José Ramírez has been a member of the Cleveland Guardians organization since 2011 and is on track to one day be immortalized in Cooperstown with the greats of baseball. However, over the weekend, the seven-time All-Star signed an extension to stay in Cleveland until 2032, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest to ever play for the franchise.
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On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about the deal that will keep Ramírez with the Guardians into his age-39 season. The six-time Silver Slugger’s extension, while surprising, isn’t shocking considering his love for Cleveland. But when his contract is up, will he be considered the best player in Guardians history?
Later, Jordan and Jake break down the Texas Rangers–Washington Nationals trade that sent a package of prospects to the nation’s capital for 26-year-old MacKenzie Gore. With the Rangers hoping that Gore pans out to the uber-prospect he once was, how important will his continued development be for the Rangers to win this deal? The guys then talk about MLB Network’s 2026 Top 100 Players and what changes they would make to the list.
The 31-year-old Denver Broncos’ offensive pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach is a serious prospect to take the reins in Vegas.
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His current boss, Broncos head coach Sean Payton, was asked Tuesday in his end-of-season news conference what it’d be like to face Webb twice a year as an opposing head coach in the AFC West.
“Well, it would be a pain in the ass for him,” Payton said in jest, drawing some laughs from the assembled media.
Payton has never been afraid to let tongue-in-cheek comments fly. In today’s world of social media, they’re often pulled and then aggregated without context.
Just before Payton’s humorous description of that hypothetical, he spoke at length about what it’s been like to see not only Webb but also other assistants on staff be pursued by other teams this winter.
Payton mentioned that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has also attracted interest as a head-coaching candidate, and he alluded to the fact that defensive pass game coordinator and assistant head coach Jim Leonhard has been targeted as a potential defensive coordinator this coaching cycle.
“It’s part of the deal. You’re supportive,” Payton said.
Payton, who previously served on the NFL’s competition committee, explained that the hardest part is that these interviews take place during the season. For the Broncos, the season continued up until late January.
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“I think our guys have done a good job handling that, but it’s still difficult,” he said. “Because preparing for one of those interviews requires time, like quite a bit of time and then preparing for an opponent in the playoffs requires every waking minute.
“And so I don’t know that I have the solution, but I think it’s a challenge that we’ve battled as a league. But certainly supportive of those guys.”
Payton noted that he gave now-Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady his first NFL job. That was back in 2017, when Brady joined the New Orleans Saints as an offensive assistant.
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“So proud of him,” Payton said. “Just spoke to him two days ago. You want to see guys that come in and work that are part of your staff. You want to see them have success, not the other way around.”
Payton added: “We’ll figure out when and if we lose a coach what the plan’s going to be.”
As for Webb, the former Texas Tech and Cal standout and NFL backup quarterback has overseen Denver’s QB room since 2023. He was part of Payton’s inaugural Broncos staff.
Most notably, he’s assisted the development of Bo Nix, whom the Broncos selected No. 12 overall in the 2024 draft. Nix has thrown a combined 54 touchdowns in two seasons, and he’s already engineered 11 total game-winning drives, including eight this season.
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If Webb doesn’t land the Raiders’ head-coaching job, he still could get an offensive coordinator gig elsewhere. He’s in demand at the moment.
Payton knows that, but he’s also confident in his system.
It’s an action-packed episode of ‘The Dunker Spot’!
Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones break down whether what we’re seeing across the NBA is a ‘Trend’ or a ‘Trap’?
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From there, the guys dive into the big questions that the Magic and the Bucks have to answer ahead of the trade deadline. Is it time for Milwaukee to move on from Giannis? The Rising Stars rosters are out! Who deserved the nod and who got snubbed?
To wrap things up, they take a look at the action from Unrivaled, corner threes, no calls, dunks and more!
If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.
(0:00) Welcome (01:30) Trend or Trap? (2:22) Trend or Trap: Cade Cunningham vs. traps (28:54) Teams with the biggest question marks (54:41) NBA Rising Stars announced (1:00:54) Unrivaled takeaways
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 25: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives past Nique Clifford #5 of the Sacramento Kings during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on January 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
ATLANTA — Head coach introductions in the NFL follow a predictable formula. The new guy proclaims how excited he is to be here with [insert team name], how he’s always admired [team owner], how he’s looking forward to getting to work. The team declares how [new coach] is the guy they wanted all along. Everybody smiles and poses with a helmet … and everybody hopes they’re not doing the same dance two or three years from now.
The Atlanta Falcons officially introduced new head coach Kevin Stefanski on a frigid Tuesday morning at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in a news conference long on confidence and short on specifics. Newly crowned president of football Matt Ryan began the proceedings with some discussion about what the Falcons’ identity should be going forward.
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“The main thing was we wanted a detailed, tough, physical football team,” Ryan said. “On offense, we want an offense that has the ability to run the football, that is going to be explosive with the pass game off of the run. On defense, we’re going to stop the run. We’re going to be physical against the run. In the pass game, we’re going to affect the quarterback physically and we’re going to affect him mentally as well with disguise, with the way that we play coverage. And then on special teams, we’re looking for a unit that is incredibly detailed, that plays with great effort and strength.”
From there, Ryan indicated Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, was a natural fit. “He wants smart, tough, highly competitive players and coaches that are open to being held accountable and holding each other accountable,” Ryan said. “He’s an excellent communicator. He’s clear, he’s concise, and he’s direct. I think that style of communication lends to connection, which is so huge amongst players and coaches.”
Stefanski will have his work cut out for him. Outside of the New York Jets, no team has a longer playoff drought than the Falcons, who last reached the postseason in the 2017 season. Since then, Atlanta has posted five seven-win seasons, two eight-win ones and a dreadful four-win year. It hasn’t been great.
Kevin Stefanski and president of football operations Matt Ryan speak to the media after Stefanski is introduced as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)
And even when the Falcons win, they lose. Atlanta finished this season tied atop the NFC South with eight wins, but due to early-season struggles and inexplicable losses, the Falcons had been eliminated from the playoff hunt weeks before. The new regime, then, will be tasked not just with rebuilding the team on the field, but rebuilding belief in the stands, rallying a fan base rooting for a team whose only consistent feature is inconsistency.
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“I’m here because I believe in this group. I believe in this roster,” Stefanski said. “We’re not going to spend a lot of time talking about what we’re going to do. We’re just going to keep our head down and work.”
Over the course of the 45-minute introductory news conference, Stefanski hit on several key topics, including a potential quarterback battle in Atlanta. Michael Penix Jr., who began the season as Atlanta’s starter, suffered a torn ACL in Week 11 and was lost for the season, replaced by expensive backup Kirk Cousins. Stefanski offered perspective without specifics on the future of both.
“What’s most important right now for Michael is to get healthy. He knows that, and we’ll get to football here shortly, but he’s attacking his rehab,” Stefanski said. “He’s had some really, really, really good moments here in the pros. I see a young player that will continue to develop and continue to get better.”
As for Cousins, whom Stefanski coached as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in Minnesota, the analysis remained high-level and general. “When it comes to Kirk,” Stefanski said, “obviously I have a previous relationship with Kirk, but I don’t know if it’s the time yet to talk about all positions.”
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One roster spot that requires no nuance is running back. Bijan Robinson stands as one of the best players in the league, and Stefanski summed up his feelings on Robinson succinctly.
“He’s good,” Stefanski said, to laughter. “He’s a special person, I’d start there. … He’s team-oriented, he’s an intelligent player, and there’s no shortage to what he can do with a football in his hands. And that’s our job as coaches, to find ways to get that ball in his hands.”
Stefanski also addressed the brief X controversy involving Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who tweeted earlier this month that he was “shipped off like a piece of garbage” from Cleveland under Stefanski.
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski said. “Obviously, Buccaneers, Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about. But I would not get into the specifics of those type of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person.”
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Adding to the pressure on Stefanski is the fact that three separate teams — the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars — swapped out their head coaches prior to last season and instantly leaped from low-single to double-digit wins and playoff berths. Patience for slow rebuilds, particularly when a team has finished outside the playoffs as many times as Atlanta has, is now nonexistent.
“The expectation is to always win. There’s no doubt about that,” Ryan said. “But part of what we’ve talked about is, ‘How do you get there?’ My expectation is that we come to work with the right mindset every day. We focus on the things that we need to do in order to get the results that we want. Very process-driven. I was as a player, and I will be in this new role as well.”
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“It’s very, very easy to sit up here and talk about it,” Stefanski said. “We will be about that work. We will put in the work, and it’s going to be hard work. We’ll put in the work to being a smart football team, to playing a smart brand of football. We will earn that toughness.”
The Falcons begin offseason workouts April 7, but the expectations for Stefanski to right the ship have already begun.
An emotional Mike McCarthy was introduced as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday while flanked at a news conference by team owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan.
He was almost immediately asked about the most pressing subject facing the franchise now that it’s found its next head coach. Does he want Aaron Rodgers back to play quarterback?
“Definitely,” McCarthy said. “I don’t see why you wouldn’t. I think just like anything, knowing Aaron long enough. … When guys are up at that stage of their career, they need to step away and decompress. I think that’s very important.”
McCarthy and Rodgers, of course, have history. The two spent 13 seasons together with the Green Bay Packers, a span that included a Super Bowl championship and two of Rodgers’ four NFL MVP awards.
On Tuesday, Mike McCarthy spoke publicly for the first time as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Rodgers, 42, is far from that MVP prime and is currently contemplating whether to retire or return for another NFL season, presumably to reunite with McCarthy in Pittsburgh. McCarthy said Tuesday that he’s spoken with Rodgers and that he studied Rodgers’ single season with the Steelers in 2025. He likes what he saw.
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“I was able to sit back and watch the games, I watched most of the Pittsburgh games on TV,” McCarthy said. “I thought he was a great asset for the team.”
McCarthy did not put a deadline on Rodgers to make a decision. Whomever plays quarterback for the Steelers will work closely with McCarthy, who confirmed that he’ll be calling plays on offense.
Does McCarthy see a long-term QB answer in Will Howard?
Whether or not Rodgers returns, he’s obviously not the quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh. For that, McCarthy sounds like he believes that the Steelers might already have that guy on their roster.
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He’s “excited” about Will Howard, the former Ohio State quarterback whom the Steelers selected in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. Howard served as Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback last season behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
“I’m really excited about Will Howard,” McCarthy said. “He’s someone, I thought he really came on there at Ohio State. I’m anxious to work with him. It’d be great to have Aaron back, but Will and Mason — I’m really excited to get started with those guys.”
Howard’s yet to take an NFL snap, but McCarthy clearly likes what he’s seen of him.
McCarthy fights back tears over coaching his hometown team
A Pittsburgh native, McCarthy joins the Steelers for his third NFL head coaching job. He was emotional from the start about the opportunity to coach his hometown team. He was fighting back tears before making his opening statement.
“This city, this franchise, this fan base — it means the world to me,” McCarthy said. “Because Pittsburgh’s my world. It’s just awesome to be back here.”
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McCarthy dove deeper into his ties with the city and the team in a statement released by the Steelers earlier Tuesday.
“Often times, coaches and players put on new team colors, and it takes a minute to feel comfortable in them,” McCarthy said. “But, if you are blessed beyond measure, one day you put on the colors you’ve worn since you were brought home from Mercy Hospital.”
It’s not clear if that passion was a factor for the Steelers in their decision to hire McCarthy. But it certainly didn’t hurt.
Rooney was asked on Tuesday about the call to hire McCarthy, who, at 62 years old, is a break from the franchise’s tradition of hiring young coaches with long futures ahead of them. McCarthy is just the fourth Steelers coach since 1969. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin all coached in Pittsburgh for at least 15 seasons.
“We came into this wanting to hire the best coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so we did not say we’re trying to hire a young defensive coordinator or an offensive guy,” Rooney said. … “I won’t say that it was an easy decision, but I would say, at the end of the day, it was an obvious decision for us that Mike was the right guy for the job.“
Nate Tice & Matt Harmon dive deep on the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams before revealing their biggest questions of the NFL offseason. The duo start with the news that the Buffalo Bills hired OC Joe Brady to be their next head coach, as they determine whether Brady is the right guy to get Buffalo over the hump. They also touch on the Tennessee Titans hiring OC Brian Daboll. Can Daboll resist using Cam Ward as a battering ram?
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Next, Nate & Matt deep dive on the latest duo of playoff losers, the Broncos & Rams, as they determine what went wrong for them in the playoffs and what they need to do to get back to the same spot (or further) next season.
Later, the duo reveal their biggest questions of the NFL offseason. Are teams going to lean into heavier personnel groupings next season? How do the quarterback seats get filled? Will the trend of a juggernaut-less NFL continue in 2026? How will an intriguing 2026 free agency class play out? Nate & Matt take a stab at answering the league’s biggest conundrums.
(3:50) – Bills hire HC Joe Brady
(22:10) – Titans hire OC Brian Daboll
(32:50) – Playoff postmortems: Rams
(49:15) – Playoff postmortems: Broncos
(59:40) – Biggest offseason questions
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 27: Offensive coordinator Joe Brady stands with Mitchell Trubisky #11 and Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 27, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama refused to keep quiet after Veterans Affairs nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed Saturday by federal agents in Minnesota. Wembanyama spoke out on Pretti’s killing Tuesday, ignoring the team’s PR guidance to be “politically correct” about the issue.
Wembanyama issued a strong statement on what’s been going on in Minnesota, saying he’s “horrified” every day he wakes up and sees the news on television.
“You know, PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct [answer]. Every day, I wake up and see the news and I’m horrified. I think that it’s crazy that some people make it sound like it’s acceptable, like the murder of civilians is acceptable.
“I read the news and sometimes I’m asking very deep questions about my own life. I’m conscious also that saying everything that’s on my mind would have a cost that’s too great for me right now. So, I would rather not get into too many details.”
Wembanyama was then asked about the fear of speaking openly in the face of injustice. Wembanyama added, “It’s terrible. I know I’m a foreigner. I live in this country. I am concerned.”
When asked whether his status as a foreigner played a role in his hesitancy to speak more on the issue, Wembanyama admitted that was the case.
The 22-year-old Wembanyama was born and grew up in France. He spent his early basketball career in the Pro A and EuroLeague before the Spurs made him the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. Since then, Wembanyama has spent each NBA season living in the United States.
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Wembanyama is not the only prominent NBA name to speak out on the issue. Over the weekend, Karl-Anthony Towns, Steve Kerr, Chris Finch and Charles Barkley all issued strong words on ICE’s presence in Minnesota. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton also commented on Pretti’s killing, calling it “murder.”
Wembanyama’s teammates De’Aaron Fox and Julian Champagnie, as well as coach Mitch Johnson, also issued comments on the situation when asked Sunday.
The NBPA was among the groups to put out a joint statement as well, saying it would “stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota.” One of the members of the NBPA’s executive committee, Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, issued his own statement Tuesday, calling for “accountability” and “improvement in the tactics, the profiling, or whatever is going on.”
Athletes outside of the NBA have also been vocal on the situation. WNBA and Unrivaled star Breanna Stewart held up a sign before Sunday’s game calling for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be abolished. Denver Broncos offensive lineman Quinn Meinerz followed Stewart’s example, and Minnesota Twins players Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson sent out images of support for protesters in the state.
Bo Nix fracturing his right ankle during last week’s AFC divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills was inevitable, according to Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
During his season-ending press conference on Tuesday, Payton told reporters that Nix has a preexisting ankle condition that made what happened “a matter of when.”
“What was found was a condition that was predisposed — they always find a little more when they go in,” Payton said. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and you’re trying to evaluate it — the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now, you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things.”
Nix sustained the injury during one of the final plays in the win over the Bills that sent the Broncos to the AFC championship game.
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Shortly after the game, Payton told reporters about Nix’s injury and that the quarterback would miss the rest of the season.
Nix is expected to be out at least 12 weeks after undergoing surgery. He reportedly will not be allowed to put any weight on his ankle for a month. If he recovers well, the earliest he can begin activity would be right around the 12-week mark.
The Broncos expect Nix to be recovered enough in time for offseason workouts.
“So listen, he’ll rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy,” Payton said. “I think for someone who runs with the ball, I think he’s done a pretty good job of protecting himself, not all the time, but for the most part, he’s done a pretty good job of sliding and understanding playing for another day.”
No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 4 seed Amanda Anisimova will compete tonight in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. Pegula defeated the Australian Open’s reigning champion, Madison Keys, in the fourth round to advance to tonight’s match. With Keys out and Coco Gauff and Iva Jovic suffering fourth-round losses, Pegula and Anisimova are now the last American women in the competition.
Tonight’s Australian Open tournament coverage will air on ESPN2, and the entire tournament is available to stream for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. Here’s what you need to know about the Pegula vs. Anisimova quarterfinal match at the 2026 Australian Open.
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How to watch Jessica Pegula vs. Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open:
When is the Jessica Pegula vs. Amanda Anisimovamatch at the 2026 Australian Open?
The quarterfinal match between Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open will be Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.
Jessica Pegula vs. Amanda Anisimova match start time:
The match between Jessica Pegula and Amanda Anisimova will start at no earlier than 9 p.m. ET. The match will begin once the previous match between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina is over. The match will be available on ESPN Unlimited, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes.
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Australian Open channel:
In the U.S., the Australian Open will air on ESPN, with the entire tournament streaming on ESPN+ for Unlimited subscribers. Select tournament coverage will also air on ESPN2, before moving to ESPN for the semifinals and beyond.
How to watch the 2026 Australian Open:
Where to watch the 2026 Australian Open without cable:
If you want to catch every match of the Australian Open and don’t currently subscribe to ESPN+, cable or a live TV streaming service, in Australia a majority of the action will be streaming free with ads on 9Now.
Don’t live in the land down under? Don’t worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to tennis coverage without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
9Now. Plus it’s Engadget’s pick for the best premium VPN. ExpressVPN offers three tiers of subscriptions: The Basic Plan (starting at $3.49/month), the Advanced Plan (starting at $4.49/month) and the Pro Plan (starting at $7.49/month).
ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re nervous about trying a VPN.
Australian Open 2026 schedule:
All times Eastern
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Tuesday, January 27
(Day 10) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 28
(Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 12) Women’s Semifinals: 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 29
(Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 8:00 p.m.
Friday, January 30
(Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 3:30 a.m.
Saturday, January 31
(Day 14) Women’s Final: 3:30 a.m.
Sunday, February 1
(Day 15) Men’s Final: 3:30 a.m.
Who is playing in the 2026 Australian Open?
The top 10 seeded players for the singles draws are listed below.
Men’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026
1. Carlos Alcaraz
2. Jannik Sinner
3. Alexander Zverev
4. Novak Djokovic
5. Felix Auger-Aliassime
Women’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026
1. Aryna Sabalenka
2. Iga Swiatek
3. Amanda Anisimova
4. Coco Gauff
5. Elena Rybakina
Australian Open prize money:
For 2026, the men’s and women’s singles winners of the Australian Open each get $4,150,000, with the runner-up receiving $2,150,000 and Semi-finalists $1,250,000.
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More ways to watch the 2026 Australian Open:
Sling Orange, which includes ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, Disney Channel, and 30 more with no other subscriptions or commitment necessary. No strings attached.
Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokić is reportedly ramping up for his return from a knee injury that’s sidelined him for 14 games.
That’s according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reported Tuesday that the Nuggets intend to reevaluate Jokić’s injury in “about a week.” The report doesn’t include a precise timeline. But it sounds like the three-time MVP isn’t long from his return to the court.
Nikola Jokić hasn’t played since hyperextending his left knee on Dec. 29 against the Miami Heat
(David Berding via Getty Images)
All-NBA, MVP at risk for Jokić
Per Charania, the Nuggets won’t rush Jokić back. They’re prioritizing his long-term health and availability for the postseason over Jokić’s eligibility for end-of-season honors such as MVP and All-NBA. Per a rule instituted in the 2023-24 season, players must play a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for end-of-season awards. If Jokić misses four more games, he won’t be eligible.
The Nuggets have thrived despite the injuries to Jokić and most of the rest of their starting lineup. Fellow starters Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson have all faced extended absences this season. Jokić’s backup Jonas Valančiūnas missed 11 straight games with a calf strain sustained a game after Jokić sustained his injury.
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The Nuggets have gone 8-4 in Jokić’s absence and enter Tuesday at 31-15, good for a second-place tie with the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference.
Role players such as Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. have stepped up amid the injuries, while Jamal Murray is making a case for his first All-Star selection as the team’s unquestioned court leader in Jokić’s absence with averages of 26 points, 7.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 44.8% from 3 this season.
Despite the team success, the sooner Jokić can return the better, obviously. But Denver’s ability to remain competitive amid the injuries under first-year head coach David Adelman has reduced any pressure to rush Jokić back. The priority in Denver is to have Jokić, Gordon, Braun and Johnson back healthy for the postseason and a chance to unseat the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
