What David Montgomery trade to Texans means for Woody Marks — and more

What David Montgomery trade to Texans means for Woody Marks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Houston Texans didn't wait long to find a new backfield contributor.

On Monday, a couple weeks before free agency even opens, they swung a trade with the Detroit Lions. It cost the Texans just a fifth-round pick to acquire David Montgomery.

Montgomery is 28 years old but still an effective back, running for eight touchdowns and 4.5 yards per carry in 2025.

He had just become expendable in Detroit thanks to the continued emergence of superstar RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

The fit with the Texans is fascinating, though, because of Woody Marks.

What happens to Woody Marks after David Montgomery trade?

Marks put together a promising rookie season, but now his workload seems destined to shift with the acquisition of Montgomery.

In reality, the Texans probably don't plan to change their long-term outlook on Marks much. He's still an impressive receiving back who also gets the job done on the ground.

But in the near term, this could mean a 50-50 kind of carry split between Marks and Montgomery.

The Texans may have felt this was a necessary move for one reason: Marks' injuries.

In almost every game he played as a rookie, Marks needed to depart for the blue medical tent. Most of the time, he made it back on the field, but it's still a concerning trend.

For a team that wants to finally make it past the AFC Divisional Round, veteran depth at RB is a positive thing.

Montgomery is still a quality player, and he can take the load off Marks not in a diminishing way but in a way that improves Houston's team as a whole.

The Ravens have said all the right things about their commitment to Tyler Linderbaum, and GM Eric DeCosta added some intrigue to the negotiations. Linderbaum had his fifth-year option denied and will test free agency. There has been some talk that Baltimore may not step up to the plate with a lucrative offer. DeCosta dismissed those reports, telling the media at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team has made a "market-setting" offer to the Pro Bowl center.

DeCosta's comments about an offer come days before the new league year, and according to ESPN's Dan Graziano, that offer still may not be enough.

According to reports, Linderbaum is expected to receive offers that exceed $20 million per season, easily making him the highest-paid center in NFL history.

Meanwhile, the Ravens hope they can keep free agent center Tyler Linderbaum. But plenty of people in Indy believe he will get offers that exceed $20 million per year, and that Baltimore won't want to go that high. The highest-paid center in the league is Kansas City's Creed Humphrey at $18 million per year, and while GM Eric DeCosta told reporters at the combine that the Ravens had made a "market-setting offer" for Linderbaum, that might not turn out to be enough. Baltimore is already looking out for upgrades at guard (it would not be a surprise to see it address that position in the first round of the draft) and now could need a new center.

Linderbaum, the team's top pending free agent, said he "absolutely" wants to return. The Ravens did not pick up his fifth-year option last offseason, but he still could return on a deal that puts him in the top five highest-paid centers.

A 2022 first-round pick out of Iowa (25th overall), Lnderbaum has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, and how he views the Ravens will be something to watch with March 9 approaching. In 2025, Linderbaum remained one of the best run-blocking centers in the NFL. His 83.1 PFF run-blocking grade ranked fourth at the position.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: NFL Free Agency: Tyler Linderbaum could exceed $20 million per year

Tottenham Hotspur has confirmed it has imposed indefinite bans on three supporters for making Nazi salutes during a Champions League fixture in Germany.

The offensive gestures were performed during Spurs’ 2-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in late January.

Uefa sanctioned the London club for the behaviour, imposing a €30,000 (£26,212) fine and a suspended ban on selling away tickets for one match.

Tottenham had previously labelled the conduct as "utterly abhorrent conduct" and vowed to punish those responsible.

“The club has been informed of sanctions handed down to us by Uefa following the utterly abhorrent conduct of a small number of individuals at our recent Champions League away match in Frankfurt,” a statement read.

“The club has cooperated fully with Uefa’s investigation, as well as with German police on the night and, subsequently, the Met Police.

“We can confirm that all three individuals found to be making Nazi salutes towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans have been identified and have received indefinite bans under the club’s Sanctions and Banning Policy.

“The club stands firmly against all forms of discrimination and has therefore taken the strongest possible action. The disgusting behaviour of a minority of so-called fans on the night is in no way reflective of the values of our club and its supporters.”

Spurs received a further fine of €2,250 (£1,966) for the “throwing of objects” by fans at the match on 28 January.

The Uefa Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Board (CEDB) has brought the charges against Spurs, who are in a precarious position domestically after a record-equalling 10-match run without a win in the Premier League.

A statement read: “The CEDB has decided: To fine Tottenham Hotspur €30,000 and to ban Tottenham Hotspur from selling tickets to its away supporters for the next one (1) Uefa competition match, for the racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of its supporters.

“Said ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision.”

Tottenham’s next Champions League fixture is a last-16 tie away to Atletico Madrid on 10 March.

The day has finally arrived – one that will decide Barcelona’s fate in the Copa del Reyif it has not already been decided.

Hansi Flick’s side faced hell at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano not too long ago, and the result on the night saw them eat four goals in a game that was marred by controversy.

Regardless of the refereeing situation and everything made of it in that game, the fact remains that Barcelona were outclassed and that the 4-0 loss was a kind result for them.

Tomorrow, they take to the field at the Spotify Camp Nou, striving to do the unthinkable – overturn that deficit. It will not be easy, nor is it widely considered possible. Making the impossible possible and the improbable probable, however, is what makes sport great.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.

1% chance, 99% faith

At 4-0 down, not many will back Hansi Flick’s Barcelona to come back against Atletico Madrid, irrespective of the attacking firepower they have in their ranks, simply because it is a task too difficult to accomplish.

Heading into 90 minutes, four goals down and needing at least five to take a clean win is easier said than done, especially when the opposition knows that all they have to do is sit tight and defend deep.

Barcelona are no strangers to scoring four goals in a game, and their average number of goals per game last season was close to that number. However, doing so on demand is very different from pulling it off organically.

Despite knowing well how there is a very low chance of a comeback, however, the team have made it clear that they retain complete faith in their abilities. Remontada’s cannot be forced, but if any team can do it, it is Barcelona.

The clash against Atletico Madrid tomorrow is perhaps the single-most demanding game that Barcelona have played under Flick, and the team are capable of creating more than enough chances to win.

Everything that it will boil down to, however, is their efficiency in front of goal and their defensive solidity at the back. Improbable, but not impossible.

Need for a surprise element

Aiming to mastermind a historic comeback. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Having a clear-cut lead ahead of the second leg, it is likely that Atletico Madrid will not come to attack but to defend their advantage and get through the storm at the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow.

Los Rojiblancos, thus, may well line up in a hyper-defensive setup to block Barcelona’s passing channels, crowd the area, and lower the chances of the Catalans getting shots away at goal.

Considering the situation, it is essential that Hansi Flick comes up with a novelty up his sleeve to force open channels in attack and catch the visitors off guard. After all, they will arrive having studied the team’s dynamics in recent games.

There are several variations Flick can opt for to catch Simeone by surprise, especially in attack, and how well that dynamic works out will account for the result massively.

Shifting Lamine Yamal to a central role and deploying Roony Bardgji for width on the right flank is one approach that could yield positive results. Raphinha and Ferran Torres will continue to start in attack alongside them in such an approach.

Another manoeuvre is starting Marcus Rashford on the left and shifting Raphinha to a central role – an idea that has worked on occasion this season but has also failed equally on other days.

A third interesting idea would be to start Dani Olmo as a false nine in place of Ferran Torres with Lamine and Raphinha flanking him. Fermin Lopez would start as the attacking midfielder in such a setup, with Pedri and Marc Bernal taking the reins in midfield.

No room for defensive lapses

As important as it is for Barcelona to score goals at the Spotify Camp Nou, keeping a clean sheet at the other end counts for as much. And while scoring four goals may not be impossible, not conceding seems to be a far bigger challenge.

If Barcelona are to complete the dreamy Remontada, the defence will have to play the game of their lives, and Flick will have to line up a setup that does not hand Atletico Madrid as much space as they did in the first leg.

The defence will have to play deeper, likely with an aerially dominating presence in Ronald Araujo. With Eric Garcia ruled out of the game through suspension, the captain has good chances of starting alongside Cubarsi and will be critical on the night.

Jules Kounde will have to replicate the good showing from the weekend and must be defensively solid down the right. 

Given how Atletico Madrid capitalised on the left flank in the first leg, it will be interesting to see if Flick opts for Joao Cancelo or Alejandro Balde at left-back.

Every goal that Diego Simeone’s side scores will demand an additional goal from the hosts, and chasing four goals already, there is no scope to be chasing any more. All eyes, needless to say, will be on Flick’s defensive plan.