Watch: Former Longhorn Jaxson Hayes viciously posterizes Cheik Diallo

Former Texas Longhorn Jaxson Hayes threw it down with ferocity in the New Orleans Pelicans’ matchup with the Phoenix Suns

Wow, Jaxson Hayes. He really just doesn’t quit. Since his time at Texas up to now, his rookie season in the NBA, Hayes won’t stop putting opponents on posters. His latest victim is Cheik Diallo during the New Orleans Pelicans’ close loss to the Phoenix Suns. Hayes brought his head above the rim and soared to the basket, throwing it down with ferocity – Diallo just happened to be in his way.

Hayes finished the game with 17 points and 5 rebounds in 33 minutes of play. He averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in his only season at Texas. Check out the demoralizing poster here:

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: 3 reasons the Badgers could give the Buckeyes problems in the Big Ten Championship Game

Here’s three reasons why Wisconsin could give Ohio State some issues in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday night.

Ohio State is all set to travel to Indianapolis to take part in the Big Ten Championship Game for the third-straight year. It was successful in the last two and looking to become the first league team to take home a trophy three years in a row.

Standing in its way is Wisconsin, also a team familiar with Indianapolis. The Badgers have more appearances in the Big Ten Championship Game than any other team in the league, but have just two titles, and haven’t won any since 2012.

These two already met once in the regular season, with the Buckeyes winning going away in Columbus in late October. Can the Badgers find a way to make this one more competitive and even (gasp) win the thing?

Here’s three reasons Wisconsin could give Ohio State some problems Saturday night.

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Next … familiarity

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Peloton woman resurfaces in commercial for Ryan Reynolds’ gin

The Peloton woman is back, and she appears to have moved on from her husband.

The internet has been desperately trying to identify the actress who starred in Peloton’s widely reviled holiday commercial since the spot went viral earlier this week, and while we still don’t know her name, she resurfaced on Friday in a new ad for Aviation Gin, a brand owned by actor Ryan Reynolds.

In the ad, which exists in the same universe where her misguided husband bought her a Peloton for the holidays, the Peloton woman is at a holiday party with her friends, who try to console her with large glasses of gin. She leads a toast “to new beginnings,” which seems to signify that she’s moved on from her alarming past relationship.

This isn’t the first time Reynolds has turned to a viral star to help sell bottles of gin. Earlier this year, Andy King – who you may remember from Netflix’s Fyre Festival documentary – made an appearance in an ad titled “Dedication.”

Read: Someone please help the woman from Peloton’s awful new ad

 

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Cory Sandhagen doubts Frankie Edgar will leave Chan Sung Jung bout unscathed

Cory Sandhagen doubts Frankie Edgar will make it to their fight after he faces Chan Sung Jung a month earlier.

WASHINGTON — [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] is in a tricky situation.

The UFC bantamweight contender is still scheduled to welcome former UFC champion Frankie Edgar to the 135-pound division at UFC 245, but with a caveat. Edgar chose to replace an injured Brian Ortega and take on Chan Sung Jung at UFC on ESPN+ 23 in Busan, South Korea on Dec. 21.

Meaning, Edgar has only four weeks to recover from the featherweight fight against “Korean Zombie” and prepare Sandhagen (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in January at UFC on ESPN+ 25.

Edgar’s choice to fight in Busan could easily put the bout with Sandhagen on jeopardy.

“The line of information that I got is that he wants to fight in South Korea and then again in January, so I don’t know logistically how that’s going to work out,” Sandhangen told MMA Junkie on Friday. “Fighting ‘Korean Zombie’ in five rounds, I can’t imagine he’s going to be good, but if he is then ok.

“I don’t want to be put in limbo holding my breath all the way till December 21. Dieting and still training really hard, if I don’t know if I have a fight because I take it very seriously and that’s a lot of discipline in those weeks, which I’m ok in doing. But like I said, that just leaves me in limbo a little bit, but I don’t know, the UFC and my agent will have to work something out.”

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Sandhagen is conflicted on keeping the Edgar matchup on the books. On one hand, Sandhagen wants to face someone of high caliber, but on the other he doesn’t want to be training for a fight he’s not sure will happen.

“I mean yeah, I still want to fight him, but I don’t know just because I don’t want to be left in limbo and I don’t want to hold my breath for that long,” Sandhagen said. “But of course I want to fight Frankie, I was pretty salty about it when I found out; I was like, ‘Oh man, when you sign a contract, you sign a contract. That’s what you do.’

“And it was under the understanding that Frankie wanted to make another run for the title at 135, which was just a little bit sad because I figure he’s taking this fight not because he wants to get closer to the title at 135, but because he wants another paycheck – which is completely fine.

“That isn’t where I am in my career. I’m trying to create a legacy right now and it just kind of sucks that was taken away from me. I know it’s not right now, but the potential of that being taken away from me that’s just a bummer because I was really looking forward to fight that guy.”

Sandhangen is not sure where to go from here, but he does have another name in mind besides Edgar.

“I think I’ve kind of earned my spot and there are a couple of people I want to fight,” Sandhagen said. “Aljamain (Sterling) is out right now, so I’m not going to even bother calling him out because he just had a surgery so that doesn’t make any sense. It’s either, in my head it’s got to be Frankie or (Dominick) Cruz that’s what I’ve kind of earned at this point – tough fights. So that’s what I’ve earned, so if it’s Frankie at a later date then ok, if it’s Cruz then ok. It doesn’t matter to me.”

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Remember when Marvin Jones Jr. scored 4 TDs against the Vikings?

Jones has nine touchdowns this season and had just five in 2018, to put that into perspective.

The Vikings host the Lions in Week 14 of the season at U.S. Bank on Sunday.

While Minnesota did beat Detroit 42-30 back on Oct. 20, it wasn’t the best performance from the Vikings’ pass defense.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for nearly 400 yards, and wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. had himself a day, catching 10 passes for 93 yards and four touchdowns.

Jones has nine touchdowns this season and had just five in 2018, to put that into perspective.

While Stafford won’t be playing quarterback for the Lions on Sunday (they’ll have David Blough start), the wide receiver unit is nothing to take lightly, especially with how bad Minnesota’s secondary has been this season.

Jones has 59 catches for 741 yards and a league-leading nine touchdowns. And then there’s Kenny Golladay, who has 47 catches, 950 yards and also nine touchdowns.

The Vikings very badly need to win this game, and they should. However, if the Lions pull off an upset, it will likely be because of Jones and Golladay exposing Minnesota’s secondary.

Dear Tua, do what’s best for YOU

Just remember, no matter what decision you make, just know you’ll ALWAYS have a home, a family, an Ohana, here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Dear Tua,

This is my second letter to you. The first one I wrote was just after you had surgery and you were in recovery. I hope you know that Bama Nation has continued to pray for you, support you, and encourage you.

But this letter is a little different. 

Since your surgery, you’ve continued to be one of the biggest sports stories. Every single day, the media discusses your future, analyzes your potential decision, and has been watching every move you’ve made and every word you’ve said since you endured that tragic season ending injury.

But, they’ve forgotten one very important thing: It is YOUR decision.

You’re a 21 year old young man who is making a decision that will change your life forever. And that’s no easy task.

And let’s be honest, there’s no doubt in my mind that you’ve been wanting to play in the NFL since you were a little boy.

It’s all anyone that plays college football wants: to make it to the next level. And you Tua, have done so much in your time at Alabama. 

You’ve won a National Championship, were a Heisman finalist, led your team to another CFB Playoff, won the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Maxwell Award, you were named the National Player of the Year by The Sporting News in 2018, and SO much more.

You’ve broken more school records than most people can keep up with.

You’re a role model to so many people.

The point is Tua, you don’t owe anyone, anything.

This is a decision you need to pray about. A decision that needs to be what’s best for you and your family. 

Just know, whether you choose to return for your senior year, or whether you decide to declare for the NFL Draft, Alabama Nation will support you 100%.

I can also promise you this, wherever you end up, you will be a winner. Because that’s what you are. You’re a warrior, a winner, a champion, and one heck of a leader.

You’ve changed the game of football for the better Tua Tagovailoa. Not just because of your talent, but because of who you are as a person. 

No matter what team you end up playing for in the NFL, they’ll be a better team simply for having you on their roster. I know for a fact that the University of Alabama is better for having you here. 

Just remember, no matter what decision you make, just know you’ll ALWAYS have a home, a family, an Ohana, here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama supporting you and rooting you on.

Roll Tide FOREVER, Tua.

Sincerely, Hannah Stephens 

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Cowboys’ Amari Cooper once again reaches 1,000 receiving yards

On Thursday night, Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver Amari Cooper reached the 1,000 yard mark for receiving yards.

On Thursday night, Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver Amari Cooper reached the 1,000 yard mark for receiving yards for the fourth time in his NFL career.

Cooper, who was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 2015 NFL Draft, went on to rack up 1,070 yards and 6 TDs his rookie season. A year later in 2016, Cooper had 1,153 yards and 5 TDs. His only year not collecting over 1,000 yards was in 2017, when he accounted for 680 yards.

In 2018, the year he played for both the Raiders before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys, Cooper was able to collect 1,005 yards.

Even though the Cowboys have struggled this season, Cooper has still shown dominance and resilience. So far this season, he already has 1,054 yards and 8 TDs. Cooper is one of 4 NFL receivers to have over 1,000 receiving yards.

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Bears-Cowboys was most-watched Thursday Night Football game this season

The Bears and Cowboys drew massive ratings in their Thursday Night Football showdown, where the world watched Chicago dominate Dallas.

Under the Thursday night lights, the Chicago Bears made a statement with a 31-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys, where their offense, defense and special teams took care of business.

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky came to life against a talent Cowboys defense, where he lit them up for four touchdowns — three through the air and one on the ground.

It wasn’t just Chicago that got a glimpse of the Bears’ stellar performance. In fact, 18.8 million people watched the Bears dismantle the Cowboys on national television.

Thursday’s Bears-Cowboys game was the highest-rated Thursday night game this season on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon. It was also the second-highest since FOX launched its Thursday night slate last season.

The Bears won their third straight game — and four of their last five — to improve to 7-6 on the season.

As they look to make a playoff push, Chicago will need some help in the form of losses by the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams. But most importantly, they need to take care of business by winning their final three games beginning with Green Bay in Week 15.

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