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To top it off, Keegan-Michael Key, of “Key & Peele” fame, presented the gigantic bowl to the Cardinals.

Full story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Louisville eats beans out of trophy during Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl victory celebration
The Cardinals got the chance to participate in the latest postgame bowl tradition.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:37 PM
theathletic.com
If Metcalf is suspended, it would be a major blow for a Steelers team that can clinch the AFC North this weekend.

More details ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Mike Tomlin doesn’t condone DK Metcalf’s behavior but expresses support ahead of appeal
Metcalf's appeal hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM
theathletic.com
Beyond Hughes, there's even more for NHL fans to be hyped about in the new year:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
An NHL new year in the making: 7 hockey things to get hyped about in 2026
There's still some NHL action yet to play in 2025, but it's never too early to get excited for what 2026 will bring.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
theathletic.com
There's a larger truth about ethical basketball.

It’s required to win big.

@thompsonscribe.bsky.social has more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Victor Wembanyama is preaching ethical basketball. There’s a larger truth to it all
The conversation around "ethical basketball" is about much more than just drawing fouls.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
theathletic.com
Has Boozer created early separation from BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Kansas’ Darryn Peterson in the race for the top pick?

Why it’s more plausible than you might think ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
The Bounce: Cameron Boozer makes his case as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
Zach Harper catches you up on the latest NBA news in our newsletter.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:05 PM
theathletic.com
The Pro Bowl was moved to Super Bowl week for the first time this year in hopes of increasing fan and player engagement.

It will be held Feb. 3 and will include a flag football game and skills competition.

More details from @jaynabardahl.bsky.social ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
2026 Pro Bowl rosters: Ravens, Broncos, 49ers, Seahawks lead way with 6 selections
The Broncos have three first-timers among their six selections, while 49ers' Trent Williams and Kyle Juszczyk set positional records.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
theathletic.com
The mechanism, called the High Impact Player rule, was created in part as a way to try to keep Washington Spirit and U.S. forward Trinity Rodman in the league as negotiations over the free agent continue.

@emilytholsen.bsky.social with more details:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
NWSL adds rule allowing stars to be paid $1M above cap despite players’ union opposition
The High Impact Player rule was created in part as a way to try to keep Washington Spirit and U.S. forward Trinity Rodman in the league.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
theathletic.com
From searching through inflatable pools filled with chili looking for Jason Kelce’s Super Bowl ring to a fan getting a tattoo of Chatzky, @zackblatt.bsky.social tells the story of “Jets Jake” and how he became the man behind the Kelce brothers ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...
‘Jets Jake’ is the ring-searching, match-making (sort of) man behind the Kelce brothers
Jake Chatzky's life became surreal after he joined Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:22 PM
theathletic.com
@jeffphowe.bsky.social with more on Lawrence and the full Week 17 QB ratings ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Why Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is finally tapping into his limitless potential
Jags coach Liam Coen: “We haven’t changed a single thing from the moment we started coaching him. Sometimes, it just takes time to click."
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:07 PM
theathletic.com
Rivers deserves better.

The Colts wasted the QB’s vintage performance on Monday.

“I thought he was on fire all game,” coach Shane Steichen added.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Philip Rivers deserved better, as Colts waste QB’s vintage performance: ‘We let him down’
Indy's 44-year-old quarterback played well enough to win on Monday night. The Colts' defense, however, was a train wreck.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
theathletic.com
In this week’s power rankings, we look at one serious concern for all 32 teams.

More from @chadgraff.bsky.social and @joshkendall.bsky.social:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
NFL Week 17 power rankings: Seahawks soar to No. 1 as Broncos, Packers slide
This week's power rankings see the Seahawks leap into the top spot and the Jaguars continue to rise, while the Broncos and Packers drop.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
theathletic.com
Jokić cares about the game of basketball and putting in the work to improve day by day, but horses are part of the fabric of his life.

When his friends look for him in Sombor, they know where to find him.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
Why horses turn Nikola Jokić from an NBA MVP into a ‘stable boy’
The world has witnessed Nikola Jokić's love of horses. But only a few see the depth of passion: "They don't look at me as an NBA player."
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:14 PM