Howard Stern has come to the defense of longtime friend Jimmy Kimmel.

The late-night talk show host has been in the news after Aaron Rodgers insinuated Kimmel would be on the client list of Jeffrey Epstein.

“There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are really hoping that doesn’t come out,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show” last week. “I’ll tell you what, if that list comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle.”

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Kimmel blasted the New York Jets quarterback on his late-night show Monday night, and the radio legend had his own words for the four-time MVP.

“What the f— is with Aaron Rodgers? I mean, what a f—ing vicious thing to say,” Stern said Tuesday. “You know what it is? When someone’s not witty and they’re in a feud with someone, nowadays, what they do is they just make up s— about you. They make up a conspiracy theory. F—ing outrageous.

“I got really p—ed off about that. … What are you doing? You can’t just make up s— about somebody in a public forum. Very upsetting. … Aaron Rodgers wanted to attack Jimmy, so he just made up a thing and called him a pedophile?”

ESPN, the network that airs McAfee’s show, issued an apology for Rodgers’ “dumb and factually inaccurate joke.”

“It should never have happened. We all realized that in the moment,” ESPN’s Mike Foss said, via Front Office Sports.

Jimmy Kimmel and Aaron Rodgers’ feud went to the next level. (Getty Images)

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McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, called the comments Rodgers made an attempt to “talk s—” and apologized for “being a part of” the drama that came about afterward.

“We obviously don’t like the fact that we’re associated with anything negative ever. We like our show to be an uplifting one. A happy one. A fun one. But it’s because we talk s— and try to make light of everything, some things obviously people get very p—ed off about, especially when they’re that serious of allegations,” he said.

Pat McAfee on the field prior to a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Nearly 200 names previously redacted from court documents in a lawsuit against Epstein’s former lover and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell are being made public after a federal judge in New York ordered their unsealing last month.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

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All signs point to Russell Wilson leaving the Denver Broncos at some point before the start of the 2024 season. But his departure may not be as imminent as some might expect, at least according to the latest comments from Broncos coach Sean Payton.

On Tuesday, Payton stopped short of ruling out the idea the Super Bowl-winning quarterback could be back in Denver next season. 

“That final decision has not been made,” Payton told reporters Tuesday.

Payton’s latest comments come less than two weeks after reports surfaced that Wilson would be benched for the team’s final two regular-season games.

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Shortly after the benching was made public, Wilson revealed the Broncos approached him during the team’s bye week and informed him that he would be benched unless he reworked his contract.

According to Wilson, the conversation revolved around the guarantee against injury in his five-year, $245 million contract he signed last year. The contract kicks in next season.

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Wilson has an estimated $37 million salary in 2025, which becomes fully vested in March. If the quarterback suffered a significant injury at any point in the season, it would complicate his financial situation, NFL Network reported.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton heads up the tunnel after warmups during a game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit Dec. 16, 2023. (Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Payton and Wilson appeared to have a hot and cold relationship throughout the season. Cameras caught Payton yelling at Wilson on the sideline multiple times during the season. 

The high point of the quarterback-coach relationship came during a five-game winning streak. Wilson lifted the team to three straight wins after the bye week before the Broncos dropped three of their next four games.

Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham helped lift the team to a 16-9 victory over the Chargers in Week 17, and Denver finished with an 8-9 record.

“It’s too early,” Payton added during Tuesday’s press conference. “I spent half an hour with Russ yesterday, and I told him, ‘Look, I don’t think it’s going to be a long, drawn out process, but it hasn’t been decided relative to what our plans are.’”

Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) acknowledges fans as he leaves the field after a game against the Los Angeles Chargers Dec. 10, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif.  (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The Broncos have now failed to reach the postseason eight consecutive seasons. In December, Wilson shared his preference to remain in Denver.

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“I want to be here,” Wilson told reporters. “I want to play here. I want to be able to win here. I want to win championships here. I want to give my all every week no matter what the circumstances are, no matter what the score is.”

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Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday took a swipe at an ESPN executive over the statement he put out last week after the New York Jets quarterback made a Jeffrey Epstein-related remark about Jimmy Kimmel.

During his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” Rodgers said ESPN senior vice president, production Mike Foss’ statement didn’t really help.

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“I don’t understand… a Mike Foss comment because he didn’t help out either,” Rodgers said. “And I’m going to quote Mike Foss. He said, ‘Aaron made a dumb and factually incorrect joke about Jimmy Kimmel. That should never have happened. We all realized that in the moment.’

“Mike, you’re not helping. You’re not helping because I just read earlier exactly what I said,” he added, saying the statement was a part of the media’s gameplan to criticize him.

After further explaining himself about what he believes in, he took one more jab at Foss.

“I feel like I made a statement about not wanting to be on a list to come out … ‘We realized that in the moment?’ What are you talking about?”

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Nov 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8), on injured reserve, pregame against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

ESPN didn’t immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The controversy started last week when Rodgers took an Epstein-related dig at Kimmel during last week’s McAfee show.

“There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are really hoping that doesn’t come out,” Rodgers said. “I’ll tell you what, if that list comes out, I definitely will be popping some sort of bottle.”

Kimmel threatened a lawsuit and on Monday night pushed back on any notion he was a pedophile or had any connection to Epstein.

Disney partnered with PENN Entertainment to create ESPN-branded sportsbooks.  (Mike Windle/Getty Images for ESPN)

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Rodgers said earlier in the show he never called or asserted that Kimmel was a pedophile.

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A high school girls basketball coach was fired after antisemitic slurs were hurled while he was coaching against a Jewish school.

Bryan Williams was coaching Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, N.Y., when a player on his team yelled “Free Palestine” toward an opponent playing for The Leffell School, an investigation found.

Williams, in his third year as the coach, says he’s the school’s “scapegoat” for what happened.

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“It puts me in a bad light and makes people that don’t know me think that I’m a monster, or I don’t like Jewish people or I can’t navigate in a multicultural world and that’s a lie. A total lie,” Williams told News 12 Westchester.

Williams said he was told he was let go because of “poor management skills,” but he says there wasn’t much he could do regarding the player’s actions.

“I had nothing to do with it. I just coach my team. I can’t control what somebody says on the court and most coaches can’t,” he said.

Yonkers interim superintendent Luis Rodriguez said “the fact that the coach was separated from employment with the Yonkers Public School District in no way even infer[s] that he was participating or that he condoned or that he acquiesced to any form of antisemitism.”

A Wilson basketball during a game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Dallas Wings July 22, 2023, at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.  (Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

The game between the two schools Thursday ended in the third quarter after Roosevelt players used antisemitic slurs toward their opponents. Some of those slurs allegedly included “I support Hamas, you f—ing Jew.”

Roosevelt players allegedly continued to have words with Leffell players during a timeout, to the point security stepped in and eventually escorted Leffell players off the court. Roosevelt voluntarily forfeited the contest.

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According to Leffell player Robin Bosworth, who wrote about the incident in the school newspaper for which she serves as editor-in-chief, the first half was a “somewhat hostile environment, with substantially more jabs and comments thrown at the players on our team than what I have experienced in the past.”

Williams said he does not condone such language “at all.”

A basketball hoop, net and backboard during the Desert Classic between the Florida Atlantic Owls and the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Arena Dec. 23, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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“Players of mine and people that know me know I don’t believe in that and never have,” Williams, a former correctional officer of nearly 30 years, said.

Bosworth said both teams lined up to shake hands at the premature end of the game.

“Despite our conflicting feelings about his practice, every member of my team acted with respect and class and lined up to shake their hands,” she wrote. “However, being forced to shake hands with and say, ‘Good game’ to people who had expressed such hatred did not sit right with me afterwards.”

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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The Los Angeles Lakers did not play on Monday, giving LeBron James time to take in other action around the NBA. But, one of Monday night’s games was marred in controversy.

The Indiana Pacers hosted one of the best teams in the NBA on Monday, the Boston Celtics. The home team ultimately came out on top, but a pair of foul reviews quickly became a topic of conversation.

Although James was not on the floor for the contest, he took issue with the way the game was officiated.

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Celtics star Jaylen Brown attempted to make a shot in the final second of the game, which would have broken a tie. As Brown went up for the shot, Pacers guard Buddy Hield appeared to hit Brown in the back of the head.

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The apparent contact drew a foul call, but the Pacers bench decided to challenge the call. After a review, the referees reversed the call. The Pacers improved to 21-15 on the season after the 133-131 victory, but many argued that the overturned call put the Celtics at a disadvantage.

James took to X, the company formerly known as Twitter, to share his criticism of the officiating.

“See what I’m saying!” the Lakers star wrote. “JB clearly got hit in the back of the head. They reviewed the play, just to reverse it and say he didn’t. MAN WHAT!! Good a– game to have an ending like that. And yall see why I be going [ape s—] out there when it happens.”

Brown also voiced his displeasure with the situation. 

“I think he obviously hit me in the head. I think we definitely need to do some investigation, that’s all I’ma say,” Brown said after the game. 

Brown went on to explain that he had a discussion with a referee about whether he was hit in the head.

LeBron James of the Lakers drives to the basket against Amir Coffey of the Clippers on Jan. 7, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

“I asked (referee James Williams) again, ‘Are you sure?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ And that’s what p—– me off,” Brown said. “Cause I know I got hit in the head. And you see on the replay, it’s pretty obvious I got hit in the head. Then you look me in my eye and tell me that I didn’t. I think that needs to be investigated. Cost my team a game and of course I’m p—- about it.”

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Despite the loss, the Celtics remain at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Boston will try and get back on the winning track when they return home to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 10. 

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“Black Monday” came and went in the NFL but teams were still making moves and shaking up their coaching staffs as the offseason kicked off.

The Tennessee Titans were one of those teams. Head coach Mike Vrabel will not be returning as the Titans’ head coach for the 2024 season, according to multiple reports. The NFL Network reported that Vrabel is expected to be one of the top coaching candidates available on the market this winter.

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Tennessee later announced the decision.

“As I told Coach Vrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I’ve made as Controlling Owner,” team owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. “I appreciate Mike’s contributions to the Tennessee Titans both on and off the field. Anyone who has ever met him knows how passionate and genuine he is, and he’s been a strong supporter of the Nashville community. We wish Mike, Jen, and the Vrabel family nothing but the best in the future.

“As the NFL continues to innovate and evolve, I believe the teams best positioned for sustained success will be those who empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions. Last year, we began a shift in our approach to football leadership and made several changes to our personnel to advance that plan. As I continued to assess the state of our team, I arrived at the conclusion that the team would also benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of a new coaching staff.”

Vrabel took over as the Titans’ head coach before the start of the 2018 season. He spent six seasons at the helm and compiled a 54-45 record. He guided the team to three playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship in 2019 but was never able to lead the team back to a Super Bowl.

He suffered his first losing season in 2022 when the oft-injured Titans were 7-10. In 2023, Tennessee finished 6-11 and it appeared that ownership decided it was time to make a chance.

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Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans congratulates his players coming off the field during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Vrabel spent three years as an assistant at Ohio State before he took the linebackers job for the Houston Texans in 2014. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Texans in 2017 before jumping to Tennessee.

It’s unclear where both parties will go from here.

Vrabel has been linked as a potential candidate for the New England Patriots job if the team decides to part ways with Bill Belichick. With several positions open, Vrabel is expected to be a hot commodity in coaching circles.

Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans talks with Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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The Titans will have to go through the process as well in what could be a long few years for the team. Derrick Henry is expected to leave in free agency while Will Levis is expected to be handed the reins at quarterback. The Titans may not look the same as they once did in 2024.

Former Michigan Wolverines football staffer Connor Stalions sent one post on social media as he watched the team wrap up a national championship against Washington on Monday night.

Stalions fired off a GIF of a man tipping his cap as the final whistle blew. It appeared to be icing on the cake for the former personnel member after he was ousted over his alleged involvement in a sign-stealing scheme that cast a dark cloud over the program during the season.

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Stalions was also seen in the stands with former Michigan linebacker Chase Winovich during the team’s Rose Bowl win over Alabama on New Year’s Day.

He resigned from the staff in November after he was accused of being the ringleader of the sign-stealing scheme.

Stalions reportedly purchased tickets to more than 30 games at 11 different Big Ten schools over the past three seasons, including this season. Michigan was not playing in any of the games for which Stalions bought tickets, sources told ESPN.

An unnamed former coach from college football’s Division III then claimed Stalions gave him “a couple hundred dollars” for the recordings of the Wolverines’ future opponents, ESPN reported. The coach added that he received free tickets and shared the footage via an iPhone photo album.

Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, right, watches against East Carolina as analytics assistant Connor Stalions looks on during an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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The former coach said he went to two Penn State football games and a Rutgers game.

Stalions was also alleged to be on the Central Michigan sideline when the team played Michigan State on Sept. 1, wearing a bench credential that said “VB,” a visiting bench designation. This gives access for the credential holder to stand between the 20-yard lines, which is usually for players, coaches, team trainers and equipment staff. 

Stalions was initially suspended with pay by the school. He was an off-field analyst with the football team, according to his LinkedIn profile. He reportedly refused to cooperate with the investigations.

Ohio State’s Julian Fleming, #4, runs with the football against. Michigan at Ohio Stadium. Football analyst Connor Stalions and head coach Jim Harbaugh look on in the background. (David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for three games over the scandal. He returned to lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten Championship and later Rose Bowl and national championship wins.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Stephanie Niles, the girlfriend of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, got firsthand experience over the last two days of the power of social media.

Niles went viral on Sunday as she was seen in a suite at Paycor Stadium cheering on Browning as he threw his first of three touchdown passes against the Cleveland Browns. In an all-white bodysuit and an orange hat, a few seconds of CBS showing her celebrating caught the eyes of social media.

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She immediately went viral across X, and her following count nearly doubled.

A Dolphins fan account on X, @MikMcDaniel, noted that Niles ended Sunday with about 27,100 followers on Instagram. By Tuesday morning, Niles had more than 43,000 followers.

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She was at the National Championship Game in Houston on Monday night, cheering on her alma mater Washington against Michigan and predicted, “dawgs by a million.” However, the Huskies ended up losing to the Wolverines 34-13.

After the Bengals solidified a 31-14 victory against the Browns, Niles recapped her day on Instagram. She posted photos of herself with her sister and other family members as they cheered her man on.

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Jake Browning, #6 of the Cincinnati Bengals, throws a pass during the second quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

“What a ride!! how INSANE is this life!!!” she captioned her slideshow of pics.

Niles and Browning both attended the University of Washington. Browning was the star quarterback for the Huskies from 2015 to 2018. He bounced around from the Minnesota Vikings to the Bengals over the course of his career and was able to start his first game this season after Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending injury.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Niles co-founded 7th Street Swim. The brand is a sustainable swimwear company based in New York City. She and Browning have been together for about five years.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, #6, talks to the media after the game against the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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She went viral back in December when she wrote on her Instagram Stories she needed something “stronger” than beer as the Bengals topped the Vikings, 27-24.

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