data-mm-id=”_7n9s28twc”>The New York Jets aren't concerned about running it back with 40-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the four-time NFL MVP injured his Achilles just four plays into the 2023 season.They doubled-down on their three-year, $112.5 million investment ($75 million guaranteed) into having Rodgers lead their all-in Super Bowl run with upgrades on the offensive line (namely eight-time Pro Bowl tackle Tyron Smith) and on defense (the most recent move being the trade for two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Haason Reddick).Rodgers is healthy again and will be under center when the Jets open the season against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football on September 9. With rising talents like running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson primed for big seasons, the offense has the potential to become one of the league's best.But what if Aaron Rodgers isn't Aaron Rodgers anymore? What if he falls short of expectations despite being healthy?Some opposing NFL coaches voiced their concerns over Rodgers' perceived declining QB skills in an annual survey conducted by The Athletic's Mike Sando.With votes from 50 league coaches and executives to rank NFL quarterbacks by tiers, Rodgers fell out of Tier 1 for the first time in 11 Tiers appearances.Patrick Mahomes (No. 1 overall), Joe Burrow (No. 2) and Josh Allen (No. 3) comprised the top level of QBs, while Rodgers slipped to the middle of the second tier at No. 7 with Lamar Jackson (No. 4), Matthew Stafford (tied for fifth), Justin Herbert (tied for fifth) ahead of him.Ranked behind Rodgers to complete Tier 2 were C.J. Stoud (No. 8), Dak Prescott (No. 9), Jared Goff (No. 10), Jalen Hurts (No. 11), Brock Purdy (No. 12), Kirk Cousins (No. 13) and Jordan Love (No. 14).While the assessment of Rodgers included some optimism over his ability to still be elite, most of the comments listed about him contained doubt about his age.Said one head coach who gave Rodgers a Tier 3 vote: "You go back and watch those first four plays before he got hurt, he did not look good. He looks old. If they can’t protect him and they can’t run the football, it’ll be just what you saw late stages in Green Bay. He became ineffective. I’m looking at what he is, not who he is.”Another voter whose team practiced against the Jets last summer called Rodgers "fragile" and wondered if he could last five games this season.It's true that Rodgers remains the most crucial component to the Jets' championship aspirations. However, with a defense that figures to be top-five again in yardage allowed, he doesn't need to be the one-man savior that won back-to-back MVPs in 2020 and 2021.Head coach Robert Saleh just needs Rodgers to be the wise, savvy veteran who can convert on third-and-longs and orchestrate game-winning drives with two minutes left.The betting markets hold modest optimism. The Jets have the 10th-best odds to win the Super Bowl on DraftKings (+1900). On FanDuel, they're tied for the eighth-best odds (+1800).
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After Tottenham finished fifth in his first season, Pochettino will secure a second-place Premier League finish with at least a point in their final match of 2015-16 at Newcastle United.
The ex-Espanyol boss was linked with replacing Louis van Gaal at Manchester United – speculation fuelled by a recent meeting with former Old Trafford manager, and current director, Alex Ferguson – but he has now signed a contract that he announced was agreed last month.
I could not be happier to sign this new contract, said Pochett…
Norway manager Stale Solbakken joked that if Jack Grealish could train for England then he has no cause to worry about Erling Haaland’s treble celebrations ahead of Saturday’s clash with Scotland.
Solbakken understood the need for Haaland to revel in his success with Manchester City after last weekend’s Champions League final.
Solbakken has taken it easy with Haaland this week, more concerned with ensuring the striker recharges, and believes a homecoming welcome will lift his star man during the Euro 2024 qualifier in Oslo.
City celebrated in Ibiza after their Istanbul success against Inter before continuing the party on a bus parade in Manchester on Monday with Grealish throwing himself wholeheartedly into the fun.
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Georgia boss Willy Sagnol feels all the pressure is on Scotland in Tuesday night’s 2024 European Championship qualifier at Hampden Park.
The Scots go into the game top of Group A and with nine points from a possible nine following their dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Norway in Oslo on Saturday.
Georgia are five points behind after their 2-1 win over Cyprus on the same day but have played a game less.
Sagnol believes Scotland have to cope with the expectations of victory over the Georgians, who have lost twice in two visits to Glasgow.
“I just have to say congratulations for winning their first three games,” said the 46-year-old former Bayern Munich and France full-back, who described a chance meeting with First Minister Humza Yousaf earlier in the d…
Verdict: Real Madrid – Draw no Bet
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Reigning European champions play host to French giants Paris Saint-Germain in one of the biggest Champions League Last 16 ties which is set to bring about plenty of excitement both on and off the pitch.
Real Madrid
With Catalan giants, Barcelona running away with the La Liga title – despite a couple of latest setbacks of their own – Real Madrid face a difficult battle to save their season. Los Blancos’ only chance of winning silverware this campaign is the Champions League where they will need to make a historic success of defending the title to make a big point to the world.
Real Madrid are out of the Copa del Rey and sit 17 huge points behind Barcelona in the league table. The c…
Gianfranco Zola has denied reports he will move to former club Chelsea next season as an assistant to proposed new coach Maurizio Sarri.
Incumbent Antonio Conte has regularly indicated he intends to see out his Blues contract, which runs to 2019, but a substandard Premier League title defence may deny the Italian the opportunity.
With Napoli flying high at the top of Serie A, outspoken coach Sarri has been tipped to succeed Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Reports in Italy have indicated Zola, who played for Chelsea between 1996 and 2003, winning two FA Cups, would return to west London as Sarri s assistant.
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His success culminated in the 2012 Champions League triumph in the Allianz Arena, where his penalty secured victory in the penalty shoot-out against Bayern Munich.
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Best Odds: 13/8
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Looking to cause a real upset this weekend, a high-flying Southampton welcome Manchester City to St. Mary s on Saturday afternoon.
Southampton
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Prediction: Barcelona to win 2-1
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Real Sociedad and Barcelona will face each other in La Liga this weekend. The match will be held at the Anoeta Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 9pm UK time on Saturday.
Real Sociedad
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Michael O Neill will call upon his experience of attempting to shackle Cristiano Ronaldo when Northern Ireland face Gareth Bale and Wales in the last-16 of Euro 2016.
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