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Raiders' Maxx Crosby 'fired up' Antonio Pierce is team's head coach

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The Las Vegas Raiders made a change in the middle of the season, relieving Josh McDaniels of his head coaching duties and replacing him with Antonio Pierce for the remainder of the season.

Pierce was 5-4 as the team’s interim head coach as the Raiders finished the season 8-9, even as it seemed it was going to be a lost season. Pierce’s coaching philosophies rubbed off on some of the players, including defense end Maxx Crosby.

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby celebrates a sack against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Jan. 7, 2024. (Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The three-time Pro Bowler told Fox News Digital he was “fired up” to have Pierce as his head coach.

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“It’s tough when you get coaches from all different types of backgrounds,” Crosby said. “And when you get one that is a true leader, a man, a guy that’s unanimously respected throughout the locker room in the building, it’s not hard to show up to work and not have a good time. He talks about it all the time. This is a kid’s game being played by a bunch of grown men.”

RAIDERS’ MAXX CROSBY WOULD ‘RATHER PLAY FOOTBALL’ AMID PRO BOWL FORMAT CHANGE

Antonio Pierce is introduced as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders on Jan. 24, 2024. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“Obviously, it’s very serious. You have to take your job extremely seriously. That doesn’t mean you don’t have fun. It doesn’t mean you don’t show up in the building with great energy and ready to have fun, to do your job at the highest level. He preaches that he wants everyone on the same type of energy and wavelength. And that’s the type of guys he’s bringing in and that’s the type of guys we already have. So, we’re just going to keep building and take this thing to the next level.”

Crosby, who talked to Fox News Digital on behalf of his partnership with Invisalign, said the team has to make finishing games a priority moving forward.

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RAIDERS’ MAXX CROSBY WOULD ‘RATHER PLAY FOOTBALL’ AMID PRO BOWL FORMAT CHANGE

Five of the Raiders’ nine losses came by one touchdown or less. It’s those little things that will make the difference, especially as the Kansas City Chiefs are primed to own the AFC West for years.

“For us, there’s obviously things we have to address in free agency, in the draft,” he said. “But from what we have, we went 5-4. Every loss we have was very close. I think finishing games is super important; continuing to play our brand of football, the Raiders style of football. The bad boys – bring that back. And I feel we’ve started that. It’s just about going into this offseason, it’s about getting more guys that are on that type of time and energy.

Las Vegas Raiders fans hold up a sign supporting interim head coach Antonio Pierce, using his nickname, “AP,” on Jan. 7, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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“I know I’m a ringleader when it comes to that. I want to have guys that are all on the same level. For me, I’m constantly pushing my teammates – just be yourself. That’s what AP pushes. That’s what I push. It’s just about 100% being yourself, being in truest form when you’re out there, playing on the field and not thinking, being hesitant. It’s about trusting your work and trusting your body, your techniques, all the work you put in the offseason and going and putting that on display on Sundays.”

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ESPN star rips iconic college basketball team with $22M roster for disappointing season

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ESPN star rips iconic college basketball team with M 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)

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“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)

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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. 

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The Wildcats will start their SEC Tournament play on Wednesday against No. 16 LSU. 

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Chargers agree to deal with former Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold

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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.

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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.

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Cowboys star, fiancée end relationship month before wedding: report

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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)

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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.

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“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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Raiders trade Maxx Crosby to the Ravens for two first-round draft picks

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