HeadtoHeadFootball -

EDITOR PICKS

Soccer

PSG escapes sanctions after UEFA closes FFP case

Paris – UEFA have closed their financial fair-play case against Paris Saint-Germain after the Qatari-backed French Ligue 1 champions were cleared of any wrongdoing on Wednesday.

The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) had been monitoring PSG’s ‘break-even requirement’ for 2015, 2016 and 2017.

“Compliance with the break-even requirement for the 2018 financial year will remain under close scrutiny,” UEFA said.

UEFA opened an investigation into PSG’s compliance with FFP rules at the start of this season, just weeks after they completed deals to sign Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Neymar arrived for a world-record fee of 222 million euros ($264 million) from Barcelona, while the club also signed Mbappe on loan from Monaco but with an agreement to sign the teen sensation in a 180 million-euro deal at the end of this campaign.

NFL

Mike Zimmer: Vikings' offseason transition on offense 'seamless'

EAGAN, Minn. — In each of the last three years, Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has started the offseason program with a new offensive coordinator.

The turnover and change in philosophy from one year to the next has been constant when it comes to coaches designing the offense. The same goes for the number of quarterbacks tasked with carrying out plays. This fall, Kirk Cousins will become the fourth starting quarterback in Zimmer’s five-year tenure.

Installing a new offense comes with a set of hurdles, regardless of how much or little holdover from the previous scheme. Throw in a new quarterback and the obstacles can become more challenging.

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, right, is learning a new scheme with the rest of the offense. AP Photo/Jim Mone

Zimmer, however, said the transition has been made easier because of the communication he has had with new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.

“We can have really open conversations,” Zimmer said. “He listens to the things I say would hurt defenses. It’s been really good. I think he’s done a great job with the offense. When I sit in the meetings with them, he does a great job of communicating exactly what he wants. He’s detailed with the work, the plays and alignments, all the different things that they’re doing. We talked about adding more screens, and we ran quite a few more today, so that’s been good. It’s really been seamless.”

“Seamless” is not a word Zimmer uses to describe the state of anything this early in the offseason. It even caught wide receiver Adam Thielen off guard.

• Allen takes first snaps with Bills’ first team
• Johnson, Cardinals at contract impasse
• Ready for a freer Ha Ha in Green Bay?
• Zack Marting poised for bigger role
• Rams like Cook-Woods receiver combo
• Vikings’ offensive transition ‘seamless’
• Panthers angered at D-line’s snub

“That is impressive, I can’t believe he said that,” Thielen said. “It’s been really good. When you have a locker room the way we do, guys that just want to work, and they want to study, and they love coming out to practice, you can get a lot accomplished in a few weeks. We’re off to a great start, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

Thielen said much of the verbiage and other base concepts remain the same from former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s scheme to DeFilippo’s.

“Every offensive coordinator, they have their wrinkles, the things that they like to do,” he said. “[DeFilippo’s personality] is a lot different, but that’s what keeps it fresh. That’s what keeps it fun. We’re excited to keep learning from him.”

The overarching constant? DeFilippo’s approach to putting his personnel in the best positions appears to mirror the democratic approach Shurmur had with his playmakers, thus helping aid in that smooth transition while it’s still early.

“No. 1, [DeFilippo’s] able to adjust,” Thielen said. “He loves the game of football and he loves to see guys succeed; so he’s not a stubborn guy that’s going to only do it his way. He’s going to listen to other guys’ advice and try to make it the best offense possible. The other thing is we have the players that are willing to adapt as well. Guys that are willing to study, which, sometimes this time of year, it’s not easy to open the playbook when you’re at home. But we have the guys that are willing to do that.”

Soccer

Julen Lopetegui sacked as Spain coach on eve of World Cup

Krasnodar, Russia, June 13, 2018 (AFP) – Spain sacked coach Julen Lopetegui just two days before the team’s opening game against Portugal at the World Cup, Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales confirmed on Wednesday.

In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, Real Madrid named Lopetegui as their next manager to start work after the tournament in Russia, sparking outrage among the federation and Spanish fans at the timing of the announcement.

NFL

NFL minicamps live: Who's sitting out?
3:04 PM ET

  • Jeremy WillisESPN.com

Let’s go minicamping.

Don’t let Leonard Fournette’s face fool you, it’s time for more fun. This week, 28 of the 32 teams, are on the practice field for mandatory minicamps. The Bears, Dolphins, Patriots and Lions got a head start going through minicamp last week.

Over the next three days, coaches will put their rosters through evaluations and competition for the last time before training camp. And the players gotta be there. Unless they’re holding out, then they’re not coming.

Here’s some of the best stuff from around the league:

But first, who’s not here?

The annual tradition of top players sitting out mandatory minicamps is here. So far, the list is headlined by a 1,200-yard rusher and the league’ defensive player of the year.

Those not at minicamps:

play

1:01

Adam Schefter breaks down the contract dispute between the Falcons and Julio Jones that has the WR sitting out minicamp.

Rookies to watch

Page 564 of 843« First...102030563564565566570580590...Last »

Soccer