Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa showed no initial sign of concussion and there was no violation of protocol in allowing him to play on against the Green Bay Packers, an official review has determined.
The NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) issued a joint statement on Saturday after delving into the circumstances once it emerged Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in last Sunday's game. It was a concussion that was not detected until the next day.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Wednesday that film from the Packers game had been reviewed, leading team officials to question Tagovailoa on how he felt after a particular hit, sending him to see the doctors after inconsistencies in the quarterback's behaviour caused concern.
Tagovailoa will sit out the game against the New England Patriots on New Year's Day, with Teddy Bridgewater set to start in his place.
Star quarterback Tagovailoa also missed two games in October after another concussion, where he was hospitalised during a 27-15 Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals after being whipped around and flung to the ground by the Bengals' Josh Tupou, causing his head to snap back onto the turf.
In that instance, the Dolphins were heavily criticised for having Tagovailoa on the field just four days after an incident in a 21-19 win over the Buffalo Bills, where he was pushed to the ground by linebacker Matt Milano, with his helmet slamming into the turf.
In a statement widely reported by US media on Saturday, the NFL and NFLPA said they had completed a review of the application of the concussion protocol in the Christmas Day game.
"The joint review determined the protocol was not triggered," the statement said. "The protocol is initiated when a player receives an impact to the head and exhibits or reports signs or symptoms suggestive of a concussion.
"The review established that symptoms of a concussion were neither exhibited nor reported until the following day at which time the team medical personnel appropriately evaluated and placed Mr Tagovailoa in the concussion protocol."
The Dolphins are 8-7 for the season following their 26-20 loss to the Packers, in which Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, and have now suffered four losses in a row.
McDaniel said this week that Tagovailoa's health holds more importance than the games that lie ahead.
"This is a private time for him to focus on his health. This is a human being. His health is the first and only priority," McDaniel said.
Olympic swimmer Cherelle Thompson on Thursday encouraged Trinidadian athletes to seize the moment, as she spoke candidly about her struggles with injury, adapting to college life and trying to stay positive during the Covid19 pandemic during her feature address at the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee Annual Awards.
Thompson, 30, represented Trinidad and Tobago in the women’s 50-metre freestyle event at the 2020 Olympics, which was held last year because of the pandemic. She is the national record holder in the women’s 50m freestyle for both the long course (50m) and short course (25m).
Reflecting on her challenges, Thompson, a former student of the University of Tennessee, said “We all know the pursuit did not come without threat to the life of my dream. It was many years before I could make it onto the Olympic stage and time would not permit me to share the details of the chapters from that defining moment to the point where I would make it to the blocks in Tokyo.
Faith also got her through dark times. “What I could say though is that it was a long, long road with many defining moments and it was only through reflection that these experiences, by the grace of God, I was able to find reasons to be grateful and wonder amidst the ashes of disappointment and difficulty.”
Thompson said her first "last straw” was a shoulder injury which a surgeon said was “one of the worst they had ever seen.”
On her experience studying in the USA while advancing her swimming career, Thompson said it was not a bed of roses. “I cried buckets of tears being homesick and (not) finding a way to adapt to the new demand of academics and athletics.”
The adversity did not end there for Thompson. “The second shoulder injury came sometime after, then major disappointment and retirement (temporarily), sitting out for some time after missing out on Rio (Olympics) 2016."
Covid19 had put the careers of athletes on pause and Thompson was no different.
“Let’s fast forward to March 2020 to that time in history. Imagine what it would have felt like when the announcement came for the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games. I was set to begin medical school later that year and the world was in a state uncertainty with a glimmer of hope that things would improve for the games to be held 12 months later (in July/August 2021).”
Thompson saw her dreams fading. “At this point I was convinced that I had no more straws. All I had was a dream in my heart and a passion for sport, and I placed that into God’s hands. The rest is history.”
Thompson made her Olympic debut competing in her strongest event – the 50m freestyle – placing 41st overall with a time of 26.19 seconds.
She urged all athletes to cherish every moment. “The question that none of us could answer is whether this would be our last competition, our last season, our last breath. All things considered, we know not what the future holds…take each opportunity to compete and engage in this thing called sport as a gift.”
Looking ahead to 2023, Thompson said, “No matter the stage of our journey, may we all transition into 2023 with our minds fixed and fortified, our bodies prepared to fight, and in our hearts a posture of gratitude and wonder to seize each moment as it were our last.”
Thompson also thanked retired two-time TT Olympic swimmer Sharntelle McLean for inspiring her.
If Manchester United could bottle their end-of-year form, perhaps their struggles over the past decade would have long been consigned to history.
Substitute Marcus Rashford's goal gave United a 1-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday, continuing a theme of strong form at this time of year.
The Red Devils have not lost their final league game in a calendar year since suffering a 3-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in 2011, winning eight and drawing three of their 11 matches since.
Here, Stats Perform looks at United's impressive run, as Erik ten Hag aims to mastermind a resurgence for the team who were last champions of England in the 2012-13 season.
Blackburn's birthday blues for Ferguson
Alex Ferguson turned 70 on December 31, 2011. His team neglected to deliver a worthy present, though, as they stumbled to a 3-2 home defeat against Blackburn, who began the day at the foot of the Premier League.
United would have gone top with three points, usurping neighbours Manchester City, but Yakubu's two goals put Blackburn into a shock 2-0 lead, and although Dimitar Berbatov replied with a double, Grant Hanley headed a winner for Steve Kean's team.
Of those involved that day, two players remain at United, with David de Gea still first choice as goalkeeper. Phil Jones, the other survivor, was a player United picked up from Blackburn, expecting great things. He is still at United, but you would hardly know it, given Jones has not made a first-team appearance this season.
Come the end of the 2011-12 campaign, Manchester City took the title on goal difference from United, a first English league crown in 44 years, while Blackburn were relegated.
Ferguson's birthday and New Year's Eve celebrations began on a bum note, and United have made sure to finish the year in a more assured manner ever since.
Signing off on a high
Ferguson's last Christmas and New Year stretch as United boss saw his team harvest 10 points from four games from December 23 to January 1.
On their final outing in 2012, an own goal from Gareth McAuley and a late clincher from Robin van Persie secured a 2-0 win at home against West Brom on December 29.
That was the beginning of the 11-game unbeaten stretch in year-ending league games for United, and it was another important stepping stone on their march to winning the title by 11 points.
Since then, United have had year-end league wins against Norwich City, Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, Burnley (twice) and Wolves (twice), while managing draws against Tottenham, Chelsea and Southampton.
Is United's run a record?
It's not even a club record. United had a run of 13 unbeaten year-end league games between 1955 and 1967, so Ten Hag's team have some way to go to beat that tally.
Manchester City put together a 14-game unbeaten streak in their final Premier League fixture of the year from 2002 to 2015. It came to an end on New Year's Eve in 2016, when Georginio Wijnaldum's early header earned Liverpool a 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola's men at Anfield.
Demarai Gray's stunning equaliser dented Manchester City's Premier League title bid and eased the pressure on Frank Lampard as Everton claimed a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Lampard's struggling team looked set for more misery when Erling Haaland continued his incredible goalscoring form in the first half, sweeping home to hand City the lead.
Everton failed to register a single shot until the 64th minute, but they only needed one chance as Gray whipped a brilliant effort into the top-right corner to cap a devastating break.
Pep Guardiola's men looked startled by Gray's intervention, as their failure to find a winner handed Arsenal the initiative in the title race on New Year's Eve.
Haaland went close early on when he hit the side-netting from a tight angle after rounding Jordan Pickford, but he was not to be denied 24 minutes in.
Jack Grealish's neat work down the left allowed Riyad Mahrez to square for Haaland, who finished beyond Pickford in a crowded penalty area to put City ahead.
Former Everton defender John Stones hit the post with a diving header as half-time approached, and City appeared destined to add to their lead as they pinned the Toffees back.
However, the visitors silenced the Etihad with their first attempt of the game after the hour mark, with Gray breaking clear and recovering from a stumble to arc a terrific effort into the far corner from the left of the area.
Pickford denied Mahrez from close range as City threw players forward in desperation late on, but Everton stood firm through 11 minutes of stoppage time to claim a huge point towards their survival bid – much to the delight of Arsenal.
Xavi refused to blame referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz after Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Espanyol but acknowledged the feisty Catalan derby "totally got out of control."
The Blaugrana were forced to settle for a point on their return to action following the World Cup despite a dominant display at Camp Nou, where Joselu's penalty cancelled out a header from Marcos Alonso.
The contest descended into chaos as Lahoz, who was in charge of Argentina's fiery World Cup quarter-final clash with the Netherlands this month, prolifically handed out cards during the bruising final exchanges.
Jordi Alba was dismissed for two bookable offences on his 300th LaLiga appearance for the Barca, while Vinicius Souza after, and Leandro Cabrera was fortunate to stay on the field having appeared to stamp on Robert Lewandowski.
But while Xavi, who was booked by Lahoz, was disappointed by the official's performance, the head coach insisted Barca only had themselves to blame for failing to convert their superiority into three points.
"Mateu is a referee who controls the matches, and today escaped him," he is quoted as saying by Marca. "Today, the match has totally got out of control.
"He is a referee who gives you the feeling that he dominates and controls the game. But today, it was not like that. I don't blame him for anything. The tie is our fault. I have to look for my own, for what I can control.
"I can't control the referee. I have said it many times. The referee would have to come out and speak and say what he has seen and what the players have told him. Jordi has told me that he has not said anything to him.
"We have created chances. From the 30th minute, we have slowed down, the intensity. We haven't attacked so well, perhaps. My feeling is that we should have won well. The penalty is an unfortunate move for us.
"We are angry with ourselves. In football, there are times when you are better, and you don't win. The team has generated a lot of danger in corners. It's a pity and we're upset."
Barca are level on points with Real Madrid at the top of the table but have a better goal difference.
Marcus Rashford found the "right answer" to being benched by scoring Manchester United's winner at Wolves on Saturday, according to manager Erik ten Hag.
Despite being England's joint-top goalscorer at the World Cup and then netting two in two for United on his return to club football, Rashford was named on the bench for the visit to Molineux because of an "internal disciplinary" breach.
But after a lacklustre first-half display, Ten Hag brought on Rashford at the break, a decision that paid dividends as the forward scored a 76th-minute winner to send Manchester United into the Premier League's top four heading into 2023.
Ten Hag was delighted with the forward's response to being left out of the starting line-up, which the 25-year-old explained after the game was because he overslept and arrived late to a team meeting.
"It's good after the decision," Ten Hag told BT Sport. "Rashford came in.
"He was bright, he was lively and he scored a goal to give a good reaction. Everyone has to adhere to the rules and if you react like this, it is the right answer."
United's poor performance in the opening 45 minutes left Ten Hag with little choice but to make a change at half-time, with Fred also coming on shortly after the interval.
As well as the substitutions, Ten Hag feels his side's improved mentality in the second period spurred them to victory, saying: "We were not that good in the first half.
"In my opinion, the second half was better. Fred was winning second balls and linking play when he came on.
"In the first half, you analyse the game but sometimes things do not work as expected. Wolves did not create many chances and we did but you have to be sharp.
"I was not happy at half time and I told them with this attitude they will not win this game and everyone had to give 10 per cent more."
Marcus Rashford has revealed he was benched for Manchester United’s Premier League win over Wolves after he overslept and was late for a team meeting.
The in-form United forward was among the substitutes for the Premier League clash at Molineux on New Year’s Eve, but came on to score the only goal of the game.
Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag said the England international was left out of the starting line-up for a breach of discipline and Rashford confirmed he was punished for staying in bed too long.
"I was a little bit late for a meeting," he told BT Sport. "I just slept in and overslept. It's a mistake that can happen.
"[I was] obviously disappointed not to play, but I understand the decision. I think we can draw a line under it and move on."
Team-mate Luke Shaw was full of praise for Rashford following his match-winning impact off the bench.
"When you've got someone like Marcus Rashford to come on in the second half, you know there’s a goal coming," he added.
"I think he's in a good way at the moment. It's nice to see it. Everyone knows the quality he's got, and he can be one of the best of the world if he keeps going."
Vinicius Junior has criticised LaLiga bosses for failing to effectively tackle racism after the Real Madrid forward was targeted at Real Valladolid.
The Brazilian had items thrown at him from the stands after he was substituted late on, and shocking footage of verbal abuse emerged after Friday's game.
Madrid sealed a 2-0 win in their first league game since the World Cup, with Karim Benzema getting both goals.
Vinicius posted a picture of himself with Benzema soon after the away victory, with the caption: "God bless us!"
Having considered the unsavoury events of the evening, Vinicius added on social media on Saturday: "Racists continue to go to stadiums and watch the biggest club in the world up close and @LaLiga continues to do nothing...
"I will continue with my head held high and celebrating my victories and those of Madrid. In the end it's MY fault."
Madrid are next in action against fourth-tier Cacereno in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.
The preparations for the IPL 2023 are underway, and all ten franchises have completed their squads after buying their preferred players at the recently concluded IPL auction.
Sam Curran became the most expensive player in IPL’s history after Punjab Kings bought him for 18.50 crore. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes and Cameron Green also went big.
One surprising pick that went for big money was West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran. Lucknow Super Giants spent 16 crore (US$ 2 million) on the 27-year-old, which left many shocked.
Pooran has had his moments of fame in the IPL, but his overall stats are disappointing, which is why the fans felt that Pooran has been overpaid by the KL Rahul-led franchise.
In 47 matches in his IPL career, Pooran has scored just 912 runs, including four fifty-plus scores.
LSG’s global mentor, Gautam Gambhir, responded to the trolls and criticism for Pooran and justified the big spending on the Caribbean star.
Gambhir said that he does not judge a player by last year’s performance but looks at its impact on the game.
“I do not look at the last season. I look at a player’s ability and impact. Pooran can win us 2-3 matches, and with age on his side, we wanted him to build the team around him.”
Gambhir took an indirect dig on old-school players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who score fifty-plus runs but at an underwhelming strike rate.
“The tournament is not about scoring 500-600 runs in a season. It is about winning matches by scoring impactful runs.”
Rio Ferdinand thinks Harry Maguire should be looking to leave Manchester United in January.
The Red Devils defender has made only three Premier League starts this season, with Luke Shaw preferred to him at centre-back in the wins over Nottingham Forest and Wolves following the World Cup.
Maguire was impressive for his country in Qatar, but remains out of favour with United boss Erik ten Hag
Former United defender Ferdinand believes the former Leicester City man needs a new challenge.
"If I'm Harry Maguire, I'd be looking for a new club right now," he told BT Sport. "You've seen what he's done with England, he's [been] impeccable.
"He's faultless for them, the way he plays. He puts in good, solid performances. [But] at Manchester United, it hasn't worked out for him.
"This new manager, by his team selection, has shown him he is not going to be one or the top two or three centre-backs in his squad."
Maguire has struggled with illness since returning from England duty, but came off the bench against Wolves and Forest.
Lisandro Martinez will be expected to be restored to the team when he returns following Argentina's World Cup triumph, while Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof have both been given more opportunities than Maguire.
Joselu's late penalty denied Barcelona as Espanyol rescued a 1-1 draw during a Catalan derby that descended into chaos towards the end.
The Blaugrana replaced Real Madrid at LaLiga's summit on goal difference but were forced to settle for a point on their return to action despite dominating with over three-quarters of the possession and 21 shots.
Marcos Alonso broke the deadlock with an early header but then conceded the spot-kick that Joselu converted 17 minutes from time.
Both sides ended the game with 10 men after Jordi Alba and Vinicius Souza were dismissed for second bookings as referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz – the man in charge of Argentina's feisty World Cup quarter-final clash with the Netherlands earlier this month – prolifically handed out cards during the bruising final exchanges.
Marcus Rashford came off the bench to steer Manchester United to a 1-0 victory over struggling Wolves at Molineux and send them into 2023 in the top four of the Premier League.
Rashford had scored two in two since returning from the World Cup but was benched by Erik ten Hag on Saturday for disciplinary reasons as United put in a blunt first-half performance.
The England international was introduced at the break and had a huge impact, firing home a 76th-minute winner with a powerful finish past Jose Sa, before he later had a second ruled out following a VAR check.
It could be a huge three points for United on the road as they leapfrog Tottenham into fourth, with Spurs due to play Aston Villa on Sunday.
The hosts received a huge let-off early on when an under-hit Nelson Semedo backpass put Alejandro Garnacho in on goal, only for Sa to bail out his right-back with a vital stop.
Diego Costa missed a big chance shortly after, doing the hard work to make space for a shot but sending a tame effort straight into the waiting hands of David de Gea.
Antony spurned an opportunity before the break when he saw a header saved after great work down the left by Garnacho and Tyrell Malacia.
Rashford, brought on at half-time, had the last laugh when his battling run ended with him smashing into the back of the net.
He had the ball in the back of the net in the 85th minute but the ball was adjudged to have come off his arm, and De Gea superbly kept out Raul Jimenez's header in the closing seconds as United held on for all three points.
Marcus Rashford was dropped from Manchester United's starting XI for Saturday's trip to Wolves due to "internal disciplinary" reasons.
The England forward has been in great form for United this season and looked particularly sharp since returning from the World Cup.
He scored in each of United's first two games after Qatar 2022, while he also got an assist in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Manager Erik ten Hag has managed to get the best out of the 25-year-old after a particularly disappointing 2021-22 campaign, but something behind the scenes has put an obstacle in Rashford's path.
Asked why he removed Rashford from the team after looking so lively in United's two previous games, Ten Hag told BT Sport: "Internal disciplinary. No [details]. Our rules.
"Now focus on the game. He is in very good form and no-one can play all the games."
This is not the first time Ten Hag has wielded the axe to punish breaches of club discipline at United, with Cristiano Ronaldo dropped earlier this season after refusing to come on against Tottenham.
Rashford was named among the substitutes, however, whereas Ronaldo was ditched from the squad entirely on that occasion.
Alejandro Garnacho was the one to benefit from Rashford being dropped, with the 19-year-old lining up in attack with Antony and Anthony Martial.
Luke Shaw kept his place at centre-back despite both Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire being fit enough to take places alongside Rashford on the bench.
Also among United's substitutes is talented 17-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who will make his senior debut if he comes on.
World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez is still absent despite returning to training this week; Diogo Dalot – who is also yet to feature since the World Cup – misses out again as well.
Rafael Nadal shot down questions over his potential retirement after losing to Cameron Norrie at the United Cup, saying he is "here to continue playing tennis".
As part of his preparation for next month's Australian Open, 22-time grand slam winner Nadal fell to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 defeat to Norrie as Great Britain seized a 2-0 lead over Spain in Sydney.
Norrie had not won a set against Nadal in their previous four matches, and the 36-year-old was asked afterwards how much longer he planned to continue before calling it a day on his historic career.
"Every time I come to a press conference, it seems like I have to retire," Nadal told reporters. "You're very, very interested in my retirement.
"At the moment, that's not the case. When this day comes, I'll let you know.
"But don't go on the subject of retirement because I'm here to continue playing tennis."
With just over two weeks until Nadal's Australian Open title defence gets underway, the Spaniard knows he will have to improve on his performance against Norrie, saying: "I need to be faster physically and a little more solid.
"There is a way to improve, but I have time before the Australian Open starts in two weeks."
While Nadal's shaky performance against Norrie could cause concern over whether he can defend his crown in Melbourne, he was keen to credit the British number one, stating: "He is a top player.
"He didn't impress me much because I know he is very good. He did a lot of things well, very solid, without mistakes, serving well. I can do things better and I need to."
Nadal will be in action again at the United Cup on Sunday, taking part in a doubles match with Paula Badosa against Daniel Evans and Harriet Dart.
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