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NFL

Sources: Texans hiring Culley as head coach

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have hired Baltimore Ravens assistant David Culley to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by the Houston Chronicle.

Culley, 65, who has spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, just completed his 27th season as an NFL coach. Along with serving as the team’s assistant head coach, Culley was Baltimore’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. The Ravens finished the 2020 season ranked last in the NFL in passing.

“David is just a genuine guy,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in a text to ESPN’s Ed Werder. “He will be who he is everyday. Has been that guy every day of his career. I’m thrilled for him. Great person. Genuine. Full of energy.”

Harbaugh had previously called the Texans’ opening a “great opportunity” and said he believed Culley “would be a tremendous hire for any team, maybe, especially, the Texans with Deshaun Watson.”

Soccer

Barca presidential candidate condemns PSG's 'disrespectful' Messi pursuit

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta wants FIFA to intervene on Paris Saint-Germain’s “disrespectful” public pursuit of Lionel Messi.

Laporta, who previously served as the club’s president between 2003 and 2010, said in a news conference that Messi’s contract situation “requires urgency” while he’s free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with other teams, according to ESPN’s Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens. Manchester City and PSG have been strongly linked to the Argentine superstar, but Laporta only condemned the latter’s interest.

“It is disrespectful to Barca that clubs like PSG publicly say they are going to sign Messi,” Laporta said on Wednesday. “This coming from a club-state that have bypassed the rules. We cannot allow clubs and states the luxury of destabilizing another club.

“In that sense, we will have to speak with UEFA and FIFA to avoid such actions. PSG must abstain from (talking about Messi). It is out of place for another club to speak about him. And, at the moment, there is no president in place to respond to this lack of respect.”

PSG forward Neymar and the French side’s sporting director, Leonardo, have both been on record talking about the prospect of bringing Messi to the Parc des Princes.

Messi said in December that he intends to make a decision on his future at the end of the 2020-21 season. The 33-year-old is expected to feature in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey skirmish with Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday after serving a two-match suspension.

Barcelona’s next president is set to be elected on March 7. Laporta, Victor Font, Toni Freixa, and Emili Rousaud are the four candidates.