Sports
Joe Flacco reacts to Browns benching, admits he doesn’t know ‘if I foresaw it coming’
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The Cleveland Browns are turning to rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel this week against the Minnesota Vikings in London, as head coach Kevin Stefanski shakes things up already at the position following a 1-3 start.
It’s a move that the 40-year-old veteran appeared blindsided by.
“Listen, I think I said it on Sunday, anytime you’re in this league, everybody’s always getting evaluated,” Flacco said, via Pro Football Talk. “The job of the quarterback is to help your team win football games. So, I don’t know if I foresaw it coming, but listen, me and Kevin can have a good conversation. It’s not like anything that was super long or drawn out like that. But, got to the point, had a good conversation about it, and it is what it is.”
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during warm ups before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 21, 2025. (Scott Galvin/Imagn Images)
Flacco will move to QB2, backing up Gabriel in London, while Shedeur Sanders, the fellow rookie of Gabriel, remains third on the depth chart.
While all talk was on the two rookies taken in the 2025 NFL Draft, especially after Sanders was taken in the fifth round in shocking fashion, Stefanski made it clear in training camp that Flacco was the starter after going through practices.
But through four games this season, Flacco has thrown just two touchdowns to six interceptions, completing only 58.1% of his passes in the process. As a result, the Browns’ offense is averaging just 14 points per game.
Now, serving as a backup isn’t what Flacco had in mind, but he’s ready to help Gabriel in any way possible.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) drops back to pass during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025. (Peter Casey/Imagn Images)
“I think the best way to help him is continue to come to work with a good mindset every day and provide that positive energy and see what he needs on his end,” Flacco explained. “Listen, he’s into it, man. He’s ready to go. I’m sure he’s super excited about this opportunity. You can tell he takes it seriously just by the way he studies and his intent in the meeting rooms and on the practice field.”
Flacco rejoined the Browns this season, the same team he miraculously took to the 2023 playoffs which earned him the Comeback Player of the Year award. He’s a Super Bowl winner in the AFC North, though with the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent most of his career.
Given his pedigree, Flacco is disappointed in how he’s performed to start the season despite being ready if necessary in a backup role.

Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns looks to throw the ball against the Green Bay Packers at Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 21, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
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“I think every situation is unique,” he said. “And I think you do get emotional about it, so it’s tough to, in the moment, draw on those experiences.”
Flacco will be on the sideline watching as Gabriel takes on the Vikings, who fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland in Week 4, 24-21.
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Sports
Longtime Blackhawks great and broadcaster Troy Murray dies at 63, team says
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Former Chicago Blackhawks standout Troy Murray, who transitioned to the broadcast booth after his playing career, has died, the team announced Saturday. He was 63.
The Blackhawks said he died earlier in the day.
It’s unclear where Murray spent his final moments. Murray publicly disclosed his cancer diagnosis in August 2021. While he revealed he had been undergoing chemotherapy, details about the type of cancer he was fighting were kept private.
Murray, affectionately known as “Muzz,” continued to appear on Blackhawks broadcasts during his cancer battle, though his appearances eventually tapered off. He stepped away from the booth entirely ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.
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Troy Murray is honored during Hockey Fights Cancer night during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks at United Center Nov. 28, 2021, in Chicago. (Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
For more than a decade, Murray starred at center for the Blackhawks. CEO Danny Wirtz said the loss of one of the franchise’s most respected leaders left the team “deeply heartbroken.”
“Troy was the epitome of a Blackhawk so far beyond his incredible playing career, with his presence felt in every corner of our organization over the last 45 years,” Wirtz said.
“During his long and hard battle with cancer, it was often said that Troy didn’t have any ‘give up’ in him,” Wirtz added. “While our front office won’t be the same without him, we will carry that spirit forward every day in his honor. We’ll miss you, Troy.”

Troy Murray, a former player for the Chicago Blackhawks, is honored during the “One More Shift” campaign prior to a game against the Ottawa Senators at the United Center Feb. 21, 2018, in Chicago. (Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)
After 12 seasons with the Blackhawks, Murray finished his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche, winning the 1996 Stanley Cup.
After spending the following season with the International Hockey League Chicago Wolves, Murray stayed in the city to begin his broadcasting career in 1998. Murray was also named the president of the Blackhawks alumni association.
“Troy Murray is remembered for not only his contributions on the ice, but for his professionalism and humility and dedication to the city of Chicago,” the team said in a release. “He leaves behind a lasting legacy within the Blackhawks family and the broader hockey world.”

Chicago Blackhawks radio announcers John Wiedeman and Troy Murray wear lavender ties in honor of Hockey Fights Cancer night during a game against the Vancouver Canucks Oct. 20, 2010, at the United Center in Chicago. (Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images)
From Calgary, Alberta, Murray topped 20 goals five times, but he also became known for his defensive play. In 1986, he became the Blackhawks’ first player to win the NHL’s Frank J. Selke Trophy, the award for the league’s top defensive forward.
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Murray finished with 197 goals in 688 games over two stints with the Blackhawks and also played for the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, he had 230 goals in 915 career games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
D.C. United 1-2 Miami (Mar 7, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN
Lionel Messi scored the 899th goal of his career to help Inter Miami to a 2-1 win over D.C. United on Saturday in front of 72,026 fans at the home of the Baltimore Ravens.
With interest in Messi obviously high, the game was held in downtown Baltimore instead of at D.C. United’s smaller venue in Washington. Messi gave many fans what they came to see when he put Inter Miami (2-1-0) ahead 2-0 in the first half.
“It’s definitely nice to be able to go to away stadiums and know that you probably have more supporters than the actual home team,” Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair said. “Obviously that won’t be the case in every single stadium. I think it was definitely a case tonight.”
Rodrigo De Paul also scored for the defending MLS Cup champions. Tai Baribo pulled D.C. (1-2-0) within one in the 75th minute, but the home side was unable to equalize.
It was an eventful week for Messi and his team, which visited the White House on Thursday. Inter Miami opened the scoring in the 17th minute when De Paul collected the ball about 15 yards from goal and struck a shot into the far side of the net.
Messi then scored his fourth goal of the young season, slipping behind the D.C. defense to receive Mateo Silvetti‘s pass, then flicking the ball with one touch past goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
The 38-year-old will next look to become just the second men’s player in history, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to reach 900 career goals when Miami visits Nashville on Wednesday for its first game in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Miami head coach Javier Mascherano said the team will be competing to win every title this season, though at some point players’ minutes will need to be managed.
“I think it would be a big mistake to choose which competitions to focus on,” he said in his news conference. “We’re a team that has to compete equally in every competition.
“For us, the Champions League in this first half of the season is a very important competition, and we’re going to give it that value. We’ll try to go as far as possible, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to throw away the league matches.
“Last year, the team was able to compete in every competition we entered, and we did so at a high level, reaching almost the final in all of them except the Club World Cup. So, this year, we’ll try to do the same and even go further in the Champions League.
“Clearly, at some point we’ll have to start managing the players’ minutes as well. Playing every three or four days is a big drain, especially in this first part of the season where we’ve had to play away games all the time. That’s also something to keep in mind, and it does generate even more wear and tear.”
Inter Miami has won two straight since dropping its league opener 3-0 to LAFC.
D.C. United broke through in the second half. Jackson Hopkins‘ shot forced a save, and Baribo put away the rebound.
ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo injury ‘more serious’ than expected
Cristiano Ronaldo‘s hamstring injury is “more serious” than first anticipated, Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus said Friday, with the Portugal captain traveling to Madrid to undergo treatment.
Ronald limped off the pitch in Al Nassr’s 3-1 league win over Al Fayha last weekend.
Al Nassr did not provide an exact timeline for the 41-year-old’s recovery.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s home league game against Neom SC, Jesus said: “In the last game, Cristiano left with a muscle injury.
“After the tests he underwent, it became clear that it is a more serious injury than we were expecting. He will need rest and recovery. Cristiano will travel to Spain for treatment, as will other players who were injured.
“He will need treatment from his personal physiotherapist. We hope he will return soon to help the team.”
Ronaldo will be hoping to recover in time for Portugal’s international friendlies later this month.
Portugal take on Mexico at the renovated Azteca stadium on March 28 before facing the United States on March 31 in Atlanta in preparation for the World Cup.
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Ronaldo is third in the Saudi Pro League top scorers’ table. The Portugal captain has scored 21 times, while English forward Ivan Toney is top of the scoring charts with 23 goals from 23 games for Al Ahli.
Al Nassr are two points clear of Al Ahli at the top of the Saudi Pro League.
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