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Kirk Cousins' time in Atlanta appears to have run its course.

Cousins is expected to be released by theFalconsbefore the NFL's new league year begins in March, a person close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

ESPN was the first to report the news.

Cousins' contract was amended at the end of the regular season to pave the way for his imminent release from the Falcons, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the of the sensitivity of the matter.

ESPN reportedthat Cousins and the Falcons modified the final two years in his contract, changing his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million but adding the leftover $32.9 million to his 2027 base salary to now make it $67.9 million. The $67.9 million would become guaranteed if Cousins is still on Atlanta's roster at the start of the league year, per ESPN.

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USA TODAY Sports interviewed Cousins this week in San Francisco at Super Bowl 60's radio row. The quarterback was measured and vague about his playing future with the Falcons.

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Cousins began the 2025 season as a backup to Michael Penix Jr. However, the veteran quarterback took over as Atlanta's starter when Penix suffered a season-ending torn ACL in November. Cousins registered eight starts and played in 10 games. He averaged 172 passing yards per game and threw 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He went 5-3 in his eight starts.

The Falcons originally signed Cousins to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million in 2024. But Cousins lost his starting job to Penix before the end of the 2024 season.

Cousins' expected release from Atlanta currently makes Penix the early front-runner to resume the starting role. But the Falcons' new regime has been noncommittal about Penix being the team's starting quarterback following an up-and-down campaign.

The biggest question for Falcons president of football Matt Ryan, general manager Ian Cunningham and new coach Kevin Stefanski is who's going to be Atlanta's starting quarterback in 2026? The new regime, however, has apparently figured out it won't be Cousins.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X@TheTylerDragon.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Falcons, Kirk Cousins split on the horizon

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic is day-to-day for the Los Angeles Lakers because of a mild hamstring strain, putting his availability for the All-Star Game next weekend in question, while Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is trending toward missing that contest and the games leading up to it because of a knee injury.

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The status of the two superstars were addressed ahead of the marquee game between the Warriors and Lakers on Saturday night, with Los Angeles coach JJ Redick indicating the MRI taken after Doncic washurt in a win over Philadelphia on Thursdayshowed no significant injury.

The Lakers have three more home games prior to the All-Star break after Saturday, and Redick indicated Doncic would like to be available so he could play in his sixth career All-Star game.

"I've been around him as a teammate and as a coach, and I know he plays," Redick said. "If he's able to play, he plays. I think he wants to be in the All-Star Game. I know he wants to play against Dallas the game before the All-Star Game. He has his team working on him day and night, so again, it's day-to-day. When he's ready to play, we'll get him out there."

Doncic is averaging a league-leading 32.8 points. He's second in assists at 8.6, while also ranking in the top 25 in rebounds (7.8), as the 26-year-old Slovenian combo guard pushes for his first Most Valuable Player award.

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Doncic was the Western Conference player of the month for January after he averaged 34.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. He was also chosen as a starter for the U.S. vs. the World-formatted All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Feb. 15.

While the Lakers maintained optimism about Doncic's status, Warriors coach Steve Kerr sounded a pessimistic note about Curry's chances of appearing in his 12th All-Star Game, already calling him doubtful to play against Memphis on Monday night because of hisright knee injury. The home game against the Grizzlies will be one of two remaining games after Saturday for Golden State before the annual exhibition.

"I think there's a good chance that he doesn't play 'til after the break," Kerr said. "But we're just going to take it day by day."

Curry is averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists in his 17th NBA season. He missed a Jan. 26 loss to Minnesota because of the knee injury, then played reduced minutes in the next two games, and has now missed three straight games when the Warriors face the Lakers.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The Dallas Cowboys have no plans to let George Pickens hit free agency this offseason.

The team is expected to place the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl wide receiver,according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, which would lock him in for next season on a one-year contract worth roughly $28 million. The tag can be officially applied anytime between Feb. 17 and March 3.

The decision is hardly a surprise. Playing alongside All-Pro CeeDee Lamb, Pickens enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025 after being traded to Dallas from the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns on 137 targets.

BothCowboys owner Jerry Jonesand his son,team COO Stephen Jones, have said they want Pickens back long-term, with Jerry saying he expects a long-term extension to get done:

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"I'm talking to George all the time by virtue of my excitement for him," Jones said when asked if contract extension talks have begun with Pickens. "He's better than, as far as what he contributed to our team, showing the potential that he could contribute. I'm looking forward to getting things worked out so George can be a Cowboy a long time."

The franchise tag ensures that however negotiations go, the Cowboys can plan for Pickens to be in the fold for the 2026-27 season.

Hitting Pickens with the franchise tag does mean the Cowboys would have the NFL's second-most expensive receiver duo next season between him and Lamb, who is currently on a four-year, $136 million deal. Combined with the average annual value of that contract, Dallas will be paying the pair $62 million, behind only the $69 million AAV currently going to the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Pickens is one of several notable Cowboys to be hitting free agency this offseason. Starters Javonte Williams, Jadeveon Clowney and Donovan Wilson are all unrestricted free agents, while All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey is a restricted free agent and is likely seeking the richest kicker deal in NFL history.

Signing Pickens to an extension instead of the tag would free up a significant amount of money for this upcoming offseason, in addition to retaining a star at a premium position for years to come.

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NEED TO KNOW

• Home Alone star Daniel Stern's soliciting prostitution charge has been dropped

• The Ventura County District Attorney's Office dismissed the engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution charge, which was brought against the actor following an incident in December 2025

• "The defendant did what he was supposed to do," a representative for the District Attorney's office said

Home AlonestarDaniel Stern's soliciting prostitution charge has been dropped.

According toEntertainment Weekly, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office dismissed the charge of engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution, which was brought against the actor, 68, following an incident in December 2025.

"The defendant did what he was supposed to do," a representative for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office toldEWin a statement. "He completed his education class and earned a dismissal. This is our standard disposition for first-time prostitution offenses."

Stern's attorney, Blair Ber, told theCalifornia Postthat "the case was dismissed with prejudice as it should have been from the start, and we're very pleased."

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Stern was reportedly cited at a motel in Camarillo, Calif., Ventura County District Attorney spokesperson Joey Buttitta told PEOPLE. "From what I understand, he was cited at the location and released," Buttitta said.

Buttitta later told PEOPLE that Stern was charged on Jan. 12 and his arraignment was scheduled for Jan. 13.

TMZreported that Stern was cited on Dec. 10.

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"The Ventura County Sheriff's Office submitted their ticket or citation to us, and it is being reviewed by our prosecutors," Buttitta previously told PEOPLE.

Stern could have faced six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine if convicted, perEW.

Stern, who played "Wet Bandit" Marv in the 1990 Christmas classic, is now a sculptor and farmer living on a ranch in California.

The actor previously told PEOPLE in a December 2025interviewthat his successes in the '80s and '90s made him "enough money that I didn't have to work," and instilled "an obligation to take advantage of my good fortune."

EWpreviously reported that Stern was cast in a supporting role in the ABC sitcomDo You Want Kids?starringRachel Bloomand Rory Scovel, but departed the show soon after he was charged. The show then recast the role, the outlet reported.

Some of the actor's most recent TV credits includeFor All MankindandShrill. He also provided the voiceover narration for the originalWonder Years.In film, he starred alongsideBilly Crystalin the comediesCity SlickersandCity Slickers 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold,and also made appearances in Barry Levinson'sDinerandWoody Allen'sHannah and Her Sisters.

Read the original article onPeople