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Aaron Rodgers still has at least one believer in the NFL.

"I thought mentally, and arm-talent-wise, he was still high-end," an executive told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated on Sunday. "The two tackles weren't very good, so any time he had to move in the pocket, he struggled. Not sure if that gets better in Year 2 after the injury or worse with age. [But] the Jacksonville game in particular he made some impressive decisions and throws."

The update comes after Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Sunday the New York Jets informed the veteran quarterback they do not plan on bringing him back in 2025.

That isn't particularly surprising, as the 41-year-old was just 31st in the league in QBR during the 2024 campaign, per Pro Football Reference, while going 5-12 as a starter. Despite the comments from the executive, he was nowhere near as effective as he was during his peak on the Green Bay Packers.

Yet it was also the first year back from an Achilles injury that cost him all but his first few snaps during the 2023 campaign.

Rodgers was surely adjusting to his return to the field, and some of his best games came later in the campaign. He threw for four touchdowns in the final regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins after he threw for 289 yards and three scores in Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The executive specifically highlighted the Jaguars games with the comments.

Other teams will have to decide whether they expect Rodgers to get better as he is further removed from the Achilles injury or worse as he gets older.

Breer guessed the Jets will ultimately release him and give him "the freedom to choose his destination" since other teams may not want to assume the $37.5 million he is owed in 2025 ($2.5 million in base salary and $35 million option bonus).

And that will set the stage for New York to reset the franchise with a new quarterback, head coach and general manager for the 2025 campaign.

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles defense dominate the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, Penn State star Abdul Carter lobbied to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

"DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!" Carter posted on X while making it clear where he believes he stands in this year's class:

The Nittany Lions edge-rusher has a case to at least be considered the best player overall. He sits second on Bleacher Report's 2025 big board behind Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and boasts a 9.1 overall grade.

B/R NFL scout Matt Holder compared Carter to Von Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion.

"Initially, Carter will have to win with athleticism by making linemen miss or on run stunts to be an effective run defender," Holder wrote. "That could push him into a pass-rush specialist role to begin his career, but he could become a complete player by his second year in the league.

"Schematically, he'd be a good fit as a standup outside linebacker in odd fronts. He also can be used to drop in coverage occasionally given his athleticism and background as an off-ball linebacker."

Mahomes already has three Super Bowl rings and is almost a cheat code in terms of helping the Kansas City Chiefs contend for championships. But Sunday night was the second time the team watched its title hopes undone in the face of a dominant pass rush.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers smothered Mahomes en route to a comfortable 31-9 victory in Super Bowl LV, while the Eagles' constant pressure caused problems for the two-time All-Pro on the biggest stage once again.

For as important as the quarterback position is in the NFL, a great defense can still overwhelm a great signal-caller.

Of course, it's worth noting that Eagles star Jalen Hurts was named the Super Bowl LIX MVP after going 17-of-22 for 221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. As good as Philly is defensively, the team also boasts a franchise quarterback on a $255 million contract.

But if the Tennessee Titans aren't sold on either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, widely considered the two best QBs in then 2025 draft, then going with Carter and making him the cornerstone of the defense could be the smarter play.

The Milwaukee Brewers will honor legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker during the 2025 season with a tribute patch.

Major League Baseball shared a look at the patch on Monday:

Uecker died last month at the age of 90 after a legendary broadcasting career. He became unanimous with the Brewers as he continued his career, and now the team will keep his memory alive in the season after his passing with the recognition on the jersey sleeve.

"Ueck was the light of the Brewers, the soundtrack of our summers, the laughter in our hearts, and his passing is a profound loss," the team said in a statement after his death. "He was the heart and soul of Wisconsin and a dear friend. Bob loved people; his presence warmed every room and he had a way of welcoming all of us into his world as if we were lifelong friends.

"Saying goodbye to Bob shakes us all. He was so much more than a Milwaukee Brewers icon. He was a national treasure. Bob entertained us with his words and storytelling, so it is no surprise that his passing now leaves us at a loss for our own words."

Uecker started as the Brewers' radio play-by-play man in 1971 after a playing career that included the 1964 World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals. He also played for the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves as a catcher.

While his playing career went for six seasons from 1962 to 1967, he was best known for his career in broadcasting. That time in broadcasting even landed him opportunities as a humorous announcer in the Major League film franchise and on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

But it was with the Brewers that he created his legacy.

The Baseball Hall of Fame recognized him with the Ford C. Frick Award in 2003, forever cementing his place in the sport's history. That came after he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Brewers start their regular season with a March 27 road game against the New York Yankees. Their home opener is March 31 against the Kansas City Royals.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams reveled in denying the Kansas City Chiefs their place in NFL history.

Williams said he was "definitely" motivated by the general conversations around the Chiefs' three-peat bid.

"They were talking about getting the copyright and all that B.S." he said, per ESPN's Tim McManus. "Throw that s--t in the trash."

Defensive end Brandon Graham conveyed a similar sentiment.

"That was motivation because it was kind of a slap to us," he said. "It was like, they ain't seen us yet. So, we heard that all week. And when the game came, execution was on point and together."

Thanks to some incredibly savvy thinking by NBA coaching legend Pat Riley decades ago, any team's pursuit of three straight championships inevitably hits on the fact that the phrase "Three-Peat" and "3-Peat" officially trademarked. Their usage for commercial purposes requires Riley's approval.

Securing the necessary agreements needs to be done in advance in order to have championship apparel and memorabilia available as soon as a game is over. That meant the NFL prepared for the Chiefs' three-peat well before Super Bowl LIX.

It's no different than how the league produces hats and T-shirts for both teams competing in the Super Bowl, with half of that inventory never seeing the light of day in the United States.

But athletes and coaches never turn down a possible source of inspiration ahead of a big game. For the Eagles, hearing about the Chiefs' quest to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls weighed squarely on their minds.

Russell Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, and it seems like his time with the AFC North team may be limited to just that one year.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote about the situation Monday and said he feels "Wilson is going elsewhere" this offseason.

"This week some pro-Wilson narratives surfaced, and my sense is that probably wouldn't be very well received by the Steelers as they mull their future at the position," he wrote while also noting the team is interested in bringing Justin Fields back but not as the surefire starter and instead someone who would once again have to compete for playing time.

Fields started the 2024 campaign under center because of Wilson's calf injury, and the former Chicago Bears signal-caller went 4-2 as a starter with 10 total touchdowns to one interception.

However, head coach Mike Tomlin made the switch to Wilson when the veteran was healthy, and it seemed to be the right call when Pittsburgh went 6-1 in the next seven games. Yet the team then dropped the final four regular-season games before losing to the rival Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round.

The Steelers didn't reach the 20-point mark in any of those final five contests and now have a decision to make at the most important position.

"Wilson wasn't an innocent bystander in all of that. His limitations in the dropback game, and throwing the ball over the middle of the field, could only be worked around for so long," Breer wrote. "And so some friction surfaced as the season circled the drain, and the collapse showed that, while the Steelers are consistently in the running, they aren't all that close to the elite."

Fields is just 25 years old, while Wilson is 36. If both have limitations, it makes more sense to bring back the younger one who at least brings his elite running ability to the table, which can add another element to the offense.

There was a time when Wilson was one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL during his peak on the Seattle Seahawks, but he was just 26th in the league in QBR during the 2024 season, per Pro Football Reference.

Signs are indicating the Steelers will move on this offseason, which means he will likely need to find another team looking for a veteran option who could either start or be a bridge quarterback until someone younger is ready to take over.

Trae Young was seen as one of the biggest All-Star Game snubs when the rosters were initially revealed, but the Atlanta Hawks guard will participate in the contest after all.

ESPN's Shams Charania noted Monday that Young will replace the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo in the All-Star Game.

This comes after NBA insider Chris Haynes reported the Milwaukee Bucks star will be sidelined for two to three weeks because of a calf strain.

Antetokounmpo isn't the only notable name who will miss the event on Feb. 16.

Haynes also reported that Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis will not participate because of an adductor strain he suffered in his first game with his new team after he was traded by the Los Angeles Lakers.

This year's All-Star Game in San Francisco will look a bit different than in the past, as there will be a four-team tournament instead of the traditional one-game format.

TNT broadcasters Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal drafted three of the teams from the list of players who were selected for the event, and the fourth squad will be the winning Rising Stars team.

Barkley selected Antetokounmpo, while O'Neal ended up with Davis:

The outlook of the roster will change with Young taking Antetokounpo's place, as the former is a ball-handling guard who is best known for his ability to launch three-pointers from well beyond the arc. By comparison, Antetokounmpo is nearly unstoppable when attacking the rim but isn't known for his prowess from deep.

This is the fourth All-Star Game of Young's career after he previously made it in 2020, 2022 and 2024. He is averaging 23.5 points, a league-best 11.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40.9 percent from the field and 34 percent from deep.

His passing and assist totals were a primary reason he was seen as a snub before being named as an injury replacement.

With that as the backdrop, look for him to play the role of facilitator in an event that is usually fast-paced with little defensive effort. He can create excitement with lob passes and then take advantage of the space if the defense collapses toward the rim later in the game.

Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett communicated a trade request to the team "weeks" before he went public with the demand.

Garrett announced Feb. 3 in a statement he wants out, citing his desire to win a Super Bowl title.

According to The MMQB's Albert Breer, however, "his request had been in for a couple of weeks."

"My sense would be that the request becoming public came as a result of some level of frustration from the former Defensive Player of the Year," Breer said. "The Browns told him they wouldn't deal him. They've messaged that to other teams. And Cleveland planting its feet in the ground on that would motivate Garrett to go public."

At least one NFL personnel evaluator has serious doubts the Browns actually trade Garrett.

"There is no way they are going to trade that guy," the anonymous exec said to The Athletic's Mike Sando. "They would be crazy to. I think they are just going to sit on it and simmer it down. That said, when (offensive guard Joel) Bitonio came out and said he had doubts as well, it affirmed for me that this is all about Deshaun Watson. I think they want him out of the building and they want a clear path to no more drama."

An immediate reaction from many was that the six-time Pro Bowler's days in Cleveland are numbered.

Thanks in part to the Deshaun Watson trade being such a spectacular failure, whatever title window the Browns once had seems to have closed. Beyond the extent to which Garrett's trade request will linger around the organization, dealing him might be the most straightforward way for the front office to accelerate a rebuild.

Maybe the anonymous executive's read on the situation will instead prove to be correct.

Soon, free agency and the NFL draft will give fans something else to talk about, thus taking the focus away from Garrett and his future in Cleveland. General manager Andrew Berry might in turn feel a little less pressure to act.

Still, it's tough to see what the front office can do to address Garrett's concerns when the Browns are projected to be more than $30.1 million over the salary cap. Cutting ties with Watson is out of the question, too, thanks to the financial consequences.

Cleveland is going to have a new starting quarterback for 2025; that much is clear. The team may struggle to identify one who's enough of an upgrade to lift the team into contention.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow doesn't want to lose his top two targets to free agency, and he is reportedly doing what he can to convince the team to keep both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

"He is putting the hammer on them," an NFL executive said in a Monday story by Mike Sando of The Athletic.

Higgins is scheduled for free agency this offseason after playing the 2024 campaign on the franchise tag, while Chase has one year remaining on his deal. While Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension in 2023, he has publicly said he is willing to restructure his deal to help keep the wide receivers in Cincinnati.

"I'm of the thought that when he decided not to make an Eli Manning situation with Cincinnati in the draft, that he had talks beforehand about how they were going to proceed with player acquisition," another executive said, per Sando. "And now it is to the point where they have to hold up their end of the bargain."

Former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer famously demanded a trade from Cincinnati during his career, but one executive said the situation is different with Burrow.

"Carson got hurt in a playoff game, but Joe got them to the Super Bowl," the exec said. "That carries a lot of weight going forward. The issue is going to be, will they spend money elsewhere, at a level necessary to keep guys? I think that this time they might. I'm not saying they will have a wholesale change in their philosophy. Joe has the leverage to have them do something that they might not have wanted to do."

Committing to Burrow in 2023 the way the Bengals did and then not spending to keep his top two receivers would undercut the team-building process for a franchise looking to take the next step as a contender.

Cincinnati made the Super Bowl during the 2021 campaign and reached the AFC Championship Game the following year with the star quarterback leading the way. Even its down seasons in 2023 and 2024 saw it finish with a winning record of 9-8 in large part because of the brilliance of Burrow, Chase and the passing game.

Chase in particular was unstoppable this past season and led the NFL in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and touchdown catches (17). Higgins had back-to-back seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and 2022 and set a career-high with touchdown catches (10) in 2024.

Both receivers and Burrow are in their 20s, so it is not difficult to envision the trio leading the Bengals for years to come.

But first the front office has to commit to paying the necessary contracts to keep the pass-catchers in town.

It is likely of little solace following a 40-22 loss in Sunday's Super Bowl LIX, but Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy at least put his name in the records book.

Worthy tallied eight catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, which Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports noted was a rookie record for receiving yards on the sport's biggest stage.

He surpassed the 109 receiving yards that Chris Matthews finished with for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX and Torry Holt finished with for the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

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