2. Bundesliga Live: Dresden vs Darmstadt 98 – 24th Matchday — and more

The 24th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga kicks off on 27 February 2026 at 18:30, featuring Dynamo Dresden at home against SV Darmstadt 98. Live radio coverage will be handled by reporter Jeremias Diel.

The Dallas Cowboys didn't see a need to wait until the last minute... kind of, sort of. With a window that doesn't close until March 3, the team has placed the franchise tag on their most valuable pending free agent, WR George Pickens.

The move, the non-exclusive franchise tag, doesn't prevent Pickens from negotiating with other teams once the NFL league year kicks off on March 11. He'll actually be able to have contract talks with any other team starting March 9, the start of the legal tampering window. What the tag does do is guarantee the Cowboys the chance to match any offer, or receive compensation if they don't match an offer sheet.

In exchange, Pickens will immediately hit the books for $28.8 million in 2026 cap hit. That will push the Cowboys to need to create $55 million of space based on their current contracts by midnight of March 12. Otherwise, the league will begin releasing players from the roster to bring them in compliance.

The Dallas Cowboys will do what has been expected on Friday, placing the franchise tag on wide receiver George Pickens to secure his rights at least through 2026, sources told @toddarcher. pic.twitter.com/rmIPSxAnsY

— ESPN (@espn) February 27, 2026

The Cowboys have let it be known numerous times, both the Joneses in the front office and head coach Brian Schottenheimer, that they want to work out a long-term deal with Pickens to play opposite CeeDee Lamb for years to come.

Pickens' production exploded once the club traded for him, acquiring the then three-year veteran from the Pittsburgh Steelers for Dallas' third-round pick in this draft. There was also a swap of Day 3 draft assets. Pickens rewarded the investment with a Second-Team All-Pro campaign, hauling in 93 passes for 1,429 yards and scoring nine touchowns.

All were career highs, but Pickens came over with just one season remaining on his contract.

The question now is just where does the market sit for Pickens. Dallas is already paying Lamb at the top of the wideout market, at $34 million a year, good for third-highest in the league. He was the second-best paid WR when he signed.

With reigning OPOY Jaxson Smith-Njigba angling to suprass the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase's $40 million per year average, many wonder if that puts Pickens in the ballpark of approaching or surpassing Lamb.

Perhaps being able to negotiate with other teams can give each side some idea of where that number sits at. Pickens can negotiate without signing an offer sheet, or if he's truly interested in forcing the Cowboys' hand, he can do so.

Absent an offer sheet, the two sides will have until July 17 to reach a long-term deal, or the one-year tender will lock in for the 2026 season. Until Pickens signs the tender, he is not required to participate in any team activities, which would bring a circus-like atmosphere to Dallas' offseason yet again.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys slap franchise tag on WR George Pickens, now $55M over cap

The two-time DP World Tour winner, 36, is understood to have fallen two or three floors down the shaft in South Africa on Wednesday after doors opened without the lift car itself appearing.

The New York Jets, led by general manager Aaron Glenn, are strategically utilizing the NFL Combine to establish early connections and gather intelligence on players at a specific position before free agency begins. This proactive approach aims to give the Jets a competitive edge in negotiations.

The Carolina Panthers may be giving another player a chance at their own exit strategy.

According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the team has granted defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson permission to seek a trade. Per Person, they've already done the same with backup quarterback Andy Dalton—who has reportedly garnered some outside interest this week.

Robinson might be the likeliest cut candidate for Carolina this offseason, as moving the soon-to-be 31-year-old defender off the roster would save the front office $10.5 million in salary cap space for 2026.

This upcoming campaign will mark the final season of Robinson's current deal—a three-year, $22.5 million pact he signed in 2024.

The former second-round pick and 10-year veteran has started in 32 of his 33 regular-season games for the Panthers—amassing 145 combined tackles, 8.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers reportedly grant DL A'Shawn Robinson permission to seek trade