The NFL season is a grueling marathon, which is why the schedule makers hand out bye weeks, giving teams a chance to rest up, get ready for the home stretch, or even reset.
These breaks in the schedule come with advantages and disadvantages for those betting on NFL action each week. Here are some tips for handicapping bye weeks in 2021.
Nicklas Bendtner looks set to leave Wolfsburg after being told by the club he no longer needs to attend first-team training.
The former Arsenal striker has struggled to settle since joining in 2014 and has faced a number of disciplinary problems this season, including fines for being late to training and for posting a photo on social media of his Mercedes, which angered the hierarchy of a club sponsored by Volkswagen.
Bendtner, who had been training alone in recent weeks, has now been exempted from training with the rest of the squad and sporting director Klaus Allofs expects a decision on his future to be made imminently.
The current situation is unsatisfactory for all involved and cannot be allowed to become a permanent status, he told the club s official web…
While plenty has been made of Leicester City s incredible turnaround from relegation fodder to potential Premier League champions, captain Wes Morgan says the club s 2014 Championship triumph has been invaluable to his side.
Leicester are seven points clear and six games away from a remarkable Premier League title following Sunday s 1-0 win at home to Southampton.
Morgan said the members of the Leicester squad that won the Championship England s second tier have been able to draw on that experience to help them navigate the task of seeing out the Premier League campaign.
In 2015-16, Leicester boast five players that were a part of their Championship win, and while Morgan admits the challenge is bigger this time around, the virtues of momentum are not lost on any…
A call-up for Cesare Prandelli s Italy squad for the FIFA World Cup would be a dream for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.
The 21-year-old has become a regular starter in the French capital this season under Laurent Blanc and that has led to him being included in the squad for several World Cup qualifying matches.
Competition for places in Italy s midfield is intense with Thiago Motta, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Pirlo just three players who can play in his position.
Verratti insists that he is calm about his chances of making the 23-man squad for the finals, and will not be too downhearted if he is not selected.
Obviously, it is in my mind because I am a professional player, but there is no stress, he said. To participate in a World Cup for your c…
Gary Pallister has refused to rule out a Premier League title for Manchester United in Jose Mourinho s first season, despite the club finishing fifth in 2015-16.
The former United defender hailed the appointment of Mourinho, saying his track record and ability to attract big-name signings the first of which is expected to be free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic means an immediate return to the top is a possibility for the Old Trafford club.
He s got an unbelievable track record of winning league titles so you wouldn t put it past him, Pallister told The Sun.
You are looking at the way United have performed this year and he s got some work to do to make them title challengers.
But who thought Leicester would have challenged for a title? And they are the Premie…
Netherlands defender Gregory van der Wiel hopes to showcase his talents to potential club suitors at Euro 2012.
Van der Wiel has made over 100 appearances for Ajax since debuting in 2007 but wants a new challenge after winning a second straight Eredivisie title at the Amsterdam club.
I feel for me it s time to go, I want to make a step to a bigger club, van der Wiel said on Wednesday.
But now I m just going to focus on Euro and see what comes.
I think big clubs already know how I can play and what my skills are.
I m not feeling like this is a final show, but of course if you play well at Euro it helps a lot.
There are two competitions that I like the most, England and Spain. That s the level I prefer.
Van der Wiel, 24, was …
League Cup winners Paris Saint Germain s bid to have a ban on them defending the title was turned down by the French football federation (FFF) on Tuesday.
During an emergency meeting Tuesday morning the FFF dismissed a proposal by the French national Olympic Committee (CNOSF) to have the ban transformed into a match behind closed doors at the beginning of the season.
In April the Professional Football League (LFP) banned the winners from the 2008-09 competition after PSG fans displayed a controversial banner during their League Cup final victory over Lens.
During the match attended by President Nicolas Sarkozy Parisian fans were forced to remove the 25-metre banner which labelled people in the northeast of the country as paedophiles, unemployed, inbreds .
…
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw Manchester United produce a terrific derby victory and said that was how he had always envisaged his team playing.
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial fired United to a 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Solskjaer told Sky Sports News: It s a Man United performance in my mould I love the boys going forward when there s a chance.
It was a display comparable at times to how Alex Ferguson s great sides could pick apart defences at will, but Solskjaer is adamant this is a team of his own design.
After a slow start to the season, his United have come alive over the past week, deservedly beating Jose Mourinho s Tottenham on Wednesday before crossing Manchester to pick off their neighbours.
Their pace in a…
Best odds: 47/100
Bookmaker:
Hertha will be facing Bayer Leverkusen on the final day of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, in a game that could prove hugely important, especially for the visitors.
Hertha
Apart from pride and the responsibility of giving a good performance in front of their fans, Hertha have very little to play for. They sit 10th, in the middle of the table, quite safe from relegation, and too far from any European spot. However, the fact that it is the last game with coach Pal Dardai in charge may provide some motivation. Dardai will soon be replaced by Ante Covic.
Their recent form reflects the table position: two wins, two draws and a defeat in the last five league games.
Team News
Midfielders Pal…
Former Arsenal striker Carlos Vela has insisted he is happy at Real Sociedad amid ongoing speculation linking him with a sensational return to the Emirates Stadium, .
Vela, 23, was loaned out to Real Sociedad in August 2011. The San Sebastián-based club decided to make the switch permanent after the 23-year-old striker bagged 12 goals and seven assists in 35 league appearances during his debut season.
The Mexican striker is enjoying another productive season at the Anoeta, having tallied 11 goals and five assists in 24 appearances in La Liga this term.
In fact, Vela s scintillating form has led to rumours linking him with a return to Arsenal in the summer, according to the Spanish media.
However, the 23-year-old has played down this specula…
England Under-21 international winger Andros Townsend is hoping to impress parent club Tottenham Hotspur while on loan at Queens Park Rangers, .
Townsend, who was playing second fiddle to Gareth Bale at White Hart Lane, joined QPR to find regular first-team football.
Townsend, 21, has been in fine form since joining QPR on loan until the end of the season on transfer deadline day.
The 21-year-old winger scored the match-winning goal and set up Jermaine Jenas 90th minute strike against Sunderland at Loftus Road on Saturday, helping the Super Hoops record consecutive league victories for the first time this season.
The England Under-21 international is keen to prove his worth to Tottenham Hotspur in the coming weeks, as Spurs ace Gareth Bale cont…