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Browns' Stefanski reclaims playcalling in 2025
BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski will reassume playcalling duties next season after relinquishing them midway through 2024.
Stefanski made the announcement Thursday as he introduced Tommy Rees as the team's new offensive coordinator.
"I'm going to call plays, and I reserve the right to change my mind," Stefanski said.
Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, called plays during his first four seasons as the Browns coach. He gave up the playcalling duties to Ken Dorsey amid a 1-6 start to the season and days after quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending right Achilles tendon tear.
Rees, who served as Cleveland's tight ends coach and pass game specialist in 2024, will be tasked with helping rebuild a scheme that was configured to bring Watson back to Pro Bowl form but failed. Cleveland ranked 28th in total offense and 32nd in scoring this season. Watson had the lowest Total QBR in the NFL before he sustained a season-ending injury for the second straight year.
Watson underwent surgery earlier in the month after re-tearing his Achilles and will likely miss a significant portion of the 2025 season. Watson, who has played in 19 games since Cleveland traded three first-round picks for him, has two years remaining on the five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal he signed before the 2022 season. The Browns owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons, and he has cap hits of $72.9 million in 2025 and 2026, the second highest in the NFL.
Cleveland is expected to add multiple quarterbacks this offseason and will look at options in free agency and the draft, where the team holds the No. 2 pick.
Rees declined to comment on former Alabama quarterback and draft prospect Jalen Milroe, whom he coached during the 2023 season as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Asked what attribute he wants in the Browns' next quarterback, Rees said, "I've always started with the ability to make decisions and make the right decisions. ... I want a decision-maker at the position."
Lions GM: Goff will still shine despite OC's exit
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Brad Holmes is already back to work.
Not even a full week has passed since the top-seeded Lions suffered an upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round on Saturday, but Detroit's general manager and members of the organization no longer have the energy to waste any more time feeling sorry for themselves.
They've now lost both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears) and defensive coordinators Aaron Glenn (New York Jets) to head coaching jobs while former defensive line coach Terrell Williams has also accepted a defensive coordinator position with the New England Patriots.
"There's literally nothing else to do but pick yourself up and get back to work," Holmes said during his end-of-season availability.
Despite all those sudden changes, Holmes isn't expecting a drop-off in veteran quarterback Jared Goff's play after losing Johnson, or anyone for that matter.
"I think the guy's in his prime. He's gotten better and better every year. And when I say prime, I think like just entering it," Holmes said of Goff. "It's because he keeps ascending. I think like every single year we've been here, the next year, it's been 'man, he's playing at a high level.' And the levels keep improving. Again, I just have a lot of faith in [head coach] Dan [Campbell] and I know that he'll make sure that Jared's gonna be in a good position."
With Johnson as the Lions' offensive coordinator the past three seasons, Goff experienced a career revival in Detroit after being traded from the Los Angeles Rams. Johnson and Goff developed a close-knit bond to lead the organization to a franchise-best 15 wins in 2024 as Goff became the first player in NFL history to complete at least 72% of his passes and throw for more than 4,500 yards in a season.
On Thursday, Goff was named an MVP finalist by the Associated Press. He also received Pro Bowl honors for the fourth time of his career after ending with 4,629 passing yards with 37 touchdowns to 12 interceptions this season.
Holmes said he has the ultimate faith in Campbell, who was also named an AP Coach of the Year finalist, to fill those coordinator spots.
"Obviously we were prepared to lose those guys. Those guys were great coaches, and I mean, just call it what it is, we were lucky to have both of them this year," Holmes said. "But I know Dan has been preparing for it and I have the full faith and trust in Dan to make sure we're gonna have the right people in place in those spots and he's had to encounter that before. Not at the coordinator level, but other position coaches and it's always worked out."
During the process, Campbell plans to incorporate Goff's input "a lot" in finding a new offensive coordinator to take over for Johnson.
"To me that's important. That's what Ben did a great job of, is those guys working together, and the system was kind of built from the ground up, and it was to help him and for him to be a part of," Campbell said Monday. "And so, yeah, that's huge, he'll have a lot of input. What he says, says a lot to me, I should say. Now, is it going to be the ultimate decision? No, it's not, but what he says is going to mean a lot to me."
Like Campbell, Holmes doesn't feel as if Detroit's Super Bowl window has closed after losing in their playoff opener. He still feels the team is "very close" to winning a Super Bowl and the process has already started for 2025 to make that happen.
"I just think that we just stay the course and keep building like we've been. I do think that we're very close," Holmes said. "Obviously, I thought we were very close this year, but nothing's gonna kinda alter what our approach has been in terms of trying to continue to improve and keep building.
"Obviously, I do think we're very close and I felt really good about this season but fell short but we're gonna stay committed and stay committed to the process."
China to host BJK Cup Finals for next three years
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals will be held in Shenzhen, China for the next three years.
China, reigning champions Italy and six qualifiers will contest the week-long Finals in 2025, with a date yet to be confirmed.
Three venues in Shenzhen are being considered - including the 12,000 capacity Shenzhen Bay Sports Arena, which staged the WTA Finals in 2019.
Prague, Glasgow, Seville and Malaga were chosen as hosts for the first four editions, but organisers say a global event of this nature cannot stay in Europe for too long.
"The announcement demonstrates our commitment to bringing the passion and excitement of nation v nation team tennis to markets around the world," Billie Jean King said.
The tournament, formerly called the Fed Cup, sees 18 teams split into six groups of three in qualifying, with the group winners progressing to the Finals.
The draw for April's qualifying competition will take place later on Thursday.
Great Britain are one of the seeded nations but have not been selected to host one of the groups and already know they will be heading to either Japan or the Netherlands in April.
Watch GB's Patten and Heliovaara reach Australian Open doubles final
Watch Britain's Henry Patten and Finnish team-mate Harri Heliovaara reach their first Australian Open men's doubles final together against Germany's Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz.
READ MORE: GB's Patten & Finn Heliovaara 'ride the wave' to reach Melbourne doubles final
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'The older guys versus the younger guys' - what makes Djokovic-Murray tick
While Djokovic has not practised at Melbourne Park since beating Alcaraz, there have been plenty of chances over the fortnight to see how the team dynamic works.
During a warm-up hit with Britain's Jacob Fearnley before the quarter-final, Murray watched every movement intently from behind the baseline.
When the session wrapped up, Djokovic embraced Murray before the pair - to the delight of the several hundred watching - had a quick knock on court.
A couple of gentle rallies ended when Djokovic, rather brutally given Murray's fitness issues, brought out a drop-shot which the Scot dutifully chased down.
Then it was back to collecting Djokovic's racquets and taking them to the stringer.
"When I saw Andy walking through the corridors with all Novak's racquets, taking them to the stringer, you could see he is taking this job very seriously," Australian former world number four Sam Stosur told Channel Nine.
Djokovic's pre-tournament practice sessions against Alcaraz, Jack Draper and Arthur Fils offered more insight.
Standing close behind Djokovic and sometimes in the doubles alley, Murray constantly offered feedback, shouted praise after winners and made notes.
He also compared observations with Boris Bosnjakovic, who ran Djokovic's training centre in Belgrade before becoming part of the team last May after long-term coach Goran Ivanisevic left.
"It's about making small changes to things and trying to help him and improve with the whole team," Murray said.
Saracens' Segun out for 12 weeks with calf injury
Saracens winger Rotimi Segun has been ruled out for 12 weeks after he sustained a calf injury against Castres Olympique.
Segun, who has scored two tries in 12 appearances this season, left the field in the 59th minute of the 34-24 European Champions Cup defeat on Sunday, on what was his 100th appearance for the club.
Flanker Toby Knight, meanwhile, will have a consultation on a knee injury he picked against the Top 14 club at the StoneX Stadium.
England hooker Jamie George will continue to be monitored for what's now been described as a "minor" hamstring injury, while second row Nick Isiekwe is being assessed for a rib injury.
Both players have been included in England's squad for the upcoming Six Nations.
Argentina international centre Lucio Cinti has been sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring injury he sustained in his side's defeat at Munster.
Saracens visit Exeter Chiefs on Saturday in their last Premiership match before the international break.
The north London club are third in the table, seven points behind leaders Bath, and are through to the last 16 of the Champions Cup.
Andy Onyeama-Christie, who suffered a serious ankle injury in Sarries' Premiership defeat to Harlequins in October, is on course to return before the end of the season, the club said., external
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The complete field of cars for the 63rd Rolex 24 At Daytona gathered on the Daytona Intl Speedway circuit for the annual full-field photo on Wednesday.
Sixty-one cars across four classes (Grand Touring Prototype, Le Mans Prototype 2, Grand Touring Daytona Pro and Grand Touring Daytona) are set to compete in the iconic race that opens the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season starting Saturday afternoon.
Practice for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins Thursday, while Saturdays 24-hour event will be preceded by a pair of races for the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series and the opening event of the Michelin Pilot Challenge endurance series.
NBC Sports offers complete coverage of the 24-hour race across its platforms. Catch the race start live on NBC network starting at 1:30 p.m. ET Saturday. USA Network picks up coverage from 2:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday. The broadcast returns to NBC for the conclusion of the race from noon-2 p.m. Sunday. The entire race also streams live, flag-to-flag, on Peacock i
BARBERVILLE, Fla. The unofficial kickoff of Florida Speedweeks is this weekend with the Rolex 24 At Daytona Intl Speedway and short-track events at Ocala Speedway and Volusia Speedway Park.
Action featuring many of the countrys top touring short-track series will continue through the Feb. 16 Daytona 500 at Daytona.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series contests the Sunshine Nationals at Volusias half-mile dirt track Thursday, Friday and Saturday beginning a busy month of action at the track, as the 54th running of the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals follows Jan. 30-Feb. 15. The longest DIRTcar Nationals in the history of the event, kicks off with three nights of 360 sprint car racing featuring the ASCS National Tour Jan. 30-Feb. 1. The DIRTcar UMP modifieds accompany the 360 sprints and return to the track again Feb. 3-8.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series kicks off its season Feb. 5-8 with four consecutive nights of features attracting racers from coast to coast.
The USAC sprint cars will join the UMP late models for action on Feb. 10-11 with the Super DIRTcar Series big-block modifieds replacing the sprint cars Feb. 12-15 running alongside the UMP late models on Feb. 12 and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series on Feb. 13-15.
Absent from Florida Speedweeks this year will be East Bay Raceway Park, which hosted its Winternationals for more than five decades before closing at the end of last season. Events traditionally run at the popular third-mile dirt track have moved to Ocala Speedway for this year.
The three-eighths-mile Ocala track will host the DIRTcar modifieds Jan. 21-25 with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series calling the track home for Winternationals action Feb. 3-8. The Lucas late models open their Florida run Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Fla.
The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Championship makes its annual visit to the Ocala track Feb. 12-15, while All-Tech Raceway hosts the Short Track Super Series modifieds Feb. 5-8.
Formerly run at East Bay, the annual King of the 360s series of sprint car races will move to Hendry County Motorsports Park in Clewiston and will be run under the USCS banner Feb. 6-8. USCS will also sanction a pair of races at Southern Raceway on Feb. 14-15.
Many of the countrys best asphalt modified and late model stock car drivers will make the annual trek to the Sunshine state to compete in the 59th running of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Feb. 7-15 at New Smyrna Speedway. Super late models, Tour-type modifieds and pro late models are the headlining divisions on a nightly basis, but the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour will headline the Feb. 8 program, while the ASA STARS National Tour tops the Feb. 11 card at the half-mile asphalt oval.
Drag racing is also on the Speedweeks agenda with the second running of the PRI Superstar Shootout set for Feb. 5-8 at Bradenton Motorsports Park with the Top Fuel and Funny Car divisions headlining the action, which will feature the top stars in the sport chasing big-money purses.
And, of course, theres the event that spawned it all, the Daytona 500 at Daytona Intl Speedway. The NASCAR Cup Series will contest the 67th running of The Great American Race on Feb. 16.
Stock car Speedweek at Daytona opens on Feb. 12 with qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series. The following night will feature the annual Duel qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series hits the track on Feb. 14, with the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series both in action on Feb. 15.
Speedweek Events
Jan. 21-25 DIRTcar/UMP Modifieds
Ocala Speedway, Ocala, Fla.
Jan. 23-25 World of Outlaws Late Models
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Jan. 24 Michelin Pilot Challenge
Daytona Intl Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Jan. 25-26 Rolex 24 (IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship)
Daytona Intl Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Jan. 30-Feb. 1 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
All-Tech Raceway, Lake City, Fla.
Jan. 30-Feb. 1 ASCS National Tour
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Jan. 30-Feb. 1 DIRTcar/UMP Modifieds
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 3-8 DIRTcar/UMP Modifieds
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 3-8 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Ocala Speedway, Ocala, Fla.
Feb. 5-8 Short Track Super Series
All-Tech Raceway, Lake City, Fla.
Feb. 5-8 World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 6-8 USCS Sprint Cars/King of the 360s
Hendry County Motorsports Park, Clewiston, Fla.
Feb. 6-8 PRO Superstar Shootout Drag Racing
Bradenton Motorsports Park, Bradenton, Fla.
Feb. 7-15 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Feb. 7-8 Super Late Models
Citrus County Speedway, Inverness, Fla.
Feb. 8 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Feb. 10-11 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 10-12 UMP Late Models
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 11 ASA STARS National Tour
New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Feb. 12-15 Super DIRTcar Series
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb.12-15 USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars
Ocala Speedway, Ocala, Fla.
Feb. 13-15 World of Outlaws Late Model Series
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, Fla.
Feb. 14-15 USCS Sprint Cars
Southern Raceway, Milton, Fla.
Feb. 14 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Daytona Intl Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Feb. 15 UARA Sportsman
Freedom Factory, Bradenton, Fla.
Feb. 15 ARCA Menards Series
Daytona Intl Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Feb. 15 NASCAR Xfinity Series
Daytona Intl Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Feb. 16 NASCAR Cup Series
Daytona Intl Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. Benebone, a leading USA brand of durable dog toys, is back with Front Row Motorsports as a primary sponsor of Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Having served as an associate partner of Smith in the 2023 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Benebone will follow Smith in his return to FRM for the 2025 season with their scheme showcased in three Cup Series events.
Benebones season will kick off in May at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 before traveling to the world-famous Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico, in June. Benebones final race will be in October at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
For Smith, the partnership with Benebone is an authentic connection, as he is a proud parent of two Benebone-loving dogs, Roxy and Kygo.
Im excited to reignite my partnership with Benebone, said Smith. My dogs are a huge part of my life, so its great to have a partner who understands this special connection. Im inspired by Benebones commitment to creating long-lasting toys that dogs love. Hopefully, I can repay them with a trip to victory lane.
Benebone shares the same excitement in continuing its partnership with FRM and Smith.
Were thrilled to continue our partnership with Front Row Motorsports and Zane Smith for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, said Nate Harceg, Benebones Chief Growth Officer. The NASCAR communitys passion and loyalty have been incredible, and Zane is a fantastic ambassador for our brand. As a company built on making lives better for dogs and their humans, were excited to connect with fans on and off the track and share our mission with even more dog lovers this season.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. JR Motorsports announced that Jarrett, a leading provider of logistics, transportation, warehousing, international and fleet services, will return to the organization as a primary sponsor for six races during the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign.
Jarrett will support the Nos. 1, 7 and 88 Chevrolets with drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier and Connor Zilisch. In addition to their return as a primary partner, Jarrett will again be featured as a full-season associate on Allgaiers No. 7 Chevrolet.
Its great to have Jarrett return to JRM across not just my No. 7, but also with Carson and Connor, said reigning NXS Champion Allgaier. Ive really enjoyed working with Jarrett over the last couple of years and I know that Connor, Carson and myself will do all we can to get them in Victory Lane in 2025.
Jarrett, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider founded in 1999, has grown to become one of the top logistics companies in the United States. With a focus on advanced, integrated technology solutions, Jarrett partners with supply chain leaders, including Fortune 500 companies, to provide services in transportation, warehousing, international, logistics, and fleet operations.
As a family-owned company, Jarrett takes pride in delivering world-class customer service, innovative technology and premier high-touch logistics solutions tailored to meet client needs.
We are excited to continue our partnership with JR Motorsports in 2025, bringing the Jarrett brand to the track with an outstanding roster of drivers, said Mike Jarrett, CEO and President of Jarrett. Justin Allgaiers return to the Jarrett car, alongside rising stars Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil, underscores our mutual dedication to excellence and high performance. We look forward to watching these talented drivers represent Jarrett as they compete at the highest level and deliver an unforgettable season.
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