Sports News

Scandal in France! This Saturday, January 6, the French media Mediapart and Le Monde published an ongoing judicial investigation against the President of the PSG, Nasser Al-Khelaifi. According to the information, the Paris team is said to have urged the renowned magazine France Football to do so Lionel Messi will win the Ballon d'Or in 2021. As we remember, “Leo” won his seventh trophy in this edition ahead of Robert Lewandowski.

According to the research Pascal Ferre, former editor-in-chief of France Football and L'Équipe, had an interesting connection with PSG and Qatar at the time. Ferré, who served from 2015 to January 2023, received some gifts and paid trips during his tenure at the aforementioned magazine.

YOU CAN SEE: A university student would choose Emelec's attacking midfielder at the request of Fabián Bustos, it was announced from Ecuador

The former France Football employee was the one who organized the Ballon d'Or ceremony in 2019 and 2021 and controlled the voting and awarding process. Following his departure in 2023, Ferré currently works as director of press and media relations in PSG's first team.

Another character involved in this case is Jean Martial Ribes, former PSG communications director who is being investigated for corruption, influence peddling and five other crimes. Jean-Martial Ribes was one of the main people responsible for collaborating with Pascal Ferré during the organization phase of this edition of the Ballon d'Or.

How many Ballon d'Ors does Lionel Messi have?

To date, the Argentine star has won eight Ballon d'Ors and is the top winner: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

It's Week 18 in the NFL, with five playoff spots up for grabs and four division titles waiting to be won. The Atheltic's Mike Sando, Kalyn Kahler and Jeff Howe try to make sense of it all in our latest roundtable previewing the weekend's games.

Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins will determine the winner of the AFC East in the regular season finale. What does each team need to not only win on Sunday, but also head into the playoffs with confidence?

Sando: For the Dolphins, avoiding a second consecutive significant loss for a team that has already secured a playoff spot would be enough, provided Miami avoids further key injuries. As for the matchup, I'm looking at what kind of pressure the Dolphins can put on Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Injuries have sidelined the Dolphins' top pass rushers. Last week, Lamar Jackson completed 7 of 8 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns as the Dolphins blitzed. When Buffalo defeated Miami in Week 5, Allen completed 5 of 5 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins' blitz attack.

How: The Bills haven't necessarily found a traditional running game, but they're definitely trying to keep James Cook involved as much as possible. This appears to be one of the biggest differences since Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator. Allen has thrown three touchdown passes and six touchdown runs during his four-game winning streak, so he's done it with his legs when the time calls for it. The Dolphins need to stick to their schedule and avoid the disastrous stretches that have knocked them down several times. They gave up 17 straight points to the Bills in the second quarter of their 48-20 loss in Week 4 and gave up 21 straight points at halftime in less than five minutes in the 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week. In the 21-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, Kansas City scored 14 points in the final 2:31 before halftime. The Dolphins have been eliminated from games when they have applied pressure in these crucial moments.

GO DEEPER

Bills Roundtable: What Buffalo needs to leave Miami with the AFC East title

Kahler: Miami's injuries are increasing. Losing Bradley Chubb to a torn ACL last week really hurt this defense that was already without Jaelan Phillips. Chubb led the team in pressures (70) and sacks (13) this season. Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert are questionable and Tyreek Hill has been hit. This is out of Miami's control, but the most important thing is to escape without losing another key starter. For Buffalo, Allen needs to keep rushing. Since Week 11, he has averaged 8.2 rushing attempts per game, compared to 4.8 attempts per game before that.

Week 18 will also decide whether the Houston Texans or Indianapolis Colts make the playoffs. What or who is the biggest key to victory for each team in their match?

Sando: Indy's defense is the key to this matchup. The Colts likely won the Week 2 game between the teams despite allowing 10 explosive plays (passes of 15+ yards, rushes of 12+ yards). That's the second-highest total Indy has allowed all season and a number that will be difficult to overcome. Houston's offense hasn't been nearly as explosive down the stretch, even since CJ Stroud returned from injury. Can the Texans return to their explosive ways in the rematch? If so, they should win.

How: If Stroud is the best player on the field — which he should be — the Texans will win. The Colts have exceeded expectations this season, but their defense probably can't keep up against Stroud. If the Colts find a way to win, they'll likely need Gardner Minshew to do something incredible because the Texans' third-ranked run defense has been tough to crack.

Kahler: The last time the Colts and Texans played, the Colts won – largely by dominating a makeshift Houston offensive line and sacking Stroud six times. In this Week 2 game, the Texans were without several OL starters, including left tackle Laremy Tunsil. It looks like only one of the offensive linemen who started this game will be in the starting lineup on Saturday. The improved and healthier offensive line keeping Stroud's jersey clean will make this game much different than the first. And with the Colts, Minshew will have to be careful because the Texans have a dangerous pass defense.

GO DEEPER

A year after hitting rock bottom, the Colts find themselves at the center of the de facto playoff game against the Texans

The Ravens and San Francisco 49ers will rest their starters this week. Is this typically a smart move, especially for a team that has a bye during the wild card round?

Sando: It's a great opportunity to protect key players and ensure veterans are rested for the playoffs. There is no evidence that a break in the starting lineup leads to poor playoff performance, but there is evidence that injury prevents a player from playing well, if at all.

How: I don't like the idea of ​​generally giving starters a break before a playoff bye week because it increases the likelihood of complacency. In a situation where players like Christian McCaffrey rightfully need time to get healthy, that's completely reasonable. It's not just about Sunday either. If you tell players at the start of the week that they are not playing, it is human nature to relax more than if they were preparing for a game. The New England Patriots had a first-round bye every season from 2010 to 2018, and while it wasn't always resolved by the finale, Tom Brady and his healthy teammates were always there to finish the regular season, even if They didn't play cable to cable. Of course, there is the risk of a catastrophic injury and the embarrassing consequences that come with it, but how often do teams put their foot down in the divisional round and then forget where to find the accelerator?

Kahler: It's best to rest. You don't want to lose a key player in a meaningless game like the Los Angeles Chargers did last year when they played Mike Williams in Week 18. I understand the ongoing momentum argument, but that could never outweigh the alternative – injuries – which is likely.

Sando: They haven't been good enough on defense all season. It's mainly because the weak defense can catch up with them. They won games at the start of the season that could easily have been a loss. Things have calmed down and here are the Eagles, probably where they belonged all along.

How: I commend the Eagles for their resiliency and ability to win in different ways as they had to go through some things during their 10-1 start, but they haven't made enough progress over the last few months. There were growing pains with the new coordinators, and the defense wasn't nearly as good as it was a year ago, particularly in terms of total sacks. It's wild how quickly things can change. The Eagles beat the Cowboys, Chiefs and Bills in November, but as of early December they will enter the playoffs without having beaten anyone but the New York Giants.

Kahler: Defense is the obvious answer, but it feels like the only thing working for the Eagles on offense is the tush push. Jalen Hurts hasn't looked like himself this season. Philadelphia has mostly remained tight-lipped about what injury he may or may not be dealing with, but he has worn a knee brace from time to time. The Eagles miss his explosive running game. He just doesn't beat them as well as he did last season.

GO DEEPER

AJ Brown breaks his silence about the Eagles' frustration

Which team will have the tougher opponent standing in their way for a playoff spot on Sunday: the Green Bay Packers against a rival Chicago Bears team that is playing relatively well? Or the Seattle Seahawks against a spirited Arizona Cardinals team that earned a win over the Eagles?

Sando: The Bears are the tougher and more talented opponent. If the Packers lose, it's because the Bears played them hard. If the Seahawks lose, it will say more about Seattle, which has even more problems on defense than Green Bay.

How: The Bears have won five of seven games and have been playing well for some time. They have only lost one game by more than one possession since their 0-4 start, so they are largely competitive even if they haven't won. The Packers have also won five of seven games, but after back-to-back wins against the Detroit Lions and Chiefs, they lost to the Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's shaping up to be a hard-fought game, and the Packers won't win if they don't play at a high level.

Kahler: Packer. The 2023 Bears could be the 2022 Lions, the lovable underdogs poised to become good, just with a less aggressive head coach. Chicago has a lot of momentum right now, and Fields is fighting for his job — or, more likely, his next job. The Bears have never beaten Green Bay in the Matt Eberflus era. Green Bay's defense has struggled and I can imagine Chicago's running game getting hot. Fields also had perhaps his best game as a passer last Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

(Photos of Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs and CJ Stroud: Michael Owens, Sarah Stier and Cooper Neill / Getty Images)

Percid enthusiasts can't wait until the thickness of the ice is safe enough to pursue them.

• Also read: In the end everyone loses…

Sought after both in the cold season and in open water, the zander is very popular with brimbale and jigging handlers for its tender and delicious meat, but also for the exciting fights!

A specialist

The great guru, the ice fishing professional of the La Belle province, is undoubtedly David Vadnais. This chic 50-year-old guy from Saint-Hyacinthe was already teasing with his parents about the different species beneath the frozen crust when he was just 3 years old.

To give you an idea of ​​how angry he can be, as the saying goes, know that for 25 years he volunteered to work an evening shift so he could go fishing in the morning. .

He now works during the day, which allows him to go out at the end of the day and try to outsmart the walleyes. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing him on this topic. Here is the gist of what he said.

Location

As the water cools in the fall, walleyes begin to eat more to accumulate fat and survive the long winter months in cold water.

They are very active from late November until the ice forms and then until the second or third week of January.

During this peak period, yellow perch are often in shallow waters. They develop near structures or directly on them.

In fact, they look for places where the ground is uneven. Embankments and embankments in depth are recommended. The shallows and flat areas that reach close to the surface are also real zander magnets.

You can fish on the slope of the structure and even above it, especially in the dark or at night. If there is current, David suggests fishing downstream of the shoal, on the side where there is no water movement.

Just like in the summer, walleyes also like rocky points. If you have the opportunity to take advantage of this type of structure, don't hesitate to present your bait at different depths. If you plan to fish the point until nightfall, it's a good idea to drill your holes in advance up to 1m from the shore. This way you won't scare the specimens when they approach.

At nightfall, it is not uncommon to catch large predators hunting at depths of less than 1 m.

Large flats 3m deep and less near banks with a stream or river mouth are usually very good early in the season. If these plateaus are dotted with a few patches of water grass, everything suggests you're in for more action.

Best times

Lucifuge, this species is often fished in the evening, at night or at dawn. In fact, the best times are the first two hours after sunrise, the last hour of daylight before dusk, and sometimes even when darkness falls.

The eyes of walleyes have a layer of daylight-reflecting pigments called a “choroidal carpet.” It gives the fish excellent night vision and forces them to avoid too bright light. In cloudy water it can remain active all day long. On certain bodies of water, such as Lake Saint-Louis, our expert has often achieved success when he arrives in the afternoon. Therefore, you should not be afraid to carry out your own tests.

Waddle

Contrary to what some people think, you don't need a huge arsenal to target walleye. Note that in recent years, jig fishing has become the most popular technique for getting them to respond.

It ensures a lot of success and also offers nice emotional moments during the fights. The appropriate equipment for this approach is a 28- to 32-inch rod with medium power and a small, light cast.

The reel is spooled with a winter-grade braided line weighing 10 pounds/test, connected to a P-Line HP-Ice fluorocarbon leader weighing 8 pounds/test. You can also attach a small swivel to the end of the line to make changing your bait quicker.

Rod holders with electronic jig mechanisms have become very popular over time. Equipped with a reel and rod, it will shake up your bait to encourage fish to chase.

Some models offer the option to activate the rod for automatic hooking.

For his part, David Vadnais prefers not to bait them, since the walleyes generally grab the victim in a subtle way, which has the effect of taking it out of their mouths. It simply sets the reel tension to a minimum while the rod holder mechanism produces the jigging action.

Artificial baits

Walleye are true predators. When hunting, the waddling motion of an offering is very provocative.

However, to increase your chances of success, the professional interviewed strongly recommends adding an odor attractant.

Ideally, regulations permitting, adding a portion of a dead shiner will significantly increase your success rate. If you can't use this method, an artificial egg or a small earthworm will do.

Proven offerings include FishLab's Organic Minnow Vertical Jig 1⁄2 oz Bass, Mister Twister Meeny or Teenie on a jig head, Mepps Bucktail Jig, CC Spoon, Lindy Rattl' n Quiver Spoon, Ice Jig J50 , Nipigon, Jigging Rap, Rattl'n Flyer Spoon, Williams W30-40 with Dead Shiner Head, FishLab 2″ Guppy Blade Bait, Glow Spoon and Glow Streak.

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When do PSG vs. Revel play? The team of Kylian Mbappe and Luis Enrique will face the humble team of Regional 1 (Sixth Division) this Sunday, January 7, from 2:45 p.m. (Peruvian time) at the Stade Pierre-Fabre in the city of Castres. The broadcast is carried out by the broadcaster DSports and the streaming platform DirecTV GO.

He Paris St Germain (PSG) is motivated for this game after beating Toulouse 2-0 and winning the French Super Cup, a competition in which Kylian Mbappé scored again. The latter explained that his future is not yet clear as his contract with the Parisians ends in June 2024.

YOU CAN SEE: Chelsea vs Preston North End: When and at what time will they play for the 2023/24 FA Cup?

What time does PSG vs. Revel play?

The match between PSG vs Revel for the 2024 French Cup will be played from 2:45 p.m. (Peruvian time).

Which channel broadcasts PSG vs. Schwelgen?

The broadcast of PSG vs. Revel will be responsible for the DSports channel (610 and 1610 in HD) and the streaming platform DirecTV GO.

Remember: if you do not have access to these services, do not worry, you can connect to the La República Deportes website where you will find the preview of this match, the minute by minute and the summary.

Where will they play PSG vs.? Wallow?

The duel PSG vs. The celebration of the third round of the French Cup will take place at the Stade Pierre-Fabre, formerly known as Stade Pierre-Antoine, which has a capacity of 12,300 spectators.

49ers, Giants and Packers are suspended for Week 18

Lorenzo Reyes issues his final regular season suspensions before Week 18.

The NFL is back with another doubleheader on Saturday to begin the final week of the 2023 season.

And both games feature teams with playoff hopes on the line.

First, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope to secure a spot in the playoffs on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, who have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC with quarterback Lamar Jackson, the league's MVP frontrunner.

And in prime time, CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans travel to Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC South battle with a division crown and wild card implications.

Here's what you need to know about Saturday's Steelers-Ravens and Texans-Colts matchups.

LONGEST NFL PLAYOFF DARDIES: These teams have the longest streak of missing postseason parties

Longest playoff win drought in the NFL: The Lions and Dolphins haven't won in the postseason in decades

Here's how to watch Saturday's games

The Steelers and Ravens kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Texans and Colts begin play at 8:15 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN/ABC and both will be available to stream on ESPN+.

With the No. 1 pick already decided, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will likely rest his key players and prepare for a Super Bowl run. And that includes Jackson, who could win his second MVP award.

Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can celebrate, knowing he has posted a 17th straight undefeated season in Pittsburgh. But a playoff spot would be nice in a turbulent season.

Even if the Steelers win in Baltimore, they would need help from multiple teams to reach the postseason. Pittsburgh must win and take a Buffalo Bills loss to the Miami Dolphins with the AFC East on the line Sunday night, or a Jacksonville Jaguars loss or tie to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, or a tie in the Texans-Colts game to reach the league playoffs.

Two other scenarios put Pittsburgh in the postseason: Steelers draw, Jaguars loss and Texans-Colts not ending in a draw, or Jaguars loss and win on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders and Texans-Colts by the Denver Broncos, and the Texans- Colts don't end in a tie.

The Texans and Colts are vying for a playoff spot in their final game of the regular season, and it's inspiring to see the turnaround both teams have accomplished in 2023.

For the Texans and Colts on Saturday night it's simple: win and get into the playoffs. What if you want to win the AFC South? Win and hope the Jaguars lose to the Titans on Sunday.

To the loser: good luck next year.

Houston selected CJ Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 20023 draft and found the right head coach in DeMeco Ryans after a merry-go-round of coaching hires at the top of the NFL Draft order in recent years. If Houston reaches the postseason, it will be the first time since 2019, when Bill O'Brien, Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt and DeAndre Hopkins were the faces of the franchise.

Meanwhile, the Colts have a chance to make the playoffs with Jonathan Taylor in and out of the lineup due to injuries and contract disputes and Gardner Minshew II leading the offense most of the season without rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder). a credit to first-year coach Shane Steichen, who maximized the talent. The Colts are 6-5 since Minshew took over and could return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

AFC SOUTH PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: Will the Jaguars win or can the Texans and Colts win the division?

Saturday's NFL game predictions

Here are the USA TODAY Sports staff predictions for both games:

• Jarrett Bell: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
• Chris Bumbaca: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
• Nate Davis: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
• Safid Deen: Ravens over Steelers; Texans over Colts
• Tyler Dragon: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
• Victoria Hernandez: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
• Jordan Mendoza: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts
• Lorenzo Reyes: Steelers over Ravens; Texans over Colts

The parents of the family that took in Samuel Montembeault don't remember seeing their former protégé get angry.

“The calm that it radiates is true,” praises Manon Doucet. He's a guy who's on fire, who was sometimes a little last minute, who could run around the house, but he didn't get angry.”

And neither Ms. Doucet nor her partner Marc Bergeron were surprised when, while attending a Canadiens game, they heard Martin St-Louis tell the goaltender's parents that he was not only “an excellent hockey player, but also an excellent human being.”

Samuel Montembeault in front of the ice at the Bell Center, with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron. Photo provided by Manon Doucet

Because, in addition to his calmness, which we can call legendary, they had seen it in Montembeault during the three years that he spent with them while wearing the uniform of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.

“Sometimes when he had a bad game, you could tell he wasn't happy, but we didn't put up with that,” she continues. And it didn't last long. His joy of life quickly returned.”

When Samuel Montembeault arrived at their home, he was “stupid,” she remembers. He weighed 170 pounds and stood 6 feet 3 inches tall.

That's why it was necessary to “fatten him up” so that he would build muscle mass, she says with a laugh.

Samuel Montembeault with Manon Doucet (to his left), Marc Bergeron (far right) and the children of the boarding school family. Photo provided by Manon Doucet

The asparagus anecdote

The problem was that the young goalkeeper had a reputation for being difficult when it came to food.

“I see him come back with the sheet made by his nutritionist,” she explains. We worked hard together, but he gave in.”

“The only thing is he doesn't like eggs, so we had to find other proteins in the morning. “But he did it without complaining.”

Samuel Montembeault in front of his locker in the Canadiens locker room, with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron. Photo provided by Manon Doucet

That's because Montembeault has great trust in others, both Ms. Doucet and Mr. Bergeron believe.

So much so that the mother of the boarding family even managed to get her protégé to eat… asparagus, a vegetable that is certainly not at the top of many teenagers' favorite list.

“He looked at me and said, 'Manon, what are we eating? Am I going to like this?'” she recalls.

“Oh yes, you'll like this, it's asparagus, it's really good!” She replied.

“It has become his favorite vegetable,” adds Marc Bergeron.

“The team before the ego”

The anecdote may seem anecdotal, but for the couple it illustrates why the Quebecer has now been linked to the Canadian for several years, even if his early career in the NHL was a winding road.

Samuel Montembeault with Manon Doucet and Marc Bergeron in Riga, Latvia, during the Ice Hockey World Championship, spring 2023. Photo provided by Manon Doucet

“He is open, he listens,” emphasizes Ms. Doucet. I tell myself that this is how it has to be, with his coach. He must believe in what he is told and stick to it.

“That's why I have the impression that the story of the three goalkeepers doesn't bother him,” adds Marc Bergeron. He is the team before the ego. If the team needs it, the coach needs it, the general manager needs it, then he will comply.

Samuel Montembeault was also a young person who liked to join a group, he remembers. During dinner he chatted with the whole clan at the table, a principle that was very important to his boarding family.

Not Guy Lafleur, but…

And even though he left their nest seven years ago, the Doucet-Bergerons find that the guardian hasn't changed at all.

They remained close as they became friends with the entire Montembeault family, who like them came from the Bécancour region near Trois-Rivières.

Last spring, they even saw the goaltender shine in the Team Canada colors at the World Championships in Riga, Latvia.

“I feel tired when I watch his games [à force de le soutenir] ! says Mrs. Doucet, laughing. I already told him I hoped it would take some of the fatigue off of him.”

“He amazes me,” his partner adds. When we do activities with him, we see that he has the ability to get to know people.”

“I wouldn’t say he’s Guy Lafleur, but he has the ability to make people feel like he’s giving them time.”

Universitario de Deportes is strengthened to become two-time Liga 1 champions in its centenary year and perform well in the 2024 Copa Libertadores. The arrival of Fabian Bustos since DT was one of the most important problems to be solved; Now, with his arrival on the cream bench, the strategist has set his sights on one of the midfielders who have stood out in Ecuadorian football – in a great team like Emelec – to become the new signing of the “U” in this new season; This is what they mention in the press of this country.

YOU CAN SEE: The 4 options Fabián Bustos has to replace Piero Quispe on his 100th birthday

University student is interested in José Francisco Cevallos

“In the last few hours Universitario's interest in José Francisco Cevallos has increased at the request of Fabián Bustos,” said sports journalist Andrés Caguana of Radio Redonda in Ecuador. “At the moment nothing is defined and the decision is up to the club, as they have to see in which position they use the foreign quota,” added the communicator on his official X account (Twitter).

Tweet from Andrés Caguana about José Francisco Cevallos. Photo capture

However, the player's good performances meant that he was not only seen by the “U” but also loved in his own country: “Although there is interest from Peru in Cevallos, there is also an option in Ecuadorian football.” His future will be “We will be defined in the coming days after learning that he will not continue in Emelec. Cevallos' last semester was a big help for the blue team,” the journalist added. Mayra Bayas on the subject.

Mayra Berries tweets about Jose Francisco Cevallos. Photo: Capture X

Who is Jose Francisco Cevallos?

“Pepe” was born on January 18, 1995 in Guayaquil and is the son of the World Cup goalkeeper for the Ecuadorian team Jose Francisco Cevallos, who now works as a sports director. As for Francisco Jr.'s football career, he is an attacking midfielder and made his professional debut with LDU Quito in 2011; then went to Juventus U21 in Italy, but returned there league in 2014. In 2018, he made the leap to Europe again when he was hired by the Lokeren from Belgium; a year later he signed with Portimonense From Portugal. His last club was Emeleca squad in which he has been playing since 2020.

Most of my conversations around the NFL this past week centered around the coaching and general manager firings that are expected to end early Monday. We'll come back to that in a moment.

In the last decade of being on the air as a television reporter with this information, I never had the opportunity to express to viewers that digging up information about whether someone would be fired was insensitive and sad for many reasons can be for these families.

Most trainers will tell you that it is a performance-based business that they willingly signed up for. They know that if you don't win in this league you can't compete. However, losing your job still stinks.

Now it's my job to figure out what I'm hearing and share it with you, so let's get started.

GO DEEPER

NFL's Black Monday stories: “It's an absolute nightmare for the coaches and families”

The conversation around the league has really changed in the last month. Around Thanksgiving, it appeared there might be a record number of layoffs, but better performance saved some jobs, and in one case, organizational fear of doing something wrong again saved a coach and his staff.

I still expect there to be several layoffs on Monday and maybe one or two more during the playoffs.

It's all about New England…

Robert Kraft has a big decision to make about Bill Belichick's future. The 71-year-old Belichick wants to keep working out, he can still work out and the players in New England still play hard. After a season filled with talk of the end of the Belichick era and reports of the Kraft family's openness to change, here's what I know from conversations with multiple league sources:

• A meeting between owner Robert Kraft, Jonathan Kraft and Belichick is scheduled for next week.

• There are some who work for the team who expect change and have started to look for jobs elsewhere.

• There are other organizations, like the Commanders and Raiders, hoping for an opportunity to meet Belichick. There are more teams in the shadows, but that depends on the results of Week 18 games and playoff results.

• There has been talk for months that Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio, a former longtime member of New England's personal brain trust, would like an opportunity to return to the Patriots as general manager if the Patriots parted ways with Belichick. But based on my conversations with league sources, Houston is where the 48-year-old wants to be.

Why would Caserio want to leave the Texans after leading the way in putting together a star-studded rookie class led by quarterback CJ Stroud? He also hired DeMeco Ryans in 2023 and the relationship flourished. Caserio is on his way to building something special, and he wants to stick around to go for his seventh Super Bowl ring, this time with the Texans.

GO DEEPER

Why the Patriots' Bill Belichick-Robert Kraft partnership is on the verge of collapse

Ron Rivera has worn many hats in his four years as head coach in Washington. At various times, he appeared to play the role of owner, general manager, public relations officer and head coach. After holding all of these roles, he may not have any left on Monday. League sources have told me that Rivera and his staff are well aware that his time in Washington is coming to an end.

Although this season started promisingly, new owner Josh Harris began discussions a few weeks ago in search of a new head coach and general manager, according to a league source. The Commanders are keeping an eye on what's happening in New England and hope to hire a general manager first before hiring their next head coach.

GO DEEPER

Commanders head coaching search: Which potential candidates fit Josh Harris' vision?

The Chargers are casting a wide net, and that means they have to explore all options. A league source told me they prefer to hire someone with head coaching experience and hope to avoid a first-time head coach. Does this mean potential head coaches like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith are out of the running? No, not if the ownership can be convinced.

University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who recently hired NFL agent Don Yee (who represents both Tom Brady and Sean Payton), is a leading candidate for Los Angeles. We'll see how aggressive the Spanos family will be and whether they'll be the first team to get Harbaugh on the phone after Monday's College Football Playoff championship game.

GO DEEPER

Chargers mailbag: How attractive is the head coaching position? Who are the building blocks?

Even if owner Mark Davis wanted to sign Antonio Pierce, he can't officially name him head coach right after the Raiders' final game on Sunday. To comply with the NFL's Rooney Rule, personal responsibility is required to interview at least two external minority candidates. Player support for Pierce has been strong in recent weeks and it's clear he has the trust of the locker room. Does that help? Sometimes. Does that get you the job? Not always.

Davis has always made it clear that a Las Vegas team needs a star coach. Harbaugh is at the top of his list, as is Belichick if he leaves New England. If you recall, Davis wanted to hire Harbaugh in 2015 before the coach took the job at Michigan.

GO DEEPER

Does the NFL want “quirky” Jim Harbaugh? “He’s won everywhere he’s been, but what does that entail?”

Falcons owner Arthur Blank and head coach Arthur Smith have always had a healthy, communicative relationship. They've had three years together and on Sunday they have a chance to get into the playoffs with a win against the New Orleans Saints and some help from the Carolina Panthers. Smith has a six-year deal with the Falcons and has helped rebuild the roster, but they are still missing the most important piece – quarterback.

This season, Blank was unhappy with losses and inconsistent play at the QB position. He's been publicly non-committal about his head coach's future, and after an offseason that featured a revamped defense and plenty of heavily recruited offensive players, he has reason to be frustrated.

Internally there is a feeling that the workforce will get another chance, but the 81-year-old Blank is not getting any younger. He wants to win now. He's had conversations with people around the league that make me think he's tempted to make the move. Look for Blank to also make a big swing for Belichick when he gets past Smith. This is no longer a remodel in Atlanta.

According to a league source, owner David Tepper will try again for Ben Johnson. The play-caller is open to the job and will also meet with other teams that are expected to show interest, the source said. There's a feeling around the league that while general manager Scott Fitterer could help with some of the transition, he's still not secure in his job. Carolina could start over.

The Saints staff has acted in recent weeks as if Dennis Allen would remain as head coach. Allen appears to be safe, but in speaking with league sources, I expect there will be changes to some personnel.

Team CEO/President Kevin Warren has been watching, taking notes and evaluating his head coach and his team all season long. Although the owners have the final say on the future of Matt Eberflus and his staff, Warren will have a strong hand in the decision. Warren recently shared that he appreciated the energy of the team around Halas Hall, but did not express support for his head coach.

So what can we expect from Warren? He didn't make any spontaneous decisions this season and gave the team the entire regular season to show that they were the right team. He is described as methodical. Emotionless. A planner. His decisions are all made with a long-term approach. While Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers feels great for the team and quarterback Justin Fields, I don't think one play will be the deciding factor.

Before I let you go…

Dallas Cowboys players were told this week that they can't make the same mistake the Patriots made in their 2019 regular-season finale against a division opponent. Here is the situation:

The Cowboys can clinch the NFC East and secure the NFC's No. 2 seed with a win on Sunday against the 14-point underdog Commanders in Washington. While Dallas fans shouldn't be worried about a Sam Howell-led Washington team, they can't overlook the Commanders. This is where the Patriots come into play.

In 2019, the Patriots were 14-point favorites over the Dolphins at home, trying to win the AFC East against a Miami team that didn't have much to offer. But New England lost and hosted a wild card game the next week against the Tennessee Titans. This game was also lost and Tom Brady never played for the Patriots again. According to a league source, the message to the Cowboys this week was: “We can’t waste the No. 2 pick.”

If that happens? I would add Mike McCarthy to my list of coaches in trouble.

Although I'm breaking Larry David's very strict rule that you can't say “Happy New Year” after January 3rd: “Happy New Year!” I wish you a great 2024 full of health, love and passion for life.

(Photo of Ron Rivera and Bill Belichick: Matthew J. Lee / The Boston Globe via Getty Images)