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Free agency is weeks away but two major players might not be at the negotiating table.

Tight endKyle Pittsand wide receiverGeorge Pickensare the major prizes of free agency on offense. Teams besides theAtlanta FalconsandDallas Cowboys, respectively, could be out of luck for negotiating with them.

Atlanta is reportedly using the franchise tag on Pitts andCowboysco-ownerStephen Jones inferred that was likelyfor Pickens as well.

"I wouldn't put any timeframe (on a contract)," Jonestold reporters. "Once you have a tag, you have a tag. We know George is going to be here."

The franchise tag is a tool teams can use to prevent one player per year from reaching free agency. The tag is a one-year, fully guaranteed contract calculated using other salaries at the position.

It prevents the player from securing a longer-term deal from another team at the cost of a fully guaranteed salary.

Non-quarterbacks rarely play a season with the franchise tag. Instead, it's often used as a tool to keep the player at the negotiating table for their original team for longer. Jones' quote points to the Cowboys using the franchise tag to keep Pickens in the building to iron out a contract before the start of 2026. If not, he'll play the season on that one-year deal.

Here's what it means for the rest of free agency at their positions if Pickens and Pitts aren't free to negotiate league-wide:

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WR free agency without George Pickens

Pickens is by far the top wide receiver available in this free-agent class. Second-team All-Pro wide receivers rarely are available - especially ones who haven't hit their second contract yet. That's why the Cowboys are motivated to keep him in-house.

If Pickens stays with Dallas, that moves all of the other free agents up a spot in the rankings and with it likely a bump in pay.

Fellow 2022 draftees Alec Pierce and Rashid Shaheed will become the top free agents at wide receiver. Both offer excellent speed on the outside and Shaheed's a dynamic threat in the return game. Jauan Jennings offers a more possession-based skillset but could get a bump in salary with Pickens off the market as well.

Here's the top 10 free agent wide receivers by projected average annual value (AAV) of their future contracts after Pickens, perSpotrac:

1. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers: $22.61 million

2. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts: $20.24 million

3. Wan'dale Robinson, New York Giants: $17.64 million

4. Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders: $15.77 million

5. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: $15.07 million

6. Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks: $14.12 million

7. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $13.31 million

8. Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers: $12.00 million

9. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers: $6.81 million

10. Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs: $5.5 million

TE free agency without Kyle Pitts

Pitts has draft pedigree as the No. 4 overall pick in the2021 NFL Draft, as well as recent production with his second-team All-Pro award in 2025.

Like Pickens, there's a mix of options beyond him at the position, either veterans or second-contract players. Teams will have to decide if they value more youth or production at the position with handing out money in this free-agent cycle. Without Pitts, there's a chance the other players have a chance to make more money but the overall tight end market isn't on the same level as wide receiver. Teams aren't as willing to spend big on the position in the same way.

Here's a look at the top 10 free agents at the position without Pitts, per Spotrac projected AAV:

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: $10.77 million

2. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: $9.99 million

3. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens: $8.81 million

4. Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans: $7.96 million

5. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $7.91 million

6. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: $6.00 million

7. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: $5.35 million

8. Tyler Conklin, Los Angeles Chargers: $3.33 million

9. Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals: $3.22 million

10. Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins: $3.21 million

All the NFL news on and off the field.Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition:Top 100 free agents for 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Pitts, Pickens franchise tags' impact on NFL free agency at WR and TE

Team USA's women's hockey team was asked to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, but declined that invite Monday.

In a statement, a USA hockey spokesperson said the team was grateful for the invite, but had "previously scheduled academic and professional commitments," per NBC News.

"We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women's Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement," a USA Hockey spokesperson said. "Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate."

"They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment," the spokesperson added.

Trump drew some criticism Sunday after video emerged of him congratulating the men's hockey team for also winning the gold medal at the 2026 Olympics. Toward the end of the call, Trump laughed as he told players, "We'regoing to have to bring the women's team, you do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached." That comment drew laughs from players in the locker room.

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FBI director Kash Patel also drew criticism forflying to Italy and celebrating with the men's hockey team. He was the one who called Trump following Team USA's win.

While Trump chuckled about the suggestion on the phone, the invite was ultimately extended to the women's team. And the women's team opted to decline.

The women took home the gold medal last Thursday,defeating Canada in overtime 2-1. The women's team trailed late in the contest before Hilary Knight deflected the puck into the goal with roughly two minutes to play. Megan Keller then pulled off a tremendous move on a defender before scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to give Team USA the win. It wound up beingthe most-watched women's hockey game of all time.

Three days later, the men defeated Canada in overtime 2-1 in eerily similar fashion. With the contest tied 1-1, Jack Hughes scored in overtime togive the men the walk-off, gold-medal win. It marked the first time since the "Miracle on Ice" team that the U.S. men took home gold in hockey at the Olympics.

Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty; Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Jack Hughes predicted his gold medal win with Team USA men's hockey at the Winter Olympics

• The NHL star penned a letter to himself seven years ago, which has resurfaced after his golden goal on Sunday, Feb. 22

• He wrote the letter for ESPN ahead of becoming the first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft at age 18

Jack Hughesmanifested his gold medal at the2026 Winter Olympics.

The NHL star, 24, turned his dreams into a reality when he scored the game-winning goal forTeam USA's thrilling win over Canadaat the Games on Sunday, Feb. 22. In doing so, he achieved a feat he literally predicted in a note to himself seven years ago.

Hughes penned aletter to his future selffor ESPN at age 18, shortly before he was selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft. In it, the athlete reflected on his journey while also writing what he hoped to accomplish in his ice hockey career.

Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty

"I'm writing this to you as draft day nears, and it feels like so much has built up to this moment," Hughes began his letter, which was re-shared by ESPN after Team USA won 2-1 in overtime at the Milan Winter Games.

"Your brothers made you who you are on and off the ice," he continued, referencing his siblings, Luke Hughes, 22, andQuinn Hughes, 26, both of whom are professional hockey players in their own right. "I hope they'll be able to say you did the same for them and that they had great NHL careers too."

This next part of the note is where it becomes prophetic.

"Maybe you even suited up with them a couple of times in the NHL," Jack continued. "Maybe we all represented the United States at the Olympics or World Championships. Maybe we won a gold medal (or medals) together. What an honor that would be."

Jack and Quinn did play together on Team USA in their gold-medal victory. All three of the Hughes brothers have also transitioned into the NHL; Quinn plays for the Minnesota Wild, while Luke suits up alongside Jack for the Devils.

Quinn,who spoke about how "proud" he is over his younger brother, revealed after his team's win that Jack predicted the golden goal the night before the big game (the brothers were roommates in the Olympic Village).

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"At 12:30 a.m., I want over to [Jack] and said, 'You up?' " Quinn recalledvia NHL media. "And he said, 'Yeah, dreaming about scoring the game winner.' "

The gold medal win was monumental for the U.S. men's hockey team. It marked their first Olympic victory sinceLake Placid in 1980, when the team defeated the Soviet Union in a matchup that would go down as one of the most famous victories in history.

Jack was the hero of the day, as he scored the winning goal just under two minutes into overtime. He did so without his front tooth, which was knocked out after he took Canadian Sam Bennett's hockey stick to the face.

In an interview after the win, Jack wasfilled with enthusiasm for his country and his teammates.

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"This is all about our country right now. I love the U.S.A. I love my teammates, it's unbelievable," Jack told NBC. "The USA Hockey brotherhood, it's so strong. We had so much support from ex-players, and I'm so proud to be American today."

The New Jersey Devils star also shouted out U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 out of 42 shots during the game.

"It's an unbelievable game by Hellebuyck. He was our best player tonight by a mile, unbelievable game, unreal game by our team," he said. "Just a ballsy, gutsy win. That's American hockey right there."

He concluded, "That's a great Canadian team, but we're USA, we're so proud to be Americans. This night was all for our country."

Read the original article onPeople

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military said it killed three people Monday in a strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea as part of theTrump administration's monthslong campaignagainst alleged traffickers.

Monday's attack brought the death toll to at least 151 people since the Trump administration began targeting those it calls "narcoterrorists" in small vessels in early September.

As with most of the military's statements on the more than 40 known strikes, U.S. Southern Command said it targeted alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. The military did not provide evidence that the vessel was ferrying drugs but posted a video on X that showed a small boat with outboard engines being destroyed.

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"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," Southern Command stated in a post on X. "Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action."

President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is in "armed conflict" with cartels in Latin America and hasjustified the attacksas a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing "narcoterrorists."

Criticshave questioned the overall legalityof the strikes as well as their effectiveness, in part because the fentanyl behind many fatal overdoses is typically trafficked to the U.S.over land from Mexico, where it is produced with chemicals imported from China and India.

The boat strikes alsodrew intense criticismfollowing the revelation that the military killed survivors of the very first boat attack with a follow-up strike. The Trump administration and many Republican lawmakers said it was legal and necessary, while Democratic lawmakers andlegal experts saidthe killings were murder, if not a war crime.

NEW YORK (AP) —A massive snowstormpummeled the northeastern United States from Maryland to Maine on Monday, forcing millions of people to stay home amid strong wind andblizzard warnings, transportationshutdowns, and school and business closures.

Meteorologists saidthe stormis the strongest in a decade, dumping more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow in parts of the metropolitan Northeast, shattering accumulation records in places, immobilizing transit and even leading the United Nations to postpone a Security Council meeting. Officials declared emergencies, schools closed, including in New York City, which had its first "old-school" snow day in six years, andpeople grappled with power failures.

Even as the snow moved northward and tapered off in other areas, the National Weather Service said it is tracking another storm that could bring more snow to the region later this week.

The weather service referred to Monday's storm as a "classic bomb cyclone/nor'easter off the Northeast coast." Abomb cyclonehappens when a storm's pressure falls by a certain amount within a 24-hour period, occurring mainly in the fall and winter when frigid Arctic air can reach the south and clash with warmer temperatures.

While it was paralyzing and potentially dangerous for millions along the Eastern Seaboard, meteorologists found themselves rhapsodizing over the combination of power and beauty.

The storm hit the "Goldilocks situation" of just the right temperature for wet, heavy snow: Any warmer and its precipitation wouldn't have fallen as snow, any colder and there wouldn't have been as much moisture in the air to feed that snowfall, said Owen Shieh, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center in Maryland.

People begin digging out even as snowfall continues

In Lower Manhattan, snow shovelers appeared to outnumber commuting office workers, and pedestrians walked freely in streets normally blocked by morning traffic.

"It's very quiet, except for the howling winds," said Luis Valez, a concierge at a residential tower just off Wall Street, as he cleared the sidewalk. "A couple of residents have gone out to get their essentials. Other than that, there's nothing."

Matthew Wojtkowiak, 57, an attorney, was also shoveling in his Brooklyn neighborhood.

"I'm from the Midwest, so this is in the zone," he said. "Not too bad, not too easy, either."

Schools were closed, and he said he hoped people would get out and enjoy the snow.

"We have sleds at the ready," he said.

Karen Smith and Adele Bawden are tourists visiting New York from the United Kingdom.

"We've been dancing in Times Square this morning in the middle of the road in rush hour," Bawden said. "We've just been dancing and not believing we could do it."

Ingrid Devita said she liked to patrol the Lower East Side on skis, checking on people who might need help.

"I find people fall in the snow and they can't get up," she said.

Central Park in New York City recorded 19 inches (48 centimeters) of snow. Warwick, Rhode Island, exceeded 3 feet (91 centimeters), topping the nation so far. The highest wind gust of 83 mph (133 kph) was recorded in Nantucket, with hurricane-force gusts seen all over Cape Cod.

In Connecticut, crews at the Mystic Seaport Museum prepared to clear snow from a fleet of historic ships, including the 113-foot-long Charles W. Morgan, a wooden whaling ship from the 19th century American merchant fleet.

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Shannon McKenzie, vice president of watercraft operations and preservation, said shipyard staff will clear the snow by hand using rubber or plastic shovels because machinery or metal shovels could damage the boats.

Storm fuels power outages and disrupts flights

New York, Philadelphia and other cities, as well as several states, declared emergencies.

More than 5,600 flights in and out of the United States were canceled Monday, and a further 2,000 flights scheduled for Tuesday were grounded, according to the flight tracking websiteFlightAware. Most of the cancelations involved airports in New York, New Jersey and Boston. Almost 2,500 flights were delayed.

Rhode Island's T.F. Green International Airport announced Monday that it was temporarily ending all airport operations. The Weather Service reported that the facility got nearly 38 inches (96.5 centimeters) of snow, breaking a record set in 1978.

Public transit ground to a halt in some areas, while DoorDash suspended deliveries in New York City overnight into Monday.

Meteorologists said strong winds and heavy, wet snow are a recipe for damaged trees and prolonged power outages.

More than 450,000 utility customers nationwide remained in darkness Monday evening, according toPowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.

Snow slows commuter transport and forces snow days

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Monday evening that subway lines are mostly operational after earlier delays, with the exception of the hard-hit borough of Staten Island, where rail service remained suspended. Delays would likely continue on lines that run outdoors.

Commuter rail service to suburbs to the north and east of the city were expected to resume limited service ahead of the Tuesday morning commute, the MTA said. Bus commuters should also expect long wait times.

Outreach workers meanwhile tried to coax homeless New Yorkers into shelters and warming centers.

Various landmarks and cultural institutions were closed Monday, including New York's Museum of Modern Art and the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Broadway shows were canceled Sunday evening.

New York City and Boston canceled public school classes for Monday, while Philadelphia switched to online learning. Districts on Long Island and elsewhere in the New York suburbs said they would cancel school for a second day on Tuesday.

But New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said class would be back in person.

Officials in one of the city's Republican strongholds criticized the Democratic mayor's move. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said schools should remain closed because roads are impassable and sidewalks are blocked. The teacher's union, the United Federation of Teachers, advised its members to be cautious and put their safety first when deciding whether to report to work.

Spokespersons for Mamdani didn't respond to an email seeking comment but his schools chief defended the decision on social media.

Chancellor Kamar Samuels said the district "couldn't be 100% certain" that every student would have access to the devices they needed for remote learning, despite school officials' "best efforts" to distribute them ahead of the storm.

"We are confident in our decision to reopen," hewrote on X. "Our schools and city are ready to welcome students and staff back tomorrow."

Izaguirre reported from Albany, New York, and Rush reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writers Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; Mark Kennedy and Mike Sisak in New York; Darlene Superville in Washington; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Philip Marcelo in Buenos Aires, Argentina contributed.