Traditionally, NFL teams that have already qualified for the playoffs will rest their starters in the final regular season game, the better to protect them from injury.
For example, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will give QB-State Farm pitchman Patrick Mahomes a week off as the Chiefs will close the season vs. the Los Angeles Chargers and rookie QB Justin Herbert. AFC North champion Pittsburgh will have Ben Roethlisberger on the bench for Sunday's finale vs. Cleveland. Mason Rudolph, who was at the center of an ugly incident vs. the Browns last year, will start.
But, it's not so easy for other teams due to COVID-19.
While the Browns will get their starting receiver corps, aside from injured Odell Beckham, Jr. (out for the season with a torn ACL), back vs. Pittsburgh, they have other key players on the COVID-reserve list. Miami will have rookie Tua Tagailova start vs. AFC East champion Buffalo due to Ryan Fitzpatrick testing positive for COVID. Likewise, the Los Angeles Rams, also fighting for a playoff spot, will be without receiver Cooper Kupp for their finale vs. Arizona.
NFC Least leader Washington cut 2nd year QB Dwayne Haskins after losing to Carolina last week, but they're not sure if Alex Smith will start the season finale vs. Philadelphia. Kyle Allen, who came over with coach Ron Rivera from the Panthers, is out for the year.
Figure the bookies will be at church this week, just for fun.
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The San Antonio Spurs made history Wednesday night in a losing effort against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Head coach Greg Popovich was ejected after receiving two technical fouls for protesting a foul call against one of his players. Assistant coach Becky Hammon, the former WNBA All-Star, took over the head coaching duties for the rest of the game, becoming the first woman to be a head coach, even in an interim capacity, in a regular season NBA game. This is the same league that broke the gender barrier for officials just a few years ago, with the NFL following suit in recent years. Hammon got her props on social media from players around the league, including the Lakers' LeBron James, following the game.
Officially, Popovich gets tagged with the loss as a coach, but if San Antonio came back and won, then what?
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Five days later, the wrestling community is still mourning the loss of Jonathan Huber, who wrestled as Brodie Lee for AEW and some independents, and as Luke Harper for WWE, who passed away due to a non-COVID-related lung disease on December 26.
On Wednesday, AEW dedicated its Dynamite broadcast to Huber, as his team, the Dark Order, won all 5 matches its members participated in, turning babyface at least for the night.
Even Huber's son, Brodie, 8, got in on the action. After getting his Dark Order mask taken from him by Maxwell J. Friedman, Brodie, code-named -1, got even by clocking Friedman upside the head with a kendo stick. Storylines were put aside for the night, as most, if not all, of the wrestlers wore black armbands in memory of their fallen comrade.
At the end of the night, AEW owner Tony Khan led a ceremony that saw Huber's boots left in center ring. -1, who got his mask back, got a hug from Khan.
It was reported today that Brodie Huber was signed to a futures contract, meaning that when he is of age, say around 2030, if he's still got interest in the business, he'll make his pro debut with AEW.
Jon Huber was a native of Rochester, one of a select few from the Empire State to make the big time. Fellow Rochester resident Dalton Castle, the former WQBK-FM DJ, continues to compete for Ring of Honor. WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix is a Buffalo native. Huber, as Brodie Lee, won the TNT title from Cody Rhodes earlier this year, only to drop it back to Rhodes in October. He also was a 2-time tag team champion and an Intercontinental champion as Luke Harper with WWE during his time there.
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