Dimitri Payet, the former France and West Ham attacking midfielder, has retired from football at the age of 38. He announced his retirement during a half-time interview in the match between Marseille and Lille on Sunday. Payet also played for Nantes, St-Etienne, Lille and Brazilian side Vasco da Gama.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a four-year contract extension. Sources told ESPN that the deal makes Smith-Njigba the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. The agreement ties Smith-Njigba to Seattle through the 2031 season.
UCLA is holding steady at No. 1 in the college baseball rankings. Florida State jumped nine spots in this week’s rankings after sweeping Wake Forest. Virginia’s rise continues, with the Cavaliers finally breaking into the top 10.
The Chicago Cubs are set to host the Milwaukee Brewers in a spring training game. Cade Horton is scheduled to start for the Cubs, while Chad Patrick will take the mound for the Brewers. The game will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network, Brewers TV and ESPN Unlimited.
Roberto De Zerbi reportedly has no interest in managing another club until at least the start of next season. This comes amidst speculation about Igor Tudor’s position at Tottenham. Harry Redknapp has even been touted for a spectacular return.
In a 2026 NFL mock draft, quarterback Ty Simpson is projected to be drafted by the Jets. The mock draft includes four trades in the first round. The projection accounts for free agency as well as information gleaned from the NFL Scouting Combine and the first few weeks of pro days.
Dean Burmester likened the atmosphere at LIV Golf’s South Africa event to a ‘small taste of the Ryder Cup’. Over 100,000 tickets were sold for the event in Johannesburg. Burmester described the week as the ‘greatest week of my life’.
Nick Lodolo exited his start against the Guardians due to a blister on his left index finger. The Reds are now in a wait-and-see mode regarding Lodolo’s availability. His early exit has prompted the team to consider alternative rotation configurations.
Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes has been called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad to replace injured Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze. Eze was not in Arsenal’s squad for Sunday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City because of a lower leg injury. Barnes has been called up once before, in October 2020, when he won his only England cap in a friendly against Wales.
UConn defeated UCLA 73-57 in the NCAA Tournament. Alex Karaban scored a career-high 27 points for UConn. The Huskies will now face Michigan State in the East Region semifinals.
