San Francisco 49ers strangely linked to $48 million running back to pair with Christian McCaffrey
This would be the best RB tandem in the NFL.
Barcelona defender tells-all on Hansi Flick meeting
Barcelona are in one of their most difficult moments of the season, and head coach Hansi Flick is very aware of it. On Thursday, he called a meeting with his players to discuss where things have gone wrong, following back-to-back defeats against Atletico Madrid and Girona.
Eric Garcia, who started both matches, has now spoken to Tot Costa (via MD) on what was discussed during the hour-long discussion between Flick and the Barcelona players.
“We wanted to talk about what has happened (in the last week). The way we lost the first and then the second goal (vs Girona), everything is magnified. The Copa semi-final was very significant, and in Girona we lost the lead after taking the lead.
“It has been a positive meeting and we have all left happy. Since he arrived, we have had this style of play with the defensive line high. In La Liga we have conceded 23 or 24 goals and it is not a barbarity but in the Champions League they have been games with many goals. We know that with the style we have, the opponents know us. The key is that the other players make it easier for the defenders. We’ve been having a lot of turnovers lately that are killing us. In Girona, if instead of it happening 15 times, they do it six or seven… We’re human, but it’s about regaining control of the ball to find balance.”
Image via David Ramos/Getty Images
Eric: Barcelona can come back in La Liga and Copa del Rey
Despite the poor results in the last week, which have put Barcelona on the back foot in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, Eric is of the belief that he and his teammates can turn things around.
“In La Liga we have been in worse situations. When we left the Bernabeu we were five points behind, but the league is very long and we depend on ourselves. In the Copa, I think it is possible to come back against Atlético. If we have shown anything, it is that we can achieve any result. If we score a quick goal, even if they close themselves in at the back, we can create danger for them.”
Trey Hendrickson landing spots: Best free agent fits for All-Pro DE
Is your favorite NFL team looking for a pass rusher? There may be a productive veteran heading to a franchise near you.
Over the last five seasons, defensive end Trey Hendrickson has more sacks than all but three NFL players. His 61 sacks rank only behind Myles Garrett (83), T.J. Watt (65.5) and Micah Parsons (65).
Hendrickson went through a long contract dispute last offseason with the Cincinnati Bengals before ultimately settling on a one-year raise for 2025. That contract has now played out and Hendrickson is a free agent.
The four-time Pro Bowler is entering his age-32 season in 2026. That makes him older than some of the other free agents at edge in this class but he's by far the most productive.
Cincinnati enters the offseason with the seventh-most cap space in the league, per OverTheCap data as of Feb. 19. There's a chance Hendrickson returns to the Bengals in 2026 and beyond. Given their contract negotiations last year, there's an even likelier chance he plays elsewhere.
Plenty of teams could use a double-digit sack defensive end on their roster for the new season. Here are five potential teams Hendrickson could play for in 2026 outside of Cincinnati:
Trey Hendrickson landing spots
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles gave Super Bowl champion Seattle the toughest test of their playoff run to the title. The Rams were closer than anyone else to knocking off the eventual champions and have to examine every way in which they can improve.
Los Angeles has extensions looming for multiple young defensive stars. Quarterback Matthew Stafford just won his first MVP but just turned 38 years old. If there was a time to push all-in for one year, it's 2026. For Hendrickson, it'd be a chance to compete for a Super Bowl title to cap off what's been an outstanding career as a pass rusher.
Washington Commanders
Washington could treat the offseason similarly to how the New England Patriots did in 2025: use free agency to shore up key positions, then use the draft for premium positions. They have the fifth-most cap space this offseason and there's no reason not to spend it.
The Commanders could offer top dollar to Hendrickson to boost their pass rush in the short-term while they use the draft to build out the unit with more young talent. They have the funds to get more than just Hendrickson.
New England Patriots
If it worked before, New England could go back to the well. The Patriots are 11th league-wide in cap space and could add to their defensive line again with a veteran option. Hendrickson may not get top dollar from the Patriots, given what they gave Milton Williams last offseason, so he'd have to compromise on that to play for a contender in the AFC.
He'd bring production to a group that could use more of it alongside Williams and Christian Barmore. New England has 11 draft picks this year but could supplement their selections with some veteran help at the position.
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis has a huge question mark in free agency with quarterback Daniel Jones potentially signing a new long-term deal. That could take up much of the team's cap space in 2026.
If they decide not to bring Jones back or do so at a lower cost, Indianapolis could sign Hendrickson. He had his best seasons in the NFL in Cincinnati under current Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. A reunion could help the Colts fight for a playoff spot in 2026.
San Francisco 49ers
Losing Nick Bosa in Week 3 of the 2025 season exposed the lack of depth on the 49ers' defensive front. Further injuries along the defensive line kept the team from competing in earnest in the NFC West arms race against the Seahawks and Rams.
It'd be a hefty price considering the rest of the needs on the roster but San Francisco could opt to bring in the veteran. Stars like Trent Williams, George Kittle, Fred Warner and Bosa are all either aging or coming off injury (or both). The window to contend with their current pillars is rapidly closing so a short-term financial risk on a proven player could pay off for San Francisco.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trey Hendrickson best fits: Free agent landing spots for Bengals DE
Harris scores 15 as No. 22 UNC beats Virginia Tech in OT
Elina Aarnisalo added 13 points and five assists, while Lanie Grant hit two clutch free throws in overtime to seal the win.
North Carolina (22-6) held off Virginia Tech (20-8) in a back-and-forth contest marked by 11 lead changes.
San Francisco 49ers strangely linked to $48 million running back to pair with Christian McCaffrey
San Francisco 49ers strangely linked to $48 million running back to pair with Christian McCaffrey originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco 49ers’ backfield is already very good because of Christian McCaffrey, but his injuries are also tough to ignore.
As of now, McCaffrey will be with the 49ers for the foreseeable future, but the backfield could look even more dangerous if a scenario proposed by Sportscasting’s Gia Nguyen were to come true.
Nguyen recently named the 49ers a potential landing spot for Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, writing how San Francisco’s offense and workload concerns with McCaffrey could make the fit make sense.
“The 49ers are the wild card of this group. Kyle Shanahan already tried to pair Christian McCaffrey with a tough, inside runner in Brian Robinson Jr. last season.
“The 49ers’ run game stalled last season, and while Christian McCaffrey rushed for 1,202 yards, he carried the ball a career-high 311 times and averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. That kind of workload is far from ideal for a running back who will turn 30 years old this summer.
“In San Francisco, Jacobs can act as the perfect high-end insurance policy or a way to form one of the best one-two punches in the league. In this system, Jacobs’ efficiency would get a boost, and he’d be relieved of his pass-catching duties, which makes this a perfect fit if he wants to extend his career,” she wrote.
Adding Jacobs would give head coach Kyle Shanahan an elite running back to complement McCaffrey’s versatility, though it’d be tough to justify having two players on the roster who are that good when there are other needs. However, the duo could help McCaffrey’s health while also keeping the 49ers as good as they’ve been.
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