data-mm-id=”_ngdwogko4″>The 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone. Most of the top free agents are off the board. Most, if not all, teams are moving the final pieces around to assemble their 90-man roster they plan on heading into training camp (or whatever iteration is possible by July). And yet, Cam Newton, former MVP, remains unsigned. He has the Carolina Panthers to blame for that. The Panthers released Newton on March 24, nearly two weeks after the official start of free agency. While it's impossible to be sure about anything in such times, it seems quite likely that releasing Newton closer to the first day of free agency would have significantly increased his chances of finding a place to at least fight for a starting gig. Carolina held on to Newton in hopes someone would trade for him, but when the market failed to materialize, they cut bait entirely and ate the cap hit in releasing him. That was probably the smart football move, but it came at a cost to Newton, who will now probably have to wait another three months before signing a contract. The Panthers told reporters as late as the NFL Combine they planned on sticking with Newton, and then promptly signed Teddy Bridgewater. They released Newton a day after officially announcing Bridgewater's signing, but had granted Newton permission to seek a trade nearly a week prior. They were also, presumably, in discussions with Bridgewater since they were allowed to contact him. The delay between deciding they were moving on from Newton and actually doing so sunk any chance of him getting signed before training camp. All the way back in March, the world wasn't quite shut down yet. We were getting there, but everything everywhere came grinding to a halt about a week or so after free agency began. Newton comes with a lot of talent, but also two primary red flags: an extensive injury history and question marks (fair or not) about his maturity and ability to lead. Both of those issues could be addressed by in-person meetings with doctors and representatives, a necessity for any team who would consider bringing in Newton. While Tom Brady did not meet in person with the Bucs or their team doctors when he signed with Tampa Bay right after free agency opened, things were still close enough to normal that teams felt comfortable signing off on physicals from third-party doctors. By the time someone with Newton's risk factor hit the open market, that wasn't the case. Then you add in all the quarterbacks that were acquired in those opening weeks of free agency. Brady went to Tampa Bay, Philip Rivers went to Indianapolis, Nick Foles went to Chicago, and Ryan Tannehill stayed in Tennessee. Newton was always going to be a risky signing, but by the time he was available, his options were already severely limited. The Panthers didn't exactly nail the situation after a failed attempt to spin the narrative in the media, but the sequence of decisions makes sense at a football level. They just screwed Newton in the process. It's no sure thing he would be employed right now had they cut him as soon as they came to the decision he wouldn't be a part of the team's plans moving forward, but it would have increased his chances significantly. Now, one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league must wait patiently until an opportunity presents itself — and that may be a long time coming.
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Valencia visit Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday hoping to get one over on former boss Unai Emery.
Valencia produced an astonishing comeback to qualify for the last four, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Basel with an outstanding 5-0 triumph, after extra time, in the return game at the Mestalla.
And their reward is a meeting with familiar face Emery, who left the club in 2012 after guiding them to third-place finishes in three of his four seasons in charge.
Juan Antonio Pizzi s men have taken four points from Sevilla in La Liga this term, but will be wary of a club that has considerable pedigree in Europe s second-tier competition, winning it in 2006 and 2007.
Paco Alcacer was the star of Valencia s remarkable recovery …
Albania will look to claim another surprise result when they visit Italy in Genova on Tuesday.
Gianni De Biasi s side are in impressive form and will surely be buoyed by Friday s 1-1 draw in France.
Both nations recent form has been somewhat overshadowed by fan misbehaviour, with the Italians Euro 2016 qualifier with Croatia halted by flares thrown on the pitch in Sunday s 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, ugly scenes marred Albania s clash with Serbia in Belgrade in October but De Biasi s men have since moved on and will look at the friendly as another chance to fine-tune their preparations ahead of more crucial qualifiers.
The 48th-ranked Albania caused several problems for their more-fancied opponents in Rennes and took the lead five minutes before the break throug…
Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo has admitted that he has a horrible personality ahead of Saturday night s clash with AC Milan.
The 26-year-old, who moved to Roma from Espanyol in August 2011, has picked up nine red cards in the past six seasons and confessed he is no model professional footballer.
I am a bit of a lunatic. One day I feel strong, the other useless, said the Italian international to La Repubblica.
I fight, I score, I react, but I do everything to excess.
I was forced to grow up, but there s a part of me that rejects the idea of growing up. I make pointless fouls, but at that moment they seem right.
It s true, I have a horrible personality. But I kind of like being like this. I always miss something in life, especially my home in Arge…
Andrea Stramaccioni returned to haunt Inter as his Udinese side came from behind to earn a 2-1 Serie A victory at San Siro on Sunday.
The 38-year-old faced off against Inter for the first time since being sacked in May 2013 and his current employers came from behind to grab all three points thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Cyril Thereau.
After a slow start to proceedings, Inter took the lead on the brink of half-time as Mauro Icardi marked his recall to the XI by netting his eighth goal of the season.
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Egypt striker Amr Zaki has joined Wigan on a one-year loan deal from Cairo s Zamalek, the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
I ve come to England to score goals, Zaki said. That s what I do.
I want to show the manager and the fans of Wigan that they have made a good choice and now I am totally focused on trying to get in the squad and prove myself here.
Latics boss Steve Bruce was relieved to have finally got his man after spending 10 weeks wrapping up the terms of the arrangement.
It has been a tough deal to push through but I am delighted that Amr s finally a Wigan player and he can just get on with the job.
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Turning their attention back to Bundesliga duties on Saturday afternoon, Bayern Munich will welcome Augsburg to the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich
Starting with the hosts, extending on their Champions League adventure earlier in the week thanks to a stellar display on home soil, Bayern Munich are in the midst of yet another eye-catching flurry. Eventually coming past French heavyweights PSG thanks to a 3-0 aggregate romp, Julian Nagelsmann s men have their sights set on completing a silverware sweep in 2023. Despite slumping to an action-packed 3-2 defeat at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach on February 18th, Bayern have certainly proven that was nothing more than a minor blip. Turning their attention back to Bundesliga duties on S…
Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic has joined Cardiff City on a loan deal to the end of the season.
Grujic has been allowed to leave the Anfield club having made three brief substitute appearances in the 2017-18 Premier League.
The Serbia international, who joined Liverpool from Red Star Belgrade in May 2016, will aid Cardiff s efforts to win promotion.
Neil Warnock s men sit third in the Championship, two points outside the automatic promotion spots, and face Premier League leaders Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round on January 28.
This is a good opportunity for me, to play in a club that will be fighting until the end to get in to the Premier League, said Grujic.
To work with a manager like Neil Warnock is something I m looking forward t…
Jose Mourinho insisted Manchester United will not make any more signings before the January transfer window closes amid links with Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri.
A quiet month was expected at Old Trafford before United pipped neighbours Manchester City to the coveted signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved in the opposite direction as part of the blockbuster deal, and now talk has moved to Nice star Seri and the central midfield position.
But after defender Axel Tuanzebe joined Championship side Aston Villa for the remainder of the season, Mourinho does not expect any comings or goings in Manchester.
Best of luck to Axel Tuanzebe, who has joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2017/18 season.
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Netherlands star Arjen Robben has described the 2011/12 season as the worst of his career.
The Dutch attacker and his Bayern Munich team-mates lost the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal titles to Borussia Dortmund before suffering a dramatic defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League final on home soil at the Allianz Arena.
The winger had hoped to make amends at Euro 2012, but the Dutch sensationally crashed out in the group stage after losing all three matches in Group B.
It was the worst season of my life, Robben told Goal.com. Things did not go well with Bayern or with the national team.
It is incredible and it hurts even more because I was so excited at the start of the season. If the Champions League final was a shock, this disappointment with the natio…
Former Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Fernandez has dismissed France s chances against Spain in their Euro 2012 quarter-final.
Laurent Blanc s side saw their 23 game unbeaten run come to an end on Tuesday, slumping to a 2-0 defeat to Sweden to finish second in Group D.
Fernandez, who is Spain-born, said that while France have to play to their full potential in Donetsk, they lack the personality to end Spain s lengthy unbeaten run in major tournaments.
France have prepared to the best of (their ability). After a good start, losing to Sweden, (France) claim they re ready to beat the world and European champions. (They) lack personality. the 52-year-old told AS.
(Franck) Ribery and (Karim) Benzema have (the ability that) can win a game, but they must work …