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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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Hockey officials reject Canadian coach’s complaints of 3-on-3 overtime rules after Olympic loss

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Hockey officials reject Canadian coach’s complaints of 3-on-3 overtime rules after Olympic loss


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Team Canada men’s hockey coach Jon Cooper may not like the Olympics’ three-on-three overtime format, but it doesn’t matter at all. 

It’s staying in place. 

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) president Luc Tardif told The Athletic that, despite Cooper’s complaints following his team’s gold-medal loss to Team USA on Sunday, they will continue using the format in future tournaments. 

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Canada coach Jon Cooper answers to the media during a press conference following the Ice Hockey Men Final between United States and Canada on day sixteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

“It’s the best rules to fit in a tight schedule,” Tardif told the outlet. “We have to figure out 30 games in 11 days for men and for the women 28 games in 13 days – 58 all together in 16 days. 

“Huge challenge.”

The IIHF wanted to introduce the three-on-three format the NHL uses during its regular season to prevent the use of the shootout. However, the NHL does make the change to five-on-five hockey during the playoffs with no shootouts – only the game-winning goal. 

Cooper, though, couldn’t help himself when he ripped into the overtime format after watching Jack Hughes snipe the gold-medal goal past his goalie, Jordan Binnington. 

“You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore,” Cooper said, per the New York Post. “There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play – it’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time. There’s a reason why it’s not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs.”

Jon Cooper during timeout

Head coach Jon Cooper of Team Canada speaks to his players after the team’s 3-2 victory in the Men’s Semifinals Playoff match between Canada and Finland on day fourteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Overtime in the preliminary rounds of the Olympics lasted five minutes, with a five-round shootout transpiring if a game-winning goal wasn’t scored in that time. For the quarterfinals and semifinals, the overtime was boosted to 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes in the gold-medal games. 

Canada didn’t get as clean a look at the net as Hughes did on his game-winning shot, but they did have tons of chances during the three periods. In the end, the U.S. was able to keep the game notched at one apiece through 60 minutes, with tremendous saves by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was dubbed the “Secretary of Defense” by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for his performance. 

After the game, Cooper wasn’t the only Canadian showing some bitterness about the result. Assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon, who missed a wide-open net in the third period that could’ve been the game-winner for Team Canada, made an interesting comment to the press. 

“You be the judge of who was the better team today,” he said. 

Jon Cooper looks on ice

Head coach Jon Cooper of Team Canada takes part during training on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 8, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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While Cooper, MacKinnon, and the rest of Team Canada think about the what-ifs, Team USA took Air Force One to visit President Donald Trump on Tuesday prior to his State of the Union Address. The team was spotted in the Oval Office, where Trump congratulated every player in person on their tremendous accomplishment.

The United States won its most golds in a single Winter Olympics (12), which included the women’s ice hockey team also beating Team Canada in overtime thanks to the heroics of Megan Keller.

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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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‘Tactical errors’: Cricket fraternity reacts to Pakistan’s defeat against England

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‘Tactical errors’: Cricket fraternity reacts to Pakistan’s defeat against England


Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England’s Will Jacks. — Reuters 

Renowned former cricketers and fans on Tuesday expressed disappointment on Pakistan’s overall performance during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after the national team lost to England in their second Super Eight match of the tournament.

Skipper Harry Brook’s brilliant century led the Three Lions to a two-wicket win over the Green Shirts at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, sealing their place in the semifinals and consolidating their top spot in Group 2 with four points.

Chasing a challenging target of 165, the two-time champions reached the total with eight wickets down and five balls to spare, thanks to Brook’s captain’s knock.

Brook walked back after top-scoring with a 51-ball 100, including 10 fours and four sixes.

Will Jacks followed shortly after, dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz for 28 when England required just five runs off 12 deliveries. Nawaz struck again in the same over, getting Jamie Overton stumped, adding drama to England’s chase.

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez took to social media platform ‘X’ and expressed his disappointment on social media platform ‘X’, reflecting on Pakistan’s overall performance in the ongoing tournament.

“Tactical errors caused team Pakistan not in this match but whole tournament,” Hafeez wrote.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Yousuf praised England’s performance in the same game, highlighting the impact of Harry Brook’s innings.

“Harry Brook delivers! Leading from the front, and England are into the semis. What a thriller! Pakistan’s rollercoaster continues,” Yousuf said.

Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik emphasised that success in the shortest format still depends heavily on strong basics, game awareness, and discipline rather than merely intent and innovation.

“Aiming to play modern-day cricket without getting the basics right is like sitting in a 10th-grade exam without going to nursery class,” Malik wrote.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan shared his thoughts on the tournament’s conditions, suggesting they may heavily favour non-subcontinent sides.

“A great chance that not 1 sub-continent team will make the semi-finals in these conditions,” Vaughan wrote.

Pakistan Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad launched a strong critique of the team’s tactics and execution, expressing disappointment over what he described as a missed opportunity against an England side he believed was far from its best.

“England weren’t even at their best. A very beatable side. Yet Pakistan missed a golden opportunity due to poor planning, poor shot selection & a confused Playing XI,” Shehzad wrote.





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