Sports
Jets' Aaron Rodgers has lofty expectations ahead of return to game action: 'I expect greatness'
Aaron Rodgers is in a similar position heading into Week 1 as he was last season.
The New York Jets were playing on “Monday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills, and they’ll do so against the San Francisco 49ers to kick off their 2024 season. But Rodgers, entering his 20th NFL season, wants to play more than he did that Monday night a year ago.
NFL fans know the story by now. Rodgers tore an Achilles on the fourth play of his debut with the Jets at MetLife Stadium, ending his season before it really got started. It crushed the Jets and their fan base.
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets during a game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium Aug. 10, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Rodgers’ drive to continue playing quarterback didn’t waver, and he enters another year filled with expectations. So, what does the four-time MVP signal-caller expect from himself this year?
“I have a lot of pride in my performance, so when I take the field, I expect greatness because I’ve done it before,” Rodgers said before a Jets practice, via ESPN. “So, that’s the kind of standard I hold myself to.”
The 40-year-old is the oldest player in the NFL, but reports from camp have said he looks spry with his repaired Achilles, and he’s hooking up with his favorite target, Garrett Wilson, and newcomers like Mike Williams and rookie Malachi Corley consistently against one of the best defenses in the league.
JETS IN ‘COMPLETE DISARRAY,’ ACCORDING TO ANONYMOUS NFL AGENT: ‘VIBE INSIDE THE BUILDING IS TERRIBLE’
But all the hype and expectations that these training camp practices generate means nothing at this point. Rodgers wants to play a full season and win games.
He’s even at the point now where he jokes about what he’s going to do after the fourth offensive play in the Bay Area Monday night.
“There might be a little smirk after the fourth,” he joked.
It’s no secret Rodgers is the driving force of a Jets team hungry to break its 13-year playoff drought, the longest without a playoff game in professional sports in the country.
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets throws the ball during offseason workouts at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center June 4, 2024, in Florham Park, N.J. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
So, even though Rodgers has a Super Bowl ring and MVP trophies, he still plays like he has something to prove.
“I’ve always kind of played with something on my shoulder,” he explained. “You have to manufacture things from time to time, but, yeah, I mean, it kind of goes back to the proving it. Who would I need to prove it to? Just myself at this point.”
Head coach Robert Saleh sees his quarterback in a “great place” heading into Week 1, where he’ll go against a team Saleh served as defensive coordinator for prior to taking the Jets job.
“Not just mentally, but physically he looks awesome,” Saleh said, via ESPN. “You guys have been there every day, and you see how well he looked, how good he looks. … He’s a professional. He’s done it a long time. He’s not a 40-year-old quarterback, so I think he’s just fine.”
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets during a game against the Washington Commanders during the preseason at MetLife Stadium Aug. 10, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Jets fans may collectively hold their breath during the team’s opening drive Monday night. They have every right to after 83,000-plus watched Rodgers limp off the field for good last season during Week 1.
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Sports
ESPN star rips iconic college basketball team with $22M roster for disappointing season
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The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team may still make the NCAA Tournament, but Dick Vitale thinks this iconic program should be much better than their 19-12 record this season considering their whopping $22 million roster.
The legendary ESPN college basketball analyst didn’t hold back his feelings about the Wildcats as they played Florida during Saturday’s prime SEC matchup. After the Gators hit some free throws to extend their first-half lead to 26-19, Vitale started to lay into the Wildcats.
Head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats in a game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats on March 7, 2026, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY. (Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire)
“I’m going to say this right here, I’ve done several Kentucky games, win or lose, $22 million this team [which has been reported] in terms of the NIL for their players,” he said, per Awful Announcing. “I think in $22 million, they could have put together a better roster than they did. I really do.”
The Wildcats ended up losing by a score of 84-77, and Vitale continued about Kentucky near the end of their 12th loss of the season.
“I’ll tell you one thing, you don’t want to walk out of here thinking you got a moral victory,” Vitale said, referencing a hard-fought game against the No. 5-ranked Florida team. “Moral victories don’t count at this level of basketball. And you hear some of the people, ‘We played them close. We played them tough.’
“The bottom line is you’re Kentucky. You’re Kentucky. And you’ve got to leave here with a win, especially at home. There are no moral victories. Come on. I don’t want to hear that.”
Collin Chandler and Jasper Johnson of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate in the first half against the Ole Miss Rebels at Rupp Arena on Jan. 24, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Wildcats were once the top program in the country under former Coach John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after being unable to make a long March Madness run in recent seasons, including a shocking first round upset to the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats have been coached by Mark Pope since, and they made the Sweet 16 in last year’s tournament before losing to Tennessee.
Kentucky Jasper Johnson in action vs Michigan State at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on Nov. 18, 2025. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated )
But this year, Kentucky is 10-8 in SEC play, and now face the No. 9 seed in the upcoming tournament this week. The winner of each conference earns a tournament berth, but the Wildcats know good seeding in the NCAA Tournament requires a strong run heading into Selection Sunday this upcoming weekend.
The Wildcats will start their SEC Tournament play on Wednesday against No. 16 LSU.
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Sports
Chargers agree to deal with former Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold
The Chargers bolstered their efforts to protect quarterback Justin Herbert all while diversifying their offense by agreeing to a multiyear deal with veteran fullback Alec Ingold on Sunday, the team announced.
Ingold’s deal with the Chargers reportedly is for two years and $7.5 million.
Ingold will be no stranger to the Chargers’ plans on offense. He played the past four seasons in Miami under coach Mike McDaniel, the Chargers’ new offensive coordinator. Last year he caught eight passes for 52 yards and ran the ball twice in 17 games.
Ingold caught 47 passes for 372 yards and rushed for 34 yards in 20 carries in four seasons with the Dolphins. He also had two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown.
Before his time in Miami, Ingold played three seasons with the Raiders.
The deal comes two days after the Chargers signed veteran center Tyler Biadasz to take over for the retiring Bradley Bozeman. They agreed to terms on a one-year deal with edge rusher Khalil Mack on Saturday.
With the free agency negotiation period set to begin Monday at 9 a.m. PDT, the Chargers remain in strong position to be significant players in the free-agent market. They rank among the top-five teams in salary cap space, per Overthecap.com.
Sports
Cowboys star, fiancée end relationship month before wedding: report
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and his fiancée, Sarah Jane Ramos, reportedly broke up with their wedding around the corner.
Prescott and Ramos’ relationship had been “rocky” in the weeks leading up to the breakup and things exploded between the two at their joint bachelor and bachelorette parties, TMZ Sports reported on Saturday.
Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos attend the Farrah Fawcett Foundation Tex-Mex Fiesta on Oct. 30, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Omar Vega/Getty Images for Farrah Fawcett Foundation)
Ramos shared pictures of her trip with her friends on Instagram on Friday.
“I truly believe you can get through anything in life as long as you have really great friends. I love these girls so much,” Ramos captioned the collage of snaps.
Prescott was not pictured in any of the 16 photos and videos posted to her social media account.
Sarah Jane Ramos and Dak Prescott pose for a photo before Dak Prescott’s Faith Fight Finish Foundation Gala on May 17, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Faith Fight Finish Foundation)
Ramos also posted photos of her bridal shower back on Feb. 23. There were no photos of Prescott in the carousel either.
“The most intimate and beautiful bridal shower of my dreams,” she added on Instagram. “So grateful for my aunts who hosted it and my girlfriends and family that came to celebrate. I love you all so much and can’t wait to marry the love of my life with all of you by my side.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Prescott’s representative for comment.
Prescott posted a series of photos on his Instagram of Ramos and his family on July 20, 2025. There’s only a September advertisement posted on his account since.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Sarah Jane Ramos pose on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts on Feb. 5, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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The NFL star and Ramos announced they were engaged on Oct. 18, 2024. The couple have two children together.
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