Despite a much-improved performance in defeat to Scotland, they are widely being written off as cannon fodder ahead of their meeting with Andy Farrell's resurgent Ireland on Friday night.

The Arizona Cardinals have informed two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray that they plan to release him at the beginning of the new league year on March 11, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move cant be officially announced until next week.Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, who is owed $36.8 million in guaranteed money in 2026 will be free to sign with any team once hes released.The 28-year-old posted a goodbye message to Arizonas fans on social media, expressing regret that he couldnt have more success with the franchise. He led the team to the playoffs just once during his seven-year tenure a wild-card loss in 2021.To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Murray posted. I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77-year drought for this organization, I am sorry I failed us. I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best.He continued: I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatevers next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed.Murray played in just five games last season throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions before suffering a foot injury against the Tennessee Titans. The Cardinals initially thought Murray would only miss a few weeks, but backup Jacoby Brissett played well in his absence, creating a quarterback controversy. Murray was eventually placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season. The Cardinals finished with a 3-14 record and fired coach Jonathan Gannon.Murray arrived in Arizona with huge expectations after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma in 2019, and at times he delivered.He was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, providing multiple electrifying highlights such as the so-called Hail Murray in 2020, when he connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on the final play of the game.The pinnacle of his Cardinals tenure came in 2021, when the team jumped out to a 10-2 record by early December. But Arizona faded down the stretch, losing four of its final five games before getting bounced by the Los Angeles Rams 34-11 in the wild-card round.The Cardinals signed Murray to $230.5 million, five-year deal in 2022 with $160 million guaranteed, but the honeymoon after that commitment was short lived. A few weeks after signing the deal, the franchise removed a strange clause in his contract, which mandated four hours of independent study during game weeks.The kerfuffle called into question Murrays work ethic, and his relationship with the franchise was never quite the same.Murray tore his ACL against the New England Patriots in 2022, which caused him to miss the rest of that season and a big chunk of the 2023 schedule. Coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired after the 2022 season and Gannon was hired to replace him.The Gannon-Murray relationship showed some promise in 2024 when the Cardinals improved to 8-9 and were in the playoff hunt until the final few weeks of the season.But 2025 fell apart quickly, hastening the end of Murray's time in the desert.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

The Arizona Cardinals have informed two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray that they plan to release him at the beginning of the new league year on March 11, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move cant be officially announced until next week.Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, who is owed $36.8 million in guaranteed money in 2026 will be free to sign with any team once hes released.The 28-year-old posted a goodbye message to Arizonas fans on social media, expressing regret that he couldnt have more success with the franchise. He led the team to the playoffs just once during his seven-year tenure a wild-card loss in 2021.To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Murray posted. I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77-year drought for this organization, I am sorry I failed us. I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best.He continued: I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatevers next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed.Murray played in just five games last season throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions before suffering a foot injury against the Tennessee Titans. The Cardinals initially thought Murray would only miss a few weeks, but backup Jacoby Brissett played well in his absence, creating a quarterback controversy. Murray was eventually placed on injured reserve and missed the rest of the season. The Cardinals finished with a 3-14 record and fired coach Jonathan Gannon.Murray arrived in Arizona with huge expectations after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma in 2019, and at times he delivered.He was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, providing multiple electrifying highlights such as the so-called Hail Murray in 2020, when he connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on the final play of the game.The pinnacle of his Cardinals tenure came in 2021, when the team jumped out to a 10-2 record by early December. But Arizona faded down the stretch, losing four of its final five games before getting bounced by the Los Angeles Rams 34-11 in the wild-card round.The Cardinals signed Murray to $230.5 million, five-year deal in 2022 with $160 million guaranteed, but the honeymoon after that commitment was short lived. A few weeks after signing the deal, the franchise removed a strange clause in his contract, which mandated four hours of independent study during game weeks.The kerfuffle called into question Murrays work ethic, and his relationship with the franchise was never quite the same.Murray tore his ACL against the New England Patriots in 2022, which caused him to miss the rest of that season and a big chunk of the 2023 schedule. Coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired after the 2022 season and Gannon was hired to replace him.The Gannon-Murray relationship showed some promise in 2024 when the Cardinals improved to 8-9 and were in the playoff hunt until the final few weeks of the season.But 2025 fell apart quickly, hastening the end of Murray's time in the desert.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Steve Borthwick has implemented a wholesale transformation of England's backline for Saturday's Six Nations encounter with Italy in Rome.He has brought in experienced campaigner Northampton's Fin Smith to earn starting berths.The sweeping reshuffle follows bruising successive defeats against Scotland and Ireland.The head coach has opted to overhaul virtually his entire back division.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayTommy Freeman remains the only survivor from the 42-21 thrashing by Ireland, though he moves from the wing to outside centre.The nine alterations to the starting XV represent the most significant personnel shake-up in a Six Nations fixture since England faced France in 2007.Freeman is likely to line up alongside Gloucester's Seb Atkinson in the centre.It would mark Atkinson's debut in the Six Nations.Smith appears primed to take over playmaking duties from George Ford at fly-half, though the Northampton man missed Monday's training session at Pennyhill Park due to illness.Should he recover in time, Smith will combine with scrum-half Ben Spencer to form an entirely new half-back partnership.Remarkably, none of the proposed combinations across the half-backs, centres and back three have previously started together for England.The move would represent a considerable gamble from a coach who typically prioritises team cohesion.LATEST SPORT NEWSWales rugby team hit with kit ban for Ireland Six Nations matchSix Nations trophy 'destroyed in a van fire' in middle of tournamentEngland suffer major injury blow as Six Nations squad updated for Italy clashTom Roebuck earns a recall to the squad after being omitted for the Ireland defeat, while Harlequins flyer Cadan Murley is set to collect just his fifth international cap on the opposite wing.At fullback, Daly has seen off challenges from both Marcus Smith and George Furbank to secure the No 15 jersey, bringing his 74 caps' worth of experience to a backline where he possesses more international appearances than his fellow backs combined.Not all changes stem from selection decisions, however.Scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the remainder of the championship with a hamstring problem, while centre Ollie Lawrence is sidelined with a knee injury.The changes extend into the forward pack, where flanker Henry Pollock has been dropped following his first start against Ireland.Borthwick has instead selected a workmanlike back row comprising Guy Pepper, Tom Curry and Ben Earl.In the second row, Alex Coles comes in for Ollie Chessum alongside captain Maro Itoje, with Chessum understood to be carrying a fitness concern after sitting out Monday's training.The front row of Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Joe Heyes represents the sole unchanged unit, despite the hooker's lineout difficulties that saw him substituted after just 29 minutes against Ireland.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Sir Keir Starmer had refused to grant the US permission to use the Diego Garcia military base.

More travelers are deliberately cutting it close at the airport in a viral gamble known as the "airport theory."The social media trend encourages passengers to arrive just minutes before clearing security often just 15 minutes ahead of boarding, in an attempt to avoid long waits and extra time spent inside the airport terminal.Despite the obvious possibility of missing a flight, interest in the trend has surged.NEW TSA POLICY CHARGES PASSENGERS WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCEPTABLE IDS AT CHECKPOINTSSearches for "airport theory" have jumped more than 11,000% over the past year, according to international travel eSIM provider Holafly.To determine where the risky strategy might be most feasible, Holafly analyzed 25 of the busiest airports in the United States.The company looked at factors such as average TSA wait times, on-time departure rates, passenger volume and airport size.Salt Lake City International Airport topped the list of most feasible, with an on-time rate of 82.75% and an average security wait time of 15 minutes.The airport serves more than 13 million passengers annually and has two concourses making it relatively easy to navigate.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERSan Diego International Airport ranked second in the study, followed by Boston Logan International Airport in third place. Both airports reported average TSA wait times of around 10 minutes.Washington Dulles International Airport ranked fourth, with an on-time rate of 75.90% and an average TSA wait time of 15 minutes.Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport placed fifth, reporting an on-time rate of 76.25% and an average security wait of 15 minutes.CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIESFox News Digital previously reported on the trend when it initially went viral, roughly a year ago and interest has surged again as vacation travel increases.Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," told Fox News Digital earlier that cutting down the time of arrival to 15 minutes before boarding a flight is risky indeed.TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ"The advice [from airlines] for when [travelers] need to arrive is too conservative," Leff said."But 'airport theory' suggesting showing up 15 minutes in advance of departure is cutting it way too close."He noted that arrival recommendations from airlines and airports are often conservative for a reason."Airlines and airports give very conservative guidance because they [first] dont want to be blamed [for] outlier cases, where someone shows up closer to departure and misses their flight," Leff added.He added that airlines and airports also benefit when passengers arrive early and spend time shopping or dining before departure.Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for further comment.Fox News Digital's Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.

Herber Rckschlag fr den FC Liverpool im Kampf um die Champions League. Die "Reds" verloren durch spte Treffer gegen den abgeschlagenen Tabellenletzten Wolverhampton Wanderers.[mehr]

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