Braves manager says he's disappointed about Profar but the suspension creates opportunity for others

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday he was disappointed but determined to keep a positive outlook afterJurickson Profar's suspensionfor the 2026 season.

Braves Profar Drug Test Baseball

Profar was suspended by Major League Baseball on Tuesday following his second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug.

Profar, an outfielder and designated hitter, was expected to be a regular, perhaps as the No. 2 hitter behind Ronald Acuña Jr., inAtlanta's lineup. Weiss, speaking to reporters before Wednesday's exhibition game against Team Colombia in North Port, Florida, said the Braves could overcome losing Profar just as they won the 2021 World Series after losing Acuña to a knee injury.

"The moral of the story is something good is likely to come from the bad news," Weiss said. "It just tends to happen that way. Someone's gonna step up, someone's gonna get an opportunity. In 2021, the day we lost Ronald, nobody's picking that option. And nobody's taking this option. But guess what, and I truly believe that something good will come of this."

Weiss had been the Braves' bench coach since 2018 before he wasnamed the manageron Nov. 3, following Brian Snitker's retirement.

Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, the commissioner's office said, which means testosterone that was not produced by his body. Because it was a second offense, the length of Profar's suspension was 162 games.

Weiss said he has to prepare to be without Profar all season even though Profar will appeal the suspension.

An All-Star in 2024, Profar wassuspended for 80 games last March 31following a positive test for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), a hormone that helps production of testosterone. He issued a statement then saying: "I would never willingly take a banned substance, but I take full responsibility and accept MLB's decision."

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Catcher Drake Baldwin, the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year, was the designated hitter on Wednesday. Weiss said he expects his designated hitter spot to be "fairly fluid" without Profar.

Weiss said "I feel really good" the Braves signed left fielder Mike Yastrzemski to a $23 million, two-year deal in the offseason. Yastrzemski, Acuña and Michael Harris are expected to be the team's starting outfielders. Profar might have shared time with Yastrzemski in left field on days Baldwin was the designated hitter. Now Eli White may serve as the fourth outfielder.

Mauricio Dubon will open the season as the starting shortstop while Ha-Seong Kim recovers from a finger injury. When Kim returns, Dubon could be another option in the outfield.

Weiss insisted Profar's suspension "doesn't change anything we do here. We're getting ready for our season, and it doesn't change anything about our camp. There'll be opportunities created because of this. It's not something that we would choose but that's where we're at, and it's onward. That's the message, and we have a professional group. They're handling it really well and very focused."

Weiss said he has not talked with Profar, who he recently praised for his leadership after returning from last year's suspension.

"Look, I said that and I talked about him winning me over last year and he did," Weiss said. "I'm not gonna change that. The fact of the matter is he was a really good teammate last year, and was a good player for us, was a leader in our clubhouse, you know? And that's what I said. None of us saw this coming. So yeah, I stand by what I said at that point in time. And again, we'll let this (appeal) process play out."

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March 04, 2026

Braves manager says he's disappointed about Profar but the suspension creates opportunity for others

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday he was disappointed but determined to keep a positive outlook afterJuric...

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Billy Idol Claims Smoking Crack Helped Him Quit Heroin: 'It Worked'

Billy Idol revealed the unexpected substance that helped him quit heroin

NEED TO KNOW

• During a Monday, March 2 appearance on Club Random with Bill Maher, the "White Wedding" performer spoke about how smoking crack helped him wean off of the substance

• Idol has previously revealed that he nearly died of a heroin overdose in London in 1984
  

Billy Idolrevealed the surprising substance that helped him kick his heroin habit.

During a Monday, March 2 appearance onClub Random with Bill Maher, the "White Wedding" performer spoke about how smoking crack helped him wean off of the substance.

"Once you're trying to get off heroin, what do you go to? You go to something else," said Idol, 70.

He continued, "I started smoking crack to get off heroin."

Bill Maherthen asked if he "really" did that, to which Idol replied, "It worked. It worked."

In his documentaryBilly Idol Should Be Dead,which premiered at Tribeca festival in June 2025, the "Eyes Without a Face" artist reflected on his near-fatal overdose in London in 1984 in the midst of the success of his second albumRebel Yell.

At the time, Idol had found major success in the United States but had decided to return to England as a sort of victory lap, "because I'd done it."

"I was coming back in triumph and I nearly ruined it," said Idol at the time. "We flew to London where we met a load of our pals that we knew. They had some of the strongest heroin. Everybody did a line or so and they all nodded out except for me and this mate of mine."

Idol recalled doing more of the heroin with his friend while the rest of the group passed out,

"I was basically dying. I was turning blue," he recalled. "So they put me in an ice cold bath and I remember them walking me around on the top of the building, on the roof."

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In the doc, the Grammy-nominated singer explains the allure of drugs during his hard-partying days, saying it was something that the rock scene really "embraced" at the time.Additionally in the documentary, Idol revealed that he ultimately gave up heroin for good after a wild trip to Bangkok that resulted in him and a friend racking up an estimated $75,000 in damages to a hotel. At the time, hisson Willem, who was born in 1988, was a baby.

Idol recalled passing out in an elevator at one point with the elevator doors opening and closing on him.

Inan exclusive interview with PEOPLE in May 2024, he revealed that he was "California sober."

He said he chose "not be a drug addict anymore" after a 1990 motorcycle accident he was involved inwhere he almost lost his leg.

"I really started to think I should try and go forward and not be a drug addict anymore and stuff like that," Idol recalled. "It took a long time, but gradually I did achieve some sort of discipline where I'm not really the same kind of guy I was in the '80s. I'm not the same drug addicted person."

He continued: "I mean, AA would say, 'You're always a drug addict.' And that may be true, but I don't do anything that much anymore. I got over it somehow. I was really lucky that I could get over it because a lot of people can't."

Once in a while, Idol said he can imbibe once in a while without it affecting him."I can have a glass of wine every now and again," he said. "I don't have to do nothing. But at the same time, I'm not the drug addict that I was in the peak '70s, '80s."

Billy Idol Should Be Deadwas released on Thursday, Feb. 26.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

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Claims of 'rediscovered' Michelangelos unsettle Renaissance experts

ROME (AP) — An independent researcher claimed on Wednesday that a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelangelo, the latest purported attribution to theRenaissance geniuswho is one of the most imitated artists in the world.

Italy Michelangelo

The unverified claim by Valentina Salerno has unsettled Renaissance scholars, especially since a recent sketch of a foot that was attributed to Michelangelo — but disputed by some as a copy — recently fetched $27.2 million at aChristie's auction.

Given the stakes — and Salerno's suggestion that several other works can now be attributed to Michelangelo based on her documentary research — leading experts have declined to comment.

Salerno has published her theory on the commercial website academia.edu, a non-peer reviewed social networking site academics use, and announced the first "rediscovery" at a press conference Wednesday.

The claims have drawn perhaps more attention than they normally would, given the Vatican seemed at least initially interested. Friday marks the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo's birth and there are a number of exhibits, conferences and commemorations that are reviving attention about his genius and legacy.

The culture ministry was invited to participate in Salerno's press conference and didn't, said the abate of the order that runs the church, the Rev. Franco Bergamin, while the Carabinieri's art squad refused to weigh in on the authenticity of the statue, but said it was being protected and a laminated sign now graces the sculpture: "Alarm armed" it reads.

"We hope that this asset, which belongs to our cultural heritage regardless of whether it can be attributed to Michelangelo Buonarroti or not, is part of the national heritage that we are responsible for defending," said Lt. Col. Paolo Salvatori.

'Documentary evidence on this'

Michelangelo Buonarroti, who lived from 1475-1564, created some of the most spectacular works of the Renaissance: the imposing statues ofDavid in Florenceand Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel ceiling and "The Last Judgment" fresco behind the chapel's altar. Salerno now says she has located another — a bust of Christ in the Basilica of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura, listed by Italy's culture ministry as anonymous from the Roman school of the 16th century.

She is not the first to claim it. In 1996, Michelangelo expert William Wallace wrote an article in ArtNews about the well-documented history of wrongly attributing works to Michelangelo. It quoted the 19th century French writer Stendhal as writing that at the Sant'Agnese church, "we noticed a head of the savior which I should swear is by Michelangelo."

"Stendhal's vow notwithstanding, the head has never been taken seriously, and nowadays would not even appear in a catalog raisonné under 'rejected attributions,'" Wallace wrote.

Salerno suggests that several documents in the first few hundred years after Michelangelo's death correctly attribute the work to the artist but that in 1984 a scholar debunked it, erroneously in her view, and it has remained wrongly attributed ever since.

"I have provided and will continue to provide — I hope, because the research continues — a whole series of documentary evidence on this," she said. "There will be experts in the field who will conduct their own investigations. To date, we can say that, according to the documents, the object is attributed to Michelangelo."

She suggested that the bust was modeled on Michelangelo's intimate friend, Tomaso De' Cavalieriis, and was part of the great artistic inheritance Michelangelo left to his friends and students when he died. Salerno said she came to the conclusion tracing wills, inventories and notarized documents held in church and state archives and the archives of Roman confraternities to which Michelangelo and his students belonged.

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Salerno, an actress and fiction author, has no college degree or expertise in art history. She has said she fell into the research "by chance" when she set out to write a novel about Michelangelo 10 years ago.

According to her research published on academia.edu, Salerno uncovered evidence of a secret "pact of indissolubility" among some of Michelangelo's students and their heirs to keep Michelangelo's works after he died. The pact included the previously unknown existence of a chamber, whose locks could only be opened with three keys, held by three different students, she said.

Vatican takes note

Salerno's research caught the eye of Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, who runs St. Peter's Basilica. He named Salerno and her mentor to a scientific committee formed in 2025 to discuss a possible Vatican exhibition to commemorate the anniversary of Michelangelo's birth.

Nothing has yet come of the committee's work. But its members have downplayed the significance of Salerno's work or refused to discuss it.

Some expressed surprise at her inclusion in a committee made up of some of the leading Renaissance and Michelangelo scholars in the world, including Barbara Jatta, director of the Vatican Museums, Hugo Chapman, curator of Italian and French drawings, from 1400-1800, at the British Museum, and Wallace, professor of art history at Washington University in St. Louis.

Jatta has distanced herself from the Vatican committee when contacted by The Associated Press.

The British Museum declined to make Chapman available for comment. Gambetti's office did not respond to a request. Other committee members declined to comment.

Wallace told the AP that Salerno's methodology was sound and noted that there is a strong tradition in Europe of noncredentialed researchers doing solid work. He said he agreed with her thesis that Michelangelo didn't destroy his works in a fire, a commonly held belief at the time that has been debunked for years by scholars. Rather, he concurred with Salerno that Michelangelo entrusted what remained of his works in his final years to his students to finish his projects.

But he disputes Salerno's conclusion that a huge treasure of Michelangelo's was secreted away — and is therefore ripe for new discovery — saying Michelangelo simply wasn't producing that much in the final years of his life. Michelangelo was overseeing six architectural projects in Rome at the time. What drawings he made were sketches to resolve technical problems on the worksite, and likely don't survive because they were merely "working drawings," he said.

Wallace concurred that existence of a secret chamber that can only be opened with three keys is new. But he said proper academic scholarship would call for Salerno to transcribe the documents and allow for a peer-review process to take place.

Italy is no stranger to claims of new discoveries about old artists, with fakes, frauds and new "discoveries" of Modiglianis and other artists a regular occurrence in art history circles.

"I think I counted up 45 attributions to Michelangelo since 2000, and not one of which you can remember or mention, but every single one arrived with the headline, 'The greatest discovery of the time,' (or) 'It will change everything we think about Michelangelo,'" Wallace said. "And then five years later, we can't even remember what it was."

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP'scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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March 04, 2026

Claims of 'rediscovered' Michelangelos unsettle Renaissance experts

ROME (AP) — An independent researcher claimed on Wednesday that a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelang...

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NFL Power Rankings, free agency edition: Ranking the most interesting teams from 1-32 heading into free agency

Super Bowl LX provided more proof that free agency, when used right, can be a powerful tool in NFL building.

The Seattle Seahawks made one big move in the offseason, and without it they probably would not have won a championship. When quarterback Sam Darnold was available, perhaps at a slight discount after struggling for the final two games of the previous season, the Seahawks signed him to a three-year, $100.5 million deal. Darnold wasa big reason the Seahawks won a Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots had their quarterback but needed to build around him. So they spent $364.4 million on 19 free agents, with $174.9 million guaranteed at signing,according to Spotrac. The Patriots won an AFC championship, with many of those free-agent additions playing key roles.

Each team goes into free agency with different goals, whether it's one big addition, starting a roster rebuild or adding a few players that can help them get over the top. The madness starts on March 9, when the negotiating window opens between teams and free agents.

Here is the ranking of the least to most interesting teams to watch in free agency, with projected cap space available for each team (according to Spotrac):

32:Green Bay Packers

Cap space: $-6.4 million

The Packers will want to see what a full season with Micah Parsons looks like. That was their all-in move, and it affects the team's ability to make more moves in free agency or the draft. There are some holes to fill, like on the offensive line and at cornerback, but it seems like a major move is out of the budget. Green Bay will mostly try again next season with its above-average roster, hoping Parsons' torn ACL has recovered and he raises the ceiling in the playoffs.

31:Miami Dolphins

Cap space: $-6 million

This offseason might not be pretty. There might be pipe dreams ofchasing Malik Willis, but cap constraints are a big reason the team has been talking up Quinn Ewers. It seems like the Dolphins will take their cap medicine this offseason, including a massive dead cap hit for presumably cutting Tua Tagovailoa that will likely affect their 2027 cap as well, and plan on a miserable season with eyes on it getting better in the future. It's necessary to move forward after years of mismanagement.

30:Jacksonville Jaguars

Cap space: $-16.3 million

The Jaguars made huge strides in Liam Coen's first season as head coach. They probably won't be spending much this offseason because of cap constraints, and that could cost them linebacker Devin Lloyd in free agency too. They'll have to figure out bargain ways to fix the interior of the defensive line and the rest of the defense as a whole, while seeing if there's enough left over for some additions to the offensive line and perhaps running back depth if Travis Etienne leaves. The Jaguars should feel good but it might not be an interesting offseason.

29:Carolina Panthers

Cap space: $7.6 million

The Panthers have some reasons for hope after a backdoor NFC South title and a competitive playoff loss against the Rams. But they're another team looking to add to both lines, and don't have a ton of cap space to get all of that done. Perhaps the Panthers get creative with the cap and add an edge rusher or linebacker for the defense.

28:Detroit Lions

Cap space: $-3.8 million

The Lions still have a fantastic roster and will be a contender again in 2026. But paying all those stars means that the offseason could be on the quiet side. Trading away David Montgomery means they'll need to find a backup running back to Jahmyr Gibbs. They'll continue to retool the offensive line and more defensive line help would be great. But there won't be the type of cap space needed to find huge upgrades.

27:Baltimore Ravens

Cap space: $20.4 million

The Ravens want to get an extension done with Lamar Jackson. If that doesn't happen, will everything else get messy? Let's assume something gets settled with Baltimore's franchise quarterback. New coach Jesse Minter might want some different personnel for his defensive scheme (like a prime edge rusher), and the Ravens could also use another receiver and a running back to give Derrick Henry a break. Baltimore should still be in a championship window and accentuating the talent on hand could help them rebound from a bad season.

26:Philadelphia Eagles

Cap space: $362,000

Everyone was projecting an A.J. Brown trade for the Eagles, but that hasn't happened and might not. If it does, finding a new No. 1 receiver becomes a tough assignment for general manager Howie Roseman. There aren't many big needs on the roster after years of strong drafting. They just need that talent to come together a lot better than it did during last season's disappointment. The Eagles will probably have a pretty dull offseason, unless Brown is on the move.

25:San Francisco 49ers

Cap space: $22.9 million

The 49ers have some cap challenges as their star-filled roster continues to age. Adding at all levels of the defense remains a need, though getting Nick Bosa and Fred Warner back from injuries will help solve some of those problems. Receiver and tight end are issues with Brandon Aiyuk on the outs, Jauan Jennings hitting free agency and George Kittle coming off an Achilles injury. And a running back to give Christian McCaffrey a break might be nice too. San Francisco's hope is that avoiding the terrible injury luck it has had the past two seasons puts the team back in line to contend for a championship. There isn't much flexibility to do much else.

24:Houston Texans

Cap space: $-13.8 million

The Texans need a lot of offensive line help. Again. Trading two offensive linemen (Tytus Howard to Cleveland and Juice Scruggs to Detroit) just means there are two more positions to fill. New running back David Montgomeryis an upgrade, but does it matter if the offensive line is inept? Houston's defense is one of the best in the NFL, so the team doesn't need to worry much there. There's one priority this offseason, and it's fixing the offensive line. Which was the same priority as last offseason.

23:New Orleans Saints

Cap space: $-44 million

The Saints are among the teams in the worst cap situation heading into the offseason. That's not surprising because the Saints live in cap purgatory. They'll get out the credit card again, sign some players and push those cap hits to the future. The Saints were better than expected last season, in large part because rookie quarterback Tyler Shough played well, but the roster still desperately needs more young talent. Overpaying for old veteran talent in free agency won't fix that.

22:Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cap space: $11.3 million

It seems fairly obvious the Buccaneers will be pouring all available resources into improving the defense, though they also have the question of what to do with franchise icon and free agent Mike Evans. Last season's collapse, which resulted in the Bucs giving up a huge lead in the NFC South and missing the playoffs, could add some urgency to their approach. There are plenty of blue-chip players in Tampa Bay. If the defense can improve, the Buccaneers can get back to winning a bad division.

21:Indianapolis Colts

Cap space: $-4 million

The Colts made a big move before last season's trade deadline when it traded for cornerback Sauce Gardner. That will affect their ability to improve the roster in this year's draft, but Gardner is a good player. The Colts have cap space, but a lot of it could be tied up in retaining Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce. The Jones situation is paramount. The Colts put the transition tag on Jones, but that means other teams can sign him to an offer sheet. If the Colts can't bring Jones back then their entire offseason focus will have to change, especially with Anthony Richardson on the trade block.

20:Chicago Bears

Cap space: $1.4 million

Most teams with a quarterback still on his rookie deal that just won a division should be in line to spend big in free agency. The Bears don't have a ton of cap space though, and they'll have to get creative to add to the defense. An edge rusher could help a below-average pass rush. And center became a need when Drew Dalman suddenly retired. So there are some issues to address. Overall, the Bears should feel great coming off an NFC North title, and while their offseason might not be very splashy, the arrow is pointing up regardless of how much money they spend.

19:Arizona Cardinals

Cap space: $38.8 million

The Cardinals will be interesting because they have a decent amount of cap space and also a need at quarterback. Could this be the Malik Willis landing spot? Perhaps. The Cardinals weren't one of the top options for good candidates in the head-coaching cycle, partially because the roster is not good. There's a lot of work to be done, starting with a solution at quarterback.

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18:Pittsburgh Steelers

Cap space: $43.9 million

The Steelers don't expect Aaron Rodgers to take long to make a decision on whether he'll play again this season, which is good news. It's not like a 42-year-old Rodgers is a great option, but he would be an option (if he decides to play and also returns to Pittsburgh). If the Steelers go into the quarterback carousel, it might not be pretty. The Steelers also need to address an expensive and aging defense, and maybe should add a playmaker at receiver too. But it's hard to chart a course without knowing who is playing quarterback.

17:Cleveland Browns

Cap space: $-24.6 million

The Browns had a very good season from their rookie class. That is a positive going forward. But there are still questions about quarterback, and the Browns had all five starting offensive linemen from last season become free agents. They already filled one hole on the line by trading for Texans right tackle Tytus Howard, but more work needs to be done. The Browns also have a surprising lack of cap space, because the Deshaun Watson mistake will loom over the franchise for a long, long time.

16:Minnesota Vikings

Cap space: $-44.4 million

The J.J. McCarthy conundrum hangs over everything. Minnesota went 9-8 with terrible quarterback play, which is reminiscent of the 2024 Colts, who took off in 2025 with Daniel Jones before his injury. The Vikings have talked about wanting to add quarterback depth, but the market for quarterbacks will be rough this offseason. Will they pay up for another quarterback to push or even replace McCarthy, like the Colts did with Jones? There isn't much cap space to do that, or much else. But there is a clear question to be answered.

15:New York Giants

Cap space: $13.7 million

The Giants keep making moves that provide hope for the future. Hiring John Harbaugh as their new head coach was a much-needed step. It's a team with a strong defensive line and a lot of young talent, including quarterback Jaxson Dart, and bolstering the offensive line seems smart this offseason. It will be interesting to see how the team-building philosophy changes in the first year of the Harbaugh era.

14:Washington Commanders

Cap space: $86.1 million

The Commanders got old in a hurry. Now the warts of the roster, including edge rusher, secondary, interior offensive line and tight end, are more glaring. The Commanders do have a lot of cap space to fix some of the issues. Helping Jayden Daniels after an injury-filled encore to his amazing rookie season is a big key. But the Commanders won't be back in the playoffs without some big defensive improvements.

13:Cincinnati Bengals

Cap space: $47.5 million

Same story: The Bengals need defense and offensive line help. There is enough cap space to fix some of those issues, but will ownership commit to spending money? After watching Joe Burrow miss plenty of last season due to injury, offensive line has to be addressed. But that might just mean that the defense is among the worst in the NFL again. A more aggressive franchise might be able to make wholesale changes, but Cincinnati hasn't always been into making big outside splashes. We'll see what their level of urgency is as Burrow's prime continues to slip away.

12:New England Patriots

Cap space: $35.3 million

Another spending spree? Life with an MVP candidate at quarterback on his rookie deal is good. The Patriots spent big in free agency last offseason and still are one of the top 12 teams in terms of projected cap space entering this offseason. It seems clear that the offensive line will get some reinforcements, and receiver upgrades would be a big help too. And somehow, the Patriots still have enough cap flexibility to address both areas.

11:Seattle Seahawks

Cap space: $60.7 million

The Seahawks were a dominant champion last season, losing just three games by a combined nine points. And they come into this offseason with the sixth-most projected cap space in the NFL. Seattle will try to retain Kenneth Walker, but have the cap to find a competent replacement if he leaves. They could also add some help at receiver to go with All-Pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Anything the Seahawks add will be a bonus, considering how good they were last season. And they have enough flexibility to add a couple of luxury impact players.

10:Atlanta Falcons

Cap space: $8.9 million

The Falcons are in an interesting position. They did some good things last season but fired their coach because ultimately they underachieved. They have a roster that has plenty of talent but also a quarterback situation that is unsettled due to Michael Penix's health and inconsistent play. With Kirk Cousins gone, it seems that another quarterback to back up Penix or replace him as he works back from a torn ACL will have to be added. That won't come cheaply. There's also a big question surrounding defensive endJames Pearce Jr. and his legal situation. There's a lot to sort out here as the Falcons try to transition into being a contender.

9:Las Vegas Raiders

Cap space: $85.7 million

There will be two major moments of the Raiders' offseason, and one we can predict now. The Raiderswill draft Fernando Mendoza first overall, barring a big surprise. But what happens with defensive end Maxx Crosby is tougher to figure out. The Raiders say they want Crosby back, but could a huge offer change their mind? There are pros and cons to trading Crosby, and whichever path the Raiders choose will go a long way in shaping a roster that needs some big improvements, specifically on the offensive line. Once the Crosby situation is settled, we'll get a clear picture of what the Raiders will do in free agency.

8:New York Jets

Cap space: $74.1 million

The Jets' big push will probably happen in 2027. But this is also a hugely important offseason for their rebuild. The Jets have the second-most projected cap space in the NFL. That doesn't mean they should spend it all; just like having extra 2026 draft picks doesn't mean they should panic and use a valuable one on a quarterback they don't love. That's what next offseason will be for. But smart decisions this offseason could start to lay a foundation.

7:Kansas City Chiefs

Cap space: $-8.6 million

Kansas City has an interesting offseason coming. The Chiefs are coming off a shocking 11-loss season and also have to wonder when Patrick Mahomes will be healthy from a torn ACL. They'll be intent on rebounding right away, but there are challenges. The Chiefs have been shedding cap to get compliant, and it will be hard for them to become a big player in free agency given the cap constraints. That could hinder them from adding a key player at running back or perhaps at tight end if Travis Kelce retires. How the Chiefs approach this pivotal offseason will be fascinating to watch.

6:Tennessee Titans

Cap space: $90.4 million

No team has more projected cap space than the Titans. Not many teams have more holes to fill either. The top priority will be to surround Cam Ward with better talent, though the defense needs a ton of work as well. Presumably, new coach Robert Saleh will want reinforcements for the defense he wants to run. How the Titans allocate all that cap space will be interesting, but getting Ward help to assist in his development has to be a big part of the plan.

5:Buffalo Bills

Cap space: $-8.8 million

The Bills let it be known that they are not putting up with the status quo when they fired coach Sean McDermott following an overtime loss in the divisional round of the playoffs. Will that carry over to roster building? GM Brandon Beane has gotten a pass from ownership, but the offense around Josh Allen needs work. Will the Bills figure out a way to land a top receiver in free agency? That would be a huge help. But it won't be easy to pull off.

4:Los Angeles Chargers

Cap space: $84.9 million

The Chargers went 11-6, get two of the NFL's best offensive tackles back to the lineup from injury and also have the most projected cap space of any team that made the playoffs last season. The interior of the offensive line will need some work, and adding defensive talent following coordinator Jesse Minter's departure to Baltimore will be addressed. But the Chargers have the type of cap space to be one of this offseason's big players, and they were already in pretty good shape coming off last season.

3:Dallas Cowboys

Cap space: $-58.4 million

Jerry Jones continues to say what fans want to hear when it comes to spending in free agency. He said he is willing to"bust the budget"this offseason, but it's not like his team was "all in" two years ago like he famously claimed. So, we'll see. The one big move, albeit expected, wasputting the franchise tag on receiver George Pickens. If the Cowboys do make some moves, after some procedural moves to clear a lot of cap space, it's going to be on defense. Dak Prescott played very well last season and the Cowboys weren't even .500. That's only going to change if there are serious additions to the defense.

2:Denver Broncos

Cap space: $21 million

The top paid player on the Broncos roster each of the past two seasons, in terms of cap number, was Russell Wilson. He wasn't on the team. Having that cap anchor removed gives the Broncos some options in free agency. Sean Payton teams are always aggressive in free agency whether they have cap space or not, so expect the Broncos to get to spending now that they have their Wilson rebate. The Broncos with a star running back and maybe an impact receiver, to go with a stellar defense, could be very interesting in 2026.

1:Los Angeles Rams

Cap space: $42 million

The Rams with two first-round picks is quite intriguing. They haven't been the "(expletive) them picks" team in a couple years, but it's in their DNA. They have to know Matthew Stafford's time as an MVP level quarterback won't last forever as he's 38 years old, so could they make some big moves to get back to another Super Bowl? They might after barely missing out last season. Even if the Rams don't trade the picks, they could make important moves. Cornerback stands out as a glaring need. The Rams also have a decent amount of cap space. This is a team to watch.

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March 04, 2026

NFL Power Rankings, free agency edition: Ranking the most interesting teams from 1-32 heading into free agency

Super Bowl LX provided more proof that free agency, when used right, can be a powerful tool in NFL building. T...

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Iraq facing World Cup playoff difficulties as Iran war closes embassies and airspace

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraq's hopes of World Cup qualification are being impacted bythe Iran warbecause players cannot get visas for the playoff tournament in Mexico and the team's coach is stranded in the United Arab Emirates.

"Because of airspace closures, our head coach, Graham Arnold, is unable to leave the United Arab Emirates," the Iraqi soccer federation said in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday. "In addition, several embassies remain closed at the present time, preventing several professional players, technical and medical staff members from obtaining entry visas to Mexico."

Iraq is scheduled to play Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey, Mexico on March 31 for one of the last two qualification places for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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The federation said it is in "constant communication with FIFA regarding the arrangements for our national team's participation" in the match. It said the Asian Football Confederation is also "fully aware of every development regarding our team's situation."

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

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March 04, 2026

Iraq facing World Cup playoff difficulties as Iran war closes embassies and airspace

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraq's hopes of World Cup qualification are being impacted bythe Iran warbecause players cannot ...

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Valerie Bertinelli Reveals She Was Sexually Abused at Age 11: ‘I Don't Feel Shame About It Anymore. I’m Pissed Off That It Happened’ (Exclusive)

Valerie Bertinelli reveals in her new memoir Getting Naked that she was sexually abused at age 11, telling PEOPLE in this week's cover story, "It doesn't feel like it owns me anymore."

NEED TO KNOW

• The star, 65, says that the process of opening up about it has taken her "at least" a decade as she was forced to confront shame and self-criticism that was rooted in her childhood trauma.

• Calling herself "a survivor," Bertinelli credits her son Wolfgang Van Halen, cooking and her work on The Drew Barrymore Show with helping her move forward and focus on the positive.

"I had no plans to reveal this," saysValerie Bertinelli. "This was going to be a book about teaching people how to love themselves. I did not know that I would go this far."

For the first time, the star, 65, is revealing that she was sexually abused at 11 years old.

"I guess because I'm healing from it, it's not so scary anymore," Bertinelli tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "I can say it out loud. I was sexually assaulted. It doesn't feel like it owns me anymore."

It's part of the "raw truth" that Bertinellii shares in her new book,Getting Naked,out on March 10 from Harper Wave. "It's about getting getting naked with who I am, emotionally, physically," she says. "It was really about getting to the nitty gritty and getting to the parts that I thought were shameful and come to find out they're not. They're all kinds of different facets of what makes us who we are."

To open that chapter of the book, Bertinelli "purposely" included a picture of herself at 11 years old "because that was the little girl that was sexually abused," she says. "And it boggles my mind that this little girl was taken advantage of that way. It boggles my mind because it's still happening ... and I'm furious about it. And we need to start speaking up and saying, 'Enough.'"

"It's taken me 10 years at least," she explains of her decision to come forward. "The very first time I said it out loud to my therapist, I thoughtI'm going to feel better now.It got worse before it got better. I maybe ate a little bit more, drank a little bit more. When you stop eating things for comfort, stop drinking alcohol, it exposes your feelings. You can deal with them or not. And I chose to deal with them. I don't feel shame about it anymore. I'm pissed off that it happened. Nobody deserves that."

And then came 2024, a rough year for Bertinelli. "I had a huge anxiety attack at the end of 2024 that brought me to my knees," she says. "And I thoughtI'm not getting anywhere. I needed to do more work." That meant digging into what was behind the body shame and the self criticism that she'd long held over the years.

"All of that shame had nothing to do with my body," she says. "It was just something to take out my shame on. My poor body. I was so mean to it. I just needed to get all those voices out of my head. As I was going through that, I'm thinking people are going to wonder, why do I have so much self loathing? That's not normal. It's because trauma happened in my childhood for the most part. I can't speak for anybody else but it's pretty textbook."

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Asked what she was like at 11 years old, she says, "I loved to color, read, play with my Barbies and ride my bike around the block. I loved my cats.  I was just a little girl."

Looking back, she simply says, "I'm a survivor."

Through all the turmoil, Bertinelli still leads with her heart. It's all part of the emotional connection she shares with fans who've followed her for decades, from the time she was 15 years old onOne Day at a Time, toHot in Cleveland (with her good friendBetty White) and now as part of the "Drew Crew" onThe Drew Barrymore Show.

She credits her work on the show withDrew Barrymore, which she calls "an oasis," and the love and support of her son,Wolfgang Van Halen, and her love of cooking with helping her heal. And she's focusing on the positive, along with her new digital platform,Valerie's Place. "I want to build a community where everybody is welcome. It's a place where people can come in to my kitchen and cook with me because I've missed that a lot."

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

Take PEOPLE with you!Subscribe to PEOPLE magazineto get the latest details on celebrity news, exclusive royal updates, how-it-happened true crime stories and more — right to your mailbox.

Getting Nakedby Valerie Bertinelli comes out March 10 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.

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byAdministrator

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March 04, 2026

Valerie Bertinelli Reveals She Was Sexually Abused at Age 11: ‘I Don't Feel Shame About It Anymore. I’m Pissed Off That It Happened’ (Exclusive)

Valerie Bertinelli reveals in her new memoir Getting Naked that she was sexually abused at age 11, telling PEOPLE in thi...

Read More

Everything we know on the fifth day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their jointoperation on Iran, killingmore than 1,000 people, triggering retaliatory strikes on Israel and neighboring Gulf states and plunging the region into fear and uncertainty.

Here's what to know on day five.

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What are the main headlines?

• US sinks Iranian ship: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said a US submarine sank an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's navy said it has recovered "several bodies" but the toll is not yet clear.

• Turkish interception: NATO air defense systems shot down an Iranian missile that was traveling towards Turkey's airspace, the Turkish presidency said. This is believed to be the first time NATO forces have intercepted an Iranian missile traveling towards a member country's airspace since the conflict in the Middle East broke out over the weekend.

• Fresh strikes: The Israeli military said it again attacked Tehran, the tenth wave of strikes since the conflict began. US President Donald Trump has praised the joint operation, claiming Iran's military installations had been essentially "knocked out," from its navy to its air force and more. More strikes are expected; Hegseth said the US operation is still in its "early days."

• Markets roiled: Asian stocks fell sharply Wednesday, with a record selloff in Seoul, as investors fretted about rising oil prices in a region heavily dependent on imports from the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a key transit point, is effectively shut off. But some European markets moved into positive territory.

• In the US: The Senate is set to vote today on whether to consider a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to continue military action in Iran without congressional approval amid the rapidly escalating conflict. The White House has given contradictory accounts on why the US attacked Iran. A Democrat senator emerging from a briefing said he had "no idea" what the US objective was.

What's happening in Iran?

• Fresh Israeli strikes: Tehran residents again woke up to the aftermath of Israeli strikes. "They hit quite hard last night, it was a bad night," a resident said. The Israeli military said one of its jets shot down an Iranian jet, in what it described as the first air-to-air combat kill of a piloted aircraft.

• Next supreme leader: Senior Iranian officials have been meeting virtually to select a new supreme leader after the initial US-Israel strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – and his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is among a small handful of clerics tipped as likely successors. But timings are unclear. Israel warned that any new leader would be "an unequivocal target for elimination."

• Funeral cancelled: The mourning ceremony for Khamenei, set to begin Wednesday evening, has been postponed, state media reported. Three days of mourning had previously been announced and the cancellation is a blow for a regime trying to project an image of stability and continuity.

• Kurds: The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran, multiple people familiar with the plan told CNN. Iranian Kurdish armed groups have thousands of forces operating along the Iraq-Iran border and some have hinted at imminent action.

• Death toll climbs: More than 1,000 people, including children, have been killed in Iran since Saturday, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The group said its report is preliminary, and the number could rise. Iran has been under an internet blackout for more than 100 hours, making it difficult for Iranians to communicate with the outside world.

What's happening around the region and beyond?

• Attacks on Lebanon: Israel is also striking Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and issuing evacuation orders for dozens of villages. Lebanese state media said at least five people in a strike on a four-story residential building in the Lebanese city of Baalbek while smoke has been seen rising over Beirut airport.

• Iran strikes back: Arab states in the Persian Gulf are bearing the brunt of Tehran's ferocious retaliation. Countries such as Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones in recent days – raising questions about how long their air defenses can keep up, and how many more weapons remain in Iran's depleted arsenal. The volume of Iran's missile launches and drone strikes has dropped by 86% and 73% respectively since the first day of the war, top US general Dan Caine said Wednesday.

• US facilities targeted: The US has closed embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon, after several were hit with Iranian strikes. A CIA station in Saudi Arabia, and a US military base in Qatar – the largest in the Middle East – were also hit. Non-emergency US government personnel in several Middle Eastern countries have been ordered to leave.

• Foreign powers: China's foreign minister called for an "immediate cessation" of the US and Israeli action in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, the ministry said. The country has lost two international allies this year through US action. France meanwhile has deployed Rafale fighter jets over the skies of the United Arab Emirates to protect its military bases there.

• Senate vote: The Senate will vote as soon as Wednesday on a resolution requiring Trump get congressional approval to continue the military campaign; the House will vote on a similar measure on Thursday. Six American service members have been killed by Iranian strikes since Saturday, a number Trump already warned is likely to increase.

• Oil trade rocked: Oil and natural gas prices are jumping while stock markets are tumbling. The Middle East is a major producer of both oil and natural gas, but its energy exports have now been largely cut off from the rest of the world by an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Why did the US and Israel attack Iran?

• US and Israel's claims: Officials from both countries have put out different statements in recent days over why they launched their attack – including the need to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and the claim they were responding to potential preemptive attacks by Iran.

• Fact check: The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has countered these claims – telling CNN that Iran was not days or weeks away from having atomic weapons. Trump himself has repeatedly said that Tehran's nuclear program was "obliterated" by US strikes on Iran last summer. And US intelligence suggests Iran would need until 2035 to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, if it chose to pursue one.

This story has been updated.

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byAdministrator

in

March 04, 2026

Everything we know on the fifth day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran

The latest Middle East conflict continues spiraling days after Israel and the US launched their jointoperation on Iran, k...

Read More