Bill Belichick mum on Patriots’ quarterback situation, as Bailey Zappe takes practice reps

By

-

November 29, 2023

In an unsurprising move for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, he declined to answer specific questions about the quarterback position ahead of this weekend’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers during a press conference on Wednesday.

Fortunately, Wednesday’s practice offered some interesting insight.

Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots calls a play during the third quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)

During the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday, Bailey Zappe took the majority of reps, according to ESPN. Rookie Malik Cunningham, who is on the practice squad, also took reps.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Mac Jones, who was benched for the fourth time this season during Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, reportedly did not take any reps during this portion of the practice.

“Yeah, I’m not going to make any announcements on our lineup at any position,” Belichick said when asked about his plans for quarterback vs. the Chargers.

FROM OUTKICK: BILL BELICHICK HAD ZERO PATIENCE FOR MEDIA FOLLOWING ANOTHER PATRIOTS LOSS

Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots and Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots look dejected following the team’s 10-6 defeat during the NFL match between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots at Deutsche Bank Park on November 12, 2023 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

“So, it doesn’t matter what the position is. We’ll see how practice goes, see if everybody is ready to go. Hopefully everybody is ready to go, see what the injury situation is, and we’ll go with who we think is best on Sunday.”

Belichick declined to talk specifics about Jones and Zappe, despite a series of questions.

”Well, we haven’t won enough games,” he said when asked about Jones’ performance this season. “So, I don’t think anybody has performed well enough. We all need to do a better job.”

NFL LEGEND JOE THEISMANN BREAKS DOWN PATRIOTS, JETS QUARTERBACK WOES: ‘YOU KEEP HOPING AND WAITING’

New England sits at the bottom of the AFC East with a 2-9 record and on a four game slide.

Playing in his third season, Jones has completed 224 passes for 2,120 yards and just 10 touchdowns through 11 starts. He’s thrown 12 interceptions and been sacked 22 times.

“Just bad quarterback play and wasn’t good enough by me,” Jones said Sunday of his first half benching. “If the quarterback doesn’t play well, you have no chance.”

Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots looks on during the second quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Elsa/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

For his role, Zappe wouldn’t speculate about starting against the Chargers.

“That’s Coach Belichick’s decision. If I start, I’m going to do everything I can like I have the past times I’ve started and try to go out there and win.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson addresses Corey Perry dismissal, denies ‘disgusting’ rumors

By

Reporters News Wire

-

November 29, 2023

0

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson held a press conference Tuesday following news the club had moved to terminate the contract of Stanley Cup champion and assistant captain Corey Perry.

The move followed an internal investigation that found he engaged in “unacceptable” conduct that violated the NHL Standard Player Contract and the club’s policies.

During his 10-minute appearance, Davidson offered few details about the mysterious circumstances that led to the veteran’s abrupt dismissal from the team.

Corey Perry (94) of the Chicago Blackhawks skates against the Buffalo Sabres Nov. 19, 2023, at United Center in Chicago. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

He did address rumors that have been circulating on social media for days tying Perry’s dismissal to an alleged incident involving the family member of a Blackhawks player, which Davidson called “disgusting.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“As this is an individual personal matter, I will not be able to disclose any details related to the initial reporting, investigation or the findings,” Davidson said.

“However, I do want to be very clear on this one point: This does not involve any players or their families, and anything that suggests otherwise, or anyone that suggests otherwise, is wildly inaccurate, and frankly, it’s disgusting.”

Perry, 38, last played for Chicago Nov. 19 against the Buffalo Sabres. He has not made an appearance since.

Davidson explained the team learned of the incident while in Columbus but declined to talk about specifics, describing the incident as an “individual personnel matter” and a “workplace matter.”

Corey Perry (94) of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena Ot. 16, 2023, in Toronto. (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

FROM OUTKICK: FLORIDA PANTHERS, OTTAWA SENATORS RACK UP 167 PENALTY MINUTES, 13 EJECTIONS

The Blackhawks released a statement Tuesday confirming that Perry had been placed on unconditional waivers, and if he cleared waivers, the team would move to terminate his contract.

“After an internal investigation, the Chicago Blackhawks have determined that Corey Perry has engaged in conduct that is unacceptable and in violation both of the terms of his Standard Player’s Contract and the Blackhawks’ internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments. As such, Corey Perry has been placed on unconditional waivers. In the event Mr. Perry clears waivers, we intend to terminate his contract effective immediately.”

BLACKHAWKS WAIVE COREY PERRY AFTER ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ CONDUCT

Davidson said both the NHL and the NHLPA were aware of the incident but that it was a team decision to cut ties with Perry because it was a “team incident.”

Corey Perry of the Chicago Blackhawks before a faceoff at Mullett Arena Oct. 30, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz. (Zac BonDurant/Getty Images)

Little is known about the circumstances that have led to Perry’s dismissal, but sources told ESPN he traveled with the team to Columbus last week, and there was an incident involving a team employee.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Perry was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the offseason. He signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the expectation he would be an experienced leader for the team.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Dolly Parton steals Thanksgiving Day show, Arch Manning makes debut

By

Reporters News Wire

-

November 29, 2023

0

Dolly Parton performs during halftime of an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Welcome to the Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter. If this newsletter is not already delivered to your email, please subscribe here.

PUTTING ON A SHOW – 77-year-old country legend Dolly Parton stole the show at halftime of the Cowboys-Commanders game by performing in the iconic cheerleader outfit. Continue reading…

QUARTERBACK WOES – The Jets and Patriots are facing a quarterback crisis, and NFL legend Joe Theismann is weighing in on whether the teams should explore new options. Continue reading…

NOT SHOCKED – Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst knew that the team’s 1-10 record would likely result in some sort of change, even if no one wanted it to happen. Continue reading…

TAKING A KNEE – Before the 49ers Thanksgiving game, Christian McCaffrey’s fiancée – Olivia Culpo – posted a social media video of the star running back kneeling and appearing to pray in the end zone. Continue reading…

Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns motions to quiet the crowd in the fourth quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

THE NEXT GENERATION – Arch Manning made his highly-anticipated Texas debut on Friday against Texas Tech, getting a resounding cheer from the crowd. Continue reading…

STAMPEDE – Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes saw a top 2025 recruit decommit on Sunday after Sanders’ first year in Boulder. Continue reading…

A LOT OF FUN – Week 13 of the college football season was filled with rivalry games ahead of Conference Championship Weekend. Continue reading…

FINDING PURPOSE – Utah State quarterback Levi Williams will forgo his final year of eligibility to join U.S. Navy SEAL training. Continue reading…

Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers talks to Head Coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs after the game on November 22, 2023 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. (Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

FROM OUTKICK – Practically every year ends with the firing of a handful of NFL coaches, and the fate of several coaches hangs in the balance down the stretch of this season. Continue reading…

NOT A FAN OF IT – Spurs coach Gregg Popovich scolded fans for jeering former star player Kwahi Leonard who helped bring a championship to San Antonio in 2014 before requesting a trade. Continue reading…

This article was written by Fox News staff.

Michigan-Ohio State breaks records on FOX, ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ garners millions of viewers

By

Reporters News Wire

-

November 29, 2023

0

This past Saturday marked the biggest college football Saturday of the season, but it was also one of the largest ever.

The matchup between college sports’ biggest rivals in Michigan and Ohio State headlined the day, and it was the most watched regular season football game in over a decade.

According to information from FOX Sports PR, The Game was the most-watched regular season college football game since 2011 – it also was the most-watched college football game in FOX Sports history.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards tries to gain additional yardage against Ohio State’s defense on Nov. 25, 2023 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Wolverines’ 30-24 victory over their arch nemesis Buckeyes averaged over 19 million viewers while peaking at 22.9 million.

The Game was preceded by “Big Noon Kickoff,” which was the most-watched college football pregame show on any network on Saturday. The entire broadcast averaged 2.34 million viewers, while the final hour of the program saw a record 4.36 million viewers.

With the victory, Michigan climbed up to No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings from the third spot, while Ohio State fell from two all the way to six.

FROM OUTKICK: ARKANSAS WELCOMES BACK BOBBY PETRINO WITH COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIP ALONG WITH A HEFTY CONTRACT

Kyle McCord of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws a pass against the Wolverines on Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

EX-NFL COACH KLIFF KINGSBURY’S NAME POPS UP IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHING CAROUSEL RUMORS

Georgia, Washington and Florida State round out the rest of the top-four, while Oregon ranks No. 5.

Each team in the top-five will face off in their respective conference championships this weekend, with Washington and Oregon playing in the Pac-12 title game, likely for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Ohio State now needs some help to get in, but the fact that the third- and fifth-ranked teams face each other does not help. Neither does the fact that Georgia, Michigan and Florida State are favorites in their matchups.

J.J. McCarthy of the Wolverines speaks to the media after the Ohio State game at Michigan Stadium Nov. 25, 2023. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

But it goes without saying that championship weekend will surely affect who’s in and who’s out of the playoff, so expect more high ratings.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

CME Bitcoin futures show investors betting on $40K BTC price

By

Reporters News Wire

-

November 29, 2023

0

The demand for institutional investors for Bitcoin (BTC) became evident on Nov. 10 as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Bitcoin futures flipped Binance’s BTC futures markets in terms of size. According to BTC derivatives metrics, those investors are showing strong confidence in Bitcoin’s potential to break above the $40,000 mark in the short term.

735e3318 8c01 4492 9b28 5b67d529e600 — *CME Bitcoin futures open interest, USD. Source: Coinglass*

CME’s current Bitcoin futures open interest stands at $4.35 billion, the highest since November 2021 when Bitcoin hit its all-time high of $69,000–a clear indication of heightened interest, but is it enough to justify further price gains?

CME’s remarkable growth and the spot Bitcoin ETF speculation

The impressive 125% surge in CME’s BTC futures open interest from $1.93 billion in mid-October is undoubtedly tied to the anticipation of the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF. However, it’s important to note that there’s no direct correlation between this movement and the actions of market makers or issuers. Cryptocurrency analyst JJcycles raised this hypothesis in a Nov. 26 social media post.

What if CME (US institutions) opened longs to hedge for the spot #Bitcoin ETF approval which might be imminent?

Open interest surely surged on CME in the last couple of weeks.

✍️ pic.twitter.com/poFpuOidL0

— JJcycles (@JJcycles) November 26, 2023

To avoid the high costs associated with futures contracts, institutional investors have various options. For instance, they could opt for CME Bitcoin options, which require less capital and offer similar leveraged long exposure. Additionally, regulated ETF and exchange-traded notes (ETN) trading in regions like Canada, Brazil, and Europe provide alternatives.

It seems somewhat naive to believe that the world’s largest asset managers would take risky gambles using derivatives contracts on a decision that depends on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commision (SEC) and is not expected until mid-January. Yet, the undeniable growth in CME Bitcoin futures open interest is hard evidence that institutional investors are setting their sight in the cryptocurrency.

It might seem naive to think that the world’s largest asset managers would take significant risks with derivatives contracts on a decision dependent on the SEC, expected only in mid-January. However, the undeniable growth in CME Bitcoin futures open interest underscores the increasing interest of institutional investors in the cryptocurrency market.

CME’s Bitcoin futures signaled extreme optimism on Nov. 28

While CME’s Bitcoin futures activity has been steadily rising, the most noteworthy development has been the spike in the contracts’ annualized premium (basis rate). In neutral markets, monthly futures contracts typically trade with a 5% to 10% basis rate to account for longer settlement times. This situation, known as contango, is not unique to cryptocurrency derivatives.

On Nov. 28, the annualized premium for CME Bitcoin futures surged from 15% to 34%, eventually stabilizing at 23% by day’s end. A basis rate exceeding 20% indicates substantial optimism, suggesting that buyers were willing to pay a substantial premium to establish leveraged long positions. Currently, the metric stands at 14%, indicating that whatever caused the unusual movement is no longer a factor.

It’s worth noting that during that 8-hour period on Nov. 28, Bitcoin’s price rose from $37,100 to $38,200. However, it’s challenging to determine whether this surge was driven by the spot market or futures contracts, as arbitrage between the two occurs in milliseconds. Instead of fixating on intraday price movements, traders should look to BTC option markets data for confirmation of heightened interest from institutional investors.

If traders anticipate a decline in Bitcoin’s price, a delta skew metric above 7% is expected, whereas periods of excitement typically result in a -7% skew.

02eae9c1 2efa 4607 806a 240df67abf1f — *Deribit 30-day BTC options skew. Source: Laevitas.ch*

Over the past month, the 30-day BTC options 25% delta skew has consistently remained below the -7% threshold, standing near -10% on Nov. 28. This data supports the bullish sentiment among institutional investors using CME Bitcoin futures, casting doubts on the theory of whales accumulating assets ahead of a potential spot ETF approval. In essence, derivatives metrics do not indicate excessive short-term optimism.

If whales and market makers were genuinely 90% certain of SEC approval, in line with the expectations of Bloomberg’s ETF analysts, the BTC options delta skew would likely be much lower.

Nonetheless, with Bitcoin’s price trading near $38,000, it appears that bulls will continue to challenge resistance levels as long as the hope for a spot ETF approval remains a driving force.