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9.2.26

ICE protesters took to streets near the Super Bowl without problems

07:34
ICE protesters took to streets near the Super Bowl without problems

SANTA CLARA, California  — They came, they marched, they chanted − all under a close watch. But it wasn't ICE agents who patrolled the streets on Super Bowl Sunday, as many had anticipated.

USA TODAY

Hundreds of people on Feb. 8 took over a main thoroughfare less than two miles away from Levi's Stadium, site ofSuper Bowl 60between theSeattle Seahawksand theNew England Patriots, just before kickoff, railing againstPresident Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts usingImmigration and Customs Enforcementand Border Patrol.

Their voices got louder, echoing off nearby buildings while they chanted "no ICE, no KKK, no racist USA," "dare to struggle, dare to win," and "it's our right to resist, it's our right to rebel."

The protest capped a weeklong slew ofrallies, marches and demonstrationsin the area, all culminating in the biggest turnout on game day.

"We deserve to be seen and heard," said Lyla Salinas, 22, an organizer with CSO San Jose, one of the protest's nearly two-dozen sponsors. "We need to show our presence on one of the world's biggest stages."

Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6. Demonstrators protest against deployment of ICE agents during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on January 31, 2026 in Milan, Italy. The US immigration agency whose officers were involved in a fatal shooting in Minneapolis says it will send agents to help with American security operations at the Winter Olympics in Italy, starting February 6.

Demonstrators oppose ICE deployment at Milano Cortina Olympics

Even though law enforcement officials confirmed last week there would be no ICE enforcement at any Super Bowl 60 event, authorities on foot, on bikes and on horseback watched intently as they followed the protesters down Great America Parkway. No arrests were made during the almost two-hour event, Santa Clara police said.

Also watching was California Democratic CongressmanRo Khanna, who spoke and walked with several protesters and told USA TODAY that ICE was not present in the area.

"Our staff has received multiple updates throughout the day. We need to make sure they don't come during the World Cup as well," Khanna said, noting several international soccer matches will take place in his Silicon Valley district in June.

Lyla Salinas, left, a member of CSO San Jose, talks with California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna during an "ICE out of Super Bowl Protest" in Santa Clara, Calif. on Feb. 8, 2026. Hundreds took place in the protest occurred about a mile away from the big game.

Salinas used the opportunity to tell Khanna that he and his organization have tried many times to reach out to the lawmaker, seeking his involvement, and to ask him not to support funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Khanna told Salinas he remains a firm "no" on voting for additional Homeland Security funding, as DHS funding was extended until Feb. 13, creating a deadline for Congress to negotiate further. Khanna told Salinas they would keep in touch.

"I told him he needed to be more supportive of what we're doing, that we're showing our communities we're here to defend them," said Salinas about putting pressure on Khanna. "He said he would help us, but actions speak louder than words."

No ICE at the Super Bowl?More:Bay Area communities aren't buying it.

Turnout was a surprise

Holding a sign that said, "No Secret Police," Doug Wolf, 60, of Boulder Creek, California, said he was pleasantly surprised by the protest's turnout.

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"We shouldn't have to be here, but you gotta be out here," said Wolf, amid the chanting. "The Constitution and the Fourth Amendment are being shredded right in front of us. We have to take a stand."

Hundreds marched during a "ICE Out of the Super Bowl Protest" during Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. The protest occurred less than two miles from the big game at Levi's Stadium, capping off a weeklong slew of demonstrations in the Bay Area.

Ariel Ranker, a member of the nonprofit 50501 San Jose, agreed.

"If we don't stand up and fight back, we may not have a democratic society anymore. This is unacceptable, especially if we still want to call ourselves a democratic nation," Ranker, 25, said in between chanting with her bullhorn. "This is not the country I grew up in."

Rankin got fired up when listening to a call-and-response chant by Kimberly Woo, an organizer withServices, Immigrant Rights and Education Network(SIREN) of Santa Clara County, who said they have the "home-field advantage" over ICE.

Ariel Ranker, an organizer with the nonprofit 50501 San Jose shows her support during a "ICE Out of the Super Bowl" protest on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif., the site of Super Bowl LX. The protest took place less than two miles from where the big game was held.

ICE lawsuit:Toddler returned to ICE custody and denied medication, lawsuit says

"No hate, no fear," Woo yelled. "Immigrants are welcomed here!"

Hours before the protest, several activists gave about 15,000 towels with the words "ICE OUT"  to fans attending the Super Bowl, hoping they would raise them throughout the game and duringBad Bunny's halftime performance, to protest the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations.

The gesture, called "Flags in the Stands," was organized by Contra-ICE, a coalition of artists, musicians, and community organizers.

Drawn by political cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, the design was inspired by Bad Bunny, and shows a rabbit wearing the singer's signature pava (straw hat), while holding a grenade in one hand (a nod to local rockers Green Day, who opened the game and their multiplatinum album American Idiot). The rabbit kicks a football that's in a frozen block of ice.

Dan Reynolds, right, passes out an 'ICE OUT" towel to a football fan, left, ahead of Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Feb. 8, 2026. The organization Contra-ICE hoped fans attending the game would wave the towels whenever a penalty is called.

One volunteer, Dan Reynolds, said he passed out more than 600 towels to fans. A handful of people politely gave them back to him.

"That's not a bad percentage," Reynolds said as he ran out of his supply. "We hope they get put to good use."

Seahawks fan Mikki Ellingsen, 59, of Seattle, said she wished she grabbed more.

"Absolutely," Ellingsen said, waving the towel. "Proud to do it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'No hate, no fear' ICE protesters chant near Super Bowl

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Venezuelan opposition figure Guanipa detained by heavily armed men hours after being freed from prison

07:34
Venezuelan opposition figure Guanipa detained by heavily armed men hours after being freed from prison

Lee este artículo en español

CNN Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa speaks to the media after he was released from the Bolivarian National Police Mariperez detention center, in Caracas, Venezuela on Sunday. - Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters

Key Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was arrested by heavily armed men on Sunday night, his supporters said, just hours after he had been released from a jail where he was held as a political prisoner.

Guanipa's family and political allies said he had been "kidnapped" by a group of men and accused the Caracas regime of being responsible.

The country's public prosecutor's office later confirmed it had requested Guanipa be placed under house arrest, claiming a breach of his release conditions.

Leader of the conservative Primero Justicia party, Guanipa was among several high-profile political prisoners freed on Sunday, in the latest effort from Caracas to satisfyUS demandsfollowing Washington's ouster of strongman leader Nicolás Maduro.

But Guanipa, 61, was later snatched by a group of men in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas, said Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Laureate María Corina Machado, who is not in the country.

"Heavily armed men dressed in civilian clothes arrived in four vehicles and took him away by force," she saidon X.

Guanipa's son Ramón said in a video that his father was "ambushed" at a late night event "by approximately 10 agents who had no identification whatsoever."

"They pointed their guns at them, they were heavily armed, and they took my father," he said, before demanding to see proof his father was still alive.

Guanipa's Primero Justicia party also accused the Caracas regime of being behind the kidnapping. "We hold (interim President) Delcy Rodríguez, (National Assembly President) Jorge Rodríguez, and (Interior Minister) Diosdado Cabello responsible for any harm against the life of Juan Pablo," it said in a statement on X.

After Maduro was captured by US special forces last month, his former deputy Rodríguez took over as leader with the blessing of the Trump administration, on the proviso Caracas complied with a raft of US demands – from access to oil to the release of political prisoners.

Guanipa was freed earlier Sunday night after more than eight months in prison.

Shortly after walking out of a detention center in Caracas, Guanipa had uploaded a video on social media, declaring, "Today we are being released. Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront."

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Guanipa was arrested inMay 2025, following claims by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, made without evidence, that he was involved in an alleged "terror" plot against regional and legislative elections. Guanipa has repeatedly denied the accusation.

Machado had celebrated the news of his release earlier Sunday. "My dear Juan Pablo, counting down the minutes until I can hug you! You are a hero and history will always recognize it," she wrote on social media.

Another of Machado's allies, lawyer Perkins Rocha, was also released on Sunday, but under strict restrictions, according to his wife María Constanza.

Human rights group Foro Penal said it had confirmed that at least 30 political prisoners were released on Sunday, according to the group's director, Alfredo Romero.

Others who were freed include Luis Somaza, a member of the Popular Will party, and Jesús Armas, an activist and former opposition councilman.

Venezuela's opposition and human rights groups have long accused the country's authoritarian regime of using arbitrary arrests to suppress dissent. Foro Penal estimates that hundreds of additional political prisoners still remain behind bars.

The government has denied that it holds people for political reasons, arguing that those in prison have committed crimes.

Sunday's releases come days after Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez promised relatives of political prisoners that "all detainees" would be freed. Rodríguez, the brother of acting president Delcy Rodríguez, said the process would be completed "no later than" Friday, February 13.

His announcement comes as the acting socialist government moves forward with anamnesty billthat could lead to the mass release of prisoners – some of whom have been held since 1999, when strongman leader Hugo Chávez came to power – as a first step toward what officials describe as national reconciliation.

Although the government announced the release of "a significant number of people" days after the US captured Maduro, rights groups and family members believe that the pace of releases has been slow.

So far, more than 380 people have been freed from prison, according to Foro Penal, while the government claims to have released more than 800.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN's Michael Rios, contributed to this report.

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Israel's president visits Sydney's Bondi Beach massacre site and meets victims' families

07:34
Israel's president visits Sydney's Bondi Beach massacre site and meets victims' families

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Israel PresidentIsaac Herzogstarted a state visit Monday aimed at consoling grieving Australian Jews and improving bilateral relations by laying a wreath and stones at the site of anantisemitic attack in Sydneythat left 15 dead.

Associated Press Israel's President Isaac Herzog, center left, and his wife Michal Herzog, center right, arrive at Bondi Beach for a memorial of the Dec. 2025 shooting victims, in Sydney, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Israel's President Isaac Herzog, center, and his wife Michal Herzog, left, offer prayers at Bondi Beach where the Dec. 2025 shooting took place, in Sydney, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Israel's President Isaac Herzog speaks during his visit to Bondi Beach where the Dec. 2025 shooting took place, in Sydney, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Israel's President Isaac Herzog, right, and his wife Michal Herzog, second right, visit Bondi Beach, where a mass shooting took place in Dec. 2025, in Sydney, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) Israel's President Isaac Herzog, center right, visits Bondi Beach where the Dec. 2025 shooting took place, in Sydney, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Australia Israel

Herzog met victims' families and survivors of the Dec. 14 attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach. Only one of the two alleged gunmen survived following a gunbattle with police.Naveed Akramhas beencharged with committing a terrorist act, murdering 15 people and wounding another 40 in what was Australia'sworst mass shooting in 29 years.

Herzog laid the wreath and two stones he had brought from Jerusalem at the rain-swept Bondi Pavillion near the site of the massacre. The pavilion became on impromptu memorial in the days after the tragedy as flowers and cards were placed there.

Herzog says he's in Sydney to show solidarity and love

The Israeli president said the stones would remain at Bondi in memory of the victims and as a reminder that good people of all faiths and nations "will continue to hold strong in the face of terror, violence and hatred, and that we shall overcome this evil together."

"We were shaken to our core when we first heard about the Bondi Beach attack. Our heart missed a beat, like all Israelis and all Jews. And I'm here to express solidarity, friendship, and love," Herzog told reporters.

"And I also believe that this is an opportunity to upgrade the relations between Israel and Australia because we are two democracies that share values together and we are confronting the roots of evil from all over the world. And we should do so together," he added.

The visit to Bondi within hours of the president landing in Sydney with his wife Michal Herzog came with tight security. Police snipers were visible posted on Bondi roof tops.

Herzog will also visit Melbourne and the national capital Canberra before he returns to Israel on Thursday. Sydney and Melbourne are Australia's largest cities and home to 85% of the nation's Jewish population.

Protests were held in Sydney and Melbourne later Monday over how Israel has waged thewar against the militant Hamas group in Gazaand treated Gaza's civilian population. Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, triggering the war.

Mainstream Jewish groups have welcomed the visit of Herzog, a former leader of the centrist Labor Party who now plays a largely ceremonial role.

Some Jews say Israeli president is not welcome in Australia

The smaller Jewish Council of Australia community group ran full-page ads in Sydney and Melbourne newspapers on Monday, endorsed with the names of 687 Australian Jews, that said: "Herzog does not speak for us and is NOT WELCOME HERE."

"We refuse to let our collective grief be used to legitimize a leader whose rhetoric has been part of inciting a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has contributed to the illegal annexation of the West Bank," the council's executive officer Sarah Schwartz said.

Jewish leaders initiated the invitation extended by Governor-GeneralSam Mostyn, Australia's equivalent of Israel's president, at Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese'srequest.

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Albanese and his Israeli counterpartBenjamin Netanyahuhave been openly hostile toward each other since the Australian announced six months ago that his government wouldrecognize a Palestinian state.

On Monday, Herzog said he welcomed the "positive steps" the Australian government had taken to tackle antisemitism since the Bondi attack, which was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group.

The Australian Parliament last monthrushed through legislationthat lowers the threshold requirements for groups to be banned for hate speech.

The government also announced its highest form of public inquiry, aroyal commission, would investigatethe nature, prevalence and drivers of antisemitism in general, as well as the circumstances of the Bondi shooting.

Herzog said he shared the frustrations of the victims' families that more had not been done to prevent such an attack on Australia's Jewish community.

"These frustrations were shared by many, many of us, including myself," Herzog said.

"I've seen this wave surge all over the world, and I've seen it in many countries, including Canada, Great Britain, the United States, and Australia — all English-speaking countries," Herzog added.

Police tighten restrictions on Sydney protests

After the Bondi shooting was declared a terrorist attack, the New South Wales state parliament rushed through legislation increasing police powers to arrest protesters.

Police can restrict protests for two weeks at a time for up to 90 days following a declared terrorist attack. Police last week continued the restrictions for another two weeks in an effort to contain civil discord in Sydney during Herzog's visit.

On Monday evening, police clashed with hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Sydney Town Hall. They sprayed the crowd with pepper spray and several protesters were arrested.

The protest had continued after the Palestine Action Group organizers lost a court challenge to a police order preventing them from marching from the Town Hall to the New South Wales Parliament.

In Melbourne, 5,000 protesters gathered outside downtown Flinders Street Railway Station, then marched several blocks to the State Library, blocking evening peak-hour traffic, police said.

A 20-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly burning two flags and causing fire damage to a tram stop, police said. She was released and was expected to face charges of willful damage, police said.

Earlier, Herzog said protests targeting him were mostly attempts to "undermine and delegitimize" Israel's right to exist.

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Chris Gotterup wins Phoenix Open in playoff after Matsuyama falters

06:06
Chris Gotterup wins Phoenix Open in playoff after Matsuyama falters

Chris Gotterup was on a roll when his fourth round at the WM Phoenix Open concluded Sunday. About an hour later, he picked up where he left off.

Field Level Media

Gotterup posted a birdie on the first playoff hole after late mishaps by Japan's Hideki Matsuyama opened the door for him to win at TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course in Arizona.

Gotterup, 26, notched his second victory of 2026 and the fourth of his young career. He shot a 7-under-par 64 and waited for a chance in a playoff.

"I just figured I'd stay loose," Gotterup said. "I didn't think this would happen, especially after Friday (71) and Saturday (70). But here we are."

Gotterup and Matsuyama ended up at 16-under 268 on a day when world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made a strong move toward the top and created considerable buzz.

Gotterup has won three tour events in less than a seven-month span. This was his first time in a playoff.

"I'm having such a good time playing right now," Gotterup said. "Just so awesome. ... There's just so many people who believe in me."

Gotterup, who also won last month's season-opening Sony Open in Hawaii, posted birdies on five of the final six holes in the last round. The last of those came after he recovered from a wayward tee shot.

"I knew I had to make birdie on 18, but you never know," Gotterup said. "Hideki was playing great."

To end the fourth round, Matsuyama's erratic driving finally cost him. His tee shot on the 18th hole ended up in a bunker and his quest to scramble for par failed when he was off the mark on a 24-foot putt. He took his lone bogey of the round.

Then Matsuyama's tee shot on the playoff hole landed in the water alongside the fairway. Gotterup played it steady and recorded another birdie to seal the deal.

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Two of Matsuyama's 11 victories on the PGA Tour have come in this tournament. He also won in 2016 and 2017, but he couldn't finish the quest this time.

"Was grinding all weekend," Matsuyama said through a translator. "Didn't have my best stuff, but hung in there. I wanted to avoid the playoff as much as I could, but I just hit a bad tee shot there in regulation at 18 and Chris made a good putt there in the playoff."

Matsuyama carried a one-shot lead on countryman Ryo Hisatsune into the final round.

Matsuyama was trying to win a fourth PGA Tour event in a 24-month period. This marked the sixth time that Matsuyama has been the outright leader through 54 holes on the PGA Tour, and he had won each of the previous five times. He overcame multi-stroke deficits to win the other times in this tournament, but he couldn't protect a lead Sunday.

Scheffler, who began his season two weeks earlier by winning The American Express, became the biggest story of the day for much of the round. He was within one shot of the lead through 15 holes, though he was playing several groups ahead of the last threesome. He finished with 64.

"The last three days I played really solid," Scheffler said, knowing Thursday's 73 cost him. "Overall, proud of the way I fought this week and definitely some good momentum going into next week."

Michael Thorbjornsen (67), Akshay Bhatia (67), South Korea's Si Woo Kim (68) and Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard (68) shared third place with Scheffler at 15 under.

Scheffler played the front side in 3 under and then strung together three more birdies on Nos. 13-15. That included sinking a shot from the fringe about 72 feet away on the par-4 14th. He also birdied No. 17.

With Scheffler's round complete, Thorbjornsen briefly catapulted into the lead with an 11-foot eagle putt on No. 15. He gave one of those strokes back with a bogey on the next hole after launching his tee shot beyond the green on the par-3 hole.

Thorbjornsen, a 24-year-old seeking his first PGA Tour triumph, settled for his seventh finish in the top five. Hojgaard is also 24 and without a tour victory.

China's Zecheng Dou had the day's best round with 63, moving him to 11 under and tied for 13th.

--Field Level Media

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2026 NFL offseason preview: Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots have plenty of work to do to finish job

06:06
2026 NFL offseason preview: Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots have plenty of work to do to finish job

The NFL offseason has begun, and Yahoo Sports is previewing the coming months for all 32 teams, from free agency through the draft and more.

Yahoo Sports

AFC East:Bills|Dolphins|Patriots|JetsAFC North:Ravens|Bengals|Browns|SteelersAFC South:Texans|Colts|Jaguars|TitansAFC West:Broncos|Chiefs|Raiders|ChargersNFC East:Cowboys|Giants|Eagles|CommandersNFC North:Bears|Lions|Packers|VikingsNFC South:Falcons|Panthers|Saints|BuccaneersNFC West:Cardinals|Rams|49ers|Seahawks

New England Patriots

2025 season record:14-3, (o 8.5 wins), first in AFC East,lost Super Bowl LX, ninth in DVOA

Overview

All expectations were exceeded for the first year of Mike Vrabel's tenure in New England. The Patriots immediately turned back into a contender after just a few down seasons and now they have one ofthosequarterbacks who can be among the tier of players who will keep their team competitive regardless of the surroundings.

Drake Maye emerged as one of the league's best quarterbacks during his second season. He led the league in EPA per play at the position and was a close runner-up for MVP. Maye was second in the rate of "boom" plays that accounted for 1.0 EPA per play or more, while he also avoided negative plays and ranked seventh in "bust" plays that went for -1.0 EPA or worse. He led the league in completion percentage while he had the league's highest average depth of target.

[Get more Patriots news: New England team feed]

Maye's play made up for a running game that was 21st in DVOA and a defense that ranked 23rd. The Patriots have a path that can allow the other units to catch up to the quarterback and passing game, but they also have a path to contention just because the quarterback steps on the field.

Cap/cuts outlook

The Patriots have $39 million in effective salary cap space, perOver The Cap,the ninth-most in the league. New England could clear about $8 million more with the release of Anfernee Jennings and Mack Hollins. Mike Onwenu is in the final year of his contract and an extension would lower the $25 million cap hit he's slated to have next season. The Patriots have all of that cap space while still having 50 players currently under contract for 2026 — the top 51 count against the cap in the offseason.

Key pending free agents

LB K'Lavon ChaissonDT Khyiris TongaS Jaylinn HawkinsTE Austin Hooper

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Chaisson had a career resurgence in his one year with New England. He ranked 26th in pressure rate while he set career highs in pressures, hits and sacks. The Patriots were a better run defense when Tonga was on the field, sporting a rushing success rate that would have been in the top 10 for a full season. The 335-pound lineman also added a career high 14 pressures. Hawkins spent most of his time playing deep and came down into the box on 24% of his defensive snaps. He was tied for 18th among safeties in pass defeats, per FTN.

Positional needs

EdgeLinebackerSafety

The Patriots were 12th in pressure rate but often relied on the interior players to break through. Christian Barmore and Milton Williams combined for 37.9% of New England's pressures. Another 44.9% came from Chaisson and Harold Landry. If Chaisson leaves, just Landry remains. Even if Chaisson is re-signed, that doesn't leave a lot of depth behind them.

The Patriots had linebackers who could tackle, but they did not have ones who could cover. New England's top two linebackers ranked 55th and 65th in yards allowed per coverage snap at the position, among 96 qualified linebackers.

With Hawkins a free agent, the Patriots are left with 2025 fourth-round draft pick Craig Woodson and 2024 UDFA Dell Pettus at safety.

2026 NFL Draft picks

1st round, pick No. 312nd round3rd round4th round (CHI)4th round5th round6th round (KC)6th round (PIT)6th round (SF)6th round7th round

Good draft fit

CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

Allen can be the leader of the Patriots' defense for the next decade. He's good in coverage, good against the run, tackles well, can play inside and outside the box, and has just enough pass rush potential to be refined by Mike Vrabel and his staff.

Betting nugget

An easy schedule – ranked the third-easiest since 1978 by FTN Fantasy – meant New England was favored a lot this season. The Patriots thrived in that role, going 7-3-1 against the spread in the regular season. —Ben Fawkes

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Super Bowl 2026: 5 plays that defined Seahawks' dominant win over Patriots

06:06
Super Bowl 2026: 5 plays that defined Seahawks' dominant win over Patriots

The Seattle Seahawks entered Sunday's Super Bowl one dominant performance away from establishing their defense as one of the greatest of all time.

Mission accomplished.

Anchored by a dominant defensive effort,the Seahawks rolled to a 29-13 win over the New England Patriotsfor the franchise's second Super Bowl championship. While Kenneth Walker III and Sam Darnold did what was needed on offense, Seattle's defense dominated the game and the highlight reel.

Here are the five plays that defined Seattle's Super Bowl victory:

Derick Hall's second sack leads to turnover

While Seattle had thoroughly dominated the game through three quarters, the outcome wasn't settled. Thanks to failing to score a touchdown, Seattle's lead was limited to two possessions at 12-0 as the third quarter wound down.

Derick Hall helped ensure that Seattle's defensive efforts wouldn't go to waste. With the Patriots facing third-and-5 near midfield in the final seconds of the quarter, Hall beat right tackle Morgan Moses and tracked down quarterback Drake Maye in a collapsing pocket.

He poked the ball loose for a fumble that defensive tackle Byron Murphy II recovered.

HUGE STOP. HUGE TURNOVER.📺:@SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/b9RLRWXMfm

— xz* - Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks)February 9, 2026

The sack was the second of the game for Hall, who set the tone in the first quarter with a sack of Maye on New England's first possession that ultimately forced a punt. Now he'd forced the first turnover of the game at a critical juncture in the second half.

Seahawks capitalize with Sam Darnold's only TD

Seattle hadn't done much with the ball up to that point while tallying four field goals through three quarters. But Sam Darnold and Co. capitalized on Hall's strip sack.

Five plays after the turnover, Darnold found tight end AJ Barner for a 16-yard touchdown pass to extend Seattle's lead to 19-0.

In the end, it was Seattle's only offensive touchdown of the game. It was enough to secure the win as a late New England scoring surge fell short.

Darnold didn't have his best game while completing 19 of 38 passes for 202 yards with 1 touchdown. But he didn't collapse or even make a notable mistake, which was all the Seahawks needed from him Sunday night.

Drake Maye's bad interception

The Patriots responded to Darnold's touchdown pass with their first score of the day on a quick-strike touchdown drive that covered 65 yards on three plays, keeping pressure on the Seahawks.

But on New England's next possession, Seattle took the ball right back. With a chance to cut their deficit to one possession, the Patriots drove near midfield with momentum on their side. But Maye offered an underthrown ball into traffic that safety Julian Love intercepted and returned 35 yards.

35-YARD INTERCEPTION RETURN 🚨@_jlove20📺: SNFonNBCpic.twitter.com/xhikG5b7bZ

— xz* - Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks)February 9, 2026

Before the pick, that was New England's best chance to make it a game.

Seahawks score on defense

If Maye's first interception didn't ice the game, his second did. With Seattle holding a 22-7 lead late in the fourth quarter, Maye wound up for what was intended to be a deep pass. It barely moved forward. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon hit him as he released the ball.

Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu snagged it and took it 45 yards for what initially looked like a fumble return for a touchdown.

Scorers ruled the play an interception instead of a fumble and recovery.

No matter. The result of the play was the same: a Seattle touchdown and a 29-7 lead.

Kenneth Walker's big runs keep Seattle moving early

We're cheating here a bit. This is two plays.

But Kenneth Walker III's back-to-back big runs early in the game kept an otherwise stagnant Seattle offense moving.

With Seattle holding a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter, Walker broke containment around the left edge and ran 30 yards down the sideline to get into New England territory.

Kenneth Walker finds space for 30 yards!Super Bowl LX on NBCStream on@NFLPlus+ Peacockpic.twitter.com/IsQkiEskFp

— NFL (@NFL)February 9, 2026

After a Darnold incompletion on the ensuing first down, the Seahawks went back to Walker. He delivered again, this time with a 29-yard run up the middle and toward the right sideline to the New England 17.

Back-to-back big runs from Kenneth Walker 🔥Super Bowl LX on NBCStream on@NFLPlus+ Peacockpic.twitter.com/BKFWW8PAkP

— NFL (@NFL)February 9, 2026

Walker's two runs accounted for more than the 55 yards Seattle gained on the drive and set up Jason Myers for a 39-yard field goal and a 6-0 Seattle lead.

In the end, Walker's efforts added up to 135 yards on 27 carries (5 yards per carry). And his two big first half runs were a big reasonhe won Super Bowl MVP.

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New video footage released from day of the fatal Brown University shooting

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New video footage released from day of the fatal Brown University shooting

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — New video footage from the day of theBrown University shootingthat killed two students and injured nine others was released Monday, with city officials saying they had redacted the most graphic, violent images to avoid harming victims and "maintain the trust we have built in our community."

Associated Press

"It is incredibly important to me that the city of Providence remains fully transparent, accountable and compliant with the state's Access to Public Records Act," Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said in a statement. "We also know that the footage and audio we are required to release will likely be harmful and traumatizing for the victims, families and neighbors who are still trying to heal and recover from this incident."

News outlets across the U.S. and other countries had been requesting body camera footage, audio clips and other public records shortly after theshooting took place in mid-December.

The newly released material includes audio of a campus police officer calling city police at 4:07 p.m. "This is Brown police. We have confirmed gunshots at 184 Hope Street," the officer said. "We do have a victim but we do not know where they are."

Four minutes later, campus police called back with an update: "We have a suspect description, wearing all black and a ski mask, unknown travel direction."

The city also released audio of communication among responding officers and dispatchers.

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"We've got victims in the this building, get some rescues over here," said one officer.

"Be advised this is an active shooter situation. We have multiple victims in this building."

The city released those records Monday, saying they waited at the request of the victims′ families until after a memorial service was held the previous week on Brown's campus.

On Dec. 13, gunman Claudio Neves Valente, 48, entered a study session in a Brown academic building and opened fire on students, killing 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook and 18-year-old freshman MukhammadAziz Umurzokov and wounding nine others.

Two days later, authorities say Neves Valente, who had been agraduate student at Brownstudying physics during the 2000-01 school year, also fatally shot Massachusetts Institute of Technology professorNuno F.G. Loureiroat Loureiro's Boston-area home.

Neves Valente, who had attended school with Loureiro in Portugal in the 1990s, wasfound dead days laterin a New Hampshire storage facility.

The Justice Department has since said Neves Valenteplanned the attack for yearsand left behind videos in which he confessed to the killings but gave no motive. The FBI recovered the electronic device containing the series of videos during a search of the storage facility where Neves Valente'sbody was found.

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