Tom Brady announced on Saturday that his family’s pet dog, Lua, has died.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion shared two photos of the dog on his Instagram story on Saturday.

The first was of two of his children lying with the dog with a caption that read, “We love you Lua RIP” with three heart emojis, a prayer emoji and a sparkle emoji.

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The second was a shot of the dog sitting and basking in the sun. Brady wrote “Forever in our hearts.“

Brady is a noted dog lover, having volunteered at animal shelters. 

Logan Ryan volunteered with Brady at animal shelters during their playing days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Patriots released audio of Tom Brady’s first-ever conference call with the media. (Donald Miralle/Getty Images)

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“I guess I’ll chime in with my Tom Brady story…” Ryan’s wife wrote in an Instagram post when he retired earlier this year.

“It’s the one about the dad who volunteered at the animal shelter with his kids throughout an entire football season. The one where he bonded with his kids over naming puppies and bottle feeding kittens. The one where he silently showed up every other week to make a difference for his family and his community. The one where 2 dads just got to be dads and beamed with pride every time their kids said ‘Please can we just stay a little bit longer?!’ The one where two little girls built a friendship around their love of tiny baby kittens and did their part in making the world a better place for animals.”

Brady owned the dog with his ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen, when they were married. The supermodel posted her own tribute to the dog.

“Our little Lulu, our guardian angel is gone to heaven. She will forever live in our hearts,” she wrote. We already miss her sooooo much! #unconditionallove RIPLua.” Bündchen added a broken heart emoji.

Tom Brady looks on during an NFL game.  (Alex Slitz)

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Bündchen shared 10 photos of Lua, with the first of herself hugging he dog. She also shared photos of Lua with both of her children.

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Last month’s Packers win over the Chargers carries a particularly painful memory for rookie tight end Luke Musgrave. The second round pick out of Oregon State hauled in a pass, got tackled and eventually landed on the football.

The play caused Musgrave’s kidney to lacerate. But somehow, the 23-year-old was able to remain focused on playing the game instead of thinking about the intense amount of pain that he was likely feeling at the time.

Despite realizing that he had probably suffered a serious injury, Musgrave said that dealing with pain comes with the territory.

“I knew something was probably wrong, but it’s football,” he said on Friday. “You play through pain and then it usually hurts more after the game.”

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Musgrave recalls a postgame trip to the bathroom where he noticed blood in his urine, which prompted him to make a visit to the emergency room.

“I put the pieces together pretty quickly, kind of knew that was a problem,” he said.

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Doctors then confirmed that Musgrave was suffering from a lacerated kidney. Because the severity increased overnight, doctors kept him for an additional night. While he avoided surgery, the injury derailed a strong debut season.

“Yeah, it wasn’t awesome,” Musgrave said. “Internal organs are definitely a little bit different than your normal football injury.”

After Musgrave spent about a month on the sideline, the Packers designated him to return from injured reserve on Thursday. He ultimately did not participate in Thursday’s or Friday’s practices. He has been ruled out for this weekend’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Luke Musgrave, #88 of the Green Bay Packers, makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on November 12, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

There are just a handful of games remaining in the regular season, which does not bode well for Musgrave’s prospects of returning to the football field this year.

“My goal is to play as soon as possible,” he said. “With these things, it’s kind of weird, so it just depends on how I’m doing. My goal is to play. That’s my goal, so we’re going to see.”

After this Sunday’s game in Charlotte, the Packers close out the season with games against the Vikings and Bears. The treatment for a lacerated kidney is typically to rest. Reinjuring the kidney can cause significant long-term issues.

Luke Musgrave, #88 of the Green Bay Packers, runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field on November 5, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (John Fisher/Getty Images)

In 10 games, Musgrave racked up 341 receiving yards on 33 catches. In franchise history, only 2000 first-round pick Bubba Franks caught more passes (34) for more yards (363) among rookie tight ends.

Musgrave certainly wants to be on the football field as the Packers make a playoff push, but he is also aware that he will not make his return until it is safe.

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“I’ll play through pain,” he said. “It might be a little different when it comes to internal stuff. I don’t want to have long-term issues, but I’ll play through pain. So, if I’m safe to play, I’ll play through pain.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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It’s time for the New York Mets to pay up. 

Going for it all, the Mets splurged for an all-time record payroll of over $343 million last season after 101 wins the year prior.

But they won just 75 games and missed the postseason.

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Their losing prompted the Mets to unload Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha and others at the trade deadline for prospects.

The Mets still wound up with a luxury tax penalty close to $101 million, according to The Associated Press.

It is, by far, the steepest tax penalty a team has ever paid, more than doubling the 2015 Los Angeles Dodgers’ $43.6 million.

Seven other teams are paying extra for surpassing certain thresholds.

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks to the crowd during the Tom Seaver statue dedication at Citi Field April 15, 2022, in Flushing, N.Y.  (Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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The Mets’ penalty is high because of their sky-high payroll. In MLB’s most recent collective bargaining discussions, another threshold, dubbed the “Steve Cohen tax,” was put in place for teams spending over $293 million. 

It was put in place so the Mets owner, easily the wealthiest owner in baseball, wouldn’t have that much of an unfair advantage. Only the Yankees and Mets surpassed that threshold. The Mets also paid a luxury after the 2022 season, increasing the amount it had to pay this year.

Mr. Met during a game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field Oct. 8, 2022, in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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Eight teams were charged a luxury tax for the 2023 season. That was the most ever in the league, surpassing the six teams charged the tax from 2016 and 2022.

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Ex-Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo admitted earlier this week he was “hot” when they traded him to the New York Yankees.

Verdugo was sent to the Bronx earlier this month, but he had a hard time coming to terms with being traded to Boston’s despised rival. 

However, Verdugo started to move on relatively quickly when he started reminiscing about his final season with the Sox, which wasn’t a particularly good one.

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Verdugo and Red Sox manager Alex Cora aired out their grievances with one another this week. Verdugo was benched for lack of hustle and showing up late for a game, and Verdugo took a jab at his former manager while praising his new skipper, Aaron Boone.

“I’m very, very excited to work with Aaron. I’ve seen the way he has his players’ backs,” Verdugo told New York reporters earlier this week. “That’s one thing I want to see out of my head coach. I want to see some fire, some fight for the guys. I think, just instead of airing people out, have their backs.”

That clip made the rounds on social media, and ex-Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon caught wind of it.

Papelbon made his displeasure known.

“Verdugo I mean Vertigo is a b—–.,” Papelbon posted to X, formerly Twitter. “Cora has his players and teammates backs more than anyone in the game. You aired yourself out by being late, lazy and unproductive. 

Former Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon gets ready to throw out the first pitch before Game 3 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park Oct. 18, 2021, in Boston. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

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“If I played for Cora I’m drilling this b—-, just saying.”

Verdugo said several Yankees stars reached out to him shortly after the trade, and he’s now bought in, having shaved “right away just so I can feel like I’m in it.”

“Fresh start, it feels good,” Verdugo added.

Alex Verdugo of the Boston Red Sox, right, is welcomed to the dugout by Justin Turner (2) after scoring on a ground rule double by Triston Casas in the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees June 18, 2023, in Boston.  (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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Verdugo had a .264/.324/.421 line in 142 games with the Sox last season. For his career, he is a .281/.337/.428 hitter with 152 doubles, 57 homers and 255 RBIs in 651 games.

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The New England Patriots dropped their 11th game of the season last Sunday, but the amount of air in some of the game balls raised eyebrows.

On Friday, six-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Belichick confirmed that the kicking balls in the 27-17 loss to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs had not been properly inflated. The underinflated footballs brought back memories of the 2015 Deflagate scandal.

At its core, the scandal suggested that the Patriots engaged in an illegal process to lower the inflation of game balls in an effort to provide quarterback Tom Brady with footballs that had a softer grip. The NFL sanctioned an inflation check during halftime of the 2014 AFC Championship Game and proceeded to spend millions of dollars on an investigation that lasted multiple years.

However, Belichick made it clear that the Patriots did not have anything to do with the status of last week’s kicking balls. “But we don’t have anything to do with it,” Belichick said. “Were we aware of it? Yeah, definitely.”

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Both teams kickers had a shaky first half, which some viewed as a red flag. The Chiefs’ normally reliable kicker Harrison Butker missed a midrange field goal in the first quarter, while Patriots kicker Chad Ryland’s 41-yarder was no good.

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“We were aware of it in the first quarter,” Belichick told reporters. “The officials handle that, and they were underinflated by 2-2.5 pounds. I think you can see that by the kicks. Both kickers missed kicks. Butker hadn’t missed a kick all year. Kickoffs, we had two almost went out of bounds.”

Under NFL policy, kicking balls should be inflated to between 12.5-13.5 pounds per square inch. The responsibility of managing the kicking balls falls on the game officials.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid chat before the game. The Patriots lost to the Chiefs, 27-17.  (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Touchbacks on kickoffs have become more common over the past decade after the league implemented a rule that moved the kickoff up to the 35-yard line from the 30. Butker has a touchback rate of just over 87% this season, but he failed to kick the ball into the opposite end zone on the opening kick last week.

There were some adjustments made to correct the issues with the balls at halftime, Belichick said.

“Then they fixed them at halftime, but didn’t do it before then, which is another question you can ask,” Belichick added. All of the ensuing kicking attempts were successful.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots look on prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

An NFL spokesperson declined to offer a comment on the situation.

Belichick doubled down on his position that the Patriots had nothing to do with the situation, and he referred other questions to the league.

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“There were six balls, it was both sets of balls, it was all six of them,” Belichick said. “I don’t know, you’d have to talk to the league on what happened with that, because we don’t have anything to do with that part of that.”

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It may have taken a little longer than Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes would have liked, but the Buffs added a big-time recruit to their offensive line on Friday. 

Jordan Seaton, the top-ranked offensive lineman in the 2024 class, officially signed his National Letter of Intent with Colorado on Friday, according to the school. 

Seaton, a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy in Florida, verbally committed to Colorado in early December. 

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“You’ve got to believe in Coach Prime. Having the opportunity to play with somebody who’s done it at the highest level, gold-jacket level, very few can say they did that. I’ve got two Heisman candidates, Shedeur Sanders [and] Travis Hunter. They’re amazing. You know how they go,” Seaton said on Fox Sports’ “Undisputed.”  

“And if you ain’t rocking with us, and you say you’re a dawg, you claim you’re a dawg, why are you not coming to Colorado? Why are you not helping someone who looks like you?”

But as the opening day of the early signing period came and went, Seaton had yet to sign with Colorado. There were reports that Maryland was still in the running for his services. 

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, left, talks with his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Southern California Saturday, September 30, 2023, in Boulder, Colorado.  (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Seaton ended the speculation on Friday as Sanders continues to try and improve an offensive line that allowed quarterback Shedeur Sanders to be sacked 52 times during the season. 

“This kid is a pro mentally and physically right now. He just has to put it on grass. I love everything about this kid and who he’s going to become. I promise you this kid is going to be a first-rounder if not a top-5 pick,” Sanders said Friday on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” 

Sanders made it clear during the season that his focus was on fixing the offensive line for Year 2. 

College Football: Colorado head coach Deion Sanders walks the sideline vs Arizona at Folsom Field. Boulder, Colorado. (Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images))

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“The [offensive] line has to improve,” Sanders said after a loss to UCLA, according to Fox Sports. “It’s a struggle to run the ball, and we got to figure that out, because now you’re one-dimensional, and it’s easy to stop a team when they’re one-dimensional. And that’s who we are at this point in time. . . . The big picture, you go get new linemen. That’s the picture, and I’ma paint it perfectly.”

Colorado went 4-8 in 2023, losing eight of its last nine games. 

First-year Indiana Hoosiers head football coach Curt Cignetti is not lacking in confidence. 

Cignetti, who was hired away from James Madison after five seasons, was asked how he sells the vision of his culture to recruits during Wednesday’s National Signing Day press conference. 

“It’s pretty simple. I win. Google me,” Cignetti said. 

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Indiana landed 10 players in the transfer portal, including former Ohio quarterback Kurtis Rourke, the 2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year. 

“Kurtis Rourke knows how to play quarterback,” Cignetti said. “While he’s got to do it between the white lines at Indiana, I fully expect him to do it. I think he’s going to be a great player for us.

“But everything is earned, not given. Nobody is promised anything.” 

Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Dolson, left, Indiana’s newly announced head coach of football Curt Cignetti, middle, and Indiana Univeristy President Pamela Whitten pose together on Friday, December 1, 2023. Cignetti is the 30th football coach in the university’s history.

Cignetti emphasized that every player will have to earn their spot at Indiana, regardless of their past accolades. 

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“Nobody has anything,” he continued. “Everything is earned. So, that’s how we run our program.”

Cignetti was the head coach at JMU for the last five seasons, including the last two years when the Dukes became an FBS program. 

He led JMU to a record of 11-1 in 2023 and earned a spot against Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. 

Indiana’s newly announced head coach of football Curt Cignetti speaks to the media on Friday, December 1, 2023. (Rich Janzaruk / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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“I am excited to lead this program forward and change the culture, mindset, and expectation level of Hoosier football,” Cignetti said when he was introduced as head coach at Indiana. “I want to thank Director of Athletics Scott Dolson and President Pam Whitten, and I look forward to working with both in building something special at IU. Both share my vision and belief that big things are ahead for the IU program.”

The Hoosiers went a combined 9-27 over the past two seasons under Tom Allen. 

Allen was fired a day after Indiana completed its season, agreeing to a $15.5 million buyout. 

The Duke Blue Devils have reportedly found their new quarterback. 

Maalik Murphy, who was the backup quarterback to Quinn Ewers at Texas in 2023, has committed to transferring to Duke, according to ESPN. 

Murphy, a redshirt freshman, will have three years of eligibility remaining and can play right away under first-year head coach Manny Diaz. 

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Diaz was named the next head coach of Duke after Mike Elko left to take the job at Texas A&M following the midseason firing of Jimbo Fisher. 

The quarterback position opened up when Riley Leonard, who started under center for Duke the last two seasons, announced that he would transfer to Notre Dame for his final year of eligibility. 

Murphy started two games for Texas this season, replacing the injured Ewers in wins over BYU and Kansas State. He threw for 477 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while appearing in seven games for the Longhorns. 

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Maalik Murphy, #6 of the Texas Longhorns, warms up before the game against Texas Tech at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2023, in Austin, Texas.  (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

He announced last week that he would enter the transfer portal in order to do “what’s best for my future.” 

“A place where I can play,” Murphy told ESPN when asked what he’s looking for in a school. “Continue to get better and continue to be around great people and great players. And just do what’s best for me and my career.”

Murphy will not be with Texas when they face Washington on New Year’s Day in the College Football Playoff. 

“I hate it, I hate it,” Murphy told ESPN. “I’m super-invested in this team. Everything that we’ve done along the way and all the work we’ve put in together, it’s hard to walk away, especially at this point during the season.”

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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)

Murphy’s transfer means that heralded freshman Arch Manning will back up Ewers in the CFP. 

Manning made his highly anticipated debut in the Longhorns’ final regular season game against Texas Tech, playing the entire fourth quarter for Texas. 

“I’ve never seen a quarterback go into the game as a backup . . . when Arch went in, I mean, the crowd was buzzing,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said, according to ESPN. “We had to try to quiet the crowd.”

Ryan Minor, who played in four MLB seasons and replaced Cal Ripken Jr. when he decided to end his consecutive-games streak, died Friday at the age of 49. 

The University of Oklahoma said that Minor passed away from cancer. Minor was an All-American in basketball and helped the OU baseball team to the 1994 national title as a first baseman and pitcher. 

He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 33rd round of the 1996 MLB Draft and appeared in 87 games over three seasons with the Orioles. 

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“We are deeply saddened by the passing of former third baseman and longtime minor league manager Ryan Minor, who courageously fought cancer,” Baltimore posted to X, the company formerly known as Twitter. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan’s family and friends at this time.” 

Ripken ended his consecutive-games-played streak on September 20, 1998 at 2,632. Minor played third base in place of Ripken. 

Baltimore Orioles’ third baseman Ryan Minor leaps but misses a ball hit by Detroit Tigers’ Brad Ausmus during the fourth inning of a baseball game August 8, 1999, at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Former Orioles infielder Minor has died at age 49. The University of Oklahoma said that Minor died of cancer Friday, December 22, 2023.  (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

“I had no idea, when I was coming to the park,” Minor said at the time, according to The Associated Press. 

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He finished his MLB career appearing in 142 games, hitting .177 at the plate with 27 RBIs. 

Minor went on to coach in Baltimore’s minor league system, managing the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Frederick Keys. 

A two-sport star, Minor was named the 1994-95 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year in basketball under head coach Kelvin Sampson. 

Infielder Ryan Minor, #10 of the Baltimore Orioles, looking on during the Spring Training game against the St. Louis Cardinals at the Rodger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Orioles defeated the Cardinals 8-5.  (Jamie Squire/Allsport)

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“The ultimate warrior and fierce competitor,” Sampson posted to X. “The best 3 level scorer i ever coached. Ryan was at his best on the road in the ol Big 8. Thank you for allowing me to coach you Ryan. I love you and God Bless you.” 

Minor was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer last fall, according to The Oklahoman. He was named as a member of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame 2024 class last month.