AS Roma confirmed on Monday they are in talks with a group led by U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin about a sale of the Serie A club, though no formal deal had yet been agreed.

Europe's top clubs have drawn in big money from some of the world's richest investors over the last decade, as the game attracts more fans in lucrative markets such as Asia, the United States and the Middle East.

The Financial Times reported on Monday that a consortium led by Friedkin was set to buy Roma for €750 million ($840m), including debt, a record valuation for a Serie A team.

Shares in Roma shot up more than 9% at the open in Milan.

"Any deal with Group Friedkin is subject to the positive outcome of the legal due diligence process on the AS Roma group," the club said in a statement.

Roma last changed hands in 2012 when it was taken over by a group of U.S. investors led by James Pallotta, who became the club's president.

But they have failed to revive their fortunes under Pallotta, winning the last of their three Serie A titles in 2001.

Roma play in the Europa League, the second tier European club competition, after finishing sixth in Serie A last season -- when the Agnelli-owned Juventus won their eight title in a row.

Roma's owners have been trying to sell for a while, holding talks with various potential buyers, amid growing frustration with local authorities over a stalled project to build a new stadium.

Assets owned by the Friedkin Group range from one of the world's largest independent Toyota distributors to a number of luxury resorts.

This deal is the latest by a U.S. investor in soccer, and comes after Manchester City's Abu Dhabi-controlled owner sold a $500m stake to U.S. private equity firm Silver Lake in November.

Where do you start with VAR? Seriously: which is the biggest problem with the video assistant referee system that has brought the Premier League to the brink of meltdown this season?

Is it the repeated disallowing of goals because of assorted body parts straying millimetres offside? Is it the endless wait for key decisions, such as penalty calls, to be resolved? Is it the absolute failure of a single match referee this season to walk a few yards to the side of the pitch to watch a replay of a contentious incident before deciding himself whether he was right or wrong in the first place? Or is the biggest problem, just maybe, the supporters inside the grounds who have started to rage at decisions against their team even when they are proven to be correct?

The answer, of course, is that all of the above have become major issues in their own right during this VAR-dominated Premier League season.

You can add complaining players and managers, too. Everyone has a right to moan when they have been on the wrong end of a bad decision, but we are now hearing players and managers complain when VAR gets it right, too.

"Some people are saying it gets the right decision, but we're the players on the pitch and it doesn't feel right to me," Wolves defender Conor Coady said after his team had lost 1-0 at Liverpool on Sunday following two key VAR decisions.

The first, when referee Anthony Taylor's decision to disallow Sadio Mane's goal for Liverpool following a handball call against Adam Lallana was overturned, and the second, when VAR ruled out Pedro Neto's goal after Jonny had strayed marginally offside in the build-up. Both decisions were correct, so what does Coady want? Decisions that keep everybody happy even if they are wrong?

Wolves were also on the receiving end of a tight VAR call during Friday's 3-2 win against Manchester City, when the visitors were awarded a penalty after Leander Dendoncker had stepped on Riyad Mahrez's foot. Match referee Martin Atkinson missed the foul but when VAR reviewed it and told Atkinson to award a penalty, Molineux erupted into loud indignation even though VAR had got it right.

The Wolves fans, Coady and many more before them are now using the old excuse of the villain in Scooby Doo who, after being unmasked, claims he "would have gotten away with it but for those meddling kids." VAR has become those meddling kids.

Fans, players and managers have to accept that if a system has been introduced and it's getting decisions right, then complaints about it being unfair -- or, to paraphrase Coady's words, not feeling right -- are just excuses and a desperate attempt to pass the buck. Yes, VAR is proving to be unforgiving, like a speed camera set at 31 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone, but how can it be fixed so that it becomes an acceptable addition to the game?

First of all, those involved in the game have to stop looking to blame VAR when it has proven to have been correct. Nothing will change until the temperature is lowered and the rants begin to subside.

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Then there are obviously areas where VAR can, and should, be amended to make it workable and realistic. The offside rule is the first place to start because with VAR, it's become a trap that only catches attacking players. In its current form, the offside rule is being allowed to suffocate the life and enjoyment from the game, with Neto's goal at Anfield a good example of the rule being stretched to the absolute limit of interpretation. Offside is offside and there will always be a line -- whether it comes in the form of a toe, shoelace or armpit -- but by changing the rule to favour the forwards, VAR could then reward attacking play and allow more goals.

Graeme Souness, the former Liverpool captain, suggested on Sky Sports at the weekend that a tweak to the law, whereby a player is onside if any part of his body is onside, would cut out the kind of controversies that we have seen so often this season. If that change was to be implemented, it would surely be more palatable for a goal to be given because a player's armpit or toe was fractionally onside rather than have it ruled out for the same reason. Football is about entertainment after all, and fans want to see goals.

Another change that's desperately needed is for match referees to consult the pitchside monitor for reviews rather than be left standing, finger in ear, waiting for a decision to be passed down by a fellow referee watching on a video screen in a windowless room in Stockley Park. It would be quicker and would ensure that the referee on the pitch takes charge of the situation. It would also give a visible signal to supporters, players and managers that a review is under way and allow everybody to know precisely who is making the decision.

Accountability is crucial but right now, the image that comes to mind is of a group of protractor-wielding boffins high-fiving each other in a video room whenever they catch another player offside or rule out another goal. The referee on the pitch has become a lightning rod, despite being taken out of the decision-making process once it goes to review at Stockley Park. Pitchside monitors are in place at every stadium, cutting lonely figures every time, but they work, as was proved during the 2018 World Cup and the Champions League.

Things must change with VAR, that is clear, but VAR in itself is not the problem. Those implementing it in the Premier League are making it look dysfunctional because of the way it is being used, but the fans and players also need to step back and stop blaming VAR when it is getting decisions right.

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard was arrested by the Davie Police Department on domestic battery charges Sunday night.

Per the arrest report obtained by ESPN, an argument between Howard and his fiancée turned physical when Howard grabbed both her arms and pushed her back up against the mirrored glass wall in the hall of their bedroom, causing her to fall and land on his medical assistant walking crutch. The officer said he observed scratches and redness on her right wrist/forearm from Howard grabbing her and an abrasion and redness from the fall.

Howard, 26, was processed at Davie Police Department, then transported to a local hospital when he complained of knee pain from a recent surgery. He was then transferred to Broward County Jail.

Police said the altercation started over a recent purchase of a purse. Howard and his fiancée live together and share three children.

The Dolphins placed Howard on injured reserve with a knee injury in October, and he recently had surgery on it. He remained at home while the team ended its season Sunday with an upset win over the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Howard's representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

"We are aware of the situation and currently gathering information," the Dolphins said in a statement. "We will have no further comment at this time."

Howard made the Pro Bowl in 2018 after tying for the NFL lead in interceptions. He signed a five-year, $75.25 million extension in May that locked him up as a key piece of the rebuilding Dolphins.

This is the second Dolphins player arrested on domestic violence charges this season. Running back Mark Walton was arrested on charges of aggravated battery of a pregnant person in November and he was immediately waived by the team.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants fired coach Pat Shurmur on Monday after two seasons on the job, but the team is keeping general manager Dave Gettleman.

Shurmur was told of his dismissal a little before 9 a.m., according to a source. Shurmur still plans to meet with the team at 11 a.m. ET, and his assistants will be met with individually later Monday.

Baylor coach Matt Rhule is a focus of the Giants' coaching search, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Rhule served as an assistant offensive line coach for the Giants in 2012.

The Giants have also requested permission to interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers also have requested permission to interview McDaniels, the source said.

Shurmur amassed a 9-23 record. His .292 career winning percentage (19-46) in four seasons as head coach with the Giants and Browns -- and one game as Philadelphia Eagles interim coach -- is the seventh lowest in NFL history.

The Giants (4-12) finished in fourth and third place, respectively, in the NFC East each of the past two seasons with Shurmur at the helm. They earned top-six picks in the draft for their struggles.

The Giants issued a statement from team president John Mara and chairman Steve Tisch on Monday.

"Steve and I have had many extensive discussions about the state of the Giants," Mara said. "This morning, we made the very difficult decision that it would be in the best interest of the franchise that we relieve Pat of his duties. The last three seasons have been extremely disappointing for the organization and our fans. Pat has been a successful and highly-respected NFL coach for 21 years and he is not solely responsible for our record. But we came to the conclusion it is best to have a fresh start with the coaching staff. We very much appreciate how much Pat has done for this franchise. He is a man of character and integrity and the team has conducted itself with pride and professionalism."

The statement also said that Mara and Tisch will aim for a "rapid and substantial turnaround" and think that Gettleman is "the right person to lead us going forward."

"Dave has a long record of success," Mara said. "We think he's capable of putting a great team together and he's going to get that opportunity. To the extent we need to make changes in personnel or the way we do things, we're going to discuss that."

Shurmur knew he was on the hot seat down the stretch this season.

"This is a wins business -- I get it, I get it," Shurmur said after the Giants' 34-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. "We've been talking about [my job] for, I think, about six weeks. You've been asking me the same questions for six weeks. So I don't know if I'm getting good at answering them, but I'm answering them a lot. But that's the reality of this business. When you don't win, that's the line of questioning. Listen, I get that, I get that."

Shurmur was working with limitations. He was saddled this year with a roster devoid of top-level talent (especially on defense) and a quarterback group that had an aging franchise legend, Eli Manning, and a promising but mistake-prone rookie, Daniel Jones. The Giants also didn't have a game in which all their top offensive players were on the field with Jones. They had over $40 million in dead money, and 10 rookies started at least one game.

Shurmur leaves despite believing the team is in a better place now than when he arrived off a 3-13 season in 2017.

"I think so. I do," he said. "These guys battled. We can talk about the dynamics of how the team was built and where it's going. We're building a team. A lot of dead money this year, a lot of cap space next year, and some prime picks where we can use the draft wisely and make decisions on making this team better with impact players.

"You need to have a quarterback, you need to be able to play defense, you need to run the ball. On defense, you need to have impact players that, when the game is on the line, can do things. We have some strung throughout this roster and we'll have a chance to go get more. I think that's exciting."

The Giants didn't have nearly enough. It led to Shurmur being relieved of his duties just two years into a five-year deal despite quickly making the move from Manning to Jones early this season.

Shurmur was hired in 2018 after a successful run as the Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator. Gettleman was intent on fixing the team's culture after firing Ben McAdoo.

Gettleman, also a new hire at the time, even wrote the word "adult" at the top of his notepad during Shurmur's interview. Gettleman thought it was the right hire.

Shurmur's time with the Giants didn't come without incident. His relationship with Odell Beckham Jr. soured quickly during his first season as head coach, to the point that the star wide receiver was traded last offseason to the Browns. Shurmur also had a run-in with edge rusher Olivier Vernon, who also was traded to the Browns.

The Giants weren't able to restock their roster and get back to their winning ways with Shurmur and Gettleman in charge. As a result, they will now be looking for their fourth head coach in the past six years. The Giants have the worst record in the NFL (12-36) since the start of the 2017 season.

Shurmur, 54, knew the heat was on in recent weeks when the Giants were in the midst of a nine-game skid. He was going to be judged by the win-loss record, no matter how many rookies were playing prominent roles this season.

"I'm well aware of it. I'm well aware of it," he said after a home loss to the Green Bay Packers. "People will change what they think of us and me when we win games. I'm a realist when it comes to that, and I get it. ... I expect fans to be upset, because we are, too. But we go about trying to fix it."

It never happened. Shurmur will not get the opportunity to see through the time and investment placed in Jones. The former quarterbacks coach was a major voice in the room when the Giants selected Jones -- despite intense criticism -- No. 6 overall in April's draft. So was Gettleman.

Jones flashed potential working with Shurmur throughout his rookie season. This was Shurmur's best case for remaining the Giants' coach, at least for another season. Mara said before the season the futures of his coach and general manager would "absolutely" be tied to their new quarterback.

Jones finished with 24 touchdown passes and 23 turnovers in his rookie season. It wasn't enough for Shurmur to retain his job with losses piling up and the fan base enraged by the results on the field.

YORK, Pa. – Sprint car driver Cory Haas has parted ways with Trone Outdoor Motorsports and car owner John Trone, effective immediately.

In addition, Haas plans to cut back his racing commitments to a partial schedule consisting of one event per weekend when the time allows.

“I’m truly thankful for everything John Trone has done for me, but it’s time to put more focus on my family and business,” Haas said. “My kids are getting older and they are getting more and more involved with sports and other activities. I’ve missed a lot over the years, but I don’t want to do that anymore. Not to mention, work is busier now than it has ever been. It’s really important that I’m around a lot more often.”

Haas and Trone Outdoor Motorsports were regulars on the Central Pennsylvania circuit for three seasons accumulating four victories; three at Williams Grove Speedway and one at Trail-Way Speedway.

“I could no longer give John (Trone) the type of commitment that he wanted,” Haas said. “I wish him and his team success moving forward. I also want to thank the crew for all of their hard work and dedication. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.

“Racing is a huge part of who I am, so I haven’t completely shut out the possibility of building my own car to race once a weekend, but only time will tell. I may just move on. Regardless, I’m thankful for all of the opportunities presented to me.”

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – American Tyler Courtney finally checked winning at Western Springs Speedway off his to-do list with a victory in the United Truck Parts Int’l Midget Series on Monday.

Courtney inherited the lead after narrowly avoiding a flipping Michael Pickens, who crashed out of the lead with seven laps left, and then held off Zach Daum the rest of the way.

The reigning USAC National Midget Series champion beat Daum to the checkered flag by 1.654 seconds, with Australian Kaidon Brown completing the podium.

“To finally get one at the Springs is something I’ve been waiting for for a while,” said Courtney. “I love this place and its fans, and it’s so awesome to win one here. The atmosphere is unreal and I can’t say thanks enough to everyone that’s helped to make it happen.”

Jeremy Webb crossed fourth and Hayden Guptill was fifth.

Other notables in the field included American Chris Windom (11th), Pickens (15th), Zeb Wise (17th) and Logan Seavey (20th).

The finish:

Tyler Courtney, Zach Daum, Kaidon Brown, Jeremy Webb, Hayden Guptill, Matthew McCutcheon, Brock Maskovich, Peter Hunnibell, Brett Morris Jr., Jayden Worthington, Chris Windom, Hamish Dobbyn, David Pellow, Nathan Howard, Michael Pickens, Hayden Williams, Zeb Wise, Max Guildford, Travis Mills, Logan Seavey.

This season's Winter Classic between the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators is shaping up for impressive optics. The NHL has already sold 84,000 tickets, and they're expecting 85,000 fans to pack the Cotton Bowl to watch Texas' first outdoor hockey game. Steve Mayer, the NHL's Chief Content Officer, has projected the event can bring in more than $30 million for the city of Dallas.

The NHL also says more than 20,000 fans are expected to come in from Nashville -- the biggest total ever for a visiting fan base on New Year's Day. So there's a decent spotlight on the Predators for the next few days. The problem is, this team has yet to form an identity. The Predators, quite frankly, have been a confusing team for the first three months of the season.

"We were struggling for a time there, in November," forward Colton Sissons said. "We were struggling with consistency early on in the season, and sometimes it takes teams some time -- especially when you have some new faces, like we do. But I think we're coming along."

GM David Poile spent the summer shaking up his veteran roster. His team has been a legitimate Stanley Cup contender for the past few years, but after back-to-back early playoff exits, it appeared the product (specifically the offense) was becoming stale. Poile traded P.K. Subban to the New Jersey Devils to clear cap space. He then committed seven years and $56 million to Matt Duchene, the long-coveted No. 2 center.

In what feels emblematic of their season, the Preds had back-to-back strong wins entering the Christmas break (against the Bruins and Coyotes) then came out of the break with back-to-back clunker losses to the Penguins.

Entering the Winter Classic, the Preds, like the Stars, are right on the playoff bubble.

As veteran goalie Pekka Rinne notes, "the Central Division is the most competitive I've seen it during my time here."

"For years and years the powerhouse used to be Chicago and things have turned a lot," Rinne said. "It's fun to play the division games these days. Teams like Colorado and St. Louis are among the best in the league. All these teams are good. Right now, we are trying to catch up to most of the teams in our division."

Nashville's defense, as usual, has been stellar because of its depth. The team hasn't skipped a beat without Subban. In fact, now that Subban's gone, it doesn't feel like a coincidence we're talking about Roman Josi as a Norris Trophy finalist for the first time in his career. As the team's leading scorer (39 points in 38 games) Josi is on pace for a career-best campaign in terms of offensive production. Ryan Ellis, second on the team in points, with 28, has been nearly as impressive.

"I wouldn't say those guys are underrated around the league or among fans," Sissons said. "It's more like, underappreciated. They definitely haven't been underappreciated in this room."

Dante Fabbro, 21, has also stepped into a full-time NHL role nicely, skating a healthy 19:13 per game on average.

The offense, however, has been trying to find its groove. The power play, which finished last in the league last season, has improved slightly. Meanwhile, coach Peter Laviolette shuffles his lines constantly.

"A couple new guys coming in, myself included obviously, just trying to find things that work," Duchene said. "I really like the combo of me, Fil [Filip Forsberg] and Granny [Mikael Granlund]. I think that's something that has worked real well when we work together. It would be nice to see that stick a little bit."

The biggest question mark is in net. That's different for Nashville, which has relied on Rinne for the entire decade. The Finn is only two years removed from his Vezina Trophy season, but it already seems like the team is transitioning to the 24-year-old backup, Juuse Saros. The two goalies (countrymen and good friends) started strong, then slumped, and have split the last 18 starts.

"It's been ups and downs for me," Rinne said. "Tough to say if it's mental or physical for me. I think it's more mental when you're having tough times. Sometimes you start second-guessing yourself and stuff that you're doing; is it the right thing? Or the wrong thing that you're doing? Being a goalie you have to feel confident out there. If you struggle with confidence, it's always hard."

"If you play all the time, you have a rhythm," Rinne said. "So it has been an adjustment. At the same time, I feel good about it. I have a great goalie partner. Juuse Saros is an amazing young goalie. He deserves to play, he's played well. He deserves his starts. Even though I wish nothing but the best for him, it's still an adjustment. As a professional player you always want to be out there. But if it gives my body a rest, gives me a chance to work [on] things on the ice, there are a lot of benefits, too. I'm 37 years old now."

Rinne is looking forward to the Winter Classic. He knows the experience will be special: bringing family and friends to the game, playing in his first outdoor game since he was a kid. But he also knows it could be a good statement for his team.

"We can show everyone what kind of team we really are," he said.

Jump ahead:
What we liked this week | What we didn't like
Three stars of the week | Biggest games coming up

Emptying the notebook

I was in Nashville for a few days over Christmas break, and it was impossible not to notice not only how much the city loves its hockey team (I saw way more Preds paraphernalia than I saw for the Titans) but also how the team has integrated into the community. It's not just the team, it's specific players that have taken initiative, too. As I was sitting in Bridgestone Arena for a morning skate, I couldn't help but notice something cool in the rafters. There were 11 banners featuring current players' faces, and underneath it was the charity they either created or support in the community: Kyle Turris and Kyle's Crew, Sisson and Holiday Outreach, Austin Watson and Holiday Outreach, Nick Bonino and Bonino's Barracks, Mattias Ekholm and On Ice With Ekky, Duchene and Hockey Tonk, Ryan Johansen and Youth Hockey, Rinne and 365 Fund, Forsberg and Make-a-Wish, Josi and Best Buddies, Yannick Weber and Weber's Wolf Pack. Very cool.

After the Predators' morning skate last week came a Penguins morning skate -- which is actually really rare for Pittsburgh. The NBA's load management trend may not be coming to the NHL anytime soon, but teams are finding better ways for their players to conserve energy. A growing trend is the cancellation of the longstanding tradition. The Penguins are one of the teams that have nixed a ton of them. "We believe it has [had an effect on guys]," coach Mike Sullivan said. "Every coaching staff is different and how they approach their team. It's really about knowing your group and trying to make the best decisions accordingly. We're trying to manage the workloads throughout the ebbs and flows of the schedule. Sometimes from just a mental fatigue standpoint -- of not having to put your equipment on twice a day times 82 games a year -- that can pay dividends."

Veteran Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is all in favor of the new routine. He personally stopped taking regular morning skates five or six years ago. "I just thought every time I put the gear on, I would try to work on different things and burn a lot of energy I wouldn't get back at night," Letang said. "I thought it was more important to get the rest. I mean, I'd love to be out there, but I'm not going to lie -- my least favorite part of hockey is getting dressed. I hate getting dressed."

Letang added: "I think a lot of young guys in the league feel like they need to do morning skate, that they aren't entitled to skip it. They need to get the goalies ready, I guess. But with the way the league is going with all the young guys, sometimes the best thing is to rest and make sure they don't skate. Coach took that in his hands and made it easy for everyone so we don't have to make decisions."

I often ask players, coaches or execs if there's one trend they notice in the NHL. Letang gave a really interesting answer. "I feel that there are a lot of pucks in the air this season. I wouldn't say people don't control the puck, but they play with speed and that means they chip it off the wall and they get to races. That's kind of where it's going. The era of the Blackhawks, where they would keep the puck on their tape the whole game -- coming back just to make sure they didn't lose it -- has ended, and now I feel the trend is to play fast and with speed, and that has led to more pucks in the air."

Three stars of the week

Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

The Lightning need to start putting together wins, and they gutted out a comeback victory against Montreal after the Christmas break -- after letting the Habs take the first 18 shots of the game. Hedman was key in that game, and posted two goals and six assists for eight points in three contests this week.

Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins

The Bruins veteran posted four goals and an assist in three games this week, including two which proved to be game-winners. It was a good week for Boston, which beat the division rival Sabres twice and smacked the top team in the East, the Capitals, 7-3.

Jaden Schwartz, LW, St. Louis Blues

Schwartz is on a nice hot steak -- six straight games with a point -- which included scoring twice in a big divisional win over the Winnipeg Jets. He had three goals and three assists in three games this week, including two game-winning goals.

Things we liked this week

• You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take. So 22-year-old Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier took one at actress Anna Kendrick on Christmas:

Hi @AnnaKendrick47

— Anthony Beauvillier (@titobeauvi21) December 26, 2019

• And then the internet decided to play wingman. "Remember Beau when you saved me from a burning building, cooked me a 7 course meal and taught me 8 languages, that was a great day," former Islanders defenseman Bruno Gervais replied to the tweet. Others chimed in on the thread thanking Beauvillier for saving someone from drowning, lending someone a helicopter to visit their dying grandma. Apparently Beauvillier even paid a year's worth of someone's rent -- quite generous for a guy who just came off his entry-level contract. All of this got Kendrick's attention. Maybe Beauvillier won't get a date, but he did make her smile:

These replies have been my entertainment for the last two days. Thank you all for regaling me with the true tales of this man's heroism.

— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) December 27, 2019

• Another Christmas tweet that went viral: This 86-year-old woman attended her first NHL game, and it is so pure:

My dad took his 86 year old mom to her first @NHL game. She's been a life long @Penguins fan and an even bigger Crosby fan. She couldn't believe it! #MerryChrismas pic.twitter.com/qN8umwfzwY

— Braydon Tomac (@BrayTomac) December 25, 2019

• But wait, we just renamed it the Svechnikov:

Nils Höglander (VAN) does The Michigan again! #Canucks #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/QzzhheAycC

— Jokke Nevalainen (@JokkeNevalainen) December 26, 2019

• The only thing cooler than the Rage Room at the Wells Fargo Center this season is Carter Hart in net:

Carter Hart wins the last home game of the decade for the #Flyers. He is now 11-1-2, with a 1.49 GAA, and a .946 Save Percentage at home this season.

— Jamey Baskow (@JameyBaskow) December 24, 2019

• An unbelievable effort on this goal by Gabriel Landeskog:

Landeskog goes right through the defense and evens the score. Shades of Lemieux here. pic.twitter.com/I1uZEmZcGh

— Giles Ferrell (@gilesferrell) December 28, 2019

Things we didn't like this week

• Alex Ovechkin announced he is going to skip the All Star game for the second straight season, despite being voted as the Metropolitan Division captain. Ovechkin's reasoning? At age 34, he feels it's better to rest his body for the second half of the season. I have no problem with Ovechkin skipping the festivities, but his one-game suspension -- either directly before or after All-Star break -- once again doesn't sit well with me. There was a discussion last year (after Ovechkin made the same decision) to have this rule amended, especially for players age 30 or older, or those who have been to multiple All-Star games before. This is something that would have to be negotiated into a CBA, though I wonder if the players' association would be able to work something out with the NHL in their continued talks.

• The injury to Ilya Mikheyev was a scary one for all involved. He'll be out at least three months after undergoing surgery to repair a severed artery and tendons in his wrist after he was cut by the skate of Jesper Bratt. Here's wishing the absence is not much longer than that for the promising 25-year-old rookie.

• As if the Devils season couldn't get more depressing, this own goal from Damon Severson -- to end the game in overtime! -- was the worst I've seen this year:

Damon Severson scores on his own goal in OT. Wow. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/4ard2urLQD

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 28, 2019

• Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook is done for the season, and as many pointed out, it felt weird the way the team was talking about his absence, almost as a career eulogy. Seabrook, 34, has looked like a different player for the last two-plus seasons -- which is troublesome considering he is under contract through 2024. He's been an iron man for the Hawks, missing only 15 games over the last 13 seasons. Seabrook likely played through a lot. Now he's getting three major surgeries, to his right hip, his left hip and his right shoulder. All the best in his recovery.

• The Blackhawks now have four players on long-term injured reserve (Seabrook, Calvin de Haan, Andrew Shaw and Drake Caggiula) combining for nearly $17 million in cap space. They posted a huge post-Christmas home victory against the New York Islanders, but it's still feeling more and more likely this is a transition season for Chicago, which is now giving significant playing time to a ton of youngsters.

Games of the week

Wednesday, Jan. 1: Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars (Winter Classic)

I asked Duchene to offer a reason for fans to watch this game. Here's his preview: "It's two of the best teams in the West. For sure. I know it will be a tight, intense game. But also, it's really cool to have this in the South. Hockey is really growing down here. People love it. For me, raising a son down here who will likely play, it helps the game grow and it gives him a better product. I know there are a lot of kids around this area who are starting to pick the game up. The more attention stuff like this brings to the game, the better."

Saturday, Jan. 4: New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs (ESPN+)

Ah, yet another John Tavares revenge game. This time, though, the focus should be on two of the best teams in the East, especially given their contrasting styles. The Leafs have the NHL's best point percentage since Sheldon Keefe took over, and they rank first in goals. We know how stingy the Islanders defense can be.

Sunday, Jan. 5: Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins

How on Earth do the Penguins keep picking up wins with the injuries they've had? Pittsburgh welcomed back Patric Hornqvist, and it sounds like Sidney Crosby is close to returning, given that he's back skating (let's give it another week or so). The Panthers are hovering on the playoff bubble. They're top five in the league in goal scoring, but they still need more out of their goalies.

Quote of the week

"I'd rather lose 8-0." -- Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, after his team lost to the Maple Leafs 8-6, including five goals by the Leafs in the third period to cap a wild comeback

As he's proven over the last few years while he's been injured, Tiger Woods makes news whether he's on or off the course. Luckily for fans, this year he played – and more importantly won – plenty.

From his return to major championship glory at the Masters to guiding the U.S. to a win at the Presidents Cup,  here are the Tiger moments that stood out in 2019, in no particular order:

It was a scene many thought they’d never see, but Woods finally won his 15^th major title at the 83^rd Masters in April.  Woods, who has battled personal problems and injuries for the better part of a decade, returned to the major championship winner’s circle for the first time since the 2008 U.S. Open.

Woods, 43, won his fifth green jacket by coming from behind on Sunday, carding a final-round 70 to top Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka by a shot. Tiger’s victory at Augusta National was his 81^st on the PGA Tour, which left him just one off Sam Snead’s record for most career Tour titles, and rejuvenated his hunt of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles.

Woods had an up-and-down 2019, but after arthroscopic surgery in August to repair minor cartilage damage in his left knee. Tiger targeted October’s Zozo Championship in Japan to make his return, and what a return it was.  Despite massive delays and a Monday finish after a typhoon blew through the area, Woods topped the field in Japan by three strokes, making the Zozo his 82^nd career PGA Tour victory, tying him with Snead for most all-time.

Woods has maintained that Snead's record was always the one that he was after, and after a hot finish to 2019, he looks poised to pass Snead and sit alone atop the PGA Tour wins list next year.

Woods had settled into his role as Presidents Cup captain long before his game returned. But after winning the Zozo Championship just a couple of weeks before having to announce his captains picks for the U.S. team, it was only natural that he'd select himself.

Woods then led his team down to Australia and despite an early deficit, the Americans mounted a comeback in Sunday singles to beat Ernie Els' International squad, 16 to 14.

Woods arguably was even better as a player than as a captain, going 3-0-0 in the competition, including an important opening point on Sunday that set the tone for the final session. The rest of his team followed his lead, winning singles, 8-4.

Nearly a month after winning his 15th major title and fifth green jacket at the Masters, Woods was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is one of the country’s highest civilian honors, and Woods accepted the award as Trump called him "a global symbol of American excellence, devotion and drive.”

Woods, who has played golf with Trump on several occasions over the years,  is the first active athlete to receive the honor, and only the fourth golfer to be awarded the Medal of Freedom, joining Arnold Palmer (2004), Jack Nicklaus (2005) and Charlie Sifford (2014). 

Despite two wins and a Presidents Cup triumph, Woods dealt with a slew of injuries this year. The 43-year-old with a fused lower back withdrew before the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a "neck strain," and also before the second round of the The Northern Trust with “a mild oblique strain.”

Even when he stuck it out, Woods didn't always appear to be 100 percent healthy, often looking looking sore while plodding his way around the golf course and admitting several times that, "it's just the way it's gonna be" going forward.

Finishing out the major year with a tie for 21^st and two missed cuts, Woods opted for surgery to repair minor cartilage damage in his left knee, and looked like a new man at the Zozo Championship and Presidents Cup. 

One of the best moment from Woods' return to major championship relevance at the Masters came as he walked off the 18th green, when he was greeted by his kids, in an emotional scene that brought back memories of Woods’ first Masters title in 1997 when he was embraced his late father, Earl, who passed away in 2006.

Woods was met with a big hug from son Charlie,  daughter Sam, and mother, Kultida, moments after earning his fifth green jacket. It was the first time that Sam and Charlie were able to witness their father win a major championship.

“I think the kids are starting to understand how much this game means to me and some of the things I’ve done in the game,” Woods said after closing out major No. 15. “If I tried to swing a club I would be on the ground and I struggled for years, and that’s basically all they remember ... So, for them to see what it’s like to have their dad win a major championship, I hope that’s something they will never forget.”

Before Woods was parading around in the green jacket, he had to overcome plenty on the golf course, including a bizarre moment during the second round when an overzealous security guard slipped and fell, clipping Tiger's ankle on his way down.

Tiger appeared to be in pain in the immediate aftermath of the incident, and it would've been a much bigger story had it affected Woods' play.

Luckily for the security guard, Tiger immediately stepped up and drained a 28-foot birdie putt on his next shot. The rest, as they say, is history. 

The only guy who may have enjoyed Tiger's 15th major championship more than Woods himself was one lucky gambler whose $85,000 bet on him paid out $1.2 million. If you were wondering if word about the bet got back to Woods, he answered that with a resounding "yes" while at his charity event in Las Vegas in May.

While hitting balls before an audience at Tiger Jam, Woods responded to a member of the gallery asking what he made of the story, and it was a little NSFW. "[Bleepin'] great bet," he shouted without hesitation.

Woods also had a reaction to the gambler's ill-advised decision to immediately double down and bet $100,000 on him to win the season's Grand Sam, which was, not as positive, to put it nicely.

One of the great traditions of winning the Masters is celebrating in the green jacket wherever you like. Green jackets have been to fast-food drive-throughs, a Waffle House, courtside at an NBA game, and now ... to Tiger Woods' restaurant in Jupiter, Florida.

Woods surprised diners at his upscale restaurant, The Woods Jupiter, shortly after returning from Augusta National with his 15th major title.

Presumably still in a good mood after authoring one of the greatest comeback stories in professional sports history, Woods was happy to pose for pictures with fans while wearing the prized jacket over a Nike Dri-Fit shirt and Oakland Raiders gym shorts.

The Washington Redskins are expected to hire former Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera as their next head coach, barring unforeseen developments, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.

The news comes on the same day that Washington parted ways with team president Bruce Allen.

The Redskins hope the moves can revive a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in 14 seasons and faces plummeting attendance.

Rivera becomes the seventh head coach hired by owner Dan Snyder. Because Rivera, 57, is a minority candidate, the Redskins could fulfill the Rooney Rule immediately. Carolina fired Rivera on Dec. 3 with a 5-7 record, and he was viewed as a strong candidate for any opening.

The Redskins fired Jay Gruden after an 0-5 start in his sixth season. Some players bemoaned a lack of discipline, something interim coach Bill Callahan said he wanted to correct.

Allen was the primary voice in Washington's football matters since the firing of coach Mike Shanahan in 2013. The Redskins hired Scot McCloughan as general manager after the 2014 season, but he was fired after the 2016 season, and Allen regained control. Snyder had hired Allen to be his top executive late in the 2009 season.

The team released a statement from Snyder on Monday morning regarding Allen's ouster:

"As this season concludes, Bruce Allen has been relieved of his duties as President of the Washington Redskins and is no longer with the organization. Like our passionate fan base, I recognize we have not lived up to the high standards set by great Redskins teams, coaches and players who have come before us. As we reevaluate our team leadership, culture and process of winning football games, I am excited for the opportunities that lie ahead to renew our singular focus and purpose of bringing championship football back to Washington D.C."

Now the team turns to Rivera. He'll try to revive a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since 2015 and hasn't won a postseason game since 2005. Attendance at Washington home games has plummeted, and opposing fans often outnumber Redskins fans. Washington ranked 19th in the NFL in attendance and 30th in percentage of seats used this season.

Rivera quickly turned around the Panthers, who went 2-14 in 2010, the season before he took over. Three seasons later, they went 12-4. In 2015, they were 15-1 and reached the Super Bowl. Rivera compiled a 76-63-1 record with Carolina, although the Panthers had only three winning seasons in his eight full years. They reached the playoffs four times, including in 2014 with a 7-8-1 record, and won the NFC South three seasons in a row.

Washington, meanwhile, has had quite a fall from grace for a franchise that played in five Super Bowls -- and won three -- between 1972 and 1991.

The franchise has been beset by conflicts; one former member of the Redskins' football department said the team would win again when the "non-football people stop making football decisions." Players have often complained about the overall culture at Redskins Park outside of the locker room. Among other things, they point to a facility that lags behind most in the NFL despite having been updated in recent years.

This season, a key storyline involved the holdout by seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams. Allen didn't trade him by the Oct. 29 deadline, prompting Williams to report to the team -- but also to rip the franchise over a loss of trust stemming from medical issues. Williams later said he would not have said anything had the Redskins traded him; he had strong support from teammates.

It adds up to why the Redskins needed change. Sources said the Redskins knew they needed a strong leader, someone with previous head-coaching experience -- and success.

Rivera had a reputation in Carolina for being firm with players but also for getting to know them beyond the field.

Rivera also was Chicago's defensive coordinator in 2006 when the Bears reached the Super Bowl. He served in the same role from 2008 to 2010 with the San Diego Chargers. Carolina hired him as its head coach in January 2011. With the Panthers, Rivera earned a reputation in his first two seasons for being conservative. But in 2013, he changed tactics and became known as "Riverboat Ron" for what others called gambling on specific playcalls; he referred to the decisions as "calculated risks."

In Washington, he'll inherit a team with plenty of young players, including quarterback Dwayne Haskins. By season's end, partly because of injuries, the Redskins had used 12 players aged 25 or younger as consistent starters. Washington also owns the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Allen had a legacy with the franchise. His father, George, coached the Redskins from 1971 to 1977, guiding the team to its first Super Bowl, where it lost to Miami. He had turned around a franchise that had floundered throughout the 1950s and '60s.

But his son could not duplicate that success from an executive position. Bruce Allen became a divisive figure for the fans. During his 10-year tenure, the Redskins won the NFC East twice but finished with double-digit losses five times and never won more than 10 games. They made just two playoff appearances, losing in the first round each time. The Redskins were 62-97-1 under Allen. After a four-year stretch in which they were a combined 31-32-1 with two injury-filled seasons, they plummeted to new lows in 2019. The Redskins' 3-13 record this season included included eight losses by 10 or more points.

Allen was named the 2002 Sporting News Executive of the Year while with the Oakland Raiders. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004 as a general manager but was fired after the 2008 season.

ESPN's John Keim contributed to this report.

We've made it to the 2019 NFL playoffs. After 17 weeks of ups and downs and overreactions of all kinds, the playoff matchups are set. From here on out, there's no more speculation or projection -- only proof. You win, you keep playing. You lose, you're done.

But there's still some mystery about this whole endeavor, and more than a few questions this NFL postseason will help us answer. Let's take a look at five of them:

Is this Tom Brady's last run in New England?

There has been plenty of speculation about whether Brady, 42, would leave the Patriots at the end of this season, either via retirement or to finish his career elsewhere. His contract structure allows him to leave if he so desires. There are potentially interesting win-now situations with possible starting quarterback openings in places such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Tennessee and Las Vegas, to name just a few. The possibility exists that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could leave for a head-coaching job elsewhere. There has always been the possibility, however remote, that 67-year-old Patriots coach Bill Belichick could walk away at some point.

So much long-term uncertainty hangs over this New England playoff run, which could be done in by short-term concerns about whether the offense has enough to propel Brady and Belichick to a seventh Super Bowl title. Sunday's events, which saw the Patriots lose to Miami and fall out of the No. 2 seed, makes things that much more difficult, as they now have to play on wild-card weekend for the first time in 10 years.

Whether this run ends with a Lombardi trophy presentation in Miami in early February or with a disappointing earlier exit, one of the major storylines of this offseason will be what Brady wants to do, and whether he wants to continue doing it in Foxborough.

Is this finally Andy Reid's year?

The second best coach of his era, Reid is making the 15th playoff appearance in his 21-year head-coaching career. But he has yet to win a Super Bowl, and he has only coached in one. Last year's Chiefs got Reid agonizingly close, as they were one third-down stop from knocking off the Patriots in Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game, but ended up losing in overtime.

Reid has the quarterback, in reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes. He has the fastest offense in the league, deep at every position and loaded with explosive playmakers. He has a first-round bye, as a result of Sunday's win and the Patriots' loss. Lately, he has a defense. Before giving up 21 points in a win against the Chargers, Steve Spagnuolo's unit entered Sunday's game allowing a league-low 9.6 points per game over the previous six weeks.

If that defense can keep playing the way it has over the season's final two months, the Chiefs can beat anyone.

Can the Saints avoid the kind of bizarre calamity that seems to knock them out of the playoffs every year?

It's not crazy to think that, but for Stefon Diggs' miracle game-winning touchdown catch two years ago and a cataclysmic, rule-altering missed pass interference call in last year's NFC Championship Game, the Saints could be trying for their third straight Super Bowl title. That's how good they've been during their current run, and they are one of the favorites to represent the NFC in in the Super Bowl this season.

But if you remember those old Peanuts cartoons where Charlie Brown tried to kick the football and Lucy kept yanking it away from him at the last second, you know what it has been like around the Saints the past couple of Januarys.

Like Brady, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is on the other side of 40 and there are legitimate questions about how much longer he'll want to do this. But he has been playing at a high level over the past few weeks. He has a ridiculous connection with Michael Thomas, who's the best receiver in the league right now. He has an emerging connection with tight end Jared Cook, who could be the dynamic non-Thomas threat the Saints have lacked. The run game looked better with Alvin Kamara getting going in Nashville in Week 16. And the defense gets after opposing quarterbacks.

The Saints were 7-1 on the road this season, so having to go to someone else's building in January shouldn't bother them. Maybe the third time is a charm and this is the year Charlie Brown finally connects.

Can anyone stop Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens?

The Ravens gave their star quarterback and a number of other players a well-earned day off Sunday, and we won't see them again until the divisional round. Baltimore has secured home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, and the Jackson-led rushing attack has been more or less unstoppable all year. The Ravens on Sunday set the record for most rushing yards in a season with 3,172, passing the 1978 Patriots.

Baltimore is 5-1 against other playoff teams this season, with victories over potential AFC playoff opponents New England, Houston and Buffalo as well as San Francisco and Seattle in the NFC. They lost 33-28 in Kansas City in Week 3.

In last season's playoffs, the Ravens fell apart against a Chargers team that was facing them for the second time. It remains to be seen whether a second look at these Ravens would help a team like the Patriots or Texans. But it also seems clear that what Baltimore is doing is a lot different and more sustainable than what it was doing this time last year.

Can Carson Wentz keep this Eagles run going?

Wentz is forever in the unprecedented situation of having to live up to his backup. It was Nick Foles who delivered the Eagles their first Super Bowl title two seasons ago when Wentz got hurt and couldn't finish the year, and if Wentz never wins his own, he'll have to spend his career in Foles' shadow, at least to some degree. Wentz proved a lot with the December run that got the banged-up Eagles into the NFC playoff field, but the standard in Philly is higher at this point than just an NFC East title.

These Eagles are likely not the team to make a run, in part because of how shredded they are at positions such as wide receiver and cornerback, and in part because of how strong the rest of this year's NFC field looks. But they have shown, by getting themselves into the playoffs with late-season runs each of the past two seasons, that they have a lot of toughness. And as the Bears found out a year ago, they aren't an easy out come playoff time.