data-mm-id=”_1soxk3ehv”>In the 30-plus hours since Bernie Smilovitz of Detroit's WDIV reported that the Detroit Lions have been actively shopping Matthew Stafford, no one else has been able to match that information. General manager Bob Quinn immediately denied the story in a text message to the Free Press. The rumor has managed to do something quite impressive in our fractured times: bring about almost universal agreement that there's absolutely nothing to this. Smilovitz, though, is standing by his reporting. In a new post this morning titled Sources confirm Lions have had Matthew Stafford trade talks, each paragraph is better than the one that came before.”We stand by our story and by our sources. We find tremendous validity in what we are reporting because of what Kelly Stafford posted on Instagram. Before our report was made, she posted that if Detroit was done with her husband, then they would like to go to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers need a quarterback after Philip Rivers left.””The fact that Kelly posted that before our report tells us things were going behind the scenes, and our sources later confirmed it.””Again, we are only reporting trade talks for Stafford and those talks have definitely taken place.”This is not your typical newsroom copy. The vagueness of "things going on." The phrase "we are only reporting." Extremely interesting, if nothing else. The Kelly Stafford Instagram post, which is apparently crucial evidence here, relates to this FanDuel article imagining three potential destinations for the quarterback if the Lions draft a quarterback. It's clear how we got here. It's unclear if Smilovitz ever gets his vindication or comeuppance. Stafford staying put doesn't prove trade talks never happened. Both sides can claim victory and walk away, thankful for the memories and a follow-up that will go down as an all-timer.
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The games will come thick and fast now with the Premier League heading into matchday two after a bumper opening weekend.
Leeds United play a top-flight game at Elland Road for the first time since 2004 having lost out in a 4-3 thriller to champions Liverpool in their opener.
Chelsea host the Reds this weekend, while Manchester United are out to avoid a repeat of an Old Trafford defeat to Crystal Palace last season.
But before settling down to watch all the action unfold, why not warm-up your minds with our Opta-powered quiz?
1. Which Everton forward scored a hat-trick against West Brom for Arsenal in the Premier League back in May 2015, but has failed to net in each of his six other appearances against the Baggies in the competition?
2. Leeds pla…
According to a recent report from France Football, Paris Saint-Germain will be attempting to complete the signing of Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga during either the January or summer transfer window. PSG have never been shy when it comes to putting all of their eggs in one basket, and when it comes to Camavinga, they’ve taken the necessary time to think things through as opposed to acting on impulse.
Camavinga put in a starring role for them earlier on in the season at the age of just 16, which clearly made a lasting impression. PSG tend to go for the more established names in the transfer window as a result of their overwhelming wealth, but if this comes to fruition, nobody can say that they don’t take a risk or two from time to time.
Whether or not Camavi…
Prediction: Manchester City to Win and Both Teams to Score
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Manchester City will be aiming to seal a domestic treble on Saturday evening as they take on Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
The Citizens have already scooped the Premier League and Carabao Cup this season and will look to continue their trophy streak under boss Pep Guardiola. Meanwhile, Watford head to the capital aiming to upset the odds and lift their first ever piece of major silverware.
Manchester City
The Citizens are by far the favourites to win the FA Cup this season after lifting the Premier League and Carabao Cup this season. One aspect that could see them go all their way is their recent form coming into the game. In all competitions this sea…
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Chelsea central defender Antonio Rudiger, according to . It has been reported by the German news outlet that Bundesliga and European giants Bayern have already made contact with the 28-year-old’s agent and half-brother Sahr Senesie and have expressed their interest in him.
Rudiger is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season, and with no new deal in place, the central defender is set to become a free agent next summer. However, the Blues, who won the Champions League last season and are aiming to win the Premier League title this season, do not want him to leave and want him to sign a new deal.
The Germany international joined Chelsea from AS Roma in 2017 and has established himself as an important player in the first…
Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano may be fierce in the heat of battle, but Julian Nagelsmann says his centre-back is so peaceful he would hesitate to swat a fly.
Both Upamecano and Nagelsmann joined the Bayern ranks in the close season, leaving RB Leipzig to join the nine-in-a-row Bundesliga champions.
On Wednesday, Bayern take on Benfica in the third round of Champions League group games, looking to extend a dazzling start that has seen them beat Barcelona 3-0 and score a thumping 5-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev.
Manuel Neuer is in line for a 100th appearance in the competition with the Bavarians, which would make him the fourth player for the German giants to reach the landmark.
In front of Neuer, Upamecano is establishing himself as a fixture at the …
Whoever is left to line up for Liverpool on Sunday, they will have the chance to set a new club record against Leicester City.
The Reds have not lost at home in the Premier League since April 23, 2017. Back then, Donald Trump was settling into life as the 45th president of the United States, Brexit negotiations were still weeks away from formally opening and Antonio Conte s Chelsea were running away in the title race.
While much has changed since then, Liverpool being unbeaten at home in top-flight action has remained a constant. The current stretch of 63 games without defeat matches a club record, set between February 1978 and December 1980. Now they want to take the record outright.
A Crystal Palace team inspired by ex-Reds striker Chri…
A former Premier League player arrested on suspicion of child sex offences in 2021 will face no further action, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.
The player – who has since left the Premier League club he represented at the time of his arrest – was released on bail after being interviewed by officers in 2021.
On Friday, GMP said the evidence available did not meet the necessary threshold for prosecution.
The 33-year-old man who was arrested in connection with an investigation opened in June 2021 will face no further action, a police statement read.
The investigation team and Crown Prosecution Service have been working together and reached the decision that the evidence available at this time does not reach the threshold set out on the …
Sebastien Haller broke a Champions League record held by Erling Haaland when he gave Ajax the lead against Sporting CP on Tuesday, matching another feat previously only ever achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Ivory Coast international, who joined in January from West Ham, had difficulty in coming about goals during an 18-month Premier League stint.
His Champions League form has been stellar, though, and the penalty he converted against Sporting was his 10th goal of this season s group stage.
It made him the quickest player to reach double figures in a Champions League career, doing so in just six games. Norwegian star Haaland previously held that record, having got there in seven appearances.
Haller also became the first player to score in each of his …
Inter defender Federico Dimarco has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 2026.
The full-back s previous deal was due to expire at the end of next season.
The former Italy youth international first joined the club at the age of seven, but made just two senior appearances and spent time on loan at Ascoli and Empoli before departing for Swiss side Sion in 2017.
However, Dimarco returned to San Siro a year later as Inter exercised a buy-back option, with further loan stints following at Parma and Hellas Verona.
A lifelong Inter fan, Dimarco has impressed new head coach Simone Inzaghi this season and made 24 appearances for the Nerazzurri in all competitions, scoring two goals.
| NEW DEAL signs on till 2026
— I…
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The 39-year-old holds the record for the most caps and goals of any player in men s international football, netting 130 times in 212 games.
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The tournament in Germany was the sixth major finals Ronaldo has featured in, a record, and he became the first European player in history to make 50 appearances at major tournaments.
When the time comes, I ll move on, he said. It won t be a difficult decision to make.
If I feel like I m no longer …