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Falcons make decision on Kirk Cousins two years after signing him to $180 million contract

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Falcons make decision on Kirk Cousins two years after signing him to 0 million contract


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Kirk Cousins‘ time with the Atlanta Falcons is all but over.

General manager Ian Cunningham told reporters Tuesday that the team will release the veteran quarterback once the new league year officially begins next month.

Cunningham said he had already told Cousins of the team’s decision.

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Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons warms up for the Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 11, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

“Just felt that was out of respect for Kirk. What he’s done in his career, I owed that to him. We owed that to him to allow him some clarity going into free agency,” Cunningham said at the NFL Scouting Combine Tuesday.

Cousins headed to the Falcons two years ago after the Minnesota Vikings decided it was time to move on, draft J.J. McCarthy and sign Sam Darnold. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed.

Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins passes against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)

However, the marriage was already soured when, roughly a month after signing Cousins, the Falcons were the biggest shockers of that year’s NFL Draft, selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.

Cousins struggled in his first season, prompting the team to move on to Penix earlier than expected. Penix was then the starter this year, while Cousins was the backup.

Penix was injured this season with a partially torn ACL, which left Cousins to play in 10 games, starting eight of them. In his 24 games under center with the Falcons, Cousins threw 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions with a 65.0 completion percentage for 5,229 yards.

Kirk Cousins waves

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins walks off the field after the Minnesota Vikings game, Dec. 8, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

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Perhaps, though, the Falcons are not concerned with Penix’s knee, despite it being the third time he has sustained such an injury.

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Olympic gold medalist US men’s hockey team visits White House to celebrate historic win over Canada

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Olympic gold medalist US men’s hockey team visits White House to celebrate historic win over Canada


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Team USA’s Olympic gold medal-winning men’s hockey team arrived at the White House for their meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as the players are also expected to attend Trump’s State of the Union address. 

The team made history with its 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in the gold medal game on Sunday. New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes hit the golden goal to deliver the U.S. its first men’s hockey gold medal since the 1980 Miracle on Ice team. 

Canada has historically been the most dominant Olympic hockey team in history, with a world-best nine gold medals. Sunday’s win also avenged a loss to Canada in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face Off exhibition in early 2025, which came amid heightened tensions between the two countries over Trump’s tariff policy. 

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Trump called the players after Sunday’s win, congratulating and thanking them during the locker room celebration.

Trump told the men’s team after inviting them to Tuesday’s State of the Union that he’d “have” to invite the women’s team, otherwise “I probably would be impeached.” The players laughed in response to Trump’s joke. 

Video of the exchange has since gone viral, with some women’s hockey fans criticizing Trump and the men’s players for making light of the women’s team’s gold medal victory, which also came against Canada. The women’s team has since declined Trump’s invitation to Washington, citing scheduling conflicts. 

Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski opened up about where their American pride came from as they celebrated their Olympic accomplishment.

President Donald Trump talks to members of the United States men’s hockey team at the White House in Washington, District of Columbia, on Feb. 24, 2026. (Dan Scavino via X)

Larkin and Werenski appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday morning, hours after celebrating their gold medal victory against Canada in Miami. The two opened up on what it meant to them to represent the Stars and Stripes.

“I think a lot of us played at the U.S. National Team Development Program … When we were there, you get to put the jersey on every day for two years, before you’re drafted. We go through training. We’re not military by any means but they put us through some training, and they really instill in you some pride,” Larkin said. “Once you go through that, you take the jersey off … and every time you take it off, for me at least, I don’t know the next time I’m going to put it on.

“So, every time I get the chance to represent the United States of America, I put that jersey on, I’m all in. I love doing it, and it’s just something special. I could go on all day about how great our country is. Just being home and seeing our friends and family, it’s just special.”

Werenski was asked whether playing in other countries made him more proud to be an American.

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Jack Hughes with the fans

United States’ Jack Hughes (86), who scored the winning overtime goal, celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.  (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

“I think you’re spot on. I remember my first World Championships with him was in Slovakia. I’ve been to Denmark, I’ve been to Czech (Republic) – these are all great countries, and you play in them, and it’s a ton of fun. The Olympics were in Italy were in Italy, which is an unbelievable country,” he said. “You get reminded of how great the United States of America is when you get back here. And we love representing our country, we love wearing those colors.

“Like Dylan said, we learn about it from a young age. We’re allowed to live out our dream because of the military – the people that serve, the first responders. It’s just an incredible country. It’s the best country in the world, and we love wearing these colors, and you definitely get an appreciation for it when you go overseas and play.”

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Liberal pundits call Team USA hockey players 'morons,' scold gold medalists over Trump call





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Dybantsa fuels No. 23 BYU’s upset win over No. 6 Iowa State

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Dybantsa fuels No. 23 BYU’s upset win over No. 6 Iowa State


PROVO, Utah — AJ Dybantsa had 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to help No. 23 BYU defeat No. 6 Iowa State 79-69 on Saturday night for its first victory over a top 10 opponent this season.

Kennard Davis Jr. added 17 points, and Mihailo Boskovic had 13 for the Cougars (20-7, 8-6 Big 12). They outscored Iowa State 40-22 in the paint and had a 39-28 edge on the glass.

“He’s showing people night in and night out how reliable he is,” BYU coach Kevin Young said of Dybantsa. “What I liked about him tonight is he did it on both ends of the floor. … I thought it was his most complete game of the season.”

Dybantsa has been scoring at an elite level against ranked competition all season. According to ESPN Research, he is averaging 28.2 points in the Cougars past five matchups against AP top 10 opponents.

“AJ can do whatever he wants on a basketball court. Whatever he puts his mind to, he can do,” Young said. And Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger concurred.

“He’s obviously a really tough cover. I mean, his size, with his ball skills, his ability to pass and create an advantage, get the spots and make shots, is truly unique,” Otzelberger said. “I mean it’s up there with anybody in the country that’s for sure.”

Tamin Lipsey led the Cyclones (23-4, 10-4) with 19 points. Jamarion Batemon added 14, and Joshua Jefferson had 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Iowa State was tabbed as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament selection committee’s reveal of the top 16 teams in the bracket earlier Saturday. The Cyclones were the fifth top 10 team on the day to suffer a loss.

Iowa State whittled a double-digit deficit to a basket, drawing to 57-54 on Lipsey’s 3-pointer with 7:21 left.

Dybantsa and Davis scored back-to-back baskets at the rim to quell the rally. It marked the beginning of a 13-3 run that made it 70-57 with 3:33 remaining.

Rob Wright III bookended a 13-0 run with a pair of layups that put BYU up 37-25 in the final minute before halftime. The Cougars attacked the rim throughout the first half and outscored Iowa State 22-6 in the paint over the first 20 minutes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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College softball rankings: 2026 NCAA Week 3 Top 25 poll

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College softball rankings: 2026 NCAA Week 3 Top 25 poll


There was little movement over the last week. Tennessee won four more games to continue its undefeated season and maintain its place atop the rankings. Texas Tech and Texas, last year’s WCWS finalists, are right behind. And this week brought a new team to the top 25 to replace Clemson: Grand Canyon.

Here’s this week’s complete ranking.


Player to watch

Sophia Knight, Tennessee

The junior outfielder is as responsible as anybody for Tennessee’s hot start to the season. Knight was named SEC Player of the Week after going 11-for-13 last week. She has recorded eight multi-hit games and is hitting .543 through the first 14 games of the season.


How to watch

Everything college softball on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big 12 Now on ESPN+, ESPN3, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACCNX is accessible here, in addition to being available on the ESPN App.


What’s the full schedule

You can check out the complete scoreboard here to stay up to date this spring.

Subscribe to ESPN | Stream college softball on ESPN

Week 3 Top 25

Here is the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 ranking, plus each team’s record and next game.
All times Eastern.

1. Tennessee

Previous rank: 1
Record: 14-0

Next game: Friday vs. App State, 3 p.m., SEC Network+


2. Texas Tech

Previous rank: 2
Record: 16-1

Next game: Thursday vs. Abilene Christian, 6 p.m., ESPN+


3. Texas

Previous rank: 3
Record: 14-1

Next game: Wednesday vs. SE Louisiana, 7 p.m., SEC Network+


4. Nebraska

Previous rank: 6
Record: 11-4

Next game: Thursday vs. Oklahoma State, 7 p.m., ESPN+


5. Oklahoma

Previous rank: 4
Record: 13-2

Next game: Thursday vs. Alabama State, 7 p.m., SEC Network+


6. Florida

Previous rank: 5
Record: 19-0

Next game: Thursday vs. Cal, 8 p.m.


7. Alabama

Previous rank: 9
Record: 13-0

Next game: Tuesday vs. UAB, 5 p.m., SEC Network+


8. Arkansas

Previous rank: 8
Record: 13-1

Next game: Thursday vs. Omaha, 5 p.m., SEC Network+


9. UCLA

Previous rank: 11
Record: 13-3

Next game: Friday vs. East Texas A&M, 3 p.m.


10. Florida State

Previous rank: 7
Record: 12-4

Next game: Wednesday vs. Florida A&M, 3 p.m., ACC Extra


11. Georgia

Previous rank: 12
Record: 13-4

Next game: Wednesday vs. Clemson, 6 p.m., SEC Network+


12. Virginia Tech

Previous rank: 20
Record: 11-2

Next game: Friday vs. South Carolina Upstate, 2 p.m.


13. Stanford

Previous rank: 10
Record: 10-4

Next game: Friday vs. Louisville, 6 p.m., ACC Extra


14. Arizona

Previous rank: 16
Record: 12-5

Next game: Thursday vs. Eastern Illinois, 8 p.m., ESPN+


15. Texas A&M

Previous rank: 13
Record: 10-6

Next game: Thursday vs. Houston, 7 p.m., SEC Network+


16. Oklahoma State

Previous rank: 19
Record: 11-4

Next game: Thursday vs. Nebraska, 7 p.m., ESPN+


T17. LSU

Previous rank: 17
Record: 12-4

Next game: Tuesday vs. McNeese, 7 p.m., ESPN+


T17. Oregon

Previous rank: T14
Record: 8-6

Next game: Friday vs. Stetson, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten Plus


19. Mississippi State

Previous rank: 18
Record: 14-1

Next game: Wednesday at Georgia Tech, 6 p.m.


20. Duke

Previous rank: T14
Record: 9-7

Next game: Tuesday vs. East Carolina, 5 p.m., ACC Network Extra


21. Virginia

Previous rank: 25
Record: 12-1

Next game: Tuesday at Longwood, 2 p.m.


22. South Carolina

Previous rank: 22
Record: 9-5

Next game: Friday vs. Charlotte, 6 p.m., SEC Network+


23. Arizona State

Previous rank: 21
Record: 13-3

Next game: Thursday vs. UC Riverside, 8 p.m., ESPN+


24. Washington

Previous rank: 23
Record: 10-6

Next game: Friday vs. Cal Poly, 2:30 p.m.


25. Grand Canyon

Previous rank: NR
Record: 16-0

Next game: Thursday vs. Minnesota, 9 p.m.



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