&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;2026 NFL Draft&lt;/strong&gt; is rapidly approaching and the first round is one of those nights were teams might shock the world with their decisions. The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/las-vegas-raiders&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Las Vegas Raiders&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; hold the first pick, and quarterback &lt;strong&gt;Fernando Mendoza&lt;/strong&gt; is poised to be the first name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but that didn’t stop the Heisman winner from sending a message to the team.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/fernando-mendoza-received-huge-compliment-from-raiders-hc-klint-kubiak-ahead-of-2026-nfl-draft&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;New Raiders head coach, Klint Kubiak, has spoken wonders about Fernando Mendoza&lt;/a&gt;. Still, Mendoza is clear that nothing is done yet. Speaking on Friday at the Scouting Combine, he said, “&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;I have no job. This is my job interview right now&lt;/strong&gt;, and like everyone says, this is the most important job interview of your life. So, right now, I’m just doing everything to hopefully get employed April 23.&lt;/em&gt;”&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As for the warning, well, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/fernando-mendoza&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Mendoza&lt;/a&gt; said &lt;em&gt;“I have not been selected yet, and &lt;strong&gt;whatever team drafts me, I’m extremely grateful&lt;/strong&gt;. Like I said, whether it’s the No. 1 pick or whether it’s the last pick in the draft, I’d be blessed and honored to be drafted by any team. I’m going to give them by all. The possibility — I mean, &lt;strong&gt;we see how the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt; turns around so much. The margins are so small&lt;/strong&gt;.”&lt;/em&gt; He is basically leaving the door open to any franchise.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Mendoza already met with the Raiders though&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At the combine, Mendoza met with representatives of the Raiders organization. “&lt;em&gt;I was lucky to have a formal interview with the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a fantastic interview. Went over some of my previous plays, drew up some plays on the board. I thought it was a great meeting.&lt;strong&gt; I know they have the No. 1 pick, but anything can happen in the draft&lt;/strong&gt;, but I’m just excited for the opportunity, and whatever team drafts me I’m going to give everything I’ve got to them.&lt;/em&gt;”&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-width=&quot;500&quot; data-dnt=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;INCREDIBLE story from Fernando Mendoza on his 4th Down TD run:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;We were hoping they were in 2 Tampa Drop 8&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;but they didn&apos;t come out in that&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;half the field went zone, half the field went man&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;well if it’s man I&apos;m supposed to throw it, if it&apos;s zone I&apos;m supposed to run it&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I&apos;m… &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/k2ner8TR9H&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/k2ner8TR9H&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/SharpFootball/status/2013485552314552417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;January 20, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script async=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Mendoza has been highly praised for his accuracy and discipline. Also, &lt;strong&gt;he is a guy who is willing to put his life on the line if that helps the team&lt;/strong&gt;. He is the definition of a natural born leader, and the Raiders desperately need something like that to turn the tide.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/raiders-let-geno-smith-know-their-plans-on-qb1-amid-fernando-mendozas-draft-rumors&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Mendoza also sent a subtle mention to Raiders co-owner Tom Brady&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/tom-brady&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Tom Brady&lt;/a&gt; famously became the best NFL player of all time after being the 199th pick in the draft. &lt;strong&gt;Mendoza seems to remember that very vividly&lt;/strong&gt;, as he sent a subtle message to the now co-owner of the Raiders.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;There are so many great players in this class,” Mendoza said. “We saw the Ohio State guys run yesterday. There are plenty of Indiana guys who are great in the draft as well. I’m just honored to be a part of the group. There will be no hard feelings… &lt;strong&gt;I’m just trying to be the best me possible. Whatever drafts me, I’m grateful, whether it’s the No. 1 pick or the 199th pick&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/em&gt;” The 199th pick refers, of course, to Tom Brady, who has publicly stated his admiration for Mendoza.&lt;/p&gt;

Fernando Mendoza gives stern warning to Raiders: ‘Anything can happen’

Fernando Mendoza gives stern warning to Raiders: 'Anything can happen' - Bolavip US

miniaturas

&lt;p&gt;Todd Monken has followed the same line as general manager Andrew Berry. The Browns are not going to guarantee &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/shedeur-sanders&quot;&gt;Shedeur Sanders&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; the job as starting quarterback heading into the 2026 season.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“I don’t why it wouldn’t be an open competition. I don’t mean that harshly, but, I don’t think there’s enough on film over the last couple years one way or the other to say, boy, we have our starter at quarterback yet, whether internally or externally.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Sanders was optimistic because he kept the QB1 job over Dillon Gabriel in the final weeks of last season. However, with a new head coach, everything starts from scratch for the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cleveland-browns&quot;&gt;Cleveland Browns&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Who will be Browns starting QB in 2026?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It is still unknown who will be the starting quarterback for the Browns in 2026. General manager Andrew Berry and head coach Todd Monken have been very cautious when speaking about the matter, pointing out that, for now, the only thing they can confirm is that there will be an open competition among the players currently on the roster and any possible QB who may arrive in free agency.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        


&lt;h2&gt;Will Browns cut Shedeur Sanders?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;No. The Browns will not cut Shedeur Sanders and will keep him on the roster to determine whether he has the potential to be their starting quarterback in 2026. The competition will be with Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and any player who is signed in free agency.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/shedeur-sanders-coach-officially-decides-to-part-ways-with-browns-and-could-be-out-for-2026-season&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Browns are not ready to name Shedeur Sanders starting QB for 2026

Browns send clear message to Shedeur Sanders about QB job for 2026

Shedeur Sanders gets warning from Browns ahead of 2026 NFL season and free agency

Browns are not ready to name Shedeur Sanders starting QB for 2026 - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The Tennessee Titans are beginning a new era with Robert Saleh as head coach. Now, with the help of general manager Mike Borgonzi, he already has his first splash following a surprising trade with the New York Jets, according to a report by Adam Schefter.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“Trade: the New York Jets are sending DE Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for DT T’Vondre Sweat, per ESPN sources. The trade cannot be processed until the start of the new league year in March.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Borgonzi worked for many years with the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-chiefs&quot;&gt;Kansas City Chiefs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, so he wants to build that winning culture in Tennessee. The future looks promising with Cam Ward as quarterback, more than $100 million in cap space, and the No. 4 overall pick in the next NFL Draft.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;NY Jets former head coach seeks redemption in 2026&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Robert Saleh received the biggest opportunity of his career in 2021 as head coach of the New York Jets, but he was never able to turn them into &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/super-bowl&quot;&gt;Super Bowl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; contenders. Several factors played a role. For example, Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury in 2023. From that moment on, everything collapsed.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        


&lt;p&gt;During an interview with Judy Battista, Saleh admitted that he learned a lot from his time with the Jets. &lt;em&gt;“There’s no handbook for first time in any profession. There’s a lot of things that I learned. I’m more prepared now than I ever was. There are many things from my Jets’ tenure that I’m so appreciative of. There are some things that I’m going to leave behind. Obviously, there are things to continue to grow. I can assure that just going through that experience, a lot of things were learned.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;After a slow start in 2024, the Jets no longer had patience and decided to fire him. In 2025, he worked as the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, the very role that put him in the spotlight between 2017 and 2020.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/chiefs-have-reportedly-made-final-decision-on-travis-kelce-for-2026-amid-ny-giants-rumors&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

NY Jets former HC makes early key trade to set tone for 2026 NFL season with Titans

NY Jets confirm key decision on Breece Hall that impacts Andy Reid and Chiefs for 2026

NY Jets decision could allow Chiefs free agent big splash for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in 2026

NY Jets former HC makes early key trade to set tone for 2026 NFL season with Titans - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/las-vegas-raiders&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Las Vegas Raiders&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are in the spotlight right now. The AFC West franchise is reportedly &lt;strong&gt;receiving trade inquiries for &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/maxx-crosby&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Maxx Crosby&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, and the organization has now set what is believed to be its final asking price for the star pass rusher.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It is shaping up to be a busy offseason in Las Vegas. The team has hired &lt;strong&gt;Klint Kubiak as head coach&lt;/strong&gt;, clarified its &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/raiders-let-geno-smith-know-their-plans-on-qb1-amid-fernando-mendozas-draft-rumors&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;plans regarding the QB1 role&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, and must now address the growing &lt;strong&gt;speculation surrounding Crosby’s future&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to reports, the &lt;strong&gt;Raiders prefer to keep Crosby&lt;/strong&gt;. However, they have &lt;strong&gt;not completely shut the door on a potential trade&lt;/strong&gt;, instead establishing a price that would require a significant return.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Report: Raiders set massive trade demand for Maxx Crosby&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;For weeks, the Raiders have maintained publicly that they intend to keep Crosby. He has even been &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/maxx-crosby-reportedly-could-join-a-recent-super-bowl-winning-team-amid-raiders-trade-rumors&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;linked to a recent Super Bowl-winning team&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, though no official offer has materialized.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Kubiak is said to value Crosby highly, but the new head coach also faces the challenge of &lt;strong&gt;building a deeper&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;more balanced roster&lt;/strong&gt;. That reality may explain why the organization has defined a steep trade threshold.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the &lt;strong&gt;Raiders would demand two first-round picks plus a player in exchange for Crosby&lt;/strong&gt;. That type of package mirrors blockbuster deals seen in recent seasons and would reflect Crosby’s elite value as one of the league’s premier defensive playmakers.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/raiders-hc-sent-clear-message-to-star-rb-ashton-jeanty-about-his-future&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Still, &lt;strong&gt;setting a high asking price does not necessarily signal an intent to move him&lt;/strong&gt;. Instead, it sends a clear message to interested teams: prying Crosby away from Las Vegas would require a franchise-altering offer.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

Raiders reportedly set final asking price for Maxx Crosby amid growing trade rumors

Fernando Mendoza receives huge compliment from Raiders HC Klint Kubiak ahead of 2026 NFL Draft

Raiders star Maxx Crosby fuels trade rumors by praising quarterback of potential landing spot

Raiders reportedly set final asking price for Maxx Crosby amid growing trade rumors - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cleveland-browns&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Cleveland Browns&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; might have loss a few names, especially on the coaching staff, but they still want to keep one of &lt;strong&gt;Shedeur Sanders&lt;/strong&gt;‘ teammates. Hence, they have made a priority to re-sign one key defensive player.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, &lt;strong&gt;the Browns are making it a “&lt;em&gt;high priority&lt;/em&gt;” to re-sign linebacker Devin Bush to a multi-year deal&lt;/strong&gt;. Hence, it would be an effort from the team to keep one of its defensive forces. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Having a great defense is imperative for the Browns, &lt;strong&gt;as it gives quarterback &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/shedeur-sanders&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;Shedeur Sanders&lt;/a&gt; more margin for improvement, and error&lt;/strong&gt;. After all, he will enter his second year and already is facing a playbook change.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Devin Bush revived his career on the Browns&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Bush was drafted in the first round of the 2019 by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the hype was big around him. However, he failed to deliver after his rookie year. In 2024, &lt;strong&gt;the Browns gave him a chance and Bush has resurged to become a top-tier linebacker in the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/26165617/devin-bush-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;Linebacker Devin Bush #30 of the Cleveland Browns&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587605&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Linebacker Devin Bush #30 of the Cleveland Browns&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In 2025, &lt;strong&gt;Bush had three interceptions and led the league in interception yards as well as in pick-sixes&lt;/strong&gt;. He also had eight passes defended. Bush also had two sacks and 125 total tackles. Bush is a staple on the Browns roster.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/shedeur-sanders-gets-warning-from-browns-ahead-of-2026-nfl-season-and-free-agency&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;The Browns defense is stacked&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Bush is a beast who will likely get re-signed, &lt;strong&gt;the Browns also have Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, and Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger&lt;/strong&gt;. These three make a great front seven unit and keeping them sets them for success.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Add corner Denzel Ward with safeties Ronnie Hickman and Grant Delpit, and the defense is absolutely stacked. While losing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is a huge blow, &lt;strong&gt;the talent to maintain a top unit is there&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

Browns make re-signing a Shedeur Sanders teammate a priority

Browns make re-signing a Shedeur Sanders teammate a priority - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/los-angeles-angels&quot;&gt;Los Angeles Angels&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are heading into 2026 with a payroll picture that looks very different from recent seasons, shaped by major contract realignments and a notable drop in total spending. &lt;strong&gt;After years of high payrolls, their numbers have shifted&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Long-term deals still dominate the ledger — from &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/mike-trout&quot;&gt;Mike Trout&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;’s massive contract to &lt;strong&gt;Yusei Kikuchi&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Jorge Soler&lt;/strong&gt;’s guaranteed salaries — but the overall estimate sits well below previous levels and well under &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt;’s luxury tax thresholds&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, moves such as restructuring &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/anthony-rendon&quot;&gt;Anthony Rendon&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;’s contract and trimming veteran salaries have cut payroll figures drastically. Those decisions could influence not just spending flexibility but the club’s competitive identity.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How much is the Angels payroll in 2026?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Los Angeles enter 2026 with a payroll picture that looks noticeably different from recent years, driven by a combination of long-term deals and a strategic pullback in spending. Based on Spotrac-aligned estimates, &lt;strong&gt;the Angels’ total payroll sits in $153 million&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/27110848/Sam-Bachman-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587889&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Sam Bachman of the Angels warms up during a spring training game in 2026 (Source: Mike Christy/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Highest-paid Los Angeles Angels player in 2026&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At the top of the ledger remains &lt;strong&gt;Mike Trout&lt;/strong&gt;, whose contract continues to carry one of the largest annual salaries on the roster, with an &lt;strong&gt;AAV north of $35 million&lt;/strong&gt;. Even amid roster turnover, his deal remains the financial centerpiece of the organization’s books.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Beyond him, &lt;strong&gt;several mid-tier veteran contracts and multi-year agreements shape the 2026 structure&lt;/strong&gt;. Commitments to established contributors ensure that a significant percentage of payroll is already locked in before arbitration figures are finalized.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Arbitration-eligible players&lt;/strong&gt; also play a meaningful role in the Angels’ financial outlook. Rising salaries for controllable talent add incremental increases that, while smaller individually, collectively influence the club’s competitive balance tax calculation.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Luxury tax outlook: Are the Angels over the CBT threshold?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;From a luxury tax standpoint, &lt;strong&gt;Los Angeles projects to sit well below the CBT threshold&lt;/strong&gt;, giving the front office theoretical flexibility. Whether that space translates into in-season additions or remains unused will likely depend on where the team stands in the AL West standings by midyear.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Ultimately, the Angels’ 2026 payroll tells the story of a franchise walking a financial tightrope — no longer among MLB’s biggest spenders, but not operating at the bottom either. The structure suggests optionality, though how aggressively that flexibility is deployed could define the season.&lt;/p&gt;

Los Angeles Angels payroll in 2026: Team salary, contracts and luxury tax situation

Los Angeles Angels payroll in 2026: Team salary, contracts and luxury tax situation - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;Few franchises manage the balance between contention and cost control quite like the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/houston-astros&quot;&gt;Houston Astros&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. As 2026 approaches, their payroll structure offers early clues about whether another October push is truly within reach.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Long-term commitments, expiring deals and arbitration raises are quietly reshaping the books. The numbers suggest careful calibration rather than reckless spending, a strategy built to extend a competitive window without slamming it shut.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;How that financial blueprint translates to on-field depth remains the looming question. In a division that refuses to ease up, the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; team’s 2026 payroll&lt;/strong&gt; may reveal more about its championship ambitions than any offseason headline.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How much is the Houston Astros payroll in 2026?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;For the 2026 season&lt;strong&gt;, the Houston Astros project a luxury tax payroll of about $228 million&lt;/strong&gt;, placing them comfortably in the upper tier of MLB salary spenders but still behind some perennial big-market spenders like the Dodgers and Yankees.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;That total, based on Spotrac data, reflects both guaranteed contracts and arbitration-eligible salaries across the 40-man roster. Anchoring the franchise’s payroll are high-value deals for cornerstone players.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/27105339/Peter-Lambert-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587869&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Peter Lambert #38 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch in 2026 (Source: Rich Storry/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jose-altuve&quot;&gt;Jose Altuve&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; leads the club at $33 million, followed by &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/carlos-correa&quot;&gt;Carlos Correa&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Yordan Alvarez&lt;/strong&gt; with salaries in the $26–33 million range, while other established veterans like &lt;strong&gt;Cristian Javier&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Christian Walker&lt;/strong&gt; also command significant paychecks.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Beyond the stars, a group of arbitration players — including &lt;strong&gt;Jeremy Peña&lt;/strong&gt;,&lt;strong&gt; Hunter Brown&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Yainer Diaz&lt;/strong&gt; and others — adds depth but also financial commitments that push the total higher.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With most arbitration figures now set and additional contract moves like the three-year deal for pitcher &lt;strong&gt;Tatsuya Imai&lt;/strong&gt; factoring into the mix, the Astros’ 2026 payroll underscores a deliberate blend of elite talent and roster flexibility.&lt;/p&gt;

Astros payroll 2026: Houston’s financial plan for another title run

Astros payroll 2026: Houston’s financial plan for another title run - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/boston-red-sox&quot;&gt;Boston Red Sox&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; legend &lt;strong&gt;David Ortiz&lt;/strong&gt; recently shared a candid and humorous perspective on the size and athleticism of today’s &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; players. During a spring training appearance on MLB Network Radio, &lt;strong&gt;the Hall of Famer praised the physical profiles of the modern game&lt;/strong&gt; while reflecting on how much the sport has changed since his era.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/david-ortiz&quot;&gt;Ortiz&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;a three-time World Series champion&lt;/strong&gt; with the Red Sox and 2022&lt;strong&gt; Hall of Fame&lt;/strong&gt; inductee, noted that today’s players are more imposing and athletic than in the past. He explained that during his playing days, there were fewer towering, muscular athletes, whereas now it seems like every player is well-built and explosive.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;These guys’ bodies nowadays, it’s very impressive. I mean, in our days, you could count the tall guys on one hand&lt;/strong&gt;. It wasn’t many tall guys, very well built. Nowadays, everybody’s very well built. The athleticism you see from these guys now is very impressive,”&lt;/em&gt; Ortiz said, per MLB Network Radio.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Ortiz’s funny take on young players&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;During the segment, host Eduardo Perez asked Ortiz whether the 2026 generation of &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; players ever makes him feel &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;“short”&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt; by comparison. Ortiz laughed before delivering a line that quickly went viral with baseball fans.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-width=&quot;500&quot; data-dnt=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;Are modern baseball players making Big Papi feel SMALL?🤣 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Hall of Famer breaks down how impressed he is with the athleticism of players at Spring Training:&lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/hashtag/RedSox?src=hash&amp;amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;#RedSox&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/RedSox?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;@RedSox&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;🔗 &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/WG5zyiVTKm&quot;&gt;https://t.co/WG5zyiVTKm&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/Mc5YidQ33a&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/Mc5YidQ33a&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/MLBNetworkRadio/status/2027141769196929302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;February 26, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script async=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“Hahaha, kinda, sometimes yes. &lt;strong&gt;We’ve got this kid right here, 19 years old, he’s 6-foot-7, I think 270, nothing but muscle. I went to say hi to him &lt;/strong&gt;— you know how we hug and everything — I thought I was hugging a refrigerator,”&lt;/em&gt; Ortiz said.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/ny-mets-jorge-polanco-makes-candid-admission-about-transition-to-first-base&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;The evolution of MLB athletes&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ortiz’s comments reflect broader changes in Major League Baseball.&lt;/strong&gt; Players today are bigger, stronger, and more athletic than ever, with advanced year-round conditioning programs that were rare in previous decades. &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;69a1afb3d1eb01dac3090f52&quot; data-title=&quot;Do you think today’s MLB players are bigger and more athletic than in Ortiz’s era?&quot; data-options=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Ortiz’s playful admission&lt;/strong&gt; offers fans a unique glimpse into the contrast between the game of his era and the sport today, celebrating the continued growth and evolution of baseball.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

Rex Sox legend David Ortiz shares candid reaction to the strength of modern MLB players

Aaron Judge sends clear message to NY Yankees front office about the next Bronx ace

NY Yankees ace Gerrit Cole provides key update on injury ahead of opening day

Rex Sox legend David Ortiz shares candid reaction to the strength of modern MLB players - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are counting down to Opening Day, less than a month away, and fans are eager to see their pitching staff in action. While the Los Angeles Dodgers are favored to win the World Series, the Yankees are expected to compete at the highest level.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/gerrit-cole&quot;&gt;Gerrit Cole&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, the team’s ace, is still recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in March 2025. The injury kept him out all of last season, and he only made 17 starts in 2024. Despite the setback, Cole has been steadily progressing in his rehab.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;“I would say it’s gone very well. We’ve hit every marker that we’ve tried to hit. We’re in the parameters of what we’re looking for&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;,” Cole said after a recent throwing session. &lt;em&gt;“The level of execution has been really high, especially the last start. It doesn’t always happen like that, but so far, so good.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cole shows encouraging signs&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Recently, &lt;strong&gt;Cole was seen hitting 97 mph on the radar gun&lt;/strong&gt;, a significant milestone in his recovery. While the Yankees do not expect him back until June, each positive benchmark brings hope that he can return to his pre-injury form.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/27080000/gerrit-cole-yankees-1-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587839&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Gerrit Cole #45 of the Yankees throws a pitch during a spring training game. Brandon Sloter/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With &lt;strong&gt;Max Fried&lt;/strong&gt; leading the rotation, &lt;strong&gt;Carlos Rodon&lt;/strong&gt; in form, and &lt;strong&gt;Cam Schlittler&lt;/strong&gt; ready to step up after &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/ny-yankees-manager-aaron-boone-announces-potential-return-date-for-pitcher-cam-schlittler&quot;&gt;manager Aaron Boone announced a potential return date for the young pitcher&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, the Yankees could field one of the most formidable pitching staffs in baseball for the 2026 season.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/aaron-judge-sends-clear-message-to-ny-yankees-front-office-about-the-next-bronx-ace&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;69a197c8d1eb01dac3090f50&quot; data-title=&quot;Do you think Gerrit Cole will return to his top form by mid-2026?&quot; data-options=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/ny-mets-juan-soto-shares-honest-thoughts-on-pete-alonsos-departure&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Phillies receive early injury update on Brandon Marsh following hand issue in spring training

NY Yankees ace Gerrit Cole provides key update on injury ahead of opening day - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets&quot;&gt;New York Mets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are using spring training to test new options, and one of the most notable adjustments involves &lt;strong&gt;Jorge Polanco&lt;/strong&gt;. During an intrasquad game at Clover Park, the veteran infielder saw action at first base as the team evaluates his fit at the position.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In a controlled “B” game setting, the &lt;strong&gt;Mets created pressure situations by placing a runner on first base to begin an inning.&lt;/strong&gt; The goal was to give Polanco real-time reps — handling pickoff attempts, staying aware of the runner, and adjusting his positioning depending on the situation.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;“&lt;em&gt;Everybody says first base is easy, but it’s harder than what you expect&lt;/em&gt;,” &lt;/strong&gt;Polanco admitted afterward, via &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.mlb.com/news/jorge-polanco-mans-first-base-for-first-time-for-mets&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot;&gt;MLB.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;. “&lt;em&gt;But this is the perfect time to get ready.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Learning the details at first base&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Before this spring, &lt;strong&gt;Polanco had almost no professional experience at first base&lt;/strong&gt;, aside from a brief emergency appearance last season with the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/seattle-mariners&quot;&gt;Seattle Mariners&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Now, he is focused on understanding the small details that come with the position.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/27073705/polanco-jorge-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587835&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Jorge Polanco #11 of the New York Mets poses during the Mets Photo Day. Rich Storry/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;That includes &lt;strong&gt;knowing when to hold close to the bag, when to play deeper, and how to react on ground balls hit to the right side&lt;/strong&gt;. The in-between plays, where it’s unclear whether he or the second baseman should take charge, have been a key area of focus.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/aaron-judge-sends-clear-message-to-ny-yankees-front-office-about-the-next-bronx-ace&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Offense will help the transition&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Polanco also understands that his offensive production will play a major role in how this experiment unfolds. If he continues to hit the way he did last season, when &lt;strong&gt;he posted 26 home runs and an .821 OPS&lt;/strong&gt;, it will make the transition smoother for everyone involved.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;69a185fbd1eb01dac3090f4f&quot; data-title=&quot;Do you think Jorge Polanco will successfully adjust to first base this season?&quot; data-options=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;He showed a glimpse of that power in the same intrasquad game, &lt;strong&gt;homering in his first at-bat&lt;/strong&gt;. For the Mets, the goal is simple: build comfort now so the team has more flexibility when the regular season begins.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

NY Mets’ Jorge Polanco makes candid admission about transition to first base

NY Mets' Jorge Polanco makes candid admission about transition to first base - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;Following a tough &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/lafc-vs-inter-miami-live-lionel-messi-starts-cup-title-defense-in-2026-mls-debut&quot;&gt;3-0 loss to LAFC&lt;/a&gt; in their 2026 MLS season opener, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/independiente-del-valle-vs-inter-miami-live-lionel-messi-visits-puerto-rico-after-2026-mls-debut-loss&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Inter Miami&lt;/strong&gt; secured a 2-1 friendly victory over Independiente del Valle&lt;/a&gt; in Puerto Rico. &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi&quot;&gt;Lionel Messi&lt;/a&gt; provided the winning margin with a clinical strike from the &lt;strong&gt;penalty spot&lt;/strong&gt;. As the Argentine icon opens his penalty account for the new year, fans are once again looking at the numbers produced by his long-time rival, &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/video-lionel-messi-scores-from-penalty-for-inter-miami-vs-independiente-del-valle-in-friendly&quot;&gt;Messi’s penalty goal vs Independiente del Valle&lt;/a&gt; in Bayamon was his second overall in 2026, having previously scored in a 2-1 preseason win against Atletico Nacional. To date, the penalty in Puerto Rico is his only goal from the spot this calendar year. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In contrast, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/a&gt; has already tallied &lt;strong&gt;six goals for Al Nassr&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;in 2026&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;two&lt;/strong&gt; of which were penalties. Ronaldo’s first came in a 2-1 loss to Al Qadsiah, followed by another in a 5-0 rout of Al Najma.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, the volume of games played provides necessary context. While Messi has appeared in just &lt;strong&gt;five&lt;/strong&gt; matches (four friendlies and one MLS fixture), Ronaldo has already featured in &lt;strong&gt;ten&lt;/strong&gt; matches—all within the Saudi Pro League—since the turn of the year.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/27111554/cristiano-ronaldo-al-nassr-1-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587901&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo scores from penalty spot vs Al Najma. (Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;When looking at career-long efficiency from the spot, the Portuguese international holds the advantage. Ronaldo has converted &lt;strong&gt;182 penalties&lt;/strong&gt; out of &lt;strong&gt;217 attempts&lt;/strong&gt;, while Messi has recorded &lt;strong&gt;112 goals&lt;/strong&gt; from &lt;strong&gt;144 attempts&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How does the race to 1,000 goals stand?&lt;/h2&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/not-real-madrid-cristiano-ronaldo-becomes-co-owner-of-another-spanish-club&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the all-time leading scorer in soccer history, with Lionel Messi following in second place. While the gap between the two icons remains relatively narrow, all signs suggest the Portuguese international will be the first to reach the historic 1,000-goal milestone.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Following his penalty goal against Independiente del Valle, Messi has reached &lt;strong&gt;898 career goals&lt;/strong&gt;. Meanwhile, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/video-cristiano-ronaldo-scores-965th-career-goal-for-al-nassr-vs-al-najma-in-2025-26-saudi-pro-league&quot;&gt;Ronaldo recently netted his 965th career goal&lt;/a&gt; for Al Nassr in a dominant performance against Al Najma. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Sitting just &lt;strong&gt;35 goals&lt;/strong&gt; away from the four-digit mark and with his scoring touch firmly intact—having scored &lt;strong&gt;four goals&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;in his last three matches&lt;/strong&gt;—it is highly probable that the Al Nassr captain will become the first player to reach 1,000 goals this season.&lt;/p&gt;

Lionel Messi Records First Penalty of 2026 as Scoring Race With Cristiano Ronaldo Continues

Lionel Messi scores first penalty of 2026: How many has Cristiano Ronaldo scored this year?

Lionel Messi scores first penalty of 2026: How many has Cristiano Ronaldo scored this year? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/champions-league&quot;&gt;UEFA Champions League&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; has entered its &lt;strong&gt;Round of 16&lt;/strong&gt;, and attention is turning to the possible matchups between Europe’s biggest clubs. &lt;strong&gt;Real Madrid&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Barcelona&lt;/strong&gt; remain among the elite teams still in contention, and fans are already speculating about whether these two giants could face each other in the 2025‑26 tournament.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/barcelona&quot;&gt;Barcelona&lt;/a&gt; finished fifth in the league phase&lt;/strong&gt;, which allowed them to qualify directly for the Round of 16. Their position secured a place in the draw, keeping them in the mix as one of the top contenders moving forward.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/real-madrid&quot;&gt;Real Madrid&lt;/a&gt;, meanwhile, did not finish among the top eight and had to go through the knockout playoff against &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/benfica&quot;&gt;Benfica&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; to reach this stage. &lt;strong&gt;They won the first leg 1‑0 and sealed the tie with a 2‑1 victory in the second leg&lt;/strong&gt;, earning their spot in the next round and continuing their pursuit of Champions League glory.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;When could Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the Champions League?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Following today’s draw, &lt;strong&gt;Real Madrid&lt;/strong&gt; will face &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manchester-city&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Manchester City&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; in the Round of 16, while &lt;strong&gt;Barcelona&lt;/strong&gt; has been paired with &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/newcastle&quot;&gt;Newcastle&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Real Madrid has been assigned to the &lt;strong&gt;silver&lt;/strong&gt; side of the draw, while Barcelona landed on the &lt;strong&gt;blue&lt;/strong&gt; side. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/27045556/UCL-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587805&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League Trophy on June 01, 2024. David Ramos/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Based on that positioning, the earliest &lt;strong&gt;the two Spanish rivals could meet would be in the final&lt;/strong&gt;, provided both teams advance through their respective ties. As always in the Champions League knockout stage, the path is set through to the final. That means&lt;strong&gt; any potential Clasico showdown will depend entirely on both clubs &lt;/strong&gt;taking care of business in the rounds ahead.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/video-neymar-scores-his-first-goal-of-2026-after-injury-comeback-for-santos-vs-vasco-da-gama&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Round of 16 matchups (2025-26 UEFA Champions League)&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paris Saint-Germain&lt;/strong&gt; vs. &lt;strong&gt;Chelsea&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Galatasaray &lt;/strong&gt;vs. &lt;strong&gt;Liverpool&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Real Madrid &lt;/strong&gt;vs. &lt;strong&gt;Manchester City&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Atalanta &lt;/strong&gt;vs. &lt;strong&gt;Bayern Munich&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Newcastle&lt;/strong&gt; vs. &lt;strong&gt;Barcelona&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Atleti&lt;/strong&gt; vs. &lt;strong&gt;Tottenham&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bodø/Glimt&lt;/strong&gt; vs. &lt;strong&gt;Sporting CP&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bayer Leverkusen &lt;/strong&gt;vs. &lt;strong&gt;Arsenal&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;69a16c8dd1eb01dac3090f4e&quot; data-title=&quot;Who takes the win if Real Madrid and Barcelona clash in the 2025‑26 Champions League?&quot; data-options=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        

2025-26 UEFA Champions League Draw Sets Possible Real Madrid-Barcelona Clash

UCL bracket set after draw: When can Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League?

Kylian Mbappe injured for 2026 World Cup? France reportedly concerned about Real Madrid star’s status

Lionel Messi makes a surprising confession about crucial penalty he missed during 2018 World Cup

UCL bracket set after draw: When can Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League? - Bolavip US

When can Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League?

&lt;p&gt;Questions around the knockout stage format have resurfaced as the 2025-26 season of the &lt;strong&gt;UEFA &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/champions-league&quot;&gt;Champions League&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; moves toward the round of 16, where the draw rules often shape the tournament’s biggest storylines.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Under the current competition structure, the &lt;strong&gt;path to the last 16&lt;/strong&gt; depends on league-phase positioning and seeding, with regulations designed to balance fairness and variety in matchups.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As &lt;strong&gt;domestic rivals potentially cross paths on Europe’s grandest stage&lt;/strong&gt;, attention turns to the official draw procedures and competition handbook, where the fine print can determine whether familiar opponents meet again.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Can same-country teams meet in the Champions League round of 16?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;When the &lt;strong&gt;2025-26 UEFA Champions League&lt;/strong&gt; reaches its knockout phase, one of the most watched aspects of the draw is whether familiar rivals from the same nation could meet in the round of 16.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Under the competition rules for this season’s format, there is no country protection once the bracket is set, meaning &lt;strong&gt;clubs from the same national association can indeed be drawn against each other&lt;/strong&gt; at this stage.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/26103736/2025-26-UEFA-Champions-League-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587236&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League logo on the Adidas Match Ball (Source: Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;This change aligns with &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/uefa&quot;&gt;UEFA&lt;/a&gt;’s updated structure&lt;/strong&gt;, where the league phase determines seeding and matchups are paired purely by draw positions rather than avoiding national ties.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As a result, powerhouse leagues with multiple qualifiers — such as the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/premier-league&quot;&gt;Premier League&lt;/a&gt;, La Liga or the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/bundesliga&quot;&gt;Bundesliga&lt;/a&gt; — could see English, Spanish or German teams face off much earlier than in previous campaigns.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Beyond national associations, &lt;strong&gt;the draw also allows repeat fixtures from the league phase to be renewed in the last 16&lt;/strong&gt;, setting the stage for rematches. That means a pair of clubs could meet again on the European stage soon after their domestic and league-phase battles.&lt;/p&gt;

Same-Country Clubs Eligible to Meet in 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Draw

Can teams from the same country face off in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League round of 16?

Can teams from the same country face off in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League round of 16? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;Inter Miami are currently facing Independiente del Valle in Puerto Rico, and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi&quot;&gt;Lionel Messi&lt;/a&gt; has made his presence felt at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. After entering as a second-half substitute, the Argentine legend converted a clinical penalty to hand the reigning MLS champions a 2-1 lead.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Following the rescheduling of the match—originally slated for Friday, February 13, but postponed due to a hamstring injury sustained by Messi—spectators finally witnessed the moment they had been waiting for. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/why-was-the-independiente-del-valle-vs-inter-miami-friendly-delayed&quot;&gt;Despite the initial delay to the tour schedule&lt;/a&gt;, the capacity crowd at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel saw the Argentine superstar find the back of the net to give Inter Miami the lead.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The opportunity arose after a penalty was awarded for a handball by Gustavo Cortez inside the box. As is custom, the Argentina captain stepped up to take the kick, striking the ball with a precision that left the goalkeeper with no chance. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-width=&quot;500&quot; data-dnt=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;ar&quot; dir=&quot;rtl&quot;&gt;الأسطورة يسجل 🐐 &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/QEW8aDedgH&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/QEW8aDedgH&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Messi World (@M10GOAT) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/M10GOAT/status/2027209927685509375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;February 27, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script async=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Messi maintains pursuit of 1,000-goal milestone&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Following his clinical penalty in Puerto Rico, Messi continues his steady climb toward one of soccer’s most elusive records. Now sitting at &lt;strong&gt;898&lt;/strong&gt; official career goals, the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/inter-miami&quot;&gt;Inter Miami&lt;/a&gt; captain remains focused on the quadruple-digit mark. However, his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, currently leads the race to become the first player in history to reach the historic milestone.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/messi-thinks-about-the-team-a-little-more-than-ronaldo-arsenal-legend-alan-smith-compares-both-stars-ahead-of-2026-world-cup&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;The Al Nassr forward has already tallied &lt;strong&gt;965&lt;/strong&gt; career goals. What once seemed impossible now appears increasingly inevitable, as the Portuguese international needs only 35 more goals to reach the 1,000-goal mark. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;While Ronaldo maintains a significant lead in total volume, Messi’s scoring rate since joining Major League Soccer suggests he is not ready to conceded the race just yet.&lt;/p&gt;

Video: Lionel Messi scores from penalty for Inter Miami vs Independiente del Valle in friendly

Video: Lionel Messi scores from penalty for Inter Miami vs Independiente del Valle in friendly - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/independiente-del-valle-vs-inter-miami-live-lionel-messi-visits-puerto-rico-after-2026-mls-debut-loss&quot;&gt;international friendly between Independiente del Valle and Inter Miami&lt;/a&gt; has experienced a pre-game delay in Bayamon. Originally scheduled for February 13, the match was pushed to today, February 26, to allow &lt;strong&gt;Lionel Messi&lt;/strong&gt; to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during the South American leg of the club’s tour.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Just minutes before the scheduled kickoff at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel, officials announced a 30-minute delay. Reports indicate the hold-up is due to significant congestion outside the stadium, as a large number of ticket holders have yet to clear security and enter the venue.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;A massive turnout was expected at the stadium to witness a high-profile matchup between the reigning Ecuadorian league champions and the current MLS titleholders. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;To accommodate the high demand, event organizers have reportedly decided to push back the start time to allow the sell-out crowd to enter safely and ensure a full house in Puerto Rico.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;wp-block-embed__wrapper&quot;&gt;
&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-width=&quot;500&quot; data-dnt=&quot;true&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;es&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;Día de partido en Puerto Rico 💗&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;⏰ 7 PM ET | 8 PM AST (PR)&lt;br&gt;📺 &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/OneFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;@OneFootball&lt;/a&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/wnxgnz8nNs&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/wnxgnz8nNs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/InterMiamiCF/status/2027037229630337305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;February 26, 2026&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;script async=&quot;&quot; src=&quot;https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js&quot; charset=&quot;utf-8&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Will Lionel Messi start tonight?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Despite the massive crowd gathered at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium tonight, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/is-lionel-messi-playing-today-in-puerto-rico-for-inter-miami-vs-independiente-del-valle-in-2026-club-friendly&quot;&gt;Lionel Messi will surprisingly begin the match on the bench&lt;/a&gt;. The Argentine superstar, who was the primary draw for this sell-out friendly, is being managed carefully following his recent return from a muscle injury. Furthermore, he played in the recent &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/lafc-vs-inter-miami-live-lionel-messi-starts-cup-title-defense-in-2026-mls-debut&quot;&gt;3-0 loss vs LAFC for the 2026 MLS season opener&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/independiente-del-valle-vs-inter-miami-lineups-for-2026-club-friendly-in-puerto-rico&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Messi is not the only regular starter beginning the game as a reserve. &lt;strong&gt;Javier Mascherano&lt;/strong&gt; and his coaching staff have opted for a complete squad rotation, providing opportunities for younger talents. Prospects such as &lt;strong&gt;Alexander Shaw&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Cesar Abadia-Reda&lt;/strong&gt; are set to see their first minutes with the first team in this international setting.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Nevertheless, it is almost certain that Mascherano will introduce the majority of his starters in the &lt;strong&gt;second half.&lt;/strong&gt; With a capacity crowd in Puerto Rico eager to see the MLS champions in action, Messi and his teammates are expected to feature prominently after the interval to satisfy the fans who turned out in record numbers.&lt;/p&gt;

Why was the Independiente del Valle vs Inter Miami friendly delayed?

Why was the Independiente del Valle vs Inter Miami friendly delayed? - Bolavip US

SOCCER

&lt;p&gt;Sidney Crosby’s recent injury at the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/winter-olympics&quot;&gt;2026 Winter Olympics&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; has once again sparked debate about whether the NHL should continue allowing its players to participate in the Games. The veteran suffered a lower-body injury while representing &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/canada&quot;&gt;Canada&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, forcing him to miss the gold medal game and raising concerns in Pittsburgh about the potential long-term impact on the Penguins’ season. For many executives and fans, the risk-reward balance of Olympic participation is now under the microscope.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, Crosby believes stars should keep going. &lt;em&gt;“It’s the Olympics. It’s an amazing experience just as an athlete, not just a hockey player. I think if you want to look at it just from the hockey perspective, I think it’s incredible. Just the product on the ice, I think the way that fans see the games and just how competitive it is. How it brings everyone together, I think it’s pretty amazing.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Ultimately, Crosby’s stance highlights the emotional and cultural value of Olympic competition for elite players. While teams may worry about injuries and the strain of a condensed NHL calendar, stars like &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/sidney-crosby&quot;&gt;Sidney Crosby&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; see international play as a defining part of their careers. Team Canada was a reflection of that, with names like &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/connor-mcdavid&quot;&gt;Connor McDavid&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, Nathan MacKinnon, or Mitch Marner in the roster.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;NHL and a tough decision for the Olympics&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The NHL’s involvement in the Olympics has long sparked debate among teams, executives and fans. While the global stage offers unmatched exposure for the sport, it also interrupts the league calendar and places added physical demands on stars. As of now, NHL players are set to participate in the 2030 Winter Olympics.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        


&lt;p&gt;For players like Sidney Crosby, the conversation often comes down to risk versus reward. &lt;em&gt;“Obviously, injuries are part of the game and they come with that, especially at that level with the speed, the intensity and the physicality of the games, but, I think it’s great that guys have the opportunity to go and showcase.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;That balance is at the heart of the dilemma: the Olympic stage elevates the sport, but it also exposes athletes to injuries. Ultimately, the decision reflects a broader vision for the game’s growth. Allowing NHL players to compete in 2030 ensures that fans will once again witness the world’s best facing off under one banner, even if it comes with undeniable challenges.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nhl/connor-mcdavid-mitch-marner-and-team-canada-get-warning-from-jon-cooper-after-sidney-crosbys-injury-vs-czechia-in-2026-winter-olympics-hockey&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Sidney Crosby sends clear message to NHL about allowing players to participate in Winter Olympics after injury

Sidney Crosby sends clear message about Radko Gudas after Pittsburgh Penguins confirm Team Canada legend is out with injury after 2026 Winter Olympics

Sidney Crosby sends message to Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon and Team Canada after tough decision in 2026 Winter Olympics

Sidney Crosby sends clear message to NHL about allowing players to participate in Winter Olympics after injury - Bolavip US

Sidney Crosby's message about NHL players in the Olympics

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jt-miller&quot;&gt;J.T. Miller&lt;/a&gt;,&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Mike Sullivan&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;Vincent Trocheck&lt;/strong&gt; had the time of their lives during the 2026 Winter Olympics. However, they are no longer on Team USA, and the &lt;strong&gt;New York Rangers&lt;/strong&gt;’ status quo is nowhere near as joyful and celebratory.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In case the long faces around Madison Square Garden don’t tell the story, a glance at the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nhl&quot;&gt;NHL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; standings should remind Miller and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/mike-sullivan&quot;&gt;Sullivan&lt;/a&gt; of how dramatic things were before leaving for Milan. It’s time to turn the page, or at least give it a try. If New York won’t even give it a shot, its leaders should simply stay in the Fashion Capital of the World.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As Miller, Sullivan, and Trocheck got a taste of perhaps the most meaningful and rewarding hardware any NHL player could ever claim, they now hope to bring winds of change back to the building in the Big Apple. &lt;strong&gt;The mood has now shifted&lt;/strong&gt;. For Miller and company, it is all about the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-rangers&quot;&gt;Rangers&lt;/a&gt; back home in New York City. Shortly after &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nhl/ny-rangers-hc-mike-sullivan-issues-bold-reminder-for-j-t-miller-rest-of-the-team-as-nhl-resumes&quot;&gt;Sullivan issued a bold reminder for Miller and the Rangers&lt;/a&gt;, the captain returned the favor with a comment of his own.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“It’s why it was so special, and something we’re going to remember forever and have that to share, but &lt;strong&gt;we’re back to Rangers hockey now. Party’s over&lt;/strong&gt;, it’s time to focus, and we need to play some good hockey down the stretch,” &lt;/em&gt;Miller admitted to reporters, via&lt;em&gt; @SNYRangers&lt;/em&gt; on X.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/25130508/mike-sullivan-1-1-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;Mike Sullivan returns to NY Rangers after Olympics&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-586584&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Mike Sullivan at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Miller and Rangers have struggled at home&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As demoralizing as the Broadway Blueshirts have been at home, the organization must still &lt;strong&gt;find a way to sell tickets at Madison Square Garden&lt;/strong&gt;. Miller’s statement may serve as hope for the fanbase in New York. Otherwise, fans would have little reason to attend games.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nhl/ny-rangers-learn-mike-sullivans-plans-for-the-future-after-clear-message-from-hc&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Given the way the season has unfolded in New York, home fans already know what they are signing up for when they arrive at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza in Midtown. Before the Olympic break, &lt;strong&gt;the Rangers were 6–15–4 at home&lt;/strong&gt;. Needless to say, that was—and remains—the worst home record in the Eastern Conference. It’s been the common theme all season long, &lt;strong&gt;what the Rangers do poorly, the Vancouver Canucks take to another level&lt;/strong&gt;. Thus, only the Canucks (6–17–5) have a worse home mark.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As the season resumes, Sullivan and the Rangers know the &lt;strong&gt;Stanley Cup Playoffs are out of reach&lt;/strong&gt;, but at the very least, they hope to offer their fan base something more than a gut-wrenching spectacle at Madison Square Garden.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Rangers could set new records for worst home mark&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;They say home is where the heart is. For Miller and the Rangers, however, &lt;strong&gt;home is where most of their embarrassment has unfolded&lt;/strong&gt; during the 2025–26 NHL season. Coming out of the Olympic break, New York has 16 home games remaining. The Rangers must truly flip the script, or they risk posting one of the worst home records in franchise history.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/26184204/jt-miller-1-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;J.T. Miller arrives for a game&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587686&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;J.T. Miller at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://records.nhl.com/nyr/overview/season-by-season-record&quot;&gt;NHL.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;, the worst home mark in franchise history came during the 1943–44 season, when the Blueshirts won just four games on home ice. However, that was during a shortened 50-game schedule. In an 82-game campaign, the low &lt;strong&gt;was set in 2003–04&lt;/strong&gt;, when the team &lt;strong&gt;won only 11 games&lt;/strong&gt; at Madison Square Garden. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The last time New York recorded fewer than 10 home wins in a season was in 1964–65, with eight victories in 35 home games. Numbers do not lie: Sullivan, Miller, and the Rangers are walking a tightrope, with &lt;strong&gt;all signs pointing toward a franchise record of the wrong kind&lt;/strong&gt; in 2025–26.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;69a0ddb5d1eb01dac3090f45&quot; data-title=&quot;Should Mike Sullivan Return as the Rangers’ Head Coach in 2026–27?&quot; data-options=&quot;3&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

J.T. Miller's message to Mike Sullivan after winning gold paints clear picture for NY Rangers

Artemi Panarin makes sincere confession on facing Mike Sullivan, NY Rangers after trade to Kings

NY Rangers actively shopping former first-round pick amid Vincent Trocheck speculation

NY Rangers captain and Olympic gold medalist J.T. Miller sends clear message to Mike Sullivan, rest of the team - Bolavip US

J.T. Miller sends clear message to Mike Sullivan, NY Rangers

NY Rangers captain and Olympic gold medalist J.T. Miller sends clear message to Mike Sullivan, rest of the team

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/mike-sullivan&quot;&gt;Mike Sullivan&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; and the &lt;strong&gt;New York Rangers&lt;/strong&gt; are determined to turn the tide after a disheartening first half to the &lt;strong&gt;NHL&lt;/strong&gt; season. Coming off the Olympic break, there is not really much room for the Rangers to keep sinking. The only way should be up.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-rangers&quot;&gt;Rangers&lt;/a&gt; are set to be one of the &lt;strong&gt;main sellers going into the NHL trade deadline&lt;/strong&gt;. Pretty much everyone could be made available by the Blueshirts, as Sullivan and company acknowledge it’s time to start from scratch. Or as GM Chris Drury has put it time and again: retool.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;On that note, reports suggest the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nhl/ny-rangers-actively-shopping-former-first-round-pick-amid-vincent-trocheck-speculation&quot;&gt;Rangers are actively shopping a former first-round selection&lt;/a&gt; in defenseman &lt;strong&gt;Braden Schneider&lt;/strong&gt;. It’s clear New York is focusing on the future rather than the 2025-26 &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nhl&quot;&gt;NHL&lt;/a&gt; season. Still, Sullivan made it clear that the Rangers aren’t tanking nor throwing in the towel.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Sullivan’s answer&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;It’s a little bit of both&lt;/strong&gt;,” &lt;/em&gt;Sullivan answered a question on whether he will prioritize winning games or developing prospects, via Vince Mercogliano of&lt;em&gt; The Athletic. “&lt;strong&gt;We’re going to try to win&lt;/strong&gt;. We’re going to try to compete. We’re going to try to hold the group accountable to a certain standard.&lt;/em&gt;“&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/22131936/mike-sullivan-3-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;Mike Sullivan gives instructions&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-584990&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Mike Sullivan of Team United States at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;And at the same time&lt;/strong&gt;, we’re going to do our best to gain a better &lt;strong&gt;understanding of what we have&lt;/strong&gt; and potentially to help us to make the right decisions about where we want to go moving forward. It’s not like a lot of the young players that we have haven’t been granted an opportunity to make a mark, so to speak. &lt;strong&gt;So we’ll continue to do that&lt;/strong&gt;.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nhl/ny-rangers-hc-mike-sullivan-issues-bold-reminder-for-j-t-miller-rest-of-the-team-as-nhl-resumes&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Sullivan’s message is not surprising. The first-year head coach in New York City will not openly admit that the Rangers are angling to strengthen their draft position. Moreover, the players do not care about that—they want to win, and suggesting otherwise &lt;strong&gt;would send all the wrong messages&lt;/strong&gt; throughout the locker room. &lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;69a0ce79d1eb01dac3090f41&quot; data-title=&quot;Who will finish in last place in the East?&quot; data-options=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

NY Rangers learn Mike Sullivan’s plans for the future after clear message from HC

NY Rangers learn Mike Sullivan's plans for the future after clear message from HC - Bolavip US

NY Rangers learn Mike Sullivan's plans for the future

&lt;p&gt;Sidney Crosby has already begun his rehabilitation with the Penguins after the injury he suffered at the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/winter-olympics&quot;&gt;2026 Winter Olympics&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. The legend was unable to help teammates such as Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, and Brad Marchand in the gold medal game.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;After that overtime loss against Team USA, rumors have intensified about what appears to be an inevitable retirement for Crosby from international competition. The star is 38 years old, so a changing of the guard seems imminent.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;For that reason, many fans and experts are wondering why &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/sidney-crosby&quot;&gt;Sidney Crosby&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; did not play a few minutes if, as the veteran himself has said, he was very close to having an opportunity to take the ice. Despite that, the captain put Canada’s best interest above his own intentions, as he believed he could not contribute the way he should.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Sidney Crosby and retirement decision after the Olympics&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With retirement from international competitions knocking on the door, Sidney Crosby was asked whether the thought of no longer playing for Canada has crossed his mind and if this Olympic tournament in Italy could have been the last of his career.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        


&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“Yeah, I try not to think that far ahead. My mind was just on trying to play. You can’t let that creep into your head. I think, you know, when you’re trying to overcome something that’s challenging, I think the worst thing you can do is think about worst case scenarios. So, I was just trying to be positive and tried to focus on playing and find a way to overcome that. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. It’s still a long ways away, but that wasn’t really something I tried to think about too much.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It seems highly unlikely that Crosby will be able to play in the 2030 Olympics, so it appears that the torch would be passed to Connor McDavid as captain to lead a new generation of stars.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nhl/sidney-crosby-sends-clear-message-about-radko-gudas-after-pittsburgh-penguins-confirm-team-canada-legend-is-out-with-injury-after-2026-winter-olympics&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Sidney Crosby confirms if retirement from Team Canada is an option after playing 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon

Auston Matthews delivers message after 2026 Winter Olympics win over Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner and Canada without Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby confirms if retirement from Team Canada is an option after playing 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon - Bolavip US

Sidney Crosby talks about retirement from Team Canada

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/brady-tkachuk&quot;&gt;Brady Tkachuk&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; has had enough of the loud buzz on social media. With a straightforward comment, the &lt;strong&gt;Ottawa Senators’ captain&lt;/strong&gt; set the record straight regarding an alleged remark about &lt;strong&gt;Canada&lt;/strong&gt; during the postgame celebrations with &lt;strong&gt;Team USA&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Tkachuk’s statement comes shortly after a loud outcry erupted around the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nhl&quot;&gt;NHL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Among the various issues that raised fans’ eyebrows was a player saying, &lt;em&gt;“Close the northern border,” &lt;/em&gt;during &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/team-usa&quot;&gt;Team USA&lt;/a&gt;’s postgame phone call with President Donald Trump. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“I’ve been seeing stuff that people think it’s me. But if you watch the video, &lt;strong&gt;it’s not my voice and something that I never say&lt;/strong&gt;,” &lt;/em&gt;Tkachuk said, via &lt;em&gt;ESPN’s &lt;/em&gt;Greg Wyshynski. &lt;em&gt;“I don’t know how that took a storm on its own when I give everything I have here. It’s crazy when things go on social media, how fast they go. &lt;strong&gt;I would never say anything like that&lt;/strong&gt;.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Tkachuk denies making such a statement&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Many believe the wrongdoing should be named, but not the wrongdoer. In this case, however, that line of thinking carried little weight, as fans were eager to know who was behind the comment. &lt;strong&gt;That is when social media did the rest&lt;/strong&gt;, and misinformation spread, with many users blaming Tkachuk for the candid four-word message that sent shockwaves across the continent. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://media.bolavip.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/26160712/brady-tkachuk-1-1920x1080.webp&quot; alt=&quot;Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators &quot; class=&quot;wp-image-587555&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Brady Tkachuk at Madison Square Garden&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Now, Tkachuk has decided to nip the issue in the bud and deny the claims, as he returns to &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/canada&quot;&gt;Canada&lt;/a&gt; to &lt;strong&gt;captain the nation’s capital NHL organization&lt;/strong&gt;, the Senators.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nhl/connor-mcdavid-catches-comment-from-matthew-tkachuk-with-sidney-crosby-comparison&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;While the 2025–26 NHL season has resumed after the Olympic break, many fans are still processing everything that followed Team USA’s crowning in Italy. On that note, &lt;strong&gt;there has been no shortage of drama&lt;/strong&gt;—something Tkachuk would like to put to rest. The Senators’ campaign has been dramatic enough, and his patience has run thin. That much became clear as he addressed the controversy surrounding Team USA’s celebrations.&lt;/p&gt;

Brady Tkachuk strongly denies taking shot against Canada during gold medal celebrations with Team USA

Brady Tkachuk strongly denies taking shot against Canada during gold medal celebrations with Team USA - Bolavip US

Brady Tkachuk strongly denies alleged comment against Canada

Inter Miami secure a 2- 1 victory over Independiente del Valle with Lionel Messi penalty in 2026 international friendly

Anthony Richardson gets clear message from Colts regarding his future in the NFL

Video: Neymar scores his first brace of 2026 after injury comeback for Santos vs Vasco da Gama

Not Tom Brady: Former Super Bowl champion is helping a group buy the San Diego Padres

Merrill Kelly explains why he rejected the Padres’ deal to remain with the Diamondbacks

Konnor Griffin’s future with the Pirates could be decided before Opening Day

Brandon Nimmo appears to have formed strong bond with Rangers teammate following NY Mets exit

Lionel Messi’s key Argentina teammate reportedly gets encouraging injury update ahead of 2026 Finalissima

NBC clarifies why Taryn Hatcher will no longer serve as Phillies sideline reporter

Jermaine Johnson II breaks silence on trade to Titans with message for NY Jets

Is Kawhi Leonard playing today, February 26, for Clippers vs Timberwolves?

Independiente del Valle vs Inter Miami: Confirmed lineups for 2026 club friendly in Puerto Rico

NY Mets’ Freddy Peralta shares if there is pressure with Carlos Mendoza as his new manager

Cubs’ Shota Imanaga offers humorous commentary on Okamoto and Murakami’s career home runs

McDavid catches bittersweet comment from Tkachuk with indirect Crosby comparison

Tigers reportedly add experienced left-hander following NY Mets release

Packers hint at aggressive 2026 NFL Draft strategy to support Jordan Love in upcoming season

Auston Matthews' message after 2026 Winter Olympics

NY Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton makes tough admission about elbow pain

Celebrini issues blunt reminder for Crosby, McDavid, and Canada

Benfica strongly deny that Gianluca Prestianni admitted making a racial insult towards Vinicius Jr