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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nobody on the Seattle Seahawks has supported Sam Darnold quite like Ernest Jones IV.

Super Bowl Football

When Darnold threw four interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams in a 21-19 loss in Week 11, Jones had his quarterback's back. The second-team All-Pro linebacker wouldn't allow Darnold to take the blame.

"Sam's been balling," Jones said after that game. "If we want to try and define Sam by this game, man, Sam's had us in every game. So, for him to sit there and say, 'Yo, that's my fault,' no, it's not. There were plays defensively we could have made plays, or opportunities where we could have got stops.

"This is football. He's our quarterback and we've got his back."

Darnold rewarded his teammate's faith. He led the Seahawks back from a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit to an overtime win against Los Angeles in the next meeting and was sensational in Seattle's 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC championship game.

"Like I said, doubt Sam if you want to, Sam's gonna show you every time," Jones said afterward. "That's who we know, and that's why I stood on that, and I'll do it all over again."

Darnold has earned plenty of trust in the locker room in his first season in Seattle after a breakout year in Minnesota. Once considered a bust after the Jets drafted him No. 3 overall in 2018, Darnold — on his fifth team in eight seasons — is one victory away from leading Seattle to the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy.

Darnold and the Seahawks face Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl on Sunday in a rematch from a matchup 11 years ago.

Tom Brady and the Patriots won that one, 28-24, after Russell Wilson's pass from the 1-yard line in the final minute was intercepted by Malcolm Butler.

That gave Brady, coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots the fourth of their sixth Super Bowl rings before the dynasty ended.

First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, a standout linebacker on three of those championship teams, has quickly turned a team that was coming off consecutive 4-13 seasons into a winner.

Maye has been the catalyst for New England's impressive turnaround.

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"From Day 1, I feel like the guys have really taken what Coach Vrabel has wanted to do with us and have just really applied it to their lives in every single way," Maye said.

"Whether it's on the field, off the field, getting treatment, doing little things, making great decisions off the field. I think the biggest thing is just — Coach Vrabel always says he treats us how we treat the team. I think that's how guys have taken this year, and I think it's just rallying together and wanting to play for each other. From there on, we just have had fun doing it every single day since, and it's been a ride. Looking forward to trying to finish it off."

Brady also was a second-year quarterback when he led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title in the 2001 season.

They were double-digit underdogs when they beat the Rams. The Pats were favorites in their next eight Super Bowl appearances until now. New England is a 4 1/2-point underdog this time around.

The 23-year old Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft, will be the second-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger was the youngest to win one when he led Pittsburgh to a victory over Seattle in the 2005 season.

Maye has demonstrated plenty of poise in clutch situations. He changed a play and ran a bootleg to extend the drive on third down late in the AFC championship game against Denver to seal a 10-7 victory in the snow.

"I think just as we've gone through this entire year in this program, and the more that he's been out there and the games have kind of built up on us that, really, we've done a nice job in those situations," Vrabel said of Maye's maturity in big moments. "I think he's improved in them, and he's a big part of why we're here, obviously."

Of course, both teams are far more than just their quarterbacks.

Darnold has All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, running back Kenneth Walker and Seattle's defense is the stingiest in the league. The Seahawks allowed the fewest points in the NFL and have standout players at every level. Defensive tackle Leonard Williams, linebacker Jones and cornerback Devon Witherspoon were second-team All-Pros. Safety Nick Emmanwori had a standout rookie season.

Maye has running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and the defense has been dominant in the playoffs.

Only one team will leave Santa Clara, California, with the Lombardi Trophy.

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The league MVP and the winners of the otherseven AP NFL awardswill be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night, just days ahead of Super Bowl 60.

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Christian McCaffrey is only the second player to be a finalist for three AP NFL awards in the same year. He joins Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford in the running for The Associated Press 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player.

Maye, who will lead the New England Patriots into theSuper Bowlagainst the Seattle Seahawks, and McCaffrey are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. McCaffrey and Lawrence are among the finalists for Comeback Player of the Year.

Anationwide panelof 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm Lutz and Carr.

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Voters selected a top 5 for the eight AP NFL awards. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.

The other awards being presented Thursday in San Francisco include Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year.

AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Gavin McKenna, the 18-year-old top prospect for the 2026 National Hockey League draft, was arrested on felony assault charges Wednesday, Pennsylvania court documents show.

McKenna is facing charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct after an altercation in State College, Pennsylvania, according to the criminal complaint filed on the matter.

McKenna, who is from Canada, is aforward on the Penn State men's hockey team, and isranked number one in the NHL's 2026 draft prospects. The NHL draft is set to take place in June, once the current season is over.

The hockey star was arraigned on Wednesday and was released on $20,000 bail,Pennsylvania court documents show.

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According to thecriminal complaint, street cameras captured McKenna punching the victim twice on the right side of his face after "an exchange of words" between the group of people McKenna was with and the victim's group.

The assault took place after McKenna left a nearby bar, the criminal complaint said.

The victim lost a tooth and sustained fractures to both sides of his jaw, the criminal complaint said. The victim underwent surgery to repair his jaw on Monday and now must keep his jaw wired shut for about two weeks.

Penn State said in a statement that it is aware of the charges but did not provide further comment.

It remains unclear what McKenna's fate within the NHL draft will be.

The mission of the United States Coast Guard is to protect, defend, and save. From search and rescue operations to maritime law enforcement, the Coast Guard "protects our seas, and protects us from the sea." In early 2026, one of those missions includes an icebreaker operation in the New York City area.

The frigid weather that began in late January with winter storm Fern stretched into early February, with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures leading to several deaths in New York City. Some areas saw more than a foot of snow, but now it's ice that's causing headaches. Icy conditions in the harbor and the Hudson River escalated fast during that last week of January, with the Coast Guard describing "significant amounts of ice from the harbor to the Hudson Valley." These conditions don't just impact safe navigation for boats, but can also delay deliveries into the city and broader Hudson region and wreak havoc on public transportation. While ports are open, the New York City Ferry Servicesuspendedall routes in late January through early February, citing the safety of "all crew, passengers, and vessels."

Read more:10 Of The Most Advanced Nuclear Submarines In The World

Keeping the ports open

The USCG,which recently closed a deal to expand its fleet of icebreakers, stated that among its top priorities is "facilitating the safe movement of critical commercial traffic that supports the region's economy and daily needs." When ice takes over essential waterways, the delivery of key assets to the region may be delayed, including fuel and heating oil, even as temperatures in the city remain below freezing.

The operation involves two 140-foot Bay-class icebreaking tugs — the CGC (Coast Guard Cutter) Penobscot Bay and the CGC Sturgeon Bay — along with the 65-foot harbor tug CGC Hawser

The icebreakers are part of a larger mission called Operation Reliable Energy for Northeast Winters (OP RENEW), which seeks to support the Northeast region of the United States during winter weather. All three ships are homeported in Bayonne, New Jersey, and are well equipped for icebreaking and search and rescue operations in waterways affected by ice.

At the time of writing, no restrictions are in place for ports within the NYC Coast Guard sector, but the ferry service remains suspended with no timeline for when service may be restored. The independently operated Staten Island Ferry remains open, and the Coast Guard advises anyone on the water to "exercise extreme caution, monitor weather and ice conditions, and report navigational hazards to the Coast Guard."

A critical mission in the Northeast

The icebreaking operation in New York Harbor and the Hudson River isn't the first time these ships have been assigned this type of winter duty — in fact, they're stationed in Bayonne, New Jersey, for just this purpose, and they often complete work up and down the Northeastern seaboard. The Coast Guard partners with both local and state emergency management officials toclear ice-jammed waterwaysto create navigable paths for vital commercial traffic.

In 2018, the CGC Penobscot Bay worked with other Coast Guard ships to clear the ice-jammed Kennebec River in Maine, breaking through ice that was as much as five feet thick in some areas. Sometimes the icebreakers will escort ships until they're clear of dangerous ice — the Penobscot Bay recently escorted a ship carrying more than 10 million barrels of oil out of New Jersey. The Penobscot Bay and similar ships are sometimes crewed by fewer than 20 Coast Guardsmen, who live on the ship if they're working far from their Bayonne base.

The Coast Guard stations its icebreakers along the Northeast to ensure a rapid response when critical waterways are jammed with ice. In addition to Bayonne, icebreakers are also positioned in three areas of Maine, in Rhode Island, and in Connecticut.

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Read theoriginal article on SlashGear.

Feb 5 (Reuters) - An amnesty law being considered in Venezuela's legislature that would grant immediate clemency to people jailed for participating in political protests or critiquing public figures won initial lawmaker approval on Thursday.

According to a draft seen by Reuters, the bill would also return assets of ​those detained and cancel Interpol and other international measures previously issued by the government, allowing opposition figures in exile to return home.

The bill passed unanimously ‌in the first of two necessary votes at the National Assembly, which is controlled by the socialist ruling party. The date for a second session to debate the matter has not yet been set.

The ‌amnesty law, announced last week by interim President Rodriguez, would lead to hundreds of people being released if it were to be passed in its current form and would likely please the Trump administration, which has hailed prisoner releases.

Rodriguez's brother Jorge Rodriguez, the head of the assembly, described the law as a difficult but necessary step.

"The path of this law is going to be full of obstacles, full of bitter moments ... we're not only going to have to swallow hard ... but also swallow frogs," he said.

"We ask for ⁠forgiveness and we also have to forgive."

Venezuela's opposition and human ‌rights groups have said for years that the government has used detentions to stamp out dissent by politicians, members of the security services, journalists and activists, charging them arbitrarily with crimes like terrorism and treason. The government has always denied holding political prisoners.

Rodriguez, who took ‍office after the U.S. captured and deposed President Nicolas Maduro last month, has been complying with U.S. demands on oil deals. The government has also been already slowly releasing people classified as political prisoners by human rights groups and the country's opposition.

According to the draft, the amnesty will cover crimes committed between January 1, 1999, and the date that the law comes into ​force, and will be applied immediately to people who acted peacefully or who have health concerns. It would not provide amnesty for those convicted of human rights ‌violations, war crimes, murder, corruption or drug trafficking.

PROTESTS AND DEFAMATION

Other alleged crimes, including instigation of illegal activity, resistance to authorities, property damage, rebellion, treason, and illegal carrying of weapons will all be covered by the amnesty if they were committed in the context of political protests, the draft said, specifying that it would include mass protests that rocked the country and led to deaths in 2007, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024.

Those latest marches, in 2024, took place after a contested election that Venezuela's opposition and international observers say the opposition roundly won. The government and judicial authorities backed Maduro, swearing him in for a third term.

The bill would also cover those accused of ⁠defamation if the act took place in the context of criticizing authorities.

The law would lift Interpol red notices ​and movement restrictions against people who have committed crimes covered by the amnesty, the draft said, "guaranteeing ​the safe and persecution-free return of Venezuelan citizens who are abroad."

Many members of the opposition and dissident former officials live in other countries to escape arrest warrants they say are politically motivated.

Also revoked by the law would be public office bans for political reasons and ‍sanctions against media outlets.

Rights group Foro Penal says it ⁠has verified that 383 political prisoners have been freed since the government announced a new series of releases on January 8. It says more than 680 remain jailed, an updated count including prisoners whose fearful families had not previously reported their detentions.

The government has always denied holding political prisoners and says those jailed ⁠have committed crimes. Government officials have said the number of releases is nearly 900, but have not been clear about the timeline and appear to be including those freed in previous years.

Among the long-time ‌advocates of releases and amnesty is Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who has several close allies imprisoned, including opposition ‌politician Juan Pablo Guanipa and lawyer Perkins Rocha.

(Reporting by Reuters, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

Courtesy of Amazon. Eating Well design.

Key Points

• Aroeve air purifiers with model MK04 are being recalled.

• The recall affects units sold online from September 2024 to June 2025 due to fire risks.

• Contact the company for a replacement if your purifier matches the recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission just announced a recall on approximately 191,390 air purifiers sold nationwide. This is due to a burn and fire hazard.

The air purifiers recalled are Aroeve air purifiers with model number MK04 printed on the product label. The recalled devices also have a serial number starting with "BN" and a date code prior to July 2025.

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The affected air purifiers were sold online across the U.S. on websites such as Amazon, Shopify, Temu and TikTok from September 2024 through June 2025. While no injuries or property damage has been reported, the company has received 37 complaints of the air purifiers overheating, including one report of fire.

Check your air purification system, and if it matches the recall information, contact Airova for a replacement. You can do this by emailing aroeve-airpure-recall@outlook.com.

Read the original article onEatingWell

Even thoughPunxsutawney Philhas predicted six more weeks of winter weather, ballparks in Florida and Arizona are prepared to provide a compelling counterargument.

Spring (training) is just around the corner for the two-time defending World Series championLos Angeles Dodgersand the 29 other MLB teams looking to knock them off their pedestal in 2026.

In addition to a month's worth of exhibition games in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, this spring will also include the return of theWorld Baseball Classic, where we last sawShohei Ohtani striking out Mike Troutfor the final out ofJapan's thrilling 3-2 victory over Team USAin the 2023 final.

Exhibition games are set to begin on Friday, Feb. 20.

2026 spring training report dates: Arizona and Florida

First date listed is for pitchers and catchers to report to camp. Second date is for position players.

NOTE:Pitchers/catchers participating in the 2026 World Baseball Classic will report to their respective MLB camps no later than Wednesday, Feb. 11. Position players participating in the event will report no later than Thursday, Feb. 12.

American League

• Athletics (AZ): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Baltimore Orioles (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Boston Red Sox (FL): Feb. 10; Feb. 15

• Chicago White Sox (AZ): Feb. 10; Feb. 15

• Cleveland Guardians (AZ): Feb. 12; Feb. 17

• Detroit Tigers (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 15

• Houston Astros (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Kansas City Royals (AZ): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Los Angeles Angels (AZ): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Minnesota Twins (FL): Feb. 12; Feb. 16

• New York Yankees (FL): Feb. 12; Feb. 16

• Seattle Mariners (AZ): Feb. 12; Feb. 17

• Tampa Bay Rays (FL): Feb. 12; Feb. 17

• Texas Rangers (AZ): Feb. 10; Feb. 15

• Toronto Blue Jays: (FL) Feb. 11; Feb. 16

National League

• Arizona Diamondbacks (AZ): Feb. 10; Feb. 15

• Atlanta Braves (FL): Feb. 10; Feb. 15

• Chicago Cubs (AZ): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Cincinnati Reds (AZ): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Colorado Rockies (AZ): Feb. 12; Feb. 17

• Los Angeles Dodgers (AZ): Feb. 13; Feb. 17

• Miami Marlins (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Milwaukee Brewers (AZ): Feb. 12; Feb. 17

• New York Mets (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Philadelphia Phillies (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• Pittsburgh Pirates (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

• St. Louis Cardinals (FL): Feb. 12; Feb. 16

• San Diego Padres (AZ): Feb. 11; Feb. 15

• San Francisco Giants (AZ): Feb. 10; Feb. 15

• Washington Nationals (FL): Feb. 11; Feb. 16

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:When does MLB spring training start? 2026 dates for Florida, Arizona