Patriots coach Mike Vrabel responds after running back seemingly defends Jaden Ivey's anti-LGBTQ remarks

New England Patriotshead coach Mike Vrabel tried to walk the "fine line" he said is in place after his running back, TreVeyon Henderson, seemingly defended the anti-LGBTQ comments made by ex-Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey on Monday.

The Bullswaived Ivey on Monday due to conduct detrimental to the team following a video he posted, where he claimed the NBA was celebrating "unrighteousness" by acknowledging and embracing Pride Month.

Henderson tweeted the video of Ivey, which has now gone viral, and responded with a Bible verse.

Click Here For More Sports Coverage On Foxnews.com

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven," Henderson quoted from Matthew 5:10.

Vrabel was asked about Henderson's post on Tuesday by reporters.

Read On The Fox News App

"I think there is a fine line. I want to tell you, I love TreVeyon," he said. "I love the person. He cares deeply about our team. He cares deeply about his faith. He cares deeply about his family, his wife, the people in our building. And so I want them to be able to express what they believe in their heart and in their mind, but also want to make sure that they're educated. And we want to be inclusive.

Patriots Star Appears To Show Support For Ex-bulls Player After Rant Against Nba's Pride Month Celebration

"Everything we want to do [is] to provide an environment for people to want to feel comfortable, but also to share their personal beliefs. And then also, we represent the team. And we represent the organization."

Advertisement

Vrabel received a follow-up question, asking if he would talk to Henderson or the team about what transpired on social media. He responded by saying, "I usually try to," though he noted, "(We're) never going to tell them how to feel."

"(We) certainly want to make sure that they understand that their actions represent something more than just themselves," Vrabel added. "And so I do think there's a line. We're always talking about those kinds of things. We're trying to educate them, no different than myself or you guys or my kids."

Henderson is coming off his rookie season with the Patriots, racking up 911 yards on the ground with nine touchdowns, helping New England get to the Super Bowl. Henderson had just four starts under his belt in Vrabel's first year leading the team, as Rhamondre Stevenson was also a key figure in the Patriots' backfield.

Ivey has been posting similar videos with rants in recent weeks, as the 24-year-old has noted in the past hedeals with depression.

"The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?" Ivey said inhis latest video. "They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, 'Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.' They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim in the streets. Unrighteousness. So, how is it that one can't speak righteousness? Who are they to say that this man is crazy?"

Ivey also claimed in a separate video thatCatholicism was a false religion.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital'ssports coverage on Xand subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Original article source:Patriots coach Mike Vrabel responds after running back seemingly defends Jaden Ivey's anti-LGBTQ remarks

byAlex Forten

in

April 01, 2026

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel responds after running back seemingly defends Jaden Ivey's anti-LGBTQ remarks

New England Patriotshead coach Mike Vrabel tried to walk the "fine line" he said is in place after his running ...

Read More

Serbian journalists protest reported attacks, pressure on media

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Dozens of journalists blocked traffic on Wednesday outside the office of Serbia's populistPresident Aleksandar Vucicto protest what they say are mounting attacks and pressure on themedia in the Balkan country.

Serbia Tensions Media

The gathering in Belgrade was organized after journalists reporting on local elections inSerbiaon Sunday faced attacks during violent incidents that were reported in at least three out of 10 towns where the balloting was held.

"We want to show solidarity with colleagues who were attacked on that day (Sunday) ... but also to stress the ever harder and more dangerous position of journalists in the field," Serbia's Independent Journalists' Association said in a statement.

The group added that "attacks on journalists are not isolated incidents, they are a systematic blow to the public's right to know."

International observerssaid they witnessed violence and irregularities on Sunday.

The vote was seen as a test for Vucic following more than a year of youth-ledstreet proteststhat have shaken his tight grip on power. His right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party won in all 10 municipalities.

Advertisement

Around 20 journalists were attacked on Sunday while more than 100 attacks have been recorded this year, the Serbian media association said.

Authorities have promised to investigate but hardly any of the assailants have been held responsible.

Serbia is formally a candidate nation for EU membership, but Vucic has been accused of clamping down on democracy, including media freedoms, while nourishing ties with Russia and China.

Tensions also soared Tuesday whenpolice raidedthe headquarters of the University of Belgrade, saying they were investigating a student's death. The university said authorities were abusing the case to exert pressure following the student-led protests that first started in November 2024 after atrain station tragedyin the country's north.

Thousands gathered later Tuesday outside the rectorate building in downtown Belgrade to protest the police action. Scuffles briefly erupted when police pushed protesters away from the building.

The youth-led movement formed after a railway stationcanopy collapse in Novi Sadthat killed 16. It has posed the biggest challenge to Vucic's leadership in more than a decade.

byAlex Forten

in

April 01, 2026

Serbian journalists protest reported attacks, pressure on media

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Dozens of journalists blocked traffic on Wednesday outside the office of Serbia's populistPre...

Read More

King Charles to visit US to address Congress, meet President Trump

King Charles III will visit the United States this month to address American lawmakers,United States House Speaker Mike Johnsonannounced on Wednesday, April 1.

The trip will mark the first state visit by a British ruler since ‌2007, when Charles' mother ​Queen Elizabeth made ​what was the ​fourth such U.S. trip ‌of her reign.

In a statement post on X, Johnson said the king had been invited to address U.S. Congress ‌on April 28 during his ‌visit to Washington D.C.

In a separatestatement releasedone day earler, Buckingham Palace announced Queen Camilla will accompany the king, and said the "long-planned" trip came on the advice of the British government and, "at the invitation of The President of the United States."

"Our two nations share one of the most consequential partnerships in history, and together we will mark the historic milestone of America's 250th year of independence,"Johnson wrote in a post on X.

"I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect,"President Donald Trumpwrote ina post on Truth Socialafter the announcement. "It will be TERRIFIC!"

Advertisement

University of Pitt student assaulted:Six charged with hate crimes in attack on Jewish student in Pittsburgh

When is King Charles visiting the United States?

The royals' itinerary includes celebrating "the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States," the palace wrote in a news release.

Trump said the monarchs' trip is planned April 27-30.

The king is expected to speak to lawmakers on April 28, and attend a banquet dinner ​at ‌the White House later that day.

The king will then continue to the island of Bermuda to undertake his first royal visit as monarch to a British overseas territory.

This is a developing story.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:King Charles and Queen Camilla to visit US, meet Trump

byAlex Forten

in

April 01, 2026

King Charles to visit US to address Congress, meet President Trump

King Charles III will visit the United States this month to address American lawmakers,United States House Speaker Mike J...

Read More

Swedish prime minister says he'll let a hard-right party enter a future government

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden's prime minister said Wednesday that his center-right party would allow a rival with far-right roots to enter the government if the country's election this year produces a right-wing majority, taking a further decisive step to bring it into the political mainstream.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has run Sweden since 2022 at the helm of a three-party center-right coalition thatrelies on supportfrom the Sweden Democrats for a parliamentary majority but doesn't give it seats in the Cabinet.

The Sweden Democrats were founded in the 1980s by people who had been active in right-wing extremist groups, including neo-Nazis. They toned down their rhetoric and expelled openly racist members under Jimmie Åkesson, who has led them since 2005.

He oversaw their growth from a marginal movement to Sweden's second-biggest party, with 20.5% of the vote inthe 2022 election— ahead of all its rivals on the right, including Kristersson's conservative Moderate Party. The party has moved toward the mainstream but retains a hard line on immigration. Its rise echoes that of parties on the populist right in many other European countries.

Advertisement

As a Sept. 13 parliamentary election approaches, center-right parties have been reconsidering their reluctance to bring the Sweden Democrats into government directly. Last month, the Liberals, a junior partner in the government, opened up to accepting them in a future Cabinet.

Kristersson cited that "courageous decision" as a game-changer as he and Åkesson held a joint news conference Wednesday to announce that the prime minister's Moderates would allow the Sweden Democrats into a future government, Swedish news agency TT reported.

Kristersson will be the candidate for prime minister, even if the Sweden Democrats end up as the stronger party, and the Sweden Democrats would get significant responsibility for migration issues.

"In the most difficult situation since World War II, Sweden cannot do without an effective government," Kristersson said, an apparent allusion to crises including the Iran war and Russia's war in Ukraine.

byAlex Forten

in

April 01, 2026

Swedish prime minister says he'll let a hard-right party enter a future government

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden's prime minister said Wednesday that his center-right party would allow a rival with far-righ...

Read More

Food assistance slashed for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees trapped in Bangladesh camps

SYDNEY (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees struggling to survive in Bangladesh's overcrowded camps will see their food assistance slashed starting on Wednesday, raising alarm throughout the increasingly desperate community.

Bangladesh Rohingya Ration Cuts

Currently, the 1.2 million Rohingya trapped in the squalid camps receive $12 a month per person, an amount the persecuted minority from Myanmar has long warned is barely sustainable. Most of the Rohingya in the camps fled brutal attacks by Myanmar's military in 2017 and they are legally barred from working in Bangladesh, leaving them largely reliant upon humanitarian aid to survive.

Under the United Nations' World Food Program's new tiered system, the amount each person receives will vary based on the severity of their family's needs, with around 17% of the population getting as little as $7 per month. A third of the population that has been classified as "extremely food insecure," such as households headed by children, will continue receiving $12.

"It is very difficult to understand how we will survive now with only $7. Our children will suffer the most," said camp resident Mohammed Rahim, who said he and his wife were already struggling to feed their three children before the reduction. "I am deeply concerned that people may face severe hunger and some may even die due to lack of food."

The WFP has repeatedly warned that rations in the camps could be slashed as a result of last year's steep foreign aid cuts by the United States and other countries, which saw the agency lose a third of its funding. But WFP spokesperson Kun Li said Wednesday's change in food distribution was unrelated to the funding cuts, and it should not be described as a "ration cut," despite two-thirds of the population receiving fewer rations as a result.

The agency said a ration cut implies food assistance is being reduced below 2,100 calories a day, the recommended minimum standard for emergency food aid. But the WFP said even those who will now receive just $7 per month will still be able to meet that threshold.

The plan "ensures that even with differentiated ration sizes, all Rohingya continue meeting their minimum food needs, strengthening fairness, transparency, and equity in food assistance," the agency said in a statement.

But a ration cut is precisely what the change means for the Rohingya, said Bangladesh's Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman.

Advertisement

With desperation already running high, Rahman told The Associated Press that the Rohingya will attempt to flee in search of food and work.

"Law and order will be deteriorated," he said.

The same military that attacked the Rohingya in 2017 during what the U.S. declared a genocide overthrew Myanmar's government in 2021 and remains in control of the country. That has made it virtually impossible for the Rohingya to return home safely.

Last year's foreign aid cuts deepened misery across the camps, particularly for children, with the closure of schools contributing toa surge in kidnapping, child marriage and child labor. Programs to support the Rohingya were only around half funded in 2025, and are only 19 percent funded this year.

In 2023, the WFP was forced to cut rations to $8 a month due to a drop in donations. By November of that year, the agency said that 90% of camp residents could not afford an adequate diet and 15 percent of children were suffering from acute malnutrition, the highest rate ever recorded in the camps. Rations were restored to $12 a month in 2024.

Hungry, exhausted and increasingly hopeless camp residents who lived through that ration cut wonder how they will cope moving forward. Dozens of Rohingya staged protests against the new system on Tuesday, calling for the restoration of full rations. Many held signs warning of starvation and declaring "Food is a right, not a choice."

Rahim, the father of three whose food aid has been reduced to $7 a month, said he is sick, and his children cannot safely leave the camps to earn money due tothe increasing risk of kidnapping, violence and trafficking.

Rahim said several people he knows are already considering returning to Myanmar because of the reduced rations, despite the severe risks. Many others, he said, are considering fleeing to Malaysia on rickety fishing boats —an incredibly dangerous journeythat results in hundreds of Rohingya children, women and men dying or vanishing each year.

"Ration cuts are pushing people toward life-threatening risks, leaving them with no safe choices," he said. "I am very worried about the future of our children."

byAlex Forten

in

March 31, 2026

Food assistance slashed for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees trapped in Bangladesh camps

SYDNEY (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees struggling to survive in Bangladesh's overcrowded camps will...

Read More

US journalist abducted in Iraq; State Department says she was warned of threats

The Iraqi government is now investigating after an American journalist was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday.

The journalist, who was identified as freelancer Shelly Kittleson by one of the outlets she reported for, was abducted by "unknown individuals", Iraq's Ministry of the Interior said in astatement on Facebook.

According to the Ministry, security forces launched an immediate operation and were able to intercept a vehicle believed to be linked to Kittleson's abduction. Kittleson, however, was not found inside the vehicle.

One suspect has been arrested. Scripps News reached out to the Ministry to get more information about the suspect and is awaiting a response.

In a post on X, Dylan Johnson, the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs for the U.S. State Department, said that the individual arrested is believed to be associated with Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT |Trump tells allies: 'Get your own oil' as Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz

Advertisement

Without naming Kittleson, Johnson also added, "The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them, and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible."

Scripps News understands Kittleson was contacted at least 4 times in recent days about credible threats, including Monday night by the FBI.

The search for Kittleson and others involved in her abduction is ongoing.

According to Kittleson's X account, her work primarily focuses on the Middle East and Afghanistan. Kittleson has reported for several news outlets, including Al-Monitor, BBC, Politico, Foreign Policy, and more.

In a statement on their website, Al-Monitor expressed concern over Kittleson's abduction, stating, "We call for her safe and immediate release. We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work."

The Committee to Protect Journalists also called for Kittleson's safe return in a statement to Scripps News, saying "CPJ calls on Iraqi authorities to do everything in their power to locate Shelley Kittleson, ensure her immediate and safe release, and hold those responsible to account."

byAlex Forten

in

March 31, 2026

US journalist abducted in Iraq; State Department says she was warned of threats

The Iraqi government is now investigating after an American journalist was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday. The...

Read More

NFL kickoff rules 2026: League makes changes to onside kick, more

The NFL made a significant change to its kickoff in 2024,instituting the "dynamic kickoff"to boost the percentage of returned kicks and make one of the league's most dangerous plays safer.

The league is continuing its efforts to refine the play by tweaking its kickoff rule ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

The most notable approved rule change will allow teams to attempt an onside kick at any point during the game. In 2025, teams were only allowed to try an onside kick when trailing, so the rule change will give clubs a bit more flexibility.

NFL REFS:NFL institutes new rule to aid potential replacement officials

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

2026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades

OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

Despite this significant change, NFL teams will still have to declare an onside kick any time they attempt one. This is necessitated by the difference of alignment between the onside kick – which uses the NFL's traditional kickoff formation – and the NFL's dynamic kickoff, where a majority of the players from each team are lined up between the receiving team's 30- and 35-yard line.

With that in mind, surprise onside kicks – like the one Sean Payton famously dialed up to start the second half of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl 44 win over the Indianapolis Colts – will remain out of the sport.

It remains unclear whether the NFL's rule change will result in an uptick in overall onside kick attempts, or if the need to declare them – along with their overall lack of efficacy – will continue to limit their use.

Advertisement

Just five of the NFL's 52 onside kicks were recovered in 2025, according todata from The Football Database. That was good for a mark of 9.6% and up from three total recoveries and a 6% recovery rate in 2024, the first year of the NFL's dynamic kickoff.

NFL LEAGUE MEETINGS:Latest news, updates, storylines, rule changes

NFL kickoff rule changes

The onside kick rule isn't the only major kicking change the NFL's competition committee has instituted for the 2026 season. The following two rules have also been approved:

• To eliminate the kicking team's incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 50-yard line.

• To modify the kickoff alignment requirements for the receiving team players in the setup zone.

The first of these rule changes effectively closed a loophole in the 2025 kickoff rules. Last season, a team kicking off from the 50-yard line after a personal foul penalty on the receiving team would benefit more from kicking a ball out of bounds (which would place the ball on the receiving team's 25-yard line) than they would from kicking a touchback (which would place the ball at the 30-yard line).

Under the NFL's new rule, touchbacks on kicks from the 50-yard line will be brought back out to the 20, eliminating the incentive to purposely sail a ball out of bounds.

Meanwhile, the alignment modifications will simply adjust how receiving team players are allowed to line up within the setup zone. The new rule will require just five players, instead of six, to have their front foot on the setup line – though just two players will be allowed to have their foot off the line in each of the setup zone's three areas.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NFL modifies onside kick rules, other kickoff bylaws for 2026

byAlex Forten

in

March 31, 2026

NFL kickoff rules 2026: League makes changes to onside kick, more

The NFL made a significant change to its kickoff in 2024,instituting the "dynamic kickoff"to boost the percenta...

Read More