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  • Phillies spring training news: First full-team workouts underway; Mike Trout prevented from playing in WBC, Trea Turner not invited

    Phillies spring training news: First full-team workouts underway; Mike Trout prevented from playing in WBC, Trea Turner not invited

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 4:16pm

    Scenes from the Phillies first full spring training workout

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    ‘He’s getting there’: Zach Wheeler continues recovery from blood clot

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    Trea Turner: Team USA didn’t invite me to play in World Baseball Classic

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    The surprising things Phillies players brought with them to spring training

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    Spring training photos: Phillies first full-squad workout

    BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla. ahead of the Phillies’ first full-squad workout.
    Bryce Harper works with new bench coach Don Mattingly.
    Kyle Schwarber takes some swings during batting practice.
    The Phillies’ first spring training game is Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
    More photos from Phillies spring training

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 11:37am

    All eyes on Andrew Painter

    Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter will be under no limitations this spring as he competes for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation. He is set to appear in Grapefruit League games for the first time since prior to his ulnar collateral ligament injury and subsequent Tommy John elbow surgery in 2023.

    “I’m sure he’s excited. It’s really the first full year where he’s completely healthy, and where he’s got everything back,” Thomson said. “And when I’m talking about everything, I’m talking about stuff, combined with command and control. So I think he’s really excited. I would think so. I’m excited for him, because I’m thinking he’s really going to be a big piece for us.”

    — Scott Lauber

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 11:18am

    Batting practice for Phillies prospect Aidan Miller

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 10:40am

    Bryce Harper practices with new bench coach Don Mattingly

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 11:00am

    Mike Trout talks position change, being prevented from playing in World Baseball Classic

    Mike Trout wants to move back to center field this season.

    Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout plans to be back in center field this season, he told reporters Monday at the team’s spring training complex in Tempe, Ariz.

    Trout moved to right field last season in an attempt to keep the 34-year-old South Jersey native healthy, but in April he was sidelined for a month by a bone bruise and finished out the year as a designated hitter.

    Trout played 130 games last season, the most since 2019. But Angles general manager Perry Minasian signaled back in December he’d be open to Trout returning to center field.

    “I’m not ruling anything out,” Minasian said, according to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger. “We’ll see where the team looks like when we get to Spring Training and what’s in place and what gives us the best chance to win games. Might be playing center. One day might be playing left. One day might be DHing. I don’t know.”

    Trout also told reporters he wanted to play in this year’s World Baseball Classic, but was prevented due to insurance issues related to his 12-year, $426.5 million contract with the Angels that runs through the 2030 season.

    Essentially, Trout couldn’t find insurance coverage to cover the roughly $37 million he’s owed this season if he were to be injured during the global baseball tournament.

    He’s not alone. The same issue is preventing Houston Astros stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa from suiting up in the World Baseball Contract. Clayton Kershaw faced a similar problem in 2023.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 9:11am

    New Phillies players to watch during spring training

    Adolis Garcia is among the new faces Phillies fans will see in Clearwater.

    The Phillies signed right fielder Adolis García to replace new San Diego Padres first baseman Nick Castellanos and added Chicago Cubs reliever Brad Keller.

    They also sent lefty Matt Strahm to the Royals for Jonathan Bowlan in a reliever swap. And they added bullpen depth with Zach McCambley (Rule 5 draft), lefty Kyle Backhus (trade with Arizona), Yoniel Curet (trade with Tampa Bay), Chase Shugart (trade with Pittsburgh), and Zach Pop (free agent).

    The Phillies also gave manager Rob Thomson a contract extension through 2027 and hired Don Mattingly as his bench coach.

    So which new Phillies is most intriguing for 2026?

    Lauber: Does Justin Crawford count as “new?” Oh, OK, we’ll get to him later. In that case, García. In 2023, he hit 39 homers, got down-ballot MVP votes, and dominated the postseason for the World Series champion Rangers. The Phillies bet on bouncebacks last year from Max Kepler and Jordan Romano and went bust. Will their latest free-agent gamble work out better?

    March: Keller. The right-hander had been a starter for most of his career before his breakout season last year as a high-leverage reliever for the Cubs, and he has retained his starter’s arsenal of four-seam, sinker, slider, changeup, and sweeper. That, plus a jump of over 3 mph on his fastball in 2025, makes him an intriguing back-end option in the Phillies’ bullpen.

    Everything you need to know about Phillies spring training

    — Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 7:29am

    Which Phillies players to watch at spring training

    All eyes will be on prospect Justin Crawford during spring training.

    What’s the Phillies’ biggest roster decision?

    Lauber: Although the decision to commit to Justin Crawford was made early in the offseason, it’s about to play out in real time. At 22, he would be the youngest outfielder to make a Phillies opening-day roster since Greg Luzinski and Mike Anderson in 1973. As the Phillies turn over the keys to center field, Crawford will be at the center of attention.

    March: The Phillies stocked up on potential bullpen depth this winter, making a host of minor league deals, a few trades, and a Rule 5 selection of Zach McCambley. Six reliever spots are likely spoken for, barring injury: lefties José Alvarado and Tanner Banks, and righties Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, Orion Kerkering, and Jonathan Bowlan. There will be some stiff competition for the final two spots.

    Which prospect should fans look out for?

    Lauber: As you watch Crawford and Andrew Painter, don’t take your eyes off Aidan Miller. The Phillies intend to expose the 22-year-old shortstop to third base in spring training, but it will be interesting to see how much third he actually plays — and how fast they push him if he starts hot in triple A and/or Alec Bohm falters again in April.

    March: Gabriel Rincones Jr. made a big impression last spring with a couple of towering home runs. The outfielder was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft, and he could get a major league look at some point in 2026. Rincones, who will be 25 next month, struggles against left-handed pitching, so any opportunity would likely be in a strict platoon. But he has some big power potential against righties.

    Everything you need to know about Phillies spring training

    — Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 7:25am

    New Padres first baseman Nick Castellanos

    A clean-shaven Nick Castellanos, dressed in a brown Padres hoodie, made his first public comments Sunday after signing a one-year deal with San Diego.

    The former Phillies outfielder, who was released by the organization on Thursday, met with the media at the Padres’ spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. He also spent time taking reps at first base. He is expected to see time there as the Padres already have an All-Star rightfielder in Fernando Tatis Jr.

    Castellanos told reporters Sunday he “had a good idea” he would not be back with the Phillies following their exit in the National League Division Series. This winter, the Phillies repeatedly expressed interest in finding a change of scenery for Castellanos after he developed friction with manager Rob Thomson.

    After his release, Castellanos posted a letter on Instagram thanking members of the organization and explaining the “Miami Incident.” During the eighth inning of a June 16 game in Miami, Castellanos said he brought a beer into the dugout after Thomson replaced him for defensive purposes. He was benched for the following game as punishment.

    In his letter, Castellanos wrote that he “will learn from” the incident.

    “I think [what] I said I will learn from this is I guess just letting my emotions get the best of me in a moment,” he said Sunday. “Possibly if I see things that frustrate me or I don’t believe are conducive to winning, to speak up instead of letting things just pile up over time and pile up over time and finally when I address it, it’s less emotional.”

    New Padre Nick Castellanos says he’s glad to play for a manager who has ‘done it’ on the field

    — Lochlahn March

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 7:20am

    Bryce Harper responds to Phillies exec ahead of Spring Training

    Bryce Harper fist-bumps Phillies teammates Sunday ahead of the team’s workout in Clearwater, Fla.

    Bryce Harper touched down in Phillies camp, pulled on a black T-shirt — no, not the black T-shirt that went viral over the holidays — and summarized one of the weirdest weeks in an offseason of his career.

    “For Dave [Dombrowski] to come out and say those things,“ Harper said, ”it’s kind of wild to me still.”

    Key word: Still. Because this was Sunday, 122 days after the Phillies’ highest-ranking baseball official gave a 90-second answer 34 minutes into a 54-minute news conference about whether Harper’s good-but-not-great 2025 season was a one-off or the start of a downward trend.

    Pardon the rehashed sound bite, but well, here goes: “Of course he’s still a quality player,” Dombrowski said, “still an All-Star-caliber player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. And I guess we only find out if he becomes elite [again], or if he continues to be good.”

    Cue the hysteria, fomented by sports-talk radio and social media. And a candid answer to a good question exploded into unfounded speculation that the Phillies would consider trading Harper. (For what it’s worth, John Middleton is clear about wanting Harper to go into the Hall of Fame with a “P” on his plaque.)

    Harper is self-aware. He wasn’t satisfied with last season. There were factors, including an inflamed right wrist that caused him to miss 22 games. But he also swung at a career-high rate of pitches out of the zone, a problem given that Harper saw fewer strikes than any hitter in baseball. He also delivered fewer hits in the clutch than ever before.

    “Obviously,” he said after digesting it for four months, “not the best year of my career.”

    But the substance of Dombrowski’s comments didn’t bother Harper as much as the forum.

    “The big thing for me was, when we first met with this organization [in 2019] it was, ‘Hey, we’re always going to keep things in-house, and we expect you to do the same thing,’” Harper said. “So, when that didn’t happen, it kind of took me for a run a little bit. I don’t know.

    “It’s kind of a wild situation, that even happening.”

    Bryce Harper says Dave Dombrowski’s ‘not elite’ comment is ‘kind of wild to me still’

    — Scott Lauber

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 7:15am

    Photos: Phillies spring training is a vibe

    Pitcher Taijuan Walker looks on while wearing his hat backward Sunday.
    Pitcher Cristopher Sanchez on the mound as palm trees swerve in the background.
    Brandon Marsh shares a laugh during spring training workouts Thursday.
    Pitcher Zack Wheeler warms up last week.
    Phillies manager Rob Thomson looks on during spring training workouts.
    More photos: Phillies work out Sunday

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 7:10am

    2026 Phillies spring training TV schedule

    Tom McCarthy is entering his 19th season as the TV voice of the Phillies.

    NBC Sports Philadelphia will once again broadcast 12 Phillies spring training games in 2026 — 10 on the main channel and two on NBC Sports Philadelphia+.

    The network’s TV schedule kicks off Sunday with the Phillies’ afternoon matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla., where the team has played spring ball for 78 years.

    The Phillies March 4 exhibition game against Canada ahead of the World Basball classic will also air on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

    In addition, a handful of spring training games will stream live on the Phillies’ website.

    Here are all the Phillies spring training games airing on NBC Sports Philadelphia:

    • Sunday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • Feb. 25 vs Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • Feb. 27 vs. Florida Marlins (split squad), 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 1 vs. New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 4 vs. Canada, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 5 vs. Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP+)
    • March 8 at Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 10 vs. New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 13 vs. Baltimore Orioles, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP+)
    • March 15 vs. Atlanta Braves, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 17 vs. Minnesota Twins, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)
    • March 20 vs. Detroit Tigers, 1:05 p.m. (NBCSP)

    — Rob Tornoe

    Key spring training dates for the Phillies

    Phillies players warm up during spring training workouts at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
    • First full-squad workout: Feb. 16
    • First spring training game: Feb. 21 at Blue Jays (Dunedin, Fla.)
    • Spring training home opener: Feb. 22 vs. Pirates (Clearwater)
    • World Baseball Classic: March 5 – 17
    • Last spring training game: March 23 vs. Rays (Clearwater)
    • Opening day: March 26 vs. Rangers, 4:05 p.m., Citizens Bank Park

    — Lochlahn March, Scott Lauber

    // Timestamp 02/16/26 7:05am

  • Flyers to bring Dunder Mifflin to Philly for ‘The Office’ theme night next month

    Flyers to bring Dunder Mifflin to Philly for ‘The Office’ theme night next month

    The Flyers are bringing Scranton to Philadelphia, with the NHL’s first theme night celebrating The Office.

    On March 14 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Flyers will pay tribute to one of NBC’s most iconic TV shows to celebrate the network’s 100th anniversary.

    The night will include clips from the show on the videoboard, specialty food and beverage offerings, Gritty tie-ins, and (probably) a giveaway or special ticket package of some kind to be announced at a later time.

    The Flyers will be hosting a special “The Office” theme night to celebrate the hit NBC show.

    “The Philadelphia Flyers are honored to partner with Peacock to celebrate The Office, an iconic piece of NBC’s legacy 100 years in the making,” said Flyers chief revenue and business officer Todd Glickman in a statement. “It’s happening! Everybody stay calm!”

    While The Office has been off the air since May 2013, when it ended its nine-season run, it remains popular. NBC launched a spinoff called The Paper, which premiered on Peacock in the fall and stars Domhnall Gleeson and Oscar Nuñez, who reprises his role of Oscar Martinez from the original series. The Paper, which follows a small Midwestern newspaper, is expected to return for a second season in the fall.

    Other forthcoming theme nights include Fourth Wing Night, PGA Championship Night, and Margaritaville Night. The Flyers will also host Philadelphia’s last remaining Dollar Dog Night on March 24.

  • A.J. Brown’s frustrations likely affected the Eagles last season, Jason Kelce says: ‘You can just feel it’

    A.J. Brown’s frustrations likely affected the Eagles last season, Jason Kelce says: ‘You can just feel it’

    There was plenty of blame to go around after the Eagles’ postseason run ended early, following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild-card round. But a few people are getting more heat than the rest.

    One of the main culprits was offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who was fired after one season in the role and is reportedly on his way to Miami. Another person who has taken a lot of the blame is three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown.

    Brown expressed frustrations with the offense over the last season with cryptic social media posts, Twitch livestreams, and to the media. Following the Eagles’ early exit, Brown declined speaking to reporters postgame and the following day as the players cleaned out their lockers.

    Jason Kelce knows the Eagles are trying to ‘move forward’ but wishes Jeff Stoutland ‘could’ve been a part of that’

    Throughout the season former Eagles center Jason Kelce defended the receiver. Now, with Brown’s future in Philly still in question, Kelce was asked about the receiver’s perceived lack of effort on 94 WIP.

    “How hard is it to play with a player that’s not giving full effort?” Kelce said. “It’s incredibly frustrating, right. I think any player that’s out there when you’re seeing a teammate not go all out, like that’s all you want from your teammates. And that’s all we want as fans. And it’s a really hard thing to optically watch. It’s frustrating to watch.”

    Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four seasons in Philly.

    Brown finished last season with 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. In the wild-card loss, Brown recorded three receptions for 25 yards and had a costly third-down drop late in the game.

    “I think whatever was affecting A.J. affected the team,” Kelce said. “And I think that A.J. was clearly affected. I don’t know to what degree A.J. affected the other guys, probably a little bit. Whenever you have somebody who doesn’t have the right energy come through the building and you can just feel it. It’s not good, right? But, I think the reality is most of the words that come out of the building — from players, from coaches, from everybody — love A.J. Brown. … There’s a genuine appreciation for A.J. Do you know how hard that is when it’s so apparent that he’s frustrated on the field?

    “ … He’s well respected. I think part of it is that he’s a great player and teammates want him there and know that he can be a dominating force for them. He’s just unfortunately a player who allows his internal frustrations to manifest into his play. And it makes him play worse, and makes the offense worse, and it makes his energy worse. And some guys can block that out and go out there and just play football. He is clearly not one of those guys.”

    Kelce has since clarified his comments with a post on X.

    “It seems people are taking this as a dig on A.J. Brown, which wasn’t really the intent of the response,” Kelce wrote. “It was apparent that A.J. was frustrated, and it’s apparent that A.J. lets that affect his play at times. That’s frustrating to watch as fans and people on the outside. But it’s more important that his teammates and coaches for all of this external frustration still love and only say positive things about A.J.

    “That probably means that his teammates understand where he’s coming from, and that’s what really matters. If there was an issue with it, teammates would be saying different things publicly. That was the point I was attempting to say. That was the purpose of this response and I worded it poorly. I love A.J. Brown, I loved him as a teammate, and I think if he ends up getting traded, the Eagles, and fans will end up regretting it majorly.”

    Brown is under contract with the Eagles through the 2029 season.

  • Nick Castellanos’ most memorable Phillies moments, from coincidental home runs to the ‘Miami Incident’

    Nick Castellanos’ most memorable Phillies moments, from coincidental home runs to the ‘Miami Incident’

    The Phillies released Nick Castellanos on Thursday after failing to find a trade partner for the 33-year old outfielder, three days before position players were scheduled to report to the team’s spring training facilities in Clearwater, Fla.

    Although the end of his time with the Phillies has been defined by a prolonged search to shed the $20 million left on his contract, Castellanos was one of the Phillies’ most intriguing characters, on and off the field.

    Here’s a look back at some of the right fielder’s most memorable moments from his time with the Phillies:

    A beer in the dugout, a benching, and a rift with his manager: Inside the final Phillies season for Nick Castellanos

    The Castellanos Curse

    Castellanos became known nationally for hitting home runs with bad timing for broadcasters. It began in an August 2020 game with the Reds when he hit a drive into deep left field while former Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was apologizing for using a homophobic slur earlier in the broadcast.

    When the right fielder logged his first hit with the Phillies in a spring training game against the Blue Jays in 2022, the Toronto broadcasters were discussing pitching coach Pete Walker being charged with driving under the influence a day earlier.

    Castellanos caught Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy in the middle of a tribute to fallen service members on Veterans Day in 2022, lifting a homer to deep left field as the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast was returning from commercial in the bottom of the second.

    Eventually, he began delivering big hits at the same time as major news events or celebrity deaths. Castellanos hit a homer the day I-95 collapsed in Northeast Philadelphia on June 11, 2023.

    He hit a walk-off double on the day Willie Mays died in 2024; homered and hit a double on the day President Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pa., in July 2024; and hit a drive into deep left field on the day former President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. He hit a spring training homer on the day Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham announced his retirement in March, although Graham came out of retirement and returned to the Eagles during the 2025 season.

    A surge of bets on Castellanos to hit a homer on April 21, the day the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, caused FanDuel Sportsbook to temporarily lock the outfielder’s odds. Notably, Castellanos was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts that day, and the Phillies lost to the Mets, 5-4.

    Hayes: Selfish, insubordinate Nick Castellanos is released by Phillies then issues a wild manifesto on Instagram

    There is something to suggest that Castellanos was hitting coincidental homers long before anyone was paying attention. He hit his first minor league homer on May 1, 2011, the same day that former President Barack Obama announced the U.S. had killed Osama bin Laden.

    Father and son

    Castellanos’ son Liam became a good-luck charm for the Phillies as the team made its run to the National League Championship Series in 2023. Liam, who lives in Florida during the school year, witnessed his father play arguably the best two games of his career when the son came to Philadelphia for the team’s division series against the Braves.

    With his son in the stands, Castellanos became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs in back-to-back postseason games.

    Liam joined the Phillies at Xfinity Live after they beat the Braves, 3-1, in the NLDS and stuck around for the rest of the postseason, until the Phils fell in a seven-game NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    Liam returned for Red October in 2024 and worked as his father’s good luck charm again. Castellanos claimed a walk-off hit in game two of the NLDS against the Mets to tie the series at one game apiece.

    But the Phils’ ride was shorter that season as the Mets won the series in four games.

    The team’s postseason luck ran dry in 2025, as the Dodgers beat the Phillies in four games of the division series. Castellanos’ final act in a Phillies uniform was to embrace teammate Orion Kerkering after the pitcher made a season-ending errant throw to home in the bottom of the 11th.

    The ‘Miami Incident’

    Not all of Castellanos’ moments with the Phillies were highlights. The outfielder took time to address what he called the “Miami incident” in his farewell letter to Philadelphia, which he posted to Instagram on Thursday afternoon.

    Castellanos was benched last season during a road series against his hometown team, the Miami Marlins, ending an iron man streak of 236 games. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the decision to sit Castellanos was due to an “inappropriate comment” the outfielder made after being removed in the eighth inning of the previous game.

    Castellanos’ letter says that he brought a can of Presidente beer into the dugout after being removed from the game. The beer was taken from Castellanos’ hand before he could take a sip, but the outfielder still let Thomson know he was frustrated.

    “I then sat next to Rob and let him know that too much slack in some areas and to [sic] tight of restrictions in others are not condusive [sic] to us winning,” Castellanos wrote.

    Castellanos added that he apologized to Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski after the incident. Dombrowski said Thursday that Castellanos’ behavior in Miami did not directly contribute to the team’s decision to release him.

  • Jason Kelce knows the Eagles are trying to ‘move forward’ but wishes Jeff Stoutland ‘could’ve been a part of that’

    Jason Kelce knows the Eagles are trying to ‘move forward’ but wishes Jeff Stoutland ‘could’ve been a part of that’

    Former center Jason Kelce was one of the first people to share his thoughts when Jeff Stoutland announced last week that he was stepping down after 13 seasons as the Eagles offensive line coach.

    Kelce, who spent 11 of his 13 seasons studying under the dean of “Stoutland University,” talked more about the departure of the longtime assistant on the most recent episode of New Heights.

    “I mean, [he] just coached a ton of incredible players: Jason Peters, Todd Herremans, Evan Mathis, myself, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata — turned him from a rugby player into an All-Pro left tackle,“ Kelce said. ”He got Cam Jurgens to a Pro Bowl last year, Landon Dickerson to some Pro Bowls, Isaac Seumalo. He’s just done such an incredible job within the Philadelphia Eagles organization, and he’s been such a mainstay throughout multiple head coaches at this point.”

    Kelce, who remains a regular at the team facility since his retirement and worked with the Eagles’ young offensive lineman during training camp at the request of Stoutland, also had personal reasons for not wanting to see his mentor go.

    “It just sucks to see him go, selfishly. As an Eagles fan and somebody that played for him, and somebody that still goes to the facility — I still go to NovaCare on a regular basis — and I’m not going to be able to see Stout anymore,“ Kelce said. ”And that’s just frustrating for me, and I think frustrating for a lot of people in that building because he was a personality that a lot of people gravitated toward. And this is the reality of the business.”

    In addition to Jason Kelce (left), Jeff Stoutland also coached left tackle Jason Peters (right).

    He even offered a personal message to Stoutland, who won a pair of Super Bowls with the Eagles and has coached football longer than the 38-year-old Kelce has been alive.

    Said Kelce: “Coach, I love you. I don’t know what’s next, but whatever it is, whether it’s coaching or whatever, I know you’re going to be great at it, as you always are.”

    Stoutland’s greatness wasn’t lost on Travis Kelce either. While he never played for him, the younger Kelce brother admired him from afar, all while seeing the impact Stoutland had on Jason.

    “You already know, man, we’ve got so much respect for him,” Travis said. “He’s one of those guys that you meet in crossing just because you were playing for him … And he’s one of those guys that you would [expletive] just know you’d love playing for, man. And it’s across the board, anybody that runs into him knows you’re going to get everything this guy has and on top of that he’s going to be real about it and we’re going to get [expletive] done.

    “One of the best ball coaches I’ve known from afar, and couldn’t be more proud to say congrats on everything your career has gotten to at this point.”

    Cam Jurgens (left) was Jason Kelce’s replacement at center. Kelce helped Stoutland coach him up before retiring.

    In addition to serving as offensive line coach, Stoutland was also the Eagles run-game coordinator for many years, but Nick Sirianni shifted some of those responsibilities away from Stoutland last year with the ground attack struggling, as Jeff McLane reported. The team also made a change at offensive coordinator, with Kevin Patullo (now reportedly headed to the Dolphins) being replaced by Sean Mannion. And while Jason Kelce understands the nature of the business, he wishes the veteran assistant could’ve stuck around through yet another coordinator change.

    “I get that the team is trying to move forward and really embrace this new system and really redesign what this offense is. I wish Stout could’ve been a part of that, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way,” Jason added. “Anyways, love you, coach. Couldn’t be more happy to have been coached by you.

    “And 27 Pro Bowl linemen were with Stout over that 13 years. Wild.”

  • Everyone loves Olympic curling — and some even think it looks easy. So how hard can it be?

    Everyone loves Olympic curling — and some even think it looks easy. So how hard can it be?

    When your social media algorithm starts feeding you videos of Snoop Dogg, and Jason and Kylie Kelce learning how to curl, it must be time for the Winter Olympics.

    Curling, which officially became an Olympic sport in 1998, has already kicked off with mixed doubles, in which Team USA claimed a silver medal, its first ever medal in the event.

    Men’s curling started on Wednesday and women’s curling on Thursday — featuring a local athlete: Marple Newtown High School graduate Taylor Anderson-Heide.

    Ahead of the Milan Olympic Games, similar to the Kelces and Snoop Dogg, I had the opportunity to get some hands-on training. Here’s a look about the training that goes into the sport, my own experience on the ice, and some local places to play.

    Curling is back at the Olympics. What are the rules? Why do people love it? And how can I watch it?

    Do you really train for curling?

    Curling can look effortless on television, but looks can be deceiving.

    Daniel Laufer, 19, a freshman at Thomas Jefferson University from Richboro, Bucks County, who has been curling for 12 years, had the opportunity to compete on this year’s Olympics ice at the Cortina Olympic Stadium in Italy during last year’s World Junior Curling Championships as a member of Team USA.

    The ice at the Olympic curling center in Milan, like the ice seen here at the Philadelphia Curling Club in Paoli, is pebbled, which is different than the smooth ice you’d find at a Flyers game.

    “That was a really great experience,” Laufer said. “[The ice] was really good. Obviously, not as good as it is for the Olympics. They were still figuring out the facilities and figuring out the rocks. We had a really good experience with that venue.”

    This year, Laufer again will be competing in the World Junior Curling Championships, just outside Copenhagen, Denmark, from Feb. 24 through March 3. Ahead of the event, he’s been training, working on his strength and cardio.

    “I usually try to lift four to five times a week and do a significant amount of cardio,” Laufer said. “When I was training specifically for Worlds last season, I had like three months where I was practicing five days a week. Practices are like two hours long. I probably throw 50 to 60 rocks every practice.

    “That’s what a higher level training regiment looks like. But, it looks different for everybody.”

    Philly connections to the Winter Olympics, from a young figure skater to Donovan McNabb’s niece
    Inquirer reporter Ariel Simpson (center) gets instructions on how to sweep from Carolyn Lloyd (right) at the Philadelphia Curling Club in Paoli.

    How hard is curling?

    Not everyone trains like Laufer, especially amateurs. So how difficult is curling for the average person? I recently had the opportunity to get a hands-on experience at the Philadelphia Curling Club in Paoli with Carolyn Lloyd, a member for 20 years.

    “I love exposing people to something that’s so special,” said Lloyd, who lives in Collegeville. “People don’t realize just how special it is. It’s different from a lot of sports, certainly in its culture. This sport captures my whole heart.”

    Before this I had never stepped foot on ice — other than the sheet that covered my driveway for two recent weeks. So, I knew this was going to be a bit of a challenge, but Lloyd was more than up to the task of teaching me.

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    When it came to delivering the stone, I watched a number of YouTube videos ahead of time. So, of course, I felt like a pro walking in — I didn’t even need special shoes, just some attachments. But once I actually stepped onto the ice, with a gripper covering one shoe and a slider covering the other, I felt like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time.

    Walking on the ice was hard enough. Now, imagine having to get into a squat position and push off the hack — a rubber block embedded into the ice — with one leg and balance on the other while holding a deep lunge and bracing your core.

    Then you have to aim, release, and spin a 42-pound granite stone. Easy? Trust me, it’s not like they make it look on TV.

    Carolyn Lloyd (left) explains Inquirer reporter Ariel Simpson the parts of a curling stone at the Philadelphia Curling Club in Paoli.

    It took me a few tries before I was even mentally prepared to push off with enough strength to move myself a few feet. But, once you get over the fear of falling onto the ice, you start to actually enjoy yourself and can focus on the next step — getting the stone to the house — which I did, eventually.

    And all of this was only learning how to deliver the stone. Sweeping was a whole other issue. By the time I was ready to try sweeping, I had much more confidence walking on the ice, so that’s a plus. But now I had to run on it.

    Afterward, I felt like I had done a full body workout. The amount of core, lower-body, and arm strength needed for curling is substantial and was certainly a surprise.

    The one part of the sport I didn’t get a chance to take part in was the social aspect. It’s a game that’s big on camaraderie, including the post-round tradition of “broomstacking,” when the winning team buys the losing team a drink. But, hey, I was on the clock.

    Where can I try curling in the Philly area?

    If you want to give curling — and its rules and traditions — a try, there are a couple of local clubs where you can learn.

    The Philadelphia Curling Club was started in 1957 but didn’t move to its current location until 1965. Since then they have grown, gaining over 200 members.

    “This building was built for curling,” Lloyd said. “We bought the land. We built the club. And to this day, what you see here is a lot of the club members’ efforts. Most of the work that we do is not things that other people come in and do for us.”

    The club offers a junior program on the weekends where kids can start as early as 5 years old.

    “It’s something that anyone can pick up,” Lloyd said. “The game has adaptations for people who have different types of ability needs. You can learn very quickly, and then you can refine that skill for the rest of your life.”

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    A member of the Philadelphia Curling Club in Paoli delivers a stone during warmups last week.

    There’s also the Bucks County Curling Club, located on York Road in Warminster, that was formed in 2010. The four-sheet club also has over 200 members and plays year-round.

    Although it’s usually once every four years when the world tunes in to watch curling on TV, there is plenty of curling content that Laufer wants fans to know about.

    “We have a ton of events,” he said. “There’s the Grand Slam of Curling events, which are our biggest tour events. There’s the World Championships, the European Championships. There’s a lot of events to watch, a lot of events that U.S. teams play in.”

    But first, the Olympics.

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  • Ben Simmons starred in a Super Bowl commercial about helping people get over their celebrity exes

    Ben Simmons starred in a Super Bowl commercial about helping people get over their celebrity exes

    Philly fans probably weren’t expecting to see Ben Simmons during the Super Bowl — but the former Sixers first-round pick made headlines on Sunday that don’t have to do with professional fishing.

    Simmons starred alongside comedian Tiffany Haddish in an ad, which debuted on Instagram before the Big Game, for fantasy sports app Sleeper.

    The commercial introduces a fictional “Simmons & Haddish” law firm and pokes fun at Simmons’ ex-girlfriend Kendall Jenner, who starred in her own Fanatics Sportsbook Super Bowl commercial, teasing the Kardashian dating curse.

    “Haven’t you heard? The internet says I’m cursed,” Jenner says in her ad. “Any basketball player who dates me, kind of hits a rough patch. While the world’s been talking about it, I’ve been betting on it. How else do you think I can afford all this … modeling?”

    Jenner and Simmons were first linked together in May 2018 before calling it quits in May 2019. She has also dated Devin Booker, Jordan Clarkson, and Blake Griffin. Booker responded to the ad on X. But, Simmons had his own response to Jenner’s recent commercial.

    “Are your exes subbing you in commercials?” Simmons says in the Sleepers ad.

    “If so, you may be entitled to retribution,” Haddish adds. “You need emotional injury specialists Simmons & Haddish. You need the ex-communicators.”

    Simmons and Haddish offer their services to help during celebrity breakups. The ad featured many famous exes, including Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole, rapper Cardi B’s ex-husband Offset, and reality star Chelley Bissainthe’s ex-boyfriend Ace Greene.

    Each ex had their own testimony for the work of Simmons & Haddish, including Nicole — and they didn’t have the best reviews.

    “Simmons & Haddish promised me that they could put an end to this whole ‘ex-girlfriend’ fiasco quickly,” Nicole says.

    Simmons interjected with a reference to Kelce’s current fiancée, Taylor Swift: “That doesn’t sound right … I said ‘swiftly.’ Why is that so hard to remember?”

    The ex-communicators even had their own catchy theme song.

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    With a return to the NBA currently on hold, Simmons is now a controlling operator of the South Florida Sails Angling Club, a team in the Sports Fishing Championship. When he’s not fixing celebrity relationships, that is.

  • Michael Vick says he was jealous of Donovan McNabb and thrived in Philly for the same reason: Andy Reid

    Michael Vick says he was jealous of Donovan McNabb and thrived in Philly for the same reason: Andy Reid

    On Monday, former Eagles quarterback Michael Vick joined former NBA star Carmelo Anthony on his 7pm In Brooklyn podcast to discuss his NFL career — including the impact Andy Reid and the Eagles organization had on him when he returned to football after serving 21 months in federal prison for felony offenses related to operating a dogfighting ring and a gambling enterprise.

    “That second act was everything that I needed in my life,” Vick said. “Talk about full circle, completion.”

    Changing Birds

    Vick joined the Eagles shortly after his time in prison in 2009, with Reid bringing him in to back up then starter Donovan McNabb. At the time, it was unclear if Vick, a three-time Pro-Bowler with the Atlanta Falcons and the 2005 MVP runner-up, would get a second chance in professional sports following his indictment.

    “I hate to say it, but I needed some time to myself,” Vick said in reference to his time in prison. “As much as it hurt and as much as I cried, because I didn’t come from that, I had to adjust and adapt to that. I did, and I made it through, but within that time I was just building my whole [mentality] to come back and be a better version of myself.”

    A backup in his first year, Vick was able to return to a starting role in 2010 after the Eagles traded McNabb, and his replacement, starter Kevin Kolb, suffered a concussion against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Vick was eventually named the starter, helping the team go 10-6 while earning himself NFL comeback player of the year honors.

    Michael Vick signed with the Eagles as a backup in 2009.

    Rejuvenated

    Vick finished second to Tom Brady, the eventual MVP, in offensive player of the year voting in 2010, and the Eagles fell to the Packers in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The lefty quarterback, who signed a six-year, $100 million deal with the Birds that offseason, credited his career resurgence to his teammates and the culture Philly had established before his arrival.

    “I still was young,” Vick said. “Still had so much to learn. I appreciated it the second time around because I ended up with Andy Reid. I ended up with a great group of teammates: DeSean [Jackson], LeSean [McCoy], Jeremy Maclin, Jason Peters, Jason Avant, Jason Kelce, Nick Foles — all these dudes were my brothers, Donovan, [Brian] Westbrook, it was family.”

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    Vick noted how he didn’t apply himself fully in Atlanta, and that the Eagles taught him how to be a professional, and described how too many nights out and an unserious mindset hampered his growth while with the Falcons.

    “I had seen that they were just different in Philly,” Vick said. “It was just all about learning and getting better every day and supporting one another. Things that I didn’t do in Atlanta, that I wish I had done, I was able to do. Being able to come back and win comeback player of the year, all the hard work I put in, it’s like, damn, mentorship is really real. Brotherhood is real. Trust is real. Accountability is real.”

    Vick also pushed himself to improve off the field, which started during his time in prison.

    “When I was away, I wanted to prepare myself to be a better version of myself,” Vick said. “As far as being media friendly, being more approachable, just being better, a better person all around, a better family man for my kids, my wife, just searching for completion.”

    Vick is now the head coach Norfolk State, and faced off against former teammate DeSean Jackson, now the coach of Delaware State, at the Linc last year.

    Coaching matters

    Before he ever wore midnight green, Vick says he was jealous of McNabb and the situation the former quarterback had in Philly — specifically highlighting Reid’s coaching style. McNabb and Reid ended two of Vick’s playoff runs with the Falcons, defeating Vick in the divisional round in 2003 and in the 2005 NFC championship.

    “Don’t take this the wrong way, Donovan, but I was a little envious,” Vick said. “Like, damn, man, you got a great coach. I’m looking at the offense, watching them on film, and if I was doing that type of stuff, we’d be winning more.”

    At the time, Vick didn’t understand how transformative playing for Reid would be. Not only did the coach help give him his second shot in the NFL, but he also opened the door for Vick to one day become a coach himself.

    “God blessed me and put me in that man’s presence,” Vick said in reference to Reid. “I didn’t take that for granted, and what it taught me … [was] I can be a coach one day, even though that was something I never thought I would be doing.”

    Vick is now the head coach of Norfolk State, a historically Black university located near his hometown of Newport News, Va. Last October, Vick found himself at Lincoln Financial Field once again, this time as a coach, where he faced off against former teammate DeSean Jackson, who is now the coach of another HBCU program, Delaware State.

  • Jared McCain shares emotional reaction to Thunder trade: ‘Everybody is getting on the plane and I’m just crying’

    Jared McCain shares emotional reaction to Thunder trade: ‘Everybody is getting on the plane and I’m just crying’

    Chat, they traded me, dog.

    Those were the first words from 21-year-old former Sixers guard Jared McCain in his latest vlog after getting traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 4 in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks.

    The former Rookie of the Year front-runner was surprised when he received the news on the team bus, which was headed to the San Francisco airport ahead of the Sixers’ road game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

    “We were just on the bus,” McCain said in his latest YouTube video. “I get a call saying it might happen. And then like five minutes later [Daryl Morey] calls and says, ‘You’re cooked, Jared McCain.’ He said, ‘Bye, man. Never speak to me again.’ No, they were nice about it but, you know, it’s part of the NBA.”

    When McCain initially broke the news to his teammates, they didn’t believe him.

    “Right when I found out, I went to the back of the bus and I told Tyrese [Maxey] and nobody, they didn’t believe me,” McCain said. “And then I think management called them and then we were all getting on the plane and then I’m crying at this point. And we get off the buses and everybody is giving me hugs and I’m just crying. It was like a movie scene. Everybody is getting on the plane and I’m just crying. Lot of tears today. Happy, sad, I don’t know.”

    Maxey thought it was a joke when McCain shared the news. Afterward, the All-Star point guard publicly discussed McCain’s departure, calling him his “little brother.”

    “It was just like, ‘All right, whatever. He’s just joking,’” Maxey said. “Calls start coming in, and then you realize it’s real.”

    McCain had a breakout rookie season, averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists before his season was cut short by a torn meniscus in his left knee. McCain struggled in his second season after being sidelined for surgeries on his knee and thumb. In 37 games, the young guard averaged 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.

    On a private jet to Oklahoma City, McCain tried to keep a positive mindset on the trade — even if that meant drawing inspiration from his favorite music artist, Drake.

    “I’m in shock still,” McCain said. “I’m an OKC Thunder. What did Drake say? ‘It’s raining money, Oklahoma City Thunder. The most successful rapper 35 and under.’ Drake did say that. So, maybe it was destined for me. And it was in Weston Road Flows too. But, shout-out OKC, man. OKC, here we come. I’m excited, blessed, thankful. Let’s go have some fun.”

    Throughout the rest of the video, McCain shared his first few days with his new team — whether he was practicing how to say hi to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, visiting the Paycom Center, getting locked out of the Thunder’s training facility, meeting OKC fans, or playing in his first game with the team, when he finished with five points, two rebounds, and one assist — and received a standing ovation.

    But the former Sixers first-round pick had one more message to Philly fans and it came in song form. McCain dedicated Olivia Dean’s “A Couple Minutes” to the organization and its fan base.

  • Chris Pronger weighs in on Matvei Michkov and a Flyers rebuild that’s been going on ‘for what seems like 12 years’

    Chris Pronger weighs in on Matvei Michkov and a Flyers rebuild that’s been going on ‘for what seems like 12 years’

    Flyers fans are “starving” for a superstar player. That’s what’s driving a lot of the angst around Matvei Michkov, former team captain Chris Pronger said.

    On Monday’s episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Pronger, a hockey Hall of Famer who spent the last three years of his 18-year career with the Flyers, shared his thoughts on the team’s rebuild and Michkov’s development as a professional.

    The never-ending rebuild

    The current regime spearheading the Flyers’ rebuild, led by president Keith Jones and general manager Danny Brière, has been in place since May 2023, just under three years. But Flyers fans are still reeling from the failures of previous regimes.

    “They’ve been in what’s called a rebuild for what seems like 12 years,” Pronger said. “I think they’re frustrated and they want the rebuild to be over, but they didn’t go about the rebuild properly in the early days.”

    The Flyers haven’t made the playoffs since the COVID bubble in 2020, and have advanced past the first round just once since the 2012-13 season — during that bubble playoff run, which was played in an empty building in Toronto.

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    The most important keys to any successful rebuild are finding a star center and a No. 1 defenseman, two things that have eluded the Flyers so far. It takes lottery luck, which the Flyers haven’t had much of lately. But those who believe Michkov, a winger, becoming a star will be the difference between a Stanley Cup-contending Flyers team and the draft lottery aren’t being realistic, according to Pronger.

    “I don’t know any team — any team — that rebuilds with a winger,” Pronger said. “I don’t know one good team who rebuilt with a winger. You don’t rebuild with a winger, you rebuild up the middle — center, defense, goalie. I know you [draft] the best player available, and clearly he was the best player, but as it relates to that, sometimes you have to luck out, too, in a rebuild and get the right pick when the right player is available.”

    In January, Pronger posted on X that those centerpiece players are the hardest to find, and the Flyers need to be patient and deliberate about compiling assets to make those moves if they become available. But he also suggested that the best way to rebuild is to tear it all the way down, like San Jose and Chicago have done, for a chance at landing a player like Macklin Celebrini or Connor Bedard.

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    Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov has struggled in his second season with the team.

    How to help Michkov

    Michkov came into camp out of shape, something Pronger admitted he’d also done early in his career, in his second and third NHL seasons. Teams don’t get a lot of practice time, Pronger said, so it’s extremely difficult to play yourself into shape during the year. Pronger’s coach at the time, former Flyers boss Mike Keenan, was extremely tough on him, to the point where Pronger joked that even his teammates started to feel bad.

    He also pointed to the language barrier between the Russian Michkov and the coaching staff as a hurdle.

    “The fact that he doesn’t speak the language very well, if at all, that’s part of the problem, because it might not be translating properly what he’s going through, what he’s dealing with,” Pronger said. “… You’ve got to be hard on young guys, but it’s not 1995, either. That’s not how this world works in today’s hockey world, in today’s NHL. You have to find a connection with the player. There’s ways to be hard.”

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    The Flyers do not employ a full-time Russian translator for Michkov, instead relying on Slava Kuznetsov, a skating coach who also works with Olympian Isabeau Levito, to translate for him.

    Now, the Flyers need to teach Michkov how to be a pro, Pronger said, and that includes setting the example of him coming into camp in shape, and learning to be more responsible with the puck.

    “I saw a few of their games last year with [John Tortorella], and he played [Michkov] a bit differently,” Pronger said. “He got him on the power play, to me it looked like he was putting him in more positions for success. It looked like he let him do a little more, but wasn’t — I don’t know if teaching him is the right word, but showcasing his abilities and not digging into the other parts of the game where he needed to improve.”

    The Flyers are off for the Olympic break and will return to the ice on Feb. 25 against the Washington Capitals.