Sports
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets blank Devils for 6th win in row
Feb 3, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save as New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) looks for the puck during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season and Mathieu Olivier scored two goals in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in Newark, N.J.
The Blue Jackets extended their season-high winning streak to six games. Columbus is 10-1-0 in its past 11 games and has won five straight away games after completing a 3-0-0 road trip on Tuesday.
Merzlikins earn his 12th career shutout while improving to 11-8-1 on the season. After some early struggles, Merzlikins has played better during the Jackets’ hot streak, splitting starts with Jet Greaves.
Olivier’s two goals and Dante Fabbro’s go-ahead goal all came during a commanding third period for the Blue Jackets, who outshot New Jersey 13-7 in the final frame.
Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 of 25 shots for the Devils, who are 1-4-0 in their past five games.
Nico Hischier and Arseny Gritsyuk each hit the post in the third period as New Jersey took its sixth shutout loss. The Devils have scored only 142 times this season, tied for the third-fewest goals of any team in the NHL.
A would-be goal from the Blue Jackets’ Danton Heinen 5:10 into the first period was nullified after the Devils made a successful goalie-interference challenge. That was as close as either team came to scoring over the first 45 minutes, in part due to solid goaltending at both ends.
Columbus finally broke the deadlock 5:24 into the third period, as Fabbro’s shot from outside the circle beat a screened Markstrom. Fabbro was making his return to the lineup after a foot laceration kept him out of the previous six games.
Olivier extended the lead at the 12:05 mark as the Jackets took advantage of a sloppy New Jersey line change. Cole Sillinger’s pass found a wide-open Olivier, who converted a slick backhanded shot.
Markstrom was pulled with just under five minutes remaining in the third period, but it was the Blue Jackets who took advantage while down 6-on-5. At the 16:00 minute mark, Dougie Hamilton slashed Olivier when the Jackets forward was approaching the empty net, and Olivier was awarded an automatic goal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Grading the NFL’s Worst Head Coaching Hires of 2026
Jul 23, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Nearly a third of the teams in the NFL faced head-coaching vacancies this offseason, a rat race that concluded Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals tapped Mike LaFleur for the job.
The last hire of this coaching cycle wasn’t necessarily the best, though.
As with every class, someone’s got to bring down the curve. Read on to see which organizations rated an “F” for their coaching hires at first blush.
MIKE LAFLEUR, ARIZONA CARDINALS
Spurned by another burgeoning offensive mind from within their division, the Cardinals pivoted to LaFleur, the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator, after Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak elected to lead the Las Vegas Raiders instead.
But plucking from the staff of an NFC Championship Game entrant barely makes a dent in Arizona’s bid to return to respectability. Significant questions remain on a roster that managed just 19 wins over the past four seasons and has finished above third in the NFC West once in the last nine years.
One of those uncertainties happens to play the game’s most important position. Quarterback Kyler Murray, limited to only five starts in 2025, still has two years and a team option remaining on a monster contract.
LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, helped guide the Rams to the most yards (394.6) and points (30.5) per game in 2025. Apart from his family-tree pedigree, he also looms as the latest successful offshoot of the Sean McVay line.
Still, superior schemes won’t be enough at the start for an organization that needs rehauling beyond its Xs and Os.
JEFF HAFLEY, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Nov 17, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley does a selfie with fans before their game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Solider Field in Chicago, Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images Hafley only had been a head coach at Boston College before becoming Miami’s fourth HC hire since 2016.
Perhaps channeling that collegiate experience was a prescient move for an organization that’s been beset by infighting and still employs a mercurial quarterback whose best days came on campus.
Hafley has since proven to be a leader of NFL men, doing solid work in shaping the Green Bay defense as its coordinator the past two seasons. However, the unit’s slide after star pass rusher Micah Parsons’ late-season injury in 2025 isn’t an endorsement for his ability to overcome on-the-spot adversity.
Pairing with fellow Packers alum Jon-Eric Sullivan, Miami’s new general manager, could be a formula for Hafley to improve this grade. Until then, the unknown — and its ability to engulf first-time NFL head coaches — abounds.
TODD MONKEN, CLEVELAND BROWNS
Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on the field before the game against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Monken returns to his former stomping grounds with redemption on the brain. He served as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator during the one-year Freddie Kitchens Era in 2019, overseeing an attack that finished 22nd in the NFL in yards and points.
Kitchens’ dismissal opened the door for the since-dismissed Kevin Stefanski, while Monken got his groove back as OC at Georgia and with the Baltimore Ravens.
Monken, 59, brings established credibility and creativity to an offense lacking both. But he also knows from opposing the Browns twice a year about Cleveland’s question marks at QB and thinness at wide receiver and up front.
Plus, the ongoing Jim Schwartz saga reinforces Cleveland’s longtime organizational instability. Will Schwartz be back as Cleveland’s DC, or won’t he? If it’s the former, will fans think he’s only out to undermine a franchise that overlooked him for the top job after he built the defense into one of the league’s best?
Also, shouldn’t Monken have learned something when fellow candidates Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter and Grant Udinski removed themselves from consideration for this post? Is he merely destined for second-guessing?
Sports
Cleveland Cavaliers Take a Massive Gamble Trading Darius Garland for James Harden
In a trade that had been brewing all day, the Cleveland Cavaliers had traded Darius Garland and a second-round pick for Clippers former MVP James Harden. Late last night, rumors of the deal were bubbling to the surface, but the two sides have officially come to an agreement to swap All-Star point guards.
Honestly, I’m not entirely sure if I like this move for Cleveland. It’s rumored that Garland’s foot/toe injury is worse than reported, and with how long this has continued to linger, that very well could be the case. He’s dealt with postseason injuries throughout his career, but moving on from your 26-year-old All-Star for James Harden feels like a massive risk.
Let’s look at the positives. At his best, Harden does everything Garland does, but better. He’s an elite playmaker who, paired with Jarrett Allen, could be one of the best pick-and-roll pairings in the league.
Harden has had a few injuries over the course of his career, but overall, he’s a more durable option than Garland. He has more ability to create his own shot than Garland and could help create more space for Donovan Mitchell.
They’re both limited in what they can provide on the defensive end, but at least Harden has some size and can pretend to add more value when he’s switched onto a bigger player. Of course, Harden is 37, so he might not have many good years left in him, but if he can give you another couple of good seasons, it might be worth the risk.
The deal was on hold all day as many believed the Cavs were looking for extra draft compensation to acquire a superstar — specifically Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks have not been impressed with the offers they’ve received so far for Giannis, but could a package centered around Evan Mobley and draft picks be the best deal they get?
Mobley is coming off a season in which he finished second-team All-NBA and won Defensive Player of the Year. If you plan to move Giannis to a contender, the picks you’ll receive from them may not be valuable until a couple of years down the road. Mobley would easily be the most impactful player for the Bucks to build around in these rumored trades.
On the other hand, Mobley was supposed to be Cleveland’s version of Giannis. He’s still only 24, and he’s only getting stronger in the paint. However, I think it’s fair to say he doesn’t have the Tim Duncan or Antetokounmpo upside that Cleveland was hoping for.
If you want to hang on to Mobley, how good does he have to be in order to not add him to a package for a top-three player in the world? Personally, if Cleveland can get away with their rumored deal of Mobley, Max Strus, Lonzo Ball, and draft compensation, you almost have to do it.
A core of Mitchell, Harden, and Giannis would put the league on notice. On the other hand, you could easily see these moves being short-sighted and blowing up in Cleveland’s face.
Sports
Burgers and returns: Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson ready for any Super Bowl role
Feb 3, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots running back Treveyon Henderson speaks to the media during Super Bowl LX press conference at Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images SANTA CLARA, Calif. — TreVeyon Henderson knows not to fumble when the Patriots call his number.
That was the case late-night Monday, when Super Bowl LX starting quarterback Drake Maye brought Henderson into a player entourage heading to In-N-Out Burger — a West Coast staple known for greasy cheeseburgers and other fast-food finds — for a quick bite.
“I’ve had In-N-Out less than five times in my life,” Henderson said Tuesday at the San Jose Convention Center of joining his fellow 23-year-old teammate for some grub. “In-N-Out is good. Every time I come out to Cali, I have to make sure I go there. What makes it even better is they have the little Bible verse at the bottom of it, so I like it.”
The Ohio State rookie was the 38th pick in the 2025 draft. He made a huge splash and turned in memorable games — 148 rushing yards and two TDs against the Bills in December, a three-TD game against the Jets.
But he became an afterthought in the AFC Championship at Denver with a season-low four total snaps in the snow. He played 45.8% of New England’s total offensive plays in the regular season in a shared running back role with Rhamondre Stevenson. Henderson led the Patriots with 180 carries, 911 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season. Stevenson had 130-603-7.
Stevenson said Henderson’s approach and confidence are unchanged.
“He’s always prepared. It’s kind of a brotherly conversation between the two of us. ‘How can we get each other better?'” Stevenson said.
Henderson, who also returned kickoffs in the regular season, led the NFL with four rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards in 2025.
Stevenson spent time in head coach Mike Vrabel’s doghouse earlier this season due to three lost fumbles.
But in the playoffs, Stevenson has 51 carries — to Henderson’s 24 — for 194 yards and no touchdowns. His more physical, attacking, between-the-tackles style made him the natural choice on the soggy track at Denver.
Henderson’s explosiveness might be needed against a Seattle front capable of clogging inside alleys. He’s also the superior receiver of the two backs but inconsistency in pass protection might be one reason he’s not getting many looks in the playoffs.
“(Vrabel) always tells us to prepare as a starter,” Henderson said, adding he does still participate in kickoff returns in practice. “I’m not first on the depth chart — we still get reps in practice. I’m still preparing as a starter.”
When pressed about Henderson’s declining role last month, Vrabel wouldn’t point specifically to the proverbial “rookie wall,” a reference to the significant increase in the length and volume of practices and games during the NFL season compared to college football. But he did skim the edges of the topic for a potential cause for his reduced reps.
“We’re always talking about the length of the season, what we need to do to continue, how the practices are and recovery,” Vrabel said. “And mentally, the finish line is not going to move towards us. It’s not going to move closer to us. We have to keep attacking.”
–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media
Grading the NFL’s Worst Head Coaching Hires of 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers Take a Massive Gamble Trading Darius Garland for James Harden
