Connect with us

Sports

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers: Without leaks ‘it will be a little easier to win’

Published

on

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers: Without leaks ‘it will be a little easier to win’

Less than a week after The Athletic published a story detailing dysfunction within the New York Jets organization, quarterback Aaron Rodgers used his latest appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” to address leaks to journalists.

“There’s definitely some leaks,” Rodgers said during his Monday appearance. “There’s people that have relationships with people in the media. There’s motivations for writing stories it seems like and nothing is surprising at this point. There’s some interesting things that go on in every organization — some that would like to be left uncovered but it seems like here those don’t always get left uncovered. They get covered.”

Rodgers also mused on the show about the possibility of getting released after the season, and joked at the recent reporting of owner Woody Johnson receiving team input from his teenage sons.

“Being released would be a first; being released by a teenager, that would also be a first,” Rodgers said with a laugh during his weekly spot on the show.

Those comments came as part of a discussion of The Athletic’s story about Johnson’s perceived mismanagement of the franchise. Among the details contained in that piece: “Madden” video game ratings led Johnson to nix a trade for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, and the owners’ teenage sons have been increasingly influential when it comes to Johnson’s decisions.

Advertisement

Later during the “McAfee” appearance, Rodgers added: “It can’t be the norm that there’s so many leaks and so many people continue to have conversations whether its getting some sort of angle of revenge or even with people who are still in the building. The standard needs to be you are not creating questions for other people all the time. Leaking these things doesn’t become the standard.

“Obviously, what’s best for the Jets is not having these types of leaks all the time. When that gets figured out, it will be a little easier to win. That doesn’t have a direct impact on the players on the field but it does have an impact on the culture and the chemistry and the overall energy of the building. That’s what needs to get better.”

On Sunday, the Jets fell to 4-11 following a home loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, has played in every game this season after an Achilles injury limited him to just the first four snaps in 2023. He has thrown for 3,511 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. Last month, The Athletic reported that Johnson suggested benching Rodgers in September. With two games remaining in this season, the 41-year-old’s future with the team remains in question.

In October, Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh, the same day offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted as the team’s play caller. One week later, wide receiver Davante Adams — a close friend of Rodgers’ — was acquired via trade. In November, general manager Joe Douglas was dismissed. The team has already started its search to fill the open GM spot.

Required reading

(Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)

Advertisement

Sports

US lifts costly visa bond requirement for some World Cup travelers, Trump administration says

Published

on

US lifts costly visa bond requirement for some World Cup travelers, Trump administration says

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Citizens of a select group of countries who have purchased tickets to this summer’s World Cup matches in the U.S. will no longer be required to provide thousands of dollars in visa bonds to enter the country and attend the tournament.

Advertisement

On Wednesday, the State Department confirmed the Trump administration is waiving a prior mandate requiring visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S.

The department imposed the bond requirement last year for countries it said had high rates of visa overstays and other security concerns as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Travelers from at least 50 countries are subject to the bond requirement, but the five aforementioned nations’ teams have qualified for this year’s World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed outside the White House in Washington, D.C., ahead of the FIFA World Cup Draw on Dec. 2, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images)

World Cup team players, coaches and some staff already had been exempt from the bond requirement as part of the administration’s orders to prioritize the processing of visas for the tournament.

Advertisement

STATE DEPT TO START ROLLING OUT FIFA PASS FOR FOREIGN SOCCER FANS LOOKING TO ATTEND WORLD CUP IN US

“The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. “We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets” and opted in to the FIFA Pass system that allows expedited visa appointments as of April 15.

In its own statement, FIFA said the announcement shows “our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event” and thanked the administration for the partnership.

President Donald Trump draws the United States card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, 2025. (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images)

However, the administration has barred travelers from Iran and Haiti, though World Cup players, coaches and other support personnel are exempt. Travelers from the Ivory Coast and Senegal face partial restrictions under an expanded version of that travel ban, even without the visa bond exemption.

Advertisement

The World Cup begins June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Some measures from the administration prompted Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups to issue a “World Cup travel advisory” that warns travelers about the climate in the U.S.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino hands the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy to President Donald Trump during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 22, 2025. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

In a report this month, the main advocacy group for U.S. hotels blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “significantly suppressing international demand,” leading to hotel bookings for the soccer tournament that are far below what had initially been anticipated.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirement was believed to be relatively small, perhaps only about 250 people, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. But they said that number was changing rapidly as more people buy tickets and some with tickets opt against traveling.

FIFA had requested the waiver, which had to be approved by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Sports

High school baseball: City Section Wednesday playoff scores, Thursday schedule

Published

on

High school baseball: City Section Wednesday playoff scores, Thursday schedule

CITY SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Quarterfinals

OPEN DIVISION

#8 Wilmington Banning at #1 Birmingham, Thursday

Advertisement

#4 Carson 6, #5 Garfield 5

#6 Granada Hills 2, #3 Bell 0

#2 El Camino Real 11, #7 South Gate 0 (5 innings)

First Round

DIVISION I

Advertisement

#1 Sylmar 7, #16 LA Marshall 0

#8 Chatsworth 5, #9 North Hollywood 4

#5 Sun Valley Poly 1, #12 LA University 0 (8 innings)

#13 Verdugo Hills at #4 LACES

#3 Venice 11, #14 San Fernando 8

Advertisement

#6 Palisades 1, #11 Narbonne 0 (8 innings)

#10 Taft 13, #7 San Pedro 9

#2 Cleveland 18, #15 Maywood CES 0 (5 innings)

DIVISION II

#16 Granada Hills Kennedy 13, #1 Monroe 3

Advertisement

#8 Port of Los Angeles 5, #9 Bravo 3

#5 LA Roosevelt 17, #12 Northridge Academy 0

#4 LA Wilson 10, #13 Legacy 9

#3 Torres 5, #14 Vaughn 0

#6 South East 7, #11 Rancho Dominguez 1

Advertisement

#7 Franklin 1, #10 Downtown Magnets 0

#2 Sherman Oaks CES 3, #15 Chavez 0

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 3 p.m. unless noted)

Second Round

Advertisement

DIVISION III

#16 Fairfax at #1 WISH Academy

#9 LA Hamilton at #8 Fulton

#13 Westchester vs. #4 Sotomayor at Arroyo Park

#21 King/Drew at #5 Sun Valley Magnet

Advertisement

#11 Eagle Rock vs. Triumph Charter at SIBL, 2:30 p.m.

#19 Arleta at #3 Marquez

#23 Gardena at #7 Fremont

#15 Roybal at #2 Van Nuys

Note: Divisions I-III quarterfinals May 16; Divisions II-III semifinals May 19; Open and Division I semifinals May 20 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. at TBD; Open and Division I finals May 23 at Dodger Stadium (times TBD).

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Mets get unlikely assist from umpire collision as Tigers baserunner is thrown out at home plate in key moment

Published

on

Mets get unlikely assist from umpire collision as Tigers baserunner is thrown out at home plate in key moment

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The New York Mets’ offseason priority for this year was run prevention, and with a little help from an umpire, that’s exactly what they got.

Just about everything has gone badly for the Mets this season, as they boast one of the league’s worst records at 16-25 despite their league-high $334.8 million payroll.

But finally, something broke their way.

Advertisement

Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith is tagged out by New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez while trying to score during the fifth inning at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)

The Mets led the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the top of the fifth inning when Detroit’s Riley Greene singled into right field, and Colt Keith headed to third.

Keith was safe, beating the throw that got away from third base, so Keith took a gamble and started sprinting toward home.

Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith hits a single against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at Citi Field in New York City on May 12, 2026. (John Jones/Imagn Images)

EX-MLB PITCHER ACCUSED OF ‘CONTROLLING BEHAVIOR’ IN UGLY DIVORCE BATTLE AMID NUMEROUS 911 CALLS TO HOME

Advertisement

However, when Keith started heading toward the plate, he crossed paths with third-base umpire Rob Drake. The two collided, and Drake fell right to the infield grass.

That held Keith up for just a couple of seconds, and it was enough for Keith to be thrown out by pitcher Freddy Peralta at home, ending the inning and killing a rally the Tigers could have needed.

The game wound up getting away from the Tigers later, as the Mets scored three runs in both the sixth and eighth innings, and the Mets’ bullpen was able to hold Detroit scoreless for the rest of the game for a 10-2 New York win.

Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers reacts during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 29, 2026. (Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

The Mets are the owners of the league’s longest losing streak of the season at 12 games, but they have now won six of their last 10 as they desperately try to turn things around.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending