HSV vs Leverkusen: Bundesliga Match — and more

The Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen is scheduled for March 4, 2026, with kickoff at 20:30 in Hamburg. This matchday 17 encounter will see Leverkusen travel to face HSV at their home ground.

Former Juventus and Roma star Miralem Pjanic now lives in Dubai, where he sometimes ‘hears the sound of Iranian missiles being intercepted’ but feels ‘safe’ and ‘constantly reassured by the local authorities.’

The Middle East conflict has tragically escalated in recent days, involving many Europeans living in the area.

Among them is an ex-Juventus, Roma and Barcelona midfielder who lives in Dubai.

Pjanic ‘safe’ in Dubai despite Middle Eastern crisis

TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 19: Miralem Pjanic of Juventus FC looks on during the Serie A match between Juventus and Parma Calcio at Allianz Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“I live near the city centre. Sometimes you can feel something strange in the air, and you can hear the sound of Iranian missiles being intercepted,” the ex-midfielder told Gazzetta.

“But we are safe and constantly reassured by the local authorities. I receive messages and notifications from friends living in Europe, and almost all of them are fake news.”

epa05533734 Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain (front) celebrates with his teammate Miralem Pjanic (back) after scoring a goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, 10 September 2016. EPA/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO

The 35-year-old retired after playing the 2024-25 season at CSKA Moscow and is preparing to become a qualified football agent.

“I’m learning the job by collaborating with my agent, Fali Ramadani,” he said.

“I put together experience, football knowledge and the many languages I speak.”

A former Bosnia and Herzegovina international, Pjanic won four Serie A titles at Juventus, two Coppa Italia titles, and one Supercoppa Italiana. He also reached the Champions League Final in 2016-17.

He was included in the Serie A Team of the Year for three seasons in a row, from 2015-16 to 2018-19.

He played 281 games in Serie A for Juventus and Roma, scoring 42 goals and providing 74 assists.

Will Kyler Murray play baseball? Explaining MLB options if A's draft pick wants to change sports originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

JUMP TO:

• Did Kyler Murray play baseball?
• Kyler Murray baseball career
• Kyler Murray MLB draft pick
• Do the A's still own Kyler Murray's rights?
• Kyler Murray baseball contract
• Why did Kyler Murray choose football over baseball?
• How old is Kyler Murray?
• Last time Kyler Murray played baseball
• Will Kyler Murray play baseball again?
• NFL players to switch to baseball

Before Kyler Murray became a starting quarterback in the NFL, there were serious questions about whether he'd even play football at all.

Murray was a standout baseball player at Oklahoma and was on track for a professional baseball career before breaking out as the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner. In the span of a year, he was a first-round pick in two different sports and faced a legitimate choice between the two leagues.

Murray chose football, but it’s still possible he could return to baseball at some point. Here’s a look at his baseball career.

MORE: Why did the Cardinals release Kyler Murray?

Did Kyler Murray play baseball?

Kyler Murray was a dual-threat player while attending Oklahoma, playing both football and baseball in his college career. While Murray was a backup quarterback initially upon transferring to Oklahoma, he more immediately found playing time on the baseball team.

MORE: 16 NFL stars you didn't know were also drafted to MLB

Kyler Murray baseball career

What position did Kyler Murray play?

Kyler Murray was an outfielder in college, spending the majority of his time in center field but also moving around to both corner spots.

Kyler Murray baseball stats

MORE: Ranking the best QBs taken with picks 1-32 in NFL history

Kyler Murray MLB draft pick

The Athletics drafted Kyler Murray with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, immediately following his breakout season for Oklahoma baseball. However, the A's let Murray play football in the fall, which resulted in the quarterback winning the Heisman Trophy that season.

MORE: How much money is Kyler Murray worth?

Do the A's still own Kyler Murray's rights?

Although Murray hasn't played for the Athletics since the organization drafted him in 2018, the A's still own Murray's MLB rights. Therefore, if Murray every wants to make the switch to baseball, he would be doing so for the Athletics unless the team decides to trade or denounce his rights.

Kyler Murray baseball contract

Murray's initial contract with the Athletics included a $4.6 million signing bonus. However, by opting to play football instead, Murray reportedly repaid a portion of that singing bonus back to the Athletics.

Can confirm Kyler Murray’s contract with #Athletics includes a provision whereby he’d forgo/repay a very large portion of his signing bonus if he opts to play in the NFL. @MLB@MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 12, 2018

MORE: Most home runs in an MLB Game, from Lou Gehrig to Nick Kurtz

Why did Kyler Murray choose football over baseball?

Murray entered the 2019 NFL draft on February 11, 2019, and he made it clear that football was his passion.

"Football has been my love and passion my entire life," Murray said. "I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships."

pic.twitter.com/kGePeWhrId

— Kyler Murray (@K1) February 11, 2019

Murray likely got an inkling that the Arizona Cardinals would draft him first overall, allowing him a chance to start immediately and giving a four-year, $35.7 million rookie contract out of the gate. Then, Murray signed a five-year, $230 million extension with Arizona in 2022.

Had Murray stayed with baseball, it would've taken longer for him to make his way through the Athletics organization, before having a chance to earn hundreds of millions of dollars. Ultimately, the path Murray chose gave him more immediate money and success.

How old is Kyler Murray?

Kyler Murray was born on August 7, 1997, so he will be 29 years old when the 2026 NFL season begins. As Murray has spent most of his 20s in the NFL, it would be pretty unprecedented for him to make the switch back to baseball at this point.

MORE: Who are the oldest players to compete in a game in MLB history?

Last time Kyler Murray played baseball

Murray last played baseball for Oklahoma in the Spring of 2018, when he played in 51 games for the Sooners. That season, Murray had by far his best performance in collegiate baseball, totaling 10 home runs, 10 stolen bases and a .954 OPS.

About this time last night, Kyler Murray’s name was called in the #MLBDraft.

The 11th first round pick in OU history made his presence felt in 2018 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/uM08ZguEbR

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 6, 2018

MORE:Most home runs in a single MLB season

Will Kyler Murray play baseball again?

Murray has completely focused on football since 2019, so it is unlikely he could successfully switch sports at this point. Besides the fact that Murray hasn't played baseball competitively since 2018, he needed time and development when he entered the MLB draft, and his skills have probably waned as he went away from the sport.

MORE: The list of most home runs ever hit before the MLB All-Star break

NFL players to switch to baseball

Many football and baseball players were dual-threat athletes before choosing one path, but some tried to play both.

The most famous dual-threat players are Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, as both reached the pros in MLB and the NFL. Brian Jordan also played both sports professionally, starting in football before moving to baseball.

Recently, Tim Tebow gave baseball a shot after his football career but flamed out with the New York Mets’ Double-A team. Jeff Samardzija was a wide receiver at Notre Dame but chose baseball, carving out a successful major league career as a pitcher.

Like Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson was drafted in baseball but dropped the sport to focus on the NFL. Jameis Winston was also a two-sport athlete in college but chose football as a No. 1 overall NFL draft pick.

Other notable two-sport athletes include Tom Brady, John Elway, Todd Helton, Frank Thomas, Kirk Gibson, Ricky Williams, and John Lynch.

Sabres' record since December 9 is near-impossible to fathom originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Sabres were in last place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division on December 9. They looked destined for another season of missing the playoffs. It had been 14 in a row, so why not 15?

And then something bizarre happened -- the Sabres started winning, and they've hardly stopped since.

Buffalo is 25-5-2 since Dec. 9, according to The Sabre Report.

The Sabres have outscored opponents by a margin of 120-80 in that time.

And now, they're just two points out of first place in the Atlantic Division.

Yes, it truly makes no sense, but the Sabres went from a team whose only identity was underwhelming for the last decade and a half, to a team that is the best story in hockey.

MORE: Maple Leafs getting help from Flyers to trade veteran center

The latest victory came Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights and former Sabres phenom, Jack Eichel.

Before the game, Eichel got cheers when he joined Tage Thompson and Noah Hanifin on the ice to be recognized for their gold medal with Team USA.

Once the game was underway, Eichel got plenty of boos when he was on the puck.

The Sabres gave their fans plenty to cheer about early, storming out to a 3-0 lead.

Late, they had to hold on for a 3-2 victory, but a win is a win, no matter what it looks like -- especially for the Sabres.

They're used to it now, which is a wild thing to say. But at this point, it'd be quite the surprise if Buffalo missed the playoffs.

From last place in early December to this -- and now everyone just wants to know how far this run can go.

More NHL news:

• Oilers want 2 positions before the NHL trade deadline
• A salary cap rule may make 2 Flames trades difficult
• Canadiens know trade cost for Robert Thomas
• It'll be complicated to trade for Steven Stamkos
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

Newcastle Red Bulls scrum-half James Elliott has signed a new two-year deal to remain with the Prem club.

The 27-year-old joined from Jersey Reds in October 2023 and has since made 28 appearances.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to keep representing Newcastle Red Bulls at such an exciting time for the club," Elliott said.

"It was a no-brainer for me to extend, coming through the academy here and supporting the club my whole life. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Elliott has featured in 17 matches in all competitions for Newcastle this season and made six starts.

"He works hard at his game, he's a positive influence on those around him and he's got that connection to the local area," said sporting general manager Neil McIlroy.

"Not only that, but he's a talented scrum-half who can get us into the right areas of the field, so I'm glad that he will be with us for at least the next couple of years."