So much for Sean Payton's poker face. The New Orleans Saints coach didn't try to cloak the team's desire to re-sign free agent quarterback Jameis Winston if Drew Brees retires as expected.

Payton spoke glowingly about Winston to ESPN and other media outlets while doing some Super Bowl week appearances on Wednesday, saying the Saints would like to re-sign him "sooner than later."

Payton also specifically told CBS Sports' Pick Six Podcast that he expects Brees to make an announcement "in the next week or two."

Payton has been saying for months that he thinks the Saints' next quarterback is already "in the building" -- a reference that includes both Winston and Taysom Hill. And he reiterated Wednesday that the Saints have a "pretty good vision" for both players.

It was notable that Payton mentioned Winston first and talked about him in greater detail when asked about the Saints' future QB plans by ESPN's Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin Show and by NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" show -- saying it was an "easy" question.

However, Payton stressed that the reason he mentioned Winston first was because he's a free agent and Hill is already under contract for one more year.

"Jameis Winston, we know. We had a year with him. He was fantastic as a leader. He's got tremendous arm talent. He's a young prospect that we like a lot," Payton said in his ESPN appearance. "When you have a player for a season, he's kind of giving you a chance to see what he's about, and there's a little bit of an audition there. But the same audition takes place for us. He's getting a chance to see, 'Hey, this is how they do it here. Does this fit me? Does this head coach, this position coach? Is this a place I feel comfortable playing?'"

Payton told "Good Morning Football": "A lot of times you want to hold your cards closer to the vest [with a] free agent. But him along with Taysom Hill, we've said it all along, we're gonna develop and coach those guys. And Jameis is one of those guys that we have a big interest in."

Winston, who just turned 27 in January, signed a one-year deal with the Saints last spring for $1.1 million plus incentives because he specifically wanted to learn under Payton and Brees while trying to revive his career. He called it "a Harvard education in quarterback school."

Winston didn't get much on-field experience, since there was no preseason and Payton elected to start Hill while Brees was sidelined for four games by broken ribs and a punctured lung. However, Winston did make his best play of the season when he completed a 56-yard touchdown pass on a trick play in New Orleans' playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Winston was 7-of-11 for 75 yards in the regular season with no touchdowns or turnovers.

Hill, 30, went 3-1 in those four starts, with some highs and some lows. But Payton explained that part of the reason he chose Hill over Winston was because Hill was in his fourth year in New Orleans -- and Payton had made a promise to Hill that he would get such an opportunity when he re-signed last year as a restricted free agent.

It appears that this year would be more of an open competition between Winston and Hill, assuming the Saints don't make any other big moves at the position.

Winston, of course, showed his own plethora of highs and lows during his first five seasons with the Buccaneers after being selected out of Florida State with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards in 2019 in his first year under coach Bruce Arians. But he also became the first quarterback in league history to throw for at least 30 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in the same season -- which led Tampa Bay to move on to Tom Brady instead.

Winston went 28-42 in his five seasons as a starter with the Bucs, completing 61.3% of his passes with 19,737 yards, 121 touchdowns and 88 interceptions. Turnovers were his biggest issue, with a total of 111 in five years.

WHEN MYLES TURNER was told he would miss two to three weeks after suffering an avulsion fracture in his right hand on Jan. 14, he had one reaction.

"No way," the Indiana Pacers big man told his first-year coach Nate Bjorkgren.

The Pacers' next scheduled game, against the Phoenix Suns, was postponed, giving Turner time to meet with two hand specialists -- one based in Los Angeles and another with the organization -- who both told him it wouldn't require surgery but would be extremely painful to compete. That was all Turner needed to hear.

He showed up to Indiana's practice facility just five days after getting hurt, sporting a protective pad on his hand and insisting he was ready to go.

"He could've very easily just sat on this and said, 'I'm gonna sit out here the two or three weeks.' No way, he wasn't having anything to do with that," Bjorkgren said. "He knows his importance to this team and also he knows just how active he can create our defense and what he means to protecting the rim for us."

Turner takes his job as the Pacers' defensive centerpiece too seriously to miss extended time, especially right now when he's in the midst of his best season as a pro. The six-year veteran changed his entire approach this offseason, both physically and mentally.

Entering Wednesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks (7 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN app), Turner is averaging 3.9 blocks per game, which would be the most for any player since Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning in 1998-99. Earlier this season, he blocked at least three shots in 10 consecutive games, the third-longest streak for any player in the past decade.

"You can lead the league in shot-blocking and still not make an All-Defensive team," Turner told ESPN. That's exactly what happened to him when he averaged a league-best 2.7 blocks per game in 2018-19.

"My drive this year pushes beyond rim protection," he continued. "I want to show the league what everyone in Indy's known for years now -- that I'm a defensive anchor and I take pride in that."

THREE WEEKS BEFORE training camp started, Bjorkgren met with his young star in Santa Barbara, California, where Turner was training, and laid out everything he wanted to see from the big man, setting Turner's goals for the season.

"My first couple years, I've had long-term goals. Like, 'Oh, I want a championship. I want to be an All-Star. I want to do this, this and that.' But, I think I had to focus more on the short-term," Turner said. "Now, it's like, I'm at this point in my career where every year, I want to get better and better, focusing on myself to better the team."

As a rookie, Turner started 30 games, but eventually found himself coming off the bench because of the thing he now thrives at, defense. He admitted that he never took that end of the court seriously until he got to the NBA, relying solely on his athletic ability to block shots without learning the finer aspects of what it takes to play NBA-level defense.

"As far as rotations, guarding guys on the perimeter, pick-and-roll defense, I got burnt a lot in certain situations, and I got benched for that," he said. "So, that kind of just gassed me up in a sense there as well because you can always control that end of the floor, and as I started playing more and more and I had to realize that."

For Turner, that's been part of a maturation process that hasn't gone unnoticed by his teammates.

"He's just more mature in how he's thinking about the game, leading as well, listening as well and being able to be led," Pacers wing Justin Holiday said. "So, Myles has done a great job and allowed the game to come to him as well as if he's not shooting well, still affecting the game."

The impact Turner makes on Indiana's defense is stark. When he's on the court, the Pacers give up a stingy 104.3 points per 100 possessions, better than the league-leading 104.8 mark of the Los Angeles Lakers. When he sits, the Pacers allow opponents to score 113.8 points per 100 possessions, a mark that would rank 28th in the league. Opponents are also shooting 8 percentage points worse from the field when Turner plays.

"Overall, there has been a jump [in his game]," one Eastern Conference scout told ESPN. "Part of it is just as opponents drive to the lane and try to finish as the rim, he has legitimate size. Whether he blocks the shot, which he's been doing more this year, or also just altering the shots, he's definitely a presence."

This year's Pacers are playing more zone, allowing Turner to stay close to the rim. Their guards are coached to funnel opponents into Turner, where he can deny them at the rim. They're building the defense around him, and so far, Turner says the plan has been working.

"When I come out there, defensively, I make a huge difference. I change games," Turner said. "Fourth quarter, that's where I really lock in. I really feel like I'm able to push my team and I've won a lot of games with my defense, so just knowing that I have that and knowing that my teammates know that I'm back there and being able to have everybody's back, it makes it easier for everybody."

Turner is tied for the league lead with five blocks in clutch time (Toronto's Chris Boucher also has 5), which accounts for 71.4% of the Pacers' total clutch-time blocks this season. In the fourth quarter and overtime overall, Turner has 16 blocks, second most behind only Utah Jazz two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert (17).

Overall, Turner is contesting 13.7 shots per game this season, fifth most in the NBA. The only other Pacers player contesting more than six shots per game is All-Star Domantas Sabonis (11.2).

"Just got to pretty much be aware of where he is at all times," said Collin Sexton, who scored 28 points against the Pacers on New Year's Eve. "You might think you have a free layup and he might just come out of nowhere and block it, so you've got to make sure you're aware and make sure your eyes are out looking for him."

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis plays alongside reigning Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo but acknowledged that trophy could be moving 300 miles southeast this season, describing Turner's shot-blocking output as "remarkable".

"I don't know how the voting goes with all the awards and all that, but I'm pretty sure he's up there in the ranks," Portis said. "I don't know too many guys that's averaging four blocks ... he's having a helluva year right now."

IN THE SHORTEST offseason in NBA history, Turner found ways to grow. Instead of training in his home state of Texas, like he typically does, he went to Santa Barbara, California, where he worked out six days per week at Peak Performance Project (P3) in the mornings. In the afternoons, he participated in private basketball workouts and film sessions with personal trainer, Ross McMains, where they always ended with film sessions. He also studied players like Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh, focusing on their defensive play.

McMains and Turner worked together to break down his game, body movements and tendencies. Inside P3, they targeted his hips, core, glutes and entire lower body for him to become agile enough to defend in all different scenarios such as pick-and-roll, on the perimeter and rotations in addition to shot-blocking.

"P3 worked to improve the mechanics of his foot and ankle, his ability to maintain control of his trunk/torso during dynamic movements and general lower body power," P3 general manager Adam Hewitt said. "During his time, Myles increased concentric force output by 13%."

That increased explosiveness, a new Pacers system more tailored towards his strengths, plus Turner's emphasis on mental health has produced the perfect marriage.

"He was this big-time talent that was just kind of waiting to take off," said McMains, a former Sacramento Kings assistant coach. "There's still a lot more untapped there."

In his second game back after learning about the right hand fracture, he swatted six shots against Toronto then racked up another five against Charlotte on Jan. 27 while competing in the white, protective pad.

Still, Turner says he feels like he has a point to prove every time he checks into a game. Playing in Indiana, it's easy for his accomplishments to go under the radar -- Wednesday's game is one of just two on national TV for the Pacers in the first half of the season. That's part of the reason why he wasn't going to let a hand fracture stop him from showing he belongs in the conversation as one of the NBA's elite defenders.

"I have an opportunity to do something special this year individually," Turner said. "Becoming Defensive Player of the Year."

Dayana Yastremska will miss the Australian Open after an appeal against a doping ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

The 20-year-old took the case to Cas after the International Tennis Federation refused to lift the ban.

Her appeal was fast-tracked as she hoped to play in next week's Australian Open, but it was dismissed by Cas.

"Ms Yastremska therefore remains ineligible to compete, pending the final resolution of her case," the independent body added.

Yastremska has denied using performance-enhancing drugs after testing positive for mesterolone metabolite, an anabolic agent, in November.

The Ukrainian, who has been ranked as high as 21 in the world, said she was "shocked" by the positive test and suggested it was the result of a "contamination event".

Despite the provisional ban, she was allowed to travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open and spent a 14-day period in quarantine with other players.

The Grand Slam event is set to start on Monday.

Worcester have signed scrum-half Will Chudley from Bath on a two-year deal.

Chudley spent six years at Exeter and was part of the side that won their first Premiership title in 2017.

"We have been most fortunate to secure the services of Will, who is an experienced Premiership campaigner and a first-rate game manager," said director of rugby Alan Solomons.

"Will is a quality bloke and a good team man and we all look forward to having him here at Sixways."

Worcester have already signed tight-head prop Christian Judge from Bath this week.

Chudley added: "From speaking with the coaches they are all in sync with each other and they are building something that I want to be part of and that I will enjoy."

The delayed Women's Six Nations will be played in a reduced format across four weekends in April.

"The fact that the tournament is going ahead is a really positive thing," said England captain Sarah Hunter.

"In these strange times it could have been easy to say we just wouldn't have it.

"While you may think we're missing out on games, we're still playing a Six Nations which culminates in a final which might add a bit more excitement to it."

Each team will play two pool games, one home and one away, before matches to decide placings on the final weekend.

The team that finishes first in pool A will face the side who finishes top of pool B to decide the Six Nations champions, with other teams playing the side that finishes in the equivalent position in the other pool.

Ireland, Scotland and Italy are yet to qualify for the 2021 World Cup, which begins in September.

Six Nations organisers say those teams' matches are not currently due to double up as World Cup qualifiers, but this could change.

Move a 'brilliant opportunity' for women's game

The tournament was originally scheduled to be played alongside the men's but was postponed because teams are mainly comprised of amateur players, causing complications with how to play safely during the pandemic.

Organisers say the women's event may move permanently to a new window, with Six Nations chief executive Ben Morel adding this would place it "firmly in the limelight".

Should the new format also be made permanent, there may be concerns that this would mean women's teams player fewer Test matches every year.

In 2020 Scotland, Wales and Ireland played fewer Six Nations games than expected after three fixtures were cancelled.

But Hunter said England had "contingencies" to make up for missed games and described separating the Women's Six Nations from the men's tournament as a "brilliant opportunity".

"The pandemic has given us a chance to see whether it will work in that time," she added.

"Do we get more people watching when it's separate to the men's? It could be a real benefit to grow the women's game."

'Having a title sponsor would be massive'

Morel said in January the Six Nations had had "several positive discussions" with potential title sponsors for the women's tournament, but that organisers were still looking for the "right partner".

Hunter hopes moving the women's tournament away from the men's could encourage more interest.

"Having a title sponsor would be massive," she said. "I'm sure and I hope that people at the Six Nations are really driving that to try and find something because the tournament deserves it.

"I think every major women's sporting competition now has a title sponsor behind it and you've seen just how far that can progress those sports so it would be brilliant to get a title sponsor on board."

Tournament organisers said fixture dates, kick-off times and venues would be announced "in due course" and confirmed that the postponed men's Under-20s Six Nations will move to June.

2021 Women's Six Nations fixtures

Twenty-eight-year-old stand-in skills coach Ed Robinson admits he was full of nerves before his first day working with the England squad.

"I was driving there and thinking 'just turn around and go home, what are you doing?'" Robinson told BBC Sport.

"But everyone has been awesome. I've got my head down and worked hard and hopefully I am earning their trust."

Robinson, who was forced to stop playing because of concussion at 19, usually works as backs coach to Championship side Jersey Reds and first met Jones when the England coach visited the island to give a talk in January 2020.

Robinson spent an hour with Jones asking about his views on the game and was invited to spend a day with England during last year's Six Nations.

The pair continued to speak weekly on the phone during lockdown and when Ryles was unable to travel for this year's tournament, Jones sent Robinson a message.

"It was short and sweet, it said 'call me' so I picked up the phone straight away," remembers Robinson.

"It is a bit bizarre, I didn't expect it to happen, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here.

"I don't think about my age, you work with what you have got, it is not a massive factor for me."

Robinson, the son of former England and Scotland head coach Andy Robinson, says his father made sure he and his siblings could "stand on their own two feet".

His rise into the England coaching ranks follows stints with Clifton and Rotherham before he was hired by Jersey Reds in 2018.

Full-back Max Malins was one of the England players to work closely with Robinson during his first week at their St George's Park base and came away impressed.

"He's very good," Malins said of Robinson.

"He has different ways of going about things, tries out new techniques, so I found him quite fascinating.

"He is young but very knowledgeable. It has been a breath of fresh air to have him in. He's been brilliant for me so far."

STATESVILLE, N.C. — The SRO America race season is set to begin in March and DXDT Racing is operating at full speed ahead for what will be an action-packed season.

The new season will see the return of the sports car racing team to the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS with the pairings of David Askew and Ryan Dalziel, and George Kurtz and Colin Braun, back in GT3 competition, joined by Erin Vogel and Michael Cooper for a three-car team effort.

C.J. Moses will advance from the TC America series to join the GT America competition, and 2020 TCA Champion Kevin Boehm will return for another season in TC America.

CrowdStrike Racing will also return as a strong supporter of the team, back for its third year of partnership with DXDT Racing.

This will mark the team’s fifth year racing Mercedes machinery, now returning with three cars for the seven-weekend championship.

Amid putting together their full-season lineups, DXDT Racing also used the off-season to relocate their operations from Salt Lake City, Utah to Statesville, N.C. The new facility boasts 20,000 square feet where DXDT will continue to build the program and hire new staff to reinforce the team’s strong standing in the series.

CrowdStrike, a leader in cyber security, is back for a fourth consecutive season with SRO America as the title sponsor and Official Internet and Cloud Security Provider for SRO’s GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS.

“DXDT is very excited to continue our relationship with CrowdStrike in 2021,” said DXDT Racing owner and driver David Askew. “We are eager to pick up where we left off and looking forward to more wins and hopefully a championship-winning effort. Our mission is to support client racing, and CrowdStrike being a primary focus of our program. DXDT continues to invest in people and equipment with the goal of helping CrowdStrike Racing to win races and championships.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – When Justin Johnson made the decision to cut back on his own driving and focus on his new development team for this season, he went looking for a young, up-and-coming racer with proven success who was ready to shine on a big stage.

Enter 17-year-old Aledo, Texas, native Kaden Honeycutt, who was looking for an opportunity to come to NASCAR country and make his mark.

After a successful test in Johnson’s car at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C., last weekend, Honeycutt will contest the full CARS Late Model Stock Tour schedule this season under Johnson’s watchful eye.

Honeycutt, who has proven he can run with the best on both pavement and dirt, is coming off a top-five finish at the Snowball Derby last December at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., where he was the first driver across the finish line who had no prior NASCAR national series experience.

Honeycutt had never driven a NASCAR-style late model stock car, but it didn’t take long for him to get up to speed at Orange County despite a cold afternoon and little grip in the track.

That quick adaptation told veteran racer Johnson all he needed to know.

“I am extremely excited to work with Kaden,” Johnson said. “I feel like he is the perfect fit for our program. I honestly believe, with the speed and feedback he has shown, he can help our growth as much as we can help his. Kaden’s performance and professionalism on and off the track speaks for itself. The team and I believe in him 100 percent, and I believe the potential is there for him to be the next superstar.”

Johnson noted that the decision to get out of the driver’s seat and put Honeycutt in was a rather simple choice for him.

“Our team is extremely excited for Kaden to be our first driver and a building block for the future,” Johnson said. “As I reach my mid-30’s, having drivers like Kaden is extremely rewarding and makes it easier and easier to step away from the driver seat. Of course, we wish we had the luxury to have Kaden for more than one year, but we intend to win enough races in 2021 and put Kaden in a position to be ready to step up the ladder if the opportunity presents itself.

“Our intentions in the years to come are to continue to provide a first-class team that serves as a step for young drivers wanting to learn what it takes to succeed at higher levels,” Johnson continued. “We want to win every race, but unfortunately that is not realistic. Out of respect for everyone on the team and myself, whomever we decide to take to the race track, we will be going to win and we intend to work only with drivers who we feel will give us that opportunity.

“We are incredibly lucky to have teamed with Kaden this year, and we look forward to winning some races and competing for a championship in the CARS Tour.”

Honeycutt was smiling from ear to ear when he was asked about the team, the test and the opportunity.

“I am excited about running this season with Justin Johnson Racing in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour,” Honeycutt said. “Testing this last weekend at Orange County Speedway was certainly a different challenge, driving-wise. The super late model I am used to driving and a late model stock are two completely different cars. I adapted quickly and started driving harder and harder each run. The team is very professional and knows what they’re doing.

“I really enjoyed Justin and the team I was working with and I cannot wait to compete for the CARS Tour championship. My goal is to make a statement this season and run for the win in every event we go to,” Honeycutt continued. “I will have the team to do it. The rest will be up to me.”

The new combination will make its season debut Feb. 5-6, at Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway, where Honeycutt will race in the 125-lap late model portion of the Icebreaker event.

Johnson was happy for the opportunity to get a race in with his new pilot prior to their March 6 CARS Tour debut together.

“It’s a pleasant surprise to have Kaden in the car a month early at the Icebreaker,” he said. “I’m excited for Jason, Stanley and myself to have a warmup with him ahead of the first race for the CARS Tour. Florence gives Kaden an early opportunity at one of the toughest surfaces in the region to learn how to manage the race and the tires in order to be there at the end.

“We’ve had great runs at Florence the only two times we’ve visited, with me in the seat leading several laps in both races, so I fully expect the same with Kaden in the seat.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Austin Cindric admitted he’s in a bit of an unusual position as he prepares to attempt to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 63rd annual Daytona 500 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

After all, it’s one thing for a driver to have to race into The Great American Race as a non-chartered entry. It’s another thing entirely to be in that position while driving for one of the sport’s premier teams.

However, that’s exactly where Cindric finds himself as he readies for his first appearance at the top level of the sport. He’ll drive the No. 33 Verizon 5G Ford Mustang for Team Penske and will have to either race his way in to the field through his Duel qualifying race or fall back on his qualifying speed to make the show.

Cindric told SPEED SPORT during his Daytona 500 Media Week availability on Monday that yes, it does feel strange to be in the position that he’s in, but it’s not entirely foreign to him.

“It’s going to be different, but I wouldn’t say it’s the first time in my career I’ve had to do it,” Cindric said of having to qualify for a big event. “When I raced the No. 2 truck in the Truck Series for Brad Keselowski Racing, it was kind of the same scenario — we had to qualify our way in — and if there was a rainout or something like that, we didn’t get in. So I’ve been in that position, but at the highest level for the biggest race of the year, yeah, it’s completely different than what I’m used to.”

The lineup of non-chartered entries for this year’s Daytona 500 is, perhaps, the most talented in many years.

In addition to Cindric, Kaulig Racing’s Kaz Grala, Front Row Motorsports’ David Ragan, JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ryan Preece and Beard Motorsports’ Noah Gragson are among the drivers who are wheeling cars that do not have guaranteed starting spots in the Feb. 14 event.

Thirty-six chartered teams are locked into every NASCAR Cup Series race, including the Daytona 500.

Four positions are available on the Daytona 500 starting grid for open entries, with two spots given to the highest-finishing open team in the twin 150-mile Duel qualifying races and two spots awarded to the fastest two open drivers from Daytona 500 qualifying that don’t lock in through their Duels.

Cindric hopes he’s not one of those on the outside looking in when the green flag waves on the 63rd annual Daytona 500.

“There are a lot of people in that boat. You’ve got guys who have contended to win the Daytona 500 that are having to qualify their way in, so it’s definitely a challenge and it’s unique to this race,” Cindric noted. “I think it gives fans something to be excited about on Wednesday and Thursday, a reason to watch the Duels probably more than any year before, at least in recent years. I’m excited for that challenge.

“Hopefully, we qualify our way in, and I don’t have to lose too much sleep at night on Wednesday night, but, otherwise, every bit of my effort so far has gone into figuring what it’s going to take to qualify in in those Duels and put our best foot forward.”

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