French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte must leave office after receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence for corruption, sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said.
The Paris Criminal Court announced the punishment on Tuesday, after investigating a number of marketing decisions made by Laporte that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 club Montpellier, including a shirt sponsorship deal for his construction business with the France national team.
Laporte was also handed a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the court, raising the possibility of him being out of office before France hosts next year's Rugby World Cup. Altrad was given an 18-month suspended sentence and a €50,000 fine.
The court heard Laporte had taken his actions while also agreeing a personal image rights deal with Altrad that was worth €180,000 to the former France coach, according to Le Parisien and other French media.
Laporte's lawyers announced there will be an appeal against the punishments. Prosecutors had been seeking jail time for both he and Altrad.
The French federation (FFR) said Laporte would stay as president pending the outcome of his appeal. Laporte is also a vice-chairman of World Rugby, which said its executive committee would meet later on Tuesday to consider the outcome.
Laporte and Altrad had denied wrongdoing, and Oudea-Castera said the planned appeal from Laporte should be allowed to run its course.
But her office said in a statement: "In terms of good governance, the minister considers that this new context prevents Bernard Laporte from being able, as it stands, to continue his mission in good conditions at the head of a delegated federation of a public service mission, at a moment as decisive for French rugby as the home stretch before a Rugby World Cup where France will receive nations from all over the world.
"The minister therefore calls for a new democratic era allowing French rugby as quickly as possible to restart on sufficiently healthy and solid bases, with a governance of the federation which will have the full confidence of the clubs and will be able to bring people together.
"It is therefore up to the authorities of the federation that it is now up to them to take up their responsibilities."
Montpellier issued a statement that read: "The Paris Criminal Court delivered a decision at the start of the afternoon which, on the merits, is not fully satisfactory, although the sentences are very different and well below the requisitions requested, which testifies to the insufficiency of the elements of this file."
It said Altrad's lawyers would consider whether to appeal, adding: "It is essential to emphasise that Montpellier Herault Rugby is neither targeted nor impacted by this decision and that Mohed Altrad will continue to invest his time and energy in his management missions for his club, its employees and its partners."
Wales head coach Warren Gatland says Ireland counterpart Andy Farrell is the only real contender to lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour to Australia in 2025.
Gatland was in charge of the Lions on consecutive tours in 2013, 2017 and 2021.
The 59-year-old's shock return as Wales boss last week means he may now be in the running for the next tour in two and a half years' time.
However, Gatland believes on current credentials, Farrell is perfectly suited for the role following his impressive work with Ireland.
"If you are picking a Lions coach at the moment, there is only one person that I think is in contention," he told reporters. "He is across the water and living in Dublin at the minute.
"If you are successful, those opportunities come along. I hadn't even thought about [the Lions tour]. I am just thinking about the next 10 months.
"I am well aware of how important the Six Nations and World Cup are next year.
"I don't plan my pathway. I am a believer of if you are in the right place at the right time, then opportunities come along. What will be, will be."
Farrell oversaw a historic Test series triumph against New Zealand in July and then added the scalps of South Africa and Australia in November.
Ireland are top of the world rankings, whereas Wales are down in ninth on the back of a poor year that led to the dismissal of Wayne Pivac.
Gatland has been tasked with turning things around in his second spell at the helm, with a showdown against Ireland first up in Wales' 2023 Six Nations opener on February 4.
"Facing them first is probably good, as they are the best team in the world, and rightly so," Gatland said.
"Getting them first up at home is not the worst thing. It's a tournament of momentum. You win your first game and you've got a good chance of doing well.
"To get them first up, it's probably the one game you want at home – playing against the best team where there is probably a bit more pressure on them.
"I think we will be pretty excited about getting ready for the game."
This season's MVP winner in the NBA regular season will be the first recipient of the Michael Jordan Trophy.
The NBA announced on Tuesday the renaming of the award after the former Chicago Bulls star, widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time, who won the MVP award himself five times during his career.
The Michael Jordan Trophy is the headline of six newly-designed trophies, which includes a new award for Clutch Player of the Year, named after Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West, the only player to win the Finals MVP award as part of the losing team when he did so in 1969.
The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy will be awarded to the Defensive Player of the Year, the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy for Rookie of the Year, the John Havlicek Trophy for Sixth Man of the Year and the George Mikan Trophy for Most Improved Player.
"Our new collection of trophies celebrates some of the greatest and most impactful players in the history of the NBA," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
"As we recognise the league's top performers each season, we also pay tribute to the legends who embody these prestigious awards."
The announcement comes shortly after the league revealed a new trophy for the 2022-23 campaign to be awarded to the team that finishes with the best regular-season record.
The Maurice Podoloff Trophy – named after the NBA's first commissioner – will be handed out for the first time this season. The MVP trophy had previously been named after Podoloff up until last year when it was retained by Nikola Jokic.
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach died on Monday at the age of 61, the university has announced.
Leach passed away at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, due to complications from a heart condition.
In a statement, the Leach family said: "Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather. He was able to participate in organ donation at UMMC as a final act of charity.
"We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Thank you for sharing in the joy of our beloved husband and father's life."
Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum said: "Coach Mike Leach cast a tremendous shadow not just over Mississippi State University, but over the entire college football landscape.
"His innovative 'Air Raid' offense changed the game. Mike's keen intellect and unvarnished candour made him one of the nation's true coaching legends.
"His passing brings great sadness to our university, to the Southeastern Conference, and to all who loved college football. I will miss Mike's profound curiosity, his honesty, and his wide-open approach to pursuing excellence in all things.
"Mike's death also underscores the fragility and uncertainty of our lives. Three weeks ago, Mike and I were together in the locker room celebrating a hard-fought victory in Oxford [over rivals Ole Miss].
"Mike Leach truly embraced life and lived in such a manner as to leave no regrets. That's a worthy legacy. May God bless the Leach family during these days and hours. The prayers of the Bulldog family go with them."
Leach is best known as one of the pioneers of the 'Air Raid' offense, an aggressive and potent attack that he developed as an assistant to Hal Mumme at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State and Kentucky, whose quarterback Tim Couch became a number one overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1999 after excelling in the system.
He moved on to Oklahoma as an assistant Bob Stoops in 1999 and his success in transforming their offense led him to be appointed as Texas Tech head coach.
Leach spent 10 years at Texas Tech, where he never had a losing season. His 84 wins remain the most in program history and he set the record for bowl game appearances with the Red Raiders (10).
He was hired by Washington State in 2012, going 55-47 with the Cougars and leading them to a program record six bowl game appearances. After going 4-7 in his first year at Mississippi State, he guided the Bulldogs to back-to-back winning seasons, including an 8-4 record in the 2022 regular season. The Bulldogs are due to face Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 2.
Leach went 158-107 in his head coaching career, reaching 19 bowl games and delivering seven seasons of at least nine victories and two conference division titles. His passing attack led the FBS - the highest level of college football - in 10 of his 21 seasons as a head coach, six at Texas Tech and four at Washington State.
His irreverent personality, which saw sessions with the media feature long tangents on everything from weddings and Halloween candy to which Pac-12 mascot would win in a fight, made Leach one of the most popular coaches in college football.
Mississippi State athletic director Bracky Brett said: "We are heartbroken and devastated by the passing of Mike Leach. College football lost one of its most beloved figures today, but his legacy will last forever. Mike's energetic personality, influential presence and extraordinary leadership touched millions of athletes, students, coaches, fans, family and friends for decades.
"Mike was an innovator, pioneer and visionary. He was a college football icon, a coaching legend but an even better person. We are all better for having known Mike Leach. The thoughts and prayers of Mississippi State University and the entire Bulldog family are with his wife Sharon, his children and the entire Leach family."
Eddie Jones will return to Twickenham next May following his dismissal as England coach as he takes charge of the Barbarians against a World XV.
The Australian was sacked less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup after overseeing a dismal 2022 in charge of the national side.
Though the Rugby Football Union has not yet moved to find a successor ahead of the tournament in France, Jones has lined up a new gig and will lead the invitational side for a second time.
Having previously coached them in 2019 – and having lost to them earlier this year in a 52-21 defeat – the 62-year-old is relishing the opportunity to do so again.
"It's an incredible honour to be asked to coach the Barbarians for a second time," he said.
"The club showed during the autumn that the values and traditions which make the Barbarians so special are still very much alive.
"Fans can expect to see two top-quality teams, packed full of international players, going all out to catch the eye ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
"I am very much looking forward to returning to Twickenham Stadium – a venue I have so many fond memories of – as head coach of the Barbarians, and I'm more motivated than ever to put on a show."
Steve Hansen, who won the 2015 Rugby World Cup, will lead the World XV, which will reunite him and rival Jones in what they hope will be an entertaining contest.
"Going up against Steve rekindles a great rivalry which first started in our days competing in Super Rugby and progressed into the international arena," he added.
"It'll be a great challenge and one I'm sure we're both relishing."
The New Jersey Devils see no need for panic after their 11-game road winning streak was ended by the New York Rangers on Monday.
Filip Chytil scored two minutes and 15 seconds into overtime to give the Rangers a 4-3 win at Madison Square Garden.
The Devils had made the short trip from Newark to Manhattan looking to tie the 2014-15 Minnesota Wild and 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings for the longest winning run away from home in NHL history.
New Jersey had previously not lost on the road since suffering a 5-2 defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers on October 13.
That remains their only away loss in regulation this season, with the Devils still 11-1-1 in road games this season.
The Devils remain top of the Metropolitan Division with their 21-5-2 record the second-best in the Eastern Conference heading into Tuesday's home game with the Dallas Stars.
That too will be a tough test for the Devils, with the Stars second in the Western Conference's Central Division.
But center Nico Hischier is remaining calm in the wake of some rare adversity for the Devils, who have now lost two games in a row.
He said: "Penalties kind of slowed us down in the second [period], we've got to be more disciplined, especially against a team we know [have a] really deadly powerplay.
"They scored a goal on it as well so we've gotta clean that up.
"It's a rivalry game. It was intense and close until the end. No time for panic. We have to regroup, and tomorrow is a new game. That's what we have to focus on right now."
Igor Shesterkin, who last season won the Vezina Trophy for the NHL's best goaltender, made 26 saves to frustrate the Devils, with the Rangers now 15-10-5 after a fourth successive win.
The Rangers had trailed 3-1 in the second period but Vincent Trocheck and Kaapo Kakko scored seven seconds apart to erase that deficit before Chytil had the final say.
"It always feels good that we have these comebacks, and we show our true character," Chytil said.
"We have to just keep going. Sometimes it's hard [to stay positive], but we had a three-game winning streak. It was like, 'We can get back into the game'."
Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to defend his WBA title against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, complicating a potential unification bout with Tyson Fury.
The Ukrainian, who currently holds the boxing association's 'super' belt, alongside the WBO and IBF titles, had been tipped for a clash with Fury, who holds the WBC crown.
But Dubois, who retained his WBA 'regular' belt this month against Kevin Lerena, has now been ordered to face Usyk next for his crown, in a move that would unify both of the federation's titles.
If there is a saving grace for an Usyk-Fury bout, it is that the latter is represented by Frank Warren, who also handles Dubois through Queensberry Promotions.
That could mean Dubois would wait for the winner of a potential unification showdown, and subsequently face them for a shot at all world titles.
Usyk was also ordered by the IBF last month to hold a mandatory defence against Croatia's Filip Hrgovic, who could be another potential opponent if the Fury bout does not come next.
After defeating Derek Chisora in London earlier this month, Fury talked up Usyk and fellow Briton Joe Joyce as his likely next opponents.
Joyce is currently the WBO's interim champion, and has professed his interest in a clash with his countryman in recent weeks.
Dubois has a 19-1 career record, with his only loss coming at the hands of Joyce.
Frederic Vasseur is to become Ferrari's new team principal in January after the departure of Mattia Binotto, the team announced on Tuesday.
Vasseur's newly vacant role as Alfa Romeo/Sauber's managing director is then expected to be filled by McLaren boss Andreas Seidl, ahead of Sauber's switch to becoming the Audi factory team in 2026.
Having been with Sauber in the team's various forms since 2017, Vasseur will join a Ferrari outfit that won four races in the 2022 season but remained well off the pace in challenging Red Bull and Max Verstappen for the constructors' and drivers' championships.
Ferrari announced in November that Binotto would step down at the end of the year, allowing Vasseur to join and reunite with Charles Leclerc.
He was in charge of Alfa Romeo during Leclerc's rookie F1 season in 2018.
Vasseur will be aiming to end Ferrari's long title drought, having not won a constructors' or drivers' championship since 2008.
Ferrari are still among the most prestigious and successful Formula One teams despite their long wait for more silverware, and Vasseur is thrilled to be joining such a historic constructor.
"I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal," Vasseur said in Ferrari's announcement.
"As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me."
Benedetto Vigna, Ferrari's CEO, added: "We are delighted to welcome Fred Vasseur to Ferrari as our Team Principal.
"Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams.
"This approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with renewed energy."
Vasseur's move comes in the wake of Jost Capito leaving his role as Williams team principal, having finished bottom of the 2022 constructors' standings.
Damian Lillard credited his Portland Trail Blazers team-mates for helping him match the franchise record for three-pointers in their impressive 133-112 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The point guard matched the Oregon outfit's previous best – set by himself – with 11-from-17, including eight in the first half, as his side ran out comfortable winners at Moda Center.
With an additional two rebounds and two assists, it was Lillard's performance that steered the Trail Blazers around the court and inspired a crucial victory to push them up to sixth in the Western Conference.
The 32-year-old claimed he had not realised he had matched the record, while thanking the rest of his squad for setting up his opportunities.
"I literally didn't know how many threes I had,'" Lillard said. "I was just shooting. I knew I was in double digits
"I thought I made a lot of threes tonight and then I think 'how many did I shoot?'
"Once I got hot, they were looking for me, making the right play. They just kept giving me opportunity after opportunity
"The basket looks huge. I felt I was hot tonight, but I didn't feel I was blazing."
Lillard did not return for the fourth quarter, denying him the chance to make it a dozen, but coach Chauncey Billups said he had no concerns over his decision to keep him on the side.
"He was on a heater that was fun to watch,'' he said. "He can always use some rest, as well. But we rode him as good as we could, and we were able to take care of business.''
Kawhi Leonard will not take any risks with his fitness after posting his best game of the season in the Los Angeles Clippers' 113-93 win over the Boston Celtics on Monday.
The five-time All-Star, who spent last season recovering from an ACL tear, has slowly worked his way back into contention this campaign, with nine games now under his belt.
In his latest outing, the small forward put up 25 points, second only to team-mate Paul George, while adding nine rebounds and six assists, as the Clippers kept the Celtics in double-digits.
Leonard shut down suggestions he had struggled in his previous games this campaign, but acknowledged he needs to ensure he does not push himself too fast, too soon.
"I've felt good all season," Leonard stated afterwards. "It's just a matter of game reps. I've just got to stay healthy.
"[It is] only my ninth game. You can't rush it. [I have] just got to keep moving."
George, who led for the Clippers with 26 points, was effusive in his praise for Leonard, suggesting glimmers of the star's championship-winning form are returning to the surface.
"That's the same Kawhi," he added. "He’s just playing more, getting more reps.
"We're still trying to figure out how we're going to play on the court with one another. It's just good if both of us are playing aggressive."
The Clippers will now mount a four-game home stand ahead of Christmas, capped off with a trip to the Philadelphia 76ers as they look to strengthen their hand in the Eastern Conference.
The Arizona Cardinals will discover the extent of Kyler Murray's injury later this week, with fears the quarterback suffered an ACL problem in Monday's loss to the New England Patriots.
Murray appeared to sustain a serious knee issue on the first drive and had to be taken from the field in a medical cart following a three-yard gain in just the third action of the match.
Colt McCoy took his place for the rest of the match as the Cardinals slipped to a 27-13 loss against the Patriots, to take them to 4-9 for the season.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury revealed the team were unsure as to the extent of Murray's injury, acknowledging his loss threw them out for the rest of the game, while revealing he would have scans on Tuesday.
"It doesn't look good," he said. "It's tough. There's no doubt. You see teams go through it every week, but when you lose your starter on the third play of the game, it's tough.
"[It was] non-contact, [so] it's just tough to watch and see. You've got to be able to rebound and play the game, though."
With 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his 10 starts this season, former top draft pick Murray has struggled to help drive the Cardinals forward amid a difficult campaign.
His loss though was a stinging one, with Patriots boss Bill Belichick passing on his regards to the quarterback after the match too.
"It's tough to see a player like Murray get hurt," he added. "I hope he's okay."
Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving says there will be "no more distractions" for the team after they seized a 112-100 road win against the Washington Wizards on Monday.
The New York outfit improved to 17-12 for the season with a commanding victory at Capital One Arena, led by a 30-point haul for Kevin Durant.
The result helped the Nets further distance themselves from their early season controversy, when Irving was suspended over a series of tweets linking to an anti-semitic documentary, before initially refusing to apologise.
Now, the seven-time All-Star says the team are keeping their focus firmly on the court and know they have the players on hand to succeed this term.
"Man, let's just go win ballgames," he said. "That's it, that's really what the attitude is.
"We know the talent we have. This is our group. No more excuses, no more distractions."
Having been held back from building an early lead, the Nets raced out to 88-71 in the third quarter, and never let the Wizards get within eight after that.
Durant, who also posted nine rebounds and six assists, noted the visitors were aware letting their foot off the pedal could have proven dangerous.
"We talked about this being a trap game," he added. "If we'd have played too relaxed, with no sense of urgency, we definitely would have lost this game."
The Nets are now 5-1 across December, and have gone unbeaten over their last four matches, with trips to the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons next on the agenda.
Despite being tied for the league-lead in sacks, Matthew Judon insisted he is only the second-best pass-rusher playing for the New England Patriots after Josh Uche's career night against the Arizona Cardinals.
Uche, 24, was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but struggled in his first two seasons, totaling only four combined sacks.
In Monday's 27-13 win against the Cardinals, he led all comers with three, taking his season tally to 10 – and all 10 have been in the past six weeks.
Judon was credited with one-and-a-half sacks on Cardinals backup quarterback Colt McCoy – who was thrust into the action after just three plays following Kyler Murray's knee injury – taking his total to 14.5 to tie with elite San Francisco 49ers talent Nick Bosa for the league's most.
Uche and Judon are the only pair of teammates this season with at least 10 sacks each.
The Patriots' defense was the dominant force in the win, turning a 13-13 tie into a two-score lead after returning a fumble for a touchdown, and securing an interception on the next drive to set up Pierre Strong Jr's sealer.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Judon said Uche's dominant performance was no surprise.
"I told y'all I wasn't our best pass-rusher," he said. "Our best pass-rusher is emerging.
"People are going to have to block him, and if they don't, and they chip my side and worry about me, Uche will do that every week.
"I love the way he's playing with confidence, and poise, and this is the most he's played since he's been in the NFL. It's taken a toll on him, but he's going out there and having a lot of success.
"We all knew it, we all knew the type of player he was, he was drafted pretty high here, and now he's just emerging. Folks are going to have to watch out."
When asked how he feels about the Patriots' defense often having to carry their struggling offense, Judon said he has no issues with it.
"Honestly, as a defender, you relish it," he said. "You relish it.
"We'd love for our offense to go out there and score 40 points each game, but as a defender, it's like, skip it. It is what it is. We're going out there, and we've got to do our job.
"We can't let our offense down and come out there and slip, and let stuff go. Every play we have to defend every blade of grass, and that's what we came out and did.
"We got a lot of tipped balls, we put pressure on the quarterback, we were hitting receivers, jamming them – and that's how you beat a team like that with an explosive offense."
Judon's admiration of Uche is reciprocated, with Uche making a point to credit Judon in aiding his development.
"I've learned a lot, I've been through a lot of adversity," he said. "Just leaning back on my faith, my family, my teammates, my girl, my parents – everybody. Just leaning back on them, and them helping me stay up.
"Judon has been a blessing in my life, man. That's big bro. I don't know where I'd be without him."
Future Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Belichick also singled out Uche when asked about his defence's performance.
"Uche had a couple big plays for us," he said. "He hit McCoy to force the interception to [Marcus] Jones.
"We were able to hit the quarterback, but of course that comes from getting ahead, and playing from ahead, and it became a passing game in the second half.
"Our defense did a pretty good job tonight. They have a lot of firepower, and Arizona moved the ball, but we fortunately got a couple red-area stops, and didn't give them much in the second half, so it was good."
The Patriots are now 7-6, and occupy the final AFC Wildcard spot with four weeks to play.
The Brooklyn Nets continued their hot run of form on Monday as they defeated the Washington Wizards 112-100 on the road for the eighth win from their past nine outings.
Kevin Durant's under-the-radar MVP campaign took another step in the right direction with a game-high 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting, adding nine rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block.
For the season, he is averaging exactly 30.0 points per game – the sixth-highest figure in the league – while his 55.9 per cent field goal shooting is a new career-high in his 15th campaign, and he is eighth in the league for blocks at 1.7 per game.
Durant was supported well by Kyrie Irving with 24 points (seven-of-17 shooting), six rebounds and five assists, while Ben Simmons contributed 10 points (five-of-nine), eight rebounds and five assists in 23 productive minutes.
After beginning the season with five losses from their first six games, the Nets are now fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 17-12, and they can make it nine wins from 10 when they travel to take on the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
Jackson sets new career-high
Jaren Jackson Jr had six blocks in his first nine minutes of action against the Atlanta Hawks, going on to finish with a career-high eight in a 128-103 win.
The former fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft showed exactly the kind of defensive upside that, when coupled with his sweet shooting stroke, makes him one of the sport's most versatile big men.
He added 15 points and seven rebounds to go with his eight blocks, and he is also hitting 1.9 three-pointers per game at a 37.3 per cent clip.
The Grizzlies are now 18-9 and occupy the second seed in the Western Conference.
Luka outduels Shai to move the Mavs above .500
Luka Doncic raised his league-leading points per game figure to 33.1 as he dropped 38 in the Dallas Mavericks' 121-114 home win against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With his 38 points on 13-of-27 shooting, Doncic has now eclipsed 30 points in 19 of his 25 games this season, while his 8.8 assists per game has him fourth in the league, chipping in another eight with his 11 rebounds against the Thunder.
It was also a terrific display from the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored a game-high 42 points on 14-of-23 shooting to raise his average to 31.2 per game – now second in the league.
Dallas are now 14-13, and are tied for the eighth seed in the West.
The New England Patriots (7-6) moved into the last AFC Wildcard spot with a 27-13 win on Monday against the Kyler Murray-less Arizona Cardinals (4-9).
Murray's game lasted only three plays before he went down with a non-contact knee injury, promptly being ruled out and replaced by backup Colt McCoy.
McCoy started brightly, leading three consecutive scoring drives resulting in two field goals and a James Conner touchdown run to put the Cardinals up 13-7 late in the second quarter – but they would not score from that point on.
It was far from smooth sailing for Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, but he was able to help tie the game with a pair of field goal drives, before a costly fumble from All-Pro Cardinals wide receiver De'Andre Hopkins was returned for a touchdown to put New England ahead 20-13.
The next Cardinals drive would end in an interception after Josh Uche hit McCoy on his release, with Uche and fellow pass-rusher Matthew Judon emerging as the dominant force in the game.
Uche collected a career-high three sacks, giving him 10 for the season, and all 10 have come in his past six games.
Meanwhile, Judon had one-and-a-half sacks to take his season tally to 14.5, tying San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa for the league-lead. They are the first pair of teammates this season to reach the 10-sack milestone.
After the Patriots' top running back Rhamondre Stevenson left the game due to an ankle injury, rookie Pierre Strong Jr was the beneficiary, tallying 70 yards from his five carries, including the first touchdown of his career to give his side some breathing room in the fourth quarter.
In a season full of grim injury news, the San Francisco 49ers received an encouraging update for a change.
A day after Deebo Samuel was carted off the field, the 49ers announced that the versatile wide receiver is expected to return before the end of the regular season.
The 2021 First Team All-Pro selection suffered a sprained left ankle and MCL Sunday when he was taken down awkwardly during San Francisco’s 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Samuel has accounted for 840 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns this season.
When Samuel was carted off the field, many had feared the 49ers had lost another key contributor to a devastating injury after running back Elijah Mitchell, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and defensive backs Jason Verrett and Jimmie Ward all ended up on injured reserve.
Most notably, quarterback Trey Lance was lost for the season to a broken right ankle in Week 2, while his replacement, Jimmy Garoppolo, will miss at least the rest of the regular season with a foot injury.
The injuries to Lance and Garoppolo have forced the 49ers to turn to rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, who made his first career start in Sunday’s victory.
Purdy responded by playing brilliantly, accounting for three total touchdowns, but did not get through unscathed, suffering an oblique injury on the second series of the game.
"I think it was a challenge for [Purdy]," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "Just talking to him and seeing him after the game. I think he really toughed it out, did some real good things with it and I know he is sore today."
Purdy and the 49ers (9-4) face a quick turnaround before they play the Seattle Seahawks Thursday night.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray appeared to suffer a serious knee injury on the first drive of Monday's game against the New England Patriots, leaving the field on a medical cart after a non-contact incident.
On just the third play of the game, Murray attempted to scramble for positive yardage, but went down in a heap after gaining three yards, clutching his knee.
The 25-year-old former top overall draft pick stayed down, and a medical cart was brought on the field to carry him back to the locker room.
Murray, who has thrown 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his 10 starts this season – going 3-7 in those games – was replaced by Colt McCoy as the Cardinals' starter.
There are four weeks remaining of the 2022 NFL season, meaning we are in the home stretch not only in the race for the playoffs, but also in the battle for the MVP.
Week 14 was one in which the race appeared to settle into one between four quarterbacks. Other positions are worthy of recognition, but since Adrian Peterson's win in 2012 the MVP has been solely a quarterback award, and there is a quartet who have separated themselves from the rest.
Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins had received some hype as a potential MVP, but his successive disappointing displays against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers have likely removed him from the equation.
This has become a fight between the quarterback piloting the best team in the NFC and a trio of signal-callers each hoping to lead their respective rosters to the top seed in the AFC.
Right now, it is the former who stands as the favourite because of a near-perfect resume.
THE FRONTRUNNER: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
The competition with more established NFL stars has been fierce but, after recent devastating performances against the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, it is difficult to dispute Hurts as the MVP frontrunner.
A week on from brushing past the Titans, the Eagles swatted the Giants aside at The Meadowlands with another display of effortless dominance powered by Hurts’ ability to hit the deep ball and his influence on an ultra-diverse run game.
Hurts connected with DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown for touchdowns of 41 and 33 yards, and also rushed for 77 yards and a score on seven carries. His 13 touchdown passes of at least 20 yards are the most in the NFL while his 10 rushing scores are the sixth-most, and two more than any other quarterback (Justin Fields, eight).
He now has 3,157 passing yards with 22 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns this season, becoming the the fourth quarterback ever with at least 3,000 passing yards, 20 touchdown passes & 10 rushing touchdowns in a single season, joining Kyler Murray (2020), Cam Newton (2011 and 2015) and Kordell Stewart (1997).
Newton won the MVP in 2015 by posting such numbers for a 15-1 Carolina Panthers team that went on to reach the Super Bowl. The Eagles are on course to go 16-1 thanks to Hurts’ growth as a thrower – his well-thrown rate of 82.7 percent is a substantial improvement on his mark of 77.1 per cent from 2021. If they do so, there are unlikely to be many convincing counterarguments against Hurts as the MVP.
DON'T COUNT HIM OUT: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
A three-interception performance by Mahomes against the Denver Broncos may have helped tilt the MVP race in favour of Hurts, but the 2018 MVP is still performing at a level to be worthy of regaining the award.
Mahomes has 60 completions of at least 20 yards this season. No other quarterback has even reached 50, with Joe Burrow his nearest challenger on 46.
He ranks eighth among quarterbacks with a minimum of 200 attempts with a well-thrown rate of 83.5 percent, and has been extremely accurate when going deep.
Indeed, Mahomes' completion percentage of 50 on pass attempts of at least 21 air yards is fourth among quarterbacks with at least 10 such throws. On top of his downfield explosiveness, Mahomes has done an excellent job of creating yardage for himself on the ground, his yards per carry average on scrambles of 7.44 bettered by only Justin Fields (7.98) and P.J. Walker (8.67).
Recent issues with turnovers and the fact the Chiefs lost to Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills and Joe Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals may have dented his case but, with four games to go, Mahomes has built the foundations of an MVP resume and still has the chance to earn the prize for a second time if he can lift Kansas City to the one seed.
FADING FAST?: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
The resume in terms of achievements for Allen is pretty sparkling. If the season ended today, the Bills would be the number one seed in the AFC and he delivered the tiebreaking win over the Chiefs with a tremendous fourth-quarter performance at Arrowhead.
Allen's deep ball has been extremely impressive this season. No quarterback in the NFL has accounted for more yards on throws of at least 21 air yards than his 833.
The Bills star is also on the right side of the ledger in terms of accuracy, delivering a well-thrown ball on 82 percent of his passes. The league average – minimum 50 attempts – is 81.4.
However, like Mahomes, Allen has 11 interceptions this season, and has a pickable pass rate of 4.89 percent that is nearly a full point above the average of 4.09%.
His carelessness with the ball has contributed to key defeats to the likes of the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, costing the Bills wins that would have given them clear separation atop the AFC.
Allen is clearly one of the league's premier quarterbacks and will be for many years to come, but the consistency has not been there for him to be considered the MVP at this point.
THE SLEEPER: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
After a slow start, the man who spearheaded the Bengals' improbable charge to an AFC Championship is once again performing at a level that saw him elevate Cincinnati to the ranks of the elite.
Even in hard-fought Week 14 win over the Cleveland Browns with a Bengals' offense that has been one of the most productive in the NFL since Week 6 did not fire on all cylinders, Burrow's deadly precision was a difference-maker, most notably on a pinpoint 15-yard touchdown throw to Ja’Marr Chase on a post route to open the scoring.
Burrow delivered an accurate, well-thrown ball on 87.5 percent of his passes against the Browns. For the season, his well-thrown rate of 85.9 percent is fifth among quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts. His pickable pass rate of just 1.52 percent is the NFL's best.
Burrow is outperforming Hurts, Mahomes and Allen when it comes to delivering accurately and taking care of the ball, and has a signature win over Mahomes to his name from Week 13.
If the Bengals go on to wrest the AFC North from the Baltimore Ravens, Burrow will have an excellent case for the MVP, one that will be even stronger if 9-4 Cincinnati manage to catch Kansas City and Buffalo in the race for the one seed.
Cade Cunningham will miss the remainder of the NBA season after it was revealed on Monday the Detroit Pistons' franchise cornerstone will undergo surgery on his bothersome left shin.
According to a report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Cunningham has been dealing with pain in his shin since the preseason, with the injury keeping him out of action since November 9.
The plan was to give him a month off to see if the rest would address the issue, but its persistence required further action, leading to the decision to send the former first overall pick in the 2021 draft under the knife.
He is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of the 2023-24 campaign, when the Pistons will look to begin their ascent out of the NBA's cellar.
It has been a lean few years in the win column for Detroit, landing the top pick in the 2021 draft after finishing dead last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 20-52 in the shortened 2020-21 season, before following it with a 23-59 campaign, ultimately resulting in Jaden Ivey's arrival with the fifth pick this year.
They are on track for another top-five pick in next year's draft as they own the worst record in the league at 7-22 – but it is a year where the front office will be happy to continue losing.
The light at the end of the tunnel is 18-year-old French super-prospect Victor Wembanyama, who will assuredly be selected by whichever team is fortunate enough to win the draft lottery and the top pick in the draft.
Standing at 7ft 4in with an 8ft wingspan – longer than any player currently in the league – Wembanyama is plying his trade in the French LNB Pro A, which is France's top men's league.
He is leading the league in scoring (23.6 points per game), rebounding (9.4), and blocks (2.8), while hitting 1.4 three-pointers per game, including high-difficulty attempts off the bounce, and even off one leg.
Cunningham and Wembanyama is a pairing that would have the Pistons on an express path to contention, and it will be no surprise to see Detroit trade away veterans with any value – such as Bojan Bogdanovic, whom The Athletic is reporting as a target for the Los Angeles Lakers – to lose as many games as possible.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
