This year's tournament opens this week and stands to be the best one yet

Last March, the Chicago Bears made one of the key offseason moves that would propel their team from worst to first in the NFC North, signing center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal. A year later, and the 27-year-old will reportedly retire after just five seasons in the NFL, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The move comes as a massive surprise considering Dalman's age, contract and on-field excellence.ESPN sources: Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman has informed the team that he is retiring from the NFL at age 27. Dalman left Stanford in 2021, and after four seasons in Atlanta and one in Chicago, he has made the sudden and surprising decision to retire. pic.twitter.com/SKJcXa1res Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2026This story will be updated.

LIV's Jon Rahm on Tuesday accused the DP World Tour of attempting to "extort" golfers and said he won't commit to competing in six events on the European tour each season.

The AFL premiership cup will be staying outside of Victoria.

The Pro Bowl center has informed his team that he has no plans to return next season or play football again in a bombshell decision.

The New York Jets placed the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall, while several other teams decide whether to use the tag on potential free agents before Tuesday's deadline.The non-exclusive franchise tag guarantees Hall a one-year contract worth about $14.3 million if he doesnt sign a long-term deal. Hall is the third player to get the tag this offseason with Dallas receiver George Pickens and Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts getting them well before the deadline.Players getting the tag can still be signed to an offer sheet once free agency officially starts March 11, but their current teams would have five days to match the offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation.Among the other possible tag candidates are Indianapolis' Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, Cincinnati edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, Seattle's Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III and Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh. The three tags so far this year surpass last year's total of two, which was the fewest since 1994, according to the NFL. There had been an average of more than nine franchise tags handed out each year from 2020-24.Hall, who turns 25 in May, was a second-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa State, but didnt receive a contract extension last offseason as first-rounders Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson did. That caused some uncertainty about Halls future with the franchise, and he was mentioned in trade rumors leading up to last years deadline. But coach Aaron Glenn insisted the Jets wanted to keep Hall as the engine of their offense. New York planned to use a three-running back approach with Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis sharing carries, but Allen injured a knee and landed on injured reserve and Davis remained a clear No. 2.The Jets, with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich, will be looking for a new quarterback this offseason but the franchise tag on Hall gives New York the chance to keep the playmaking running back in its backfield while also trying to negotiate a contract extension.Hall rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025 despite missing the final game with a knee ailment, becoming the first Jets player to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season since Chris Ivory in 2015. Hall has 1,000 yards from scrimmage in three straight seasons, just the sixth player and fifth running back in franchise history to accomplish that feat.Hall said on social media that he's willing to bet on myself.The only three running backs in the NFL who have contracts with an average annual value of more than the $14.3 million Hall are former AP NFL Offensive Players of the Year Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry.Pickens' tag is worth about $27.3 million for next season as the Cowboys look to retain him after acquiring him in a deal from Pittsburgh last offseason. Pickens, who turns 25 on Wednesday, had career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defenses in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.Pitts' tag is worth about $15 million for next season. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft earned second-team All-Pro honors after he had a career-high 88 receptions and five touchdowns last season. His 928 receiving yards were the second most among NFL tight ends, behind only Arizonas Trey McBride.Teams can sign players on the franchise tags to long-term deals between now and July 15, otherwise players can only play on one-year deals for 2026.___AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

The New York Jets placed the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall, while several other teams decide whether to use the tag on potential free agents before Tuesday's deadline.The non-exclusive franchise tag guarantees Hall a one-year contract worth about $14.3 million if he doesnt sign a long-term deal. Hall is the third player to get the tag this offseason with Dallas receiver George Pickens and Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts getting them well before the deadline.Players getting the tag can still be signed to an offer sheet once free agency officially starts March 11, but their current teams would have five days to match the offer or receive two first-round picks as compensation.Among the other possible tag candidates are Indianapolis' Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, Cincinnati edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, Seattle's Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III and Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh. The three tags so far this year surpass last year's total of two, which was the fewest since 1994, according to the NFL. There had been an average of more than nine franchise tags handed out each year from 2020-24.Hall, who turns 25 in May, was a second-round pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa State, but didnt receive a contract extension last offseason as first-rounders Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson did. That caused some uncertainty about Halls future with the franchise, and he was mentioned in trade rumors leading up to last years deadline. But coach Aaron Glenn insisted the Jets wanted to keep Hall as the engine of their offense. New York planned to use a three-running back approach with Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis sharing carries, but Allen injured a knee and landed on injured reserve and Davis remained a clear No. 2.The Jets, with new offensive coordinator Frank Reich, will be looking for a new quarterback this offseason but the franchise tag on Hall gives New York the chance to keep the playmaking running back in its backfield while also trying to negotiate a contract extension.Hall rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards in 2025 despite missing the final game with a knee ailment, becoming the first Jets player to top 1,000 yards rushing in a season since Chris Ivory in 2015. Hall has 1,000 yards from scrimmage in three straight seasons, just the sixth player and fifth running back in franchise history to accomplish that feat.Hall said on social media that he's willing to bet on myself.The only three running backs in the NFL who have contracts with an average annual value of more than the $14.3 million Hall are former AP NFL Offensive Players of the Year Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry.Pickens' tag is worth about $27.3 million for next season as the Cowboys look to retain him after acquiring him in a deal from Pittsburgh last offseason. Pickens, who turns 25 on Wednesday, had career highs in catches (93), yards receiving (1,429) and touchdowns (nine) for one of the best offenses in the NFL last season. Dallas had one of the worst defenses in the league and finished 7-9-1, missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.Pitts' tag is worth about $15 million for next season. The fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft earned second-team All-Pro honors after he had a career-high 88 receptions and five touchdowns last season. His 928 receiving yards were the second most among NFL tight ends, behind only Arizonas Trey McBride.Teams can sign players on the franchise tags to long-term deals between now and July 15, otherwise players can only play on one-year deals for 2026.___AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Jon Rahm has launched a scathing attack on the DP World Tour, accusing the organisation of "extorting players" in an escalating row over his refusal to sign a settlement agreement.The Spanish golfer, a two-time major champion and former world No 1, declared on Tuesday that he will not accept the terms being offered to LIV Golf competitors seeking to retain their European tour memberships.Rahm said: "I don't know what game they're trying to play right now. But it just seems like in a way they're using us to (capitalize on) our impact in tournaments and fining us and trying to benefit both ways from what we have to offer."His central grievance concerns the requirement to compete in six DP World Tour events, rather than the standard minimum of four.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayHe said: "I just refuse to play six events. I don't want to, and that's not what the rules say."The settlement reached last month between the DP World Tour and eight of its members who compete on the Saudi-backed circuit included several conditions beyond tournament participation.Those players agreed to settle outstanding fines, reported to be approximately 2.5m collectively, while also withdrawing any pending legal challenges against the penalties imposed for playing LIV events without permission.Rahm's personal fines exceed 2m, though LIV Golf has committed to covering these costs for its players, having indemnified them against penalties incurred before this year.Tyrrell Hatton, who has partnered Rahm at previous Ryder Cups, was among those who swiftly accepted the arrangement.An independent panel is scheduled to hear Rahm's appeal in the coming months. Should he lose and continue refusing to pay, the 31-year-old would become ineligible for Ryder Cup selection.Rahm expressed frustration at what he perceives as restrictions on player autonomy, arguing that golfers should be free to choose where they compete without being dictated to by tour authorities.LATEST SPORT NEWSShane Lowry makes sad admission about his daughter after PGA Tour collapseGolfer who fell down elevator shaft in freak accident releases statement after avoiding deathEFL club sparks outrage with plan to slash iconic British golf course in halfHe explained: "I've always committed to play the minimum requirement [on the DP World Tour], and I think I've played four events, including the Spanish Open, every year except one as a pro, and I commit to do that."The Spaniard indicated he remains willing to reach a compromise, revealing he had offered to sign immediately if the event requirement were reduced to the standard four.Rahm said: "Now, I did tell them, funny enough, lower that to four events, like the minimum says, and I'll sign tonight. They haven't agreed to that."His stance puts his participation in next year's Adare Manor showdown in serious doubt, having represented Europe on the last four Ryder Cup teams.The dispute has already created friction within the European camp ahead of the 2027 contest in Ireland.Rory McIlroy voiced his bewilderment at Rahm's position in January, questioning why the Spaniard did not simply settle his debts with the tour.McIlroy told the Telegraph: "We all sat up there [in 2024] and said that we would pay to play in Ryder Cups. Well, there's two guys that can prove it."Rahm responded directly to his fellow major winner on Tuesday, challenging the fairness of the situation.Rahm countered: "That statement would make a lot more sense if all 12 of us were being asked to pay, not only just the two of us."Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

In a new-look team Seb Atkinson and Fin Smith's teenage days in the Worcester academy could be key for England against Italy in Rome.

Die deutsche Frauen-Nationalmannschaft spielt im Rahmen der WM-Qualifikation gegen Slowenien. Sehen Sie hier das Spiel in der Zusammenfassung.[mehr]