota.Dalton Risner, the man who replaced Ingram during the 2024 season, was also allowed a career-best 17 pressures this season for the Cincinnati Bengals. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Former Vikings Draft Bust Poised for Massive Pay Day appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Por JOSH DUBOW SANTA CLARA, California, EE.UU. (AP) — George Kittle, ala cerrada de los 49ers de San Francisco, quien ha sido seleccionado para el Pro Bowl, dijo que los médicos caracterizaron su ruptura del tendón de Aquiles como un “mejor escenario posible”, lo que le da esperanza de poder regresar sin perder tiempo significativo la próxima temporada. Kittle se lesionó el tendón de Aquiles derecho en una victoria en la ronda de comodines sobre Filadelfia el 11 de enero y se sometió a cirugía la semana pasada en Los Ángeles. Kittle dijo que el Dr. Neal ElAttrache le informó que tenía un “desgarro limpio” cerca de su músculo sóleo, que está más arriba en el tendón de Aquiles. “No tuvieron que perforar mi talón”, dijo Kittle el lunes. “Donde fue la reparación, hay más flujo sanguíneo, por lo que reduce el tiempo de recuperación. Así que está muy emocionado por todo. Mi recuperación —cuando estaré corriendo, cuando estaré listo para jugar de nuevo— le entusiasma mucho. Así que eso me pone de muy buen humor. No es tan malo como otros casos”. “Lo mantendré como una sorpresa”, comentó Kittle cuando se le solicitó comentar sobre un cronograma de su recuperación. Pero un regreso en ocho a nueve meses podría llevar a Kittle de vuelta al campo cerca del comienzo de la temporada 2026. Kittle dijo que supo de inmediato cuán grave era la lesión, diciendo que “se sintió como si alguien pusiera una escopeta contra mi pantorrilla y apretara el gatillo”. Le dijo al entrenador de los Eagles, quien fue el primero en el campo para revisarlo, que necesitaba un carrito y fue llevado de regreso al vestuario. Kittle fue acompañado allí por su familia, así como por el propietario de los Niners, Jed York, quien consiguió una botella de tequila para su estrella. “Recibir su apoyo fue absolutamente fantástico”, dijo Kittle. “El hecho de que el dueño del equipo baje para darte sus condolencias y simplemente se quede allí contigo realmente muestra qué tipo de lugar es este y las personas que están en este edificio. Y me hace muy feliz ser un Niner”. Kittle ha sido dos veces All-Pro y siete veces seleccionado para el Pro Bowl, siendo una parte clave de la ofensiva de San Francisco como amenaza en el pase y como bloqueador en el juego terrestre. Tuvo 57 recepciones para 628 yardas y siete touchdowns esta temporada. Los Niners tuvieron dificultades ofensivas en su ausencia la semana pasada, perdiendo 41-6 ante Seattle en la ronda divisional. Actualización de lesiones Hubo algunas otras actualizaciones de lesiones en el día de limpieza de vestuarios para San Francisco. El destacado linebacker Fred Warner dijo que estaba listo para regresar si el equipo avanzaba al juego por el título de la Conferencia Nacional, pero ahora ralentizará su trabajo de rehabilitación con significativamente más tiempo para sanar. “Creo que mi rehabilitación se había acelerado obviamente para intentar llegar al juego de campeonato de la NFC”, dijo Warner. “Ahora, solo puedo ralentizar las cosas y realmente trabajar en todos los pequeños detalles que no pude trabajar antes de que todo esto sucediera. Es solo negocio como de costumbre”. El ala defensiva novato Mykel Williams, quien se rompió el ligamento cruzado anterior en la semana nueve, dijo que su rehabilitación va bien y espera estar listo para el inicio de la temporada. El quarterback Brock Purdy dijo que no necesitará ningún tratamiento especial para su lesión de dedo de césped que lo dejó fuera de juego durante ocho partidos de la temporada. “El dedo está listo”, dijo Purdy. “Obviamente, continuaré fortaleciéndolo y dándole algo de descanso y demás. Pero está bien”. ___ Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

The Cleveland Browns have conducted their second interview with Jim Schwartz as they narrow their list of candidates to replace Kevin Stefanski.The Browns conducted their second-round interview with Schwartz on Monday, per the team. Schwartz completed his first interview Jan. 8 and is the first candidate to advance to a second meeting.The 59-year-old is in his third season as Cleveland’s defensive coordinator and returned to the organization in 2023 after beginning his NFL career with the Browns as a scout from 1993-95. Since Schwartz’s arrival, Cleveland’s defense has ranked first in the league across numerous categories, including total yards allowed per game, opponent first downs allowed, third- and fourth-down percentage, passing yards allowed per game, first downs per pass attempt and tackles for loss. View this post on Instagram Despite a 5-12 record, the Browns finished last season allowing the fourth-fewest total yards (283.6 per game) and third-fewest passing yards (167.2), ranked third with 53 sacks — a franchise record — and tied for second with eight defensive touchdowns.Schwartz previously served as head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13. His 29 years of NFL coaching experience include 17 seasons as a defensive coordinator, with stops in Tennessee, Buffalo and Philadelphia, where he helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII.Browns Players Support Jim SchwartzSchwartz remains a popular figure inside the Browns’ building, as evidenced by earning a second interview with the franchise. Just as important, he has strong support in the locker room — a factor that carries significant weight in the coaching search and can’t be overlooked.“I have so much love and respect for coach Schwartz,” Browns cornerback Denzel Ward said. “I would highly recommend coach Schwartz for a head coaching job here, definitely. … He’s helped my game tremendously, puts us in great position, great leader. I can’t say enough great things about him, but I think he’s a guy who you want in a coach and somebody to lead a team.”Browns superstar has also shown support for Schwartz getting a head coaching position.“I love Jim, and I love playing for him,” Garrett said.Garrett has thrived in Schwartz’s system, elevating his game to a new level. The former No. 1 overall pick notched an NFL record 23 sacks last season.Browns May Look Into Sean McDermottA new candidate emerged on Monday when the Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott following an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. The Browns could want to have a conversation with McDermott, who posted a 98-50 record over nine season in Buffalo.“It wouldn’t be surprising for the Browns to call about McDermott. They interviewed him for their head coach vacancy in 2016 when they ultimately settled on Hue Jackson, who was fired midway through the 2018 season with a 3-36-1 record,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com said.McDermott said he plans to coach next season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.The Browns also have second interviews coming up with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Browns Make Announcement on Jim Schwartz as Coaching Search Narrows appeared first on Heavy Sports.