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The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a draft pick and an outfield prospect, the teams announced on Monday, adding another prime-age hitter to a team that hopes to ascend in the National League Central this year. Lux, 27, won two World Series titles with the Dodgers and showed flashes of the talent that at one point had him ranked among the best prospects in baseball. With the team moving Mookie Betts to shortstop last season and signing infielder Hyeseong Kim last week, Lux was available via trade. The Dodgers received Cincinnati's competitive balance Round A pick (worth around $2.5 million in bonus-pool money) and outfielder Mike Sirota, a third-round pick in 2024. Cincinnati's roster already includes a cadre of options at Lux's main positions: shortstop Elly De La Cruz, second baseman Matt McLain, third baseman Noelvi Marte, corner infielder Jeimer Candelario utilityman ...

New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson is on the verge of returning to action after missing two months because of a left hamstring strain. The Pelicans announced that Williamson, who returned to practice last week, has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday's home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williamson has not played since a Nov. 6 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, missing the past 27 games for the 7-29 Pelicans. Injuries have plagued the Williamson's career, limiting the 2019 No. 1 pick to 190 games over five and a half seasons. He has career averages of 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Williamson has had persistent issues with his hamstring over the past few seasons. A hamstring strain sidelined him for the final 45 games of the 2022-23 season, when he was selected as an All-Star for the second time. He played a career-high 70 games last season but exited a play-in game because of a hamstring strain that...

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a draft pick and an outfield prospect, sources told ESPN on Monday, adding another prime-age hitter to a team that hopes to ascend in the National League Central this year. Lux, 27, won two World Series titles with the Dodgers and showed flashes of the talent that at one point had him ranked among the best prospects in baseball. With the team moving Mookie Betts to shortstop last season and signing infielder Hyeseong Kim last week, Lux was available via trade. The Dodgers received Cincinnati's competitive balance Round A pick (worth around $2.5 million in bonus-pool money) and outfielder Mike Sirota, a third-round pick in 2024. Cincinnati's roster already includes a cadre of options at Lux's main positions: shortstop Elly De La Cruz, second baseman Matt McLain, third baseman Noelvi Marte, corner infielder Jeimer Candelario utilityman ...

Sheel Seidler, the widow of  San Diego Padres chairman Peter Seidler, sued two of his brothers Monday in an attempt to become the team's control person. In a complaint filed in Texas probate court, Sheel Seidler claims she and her three children have been "effectively ostracized" from the organization since Peter Seidler's death 14 months ago. The suit names Robert and Matthew Seidler as defendants, accusing the brothers of "fiduciary breaches of trust, fraud, conversion and egregious acts of self-dealing" in their roles as trustees and executors of Peter Seidler's estate. The Padres announced Dec. 21 that Peter's oldest brother, John Seidler, would become the team's control person, which Sheel opposed and claims went against her late husband's wishes.  In a letter to fans, Sheel called her complaint "a very last resort" to "protect my family and to continue to carry out Peter's legacy." "[A]s the holder of the largest individual ownership stake in the San Diego...

EAGAN, Minn. -- Kevin O'Connell made clear Monday that he wants to continue as the Minnesota Vikings' head coach, even as his contract status has reportedly spurred interest from other NFL teams in acquiring his services via trade. "I'm not really interested in kind of, I guess I should say, addressing the rumors or speculation," O'Connell said. "What I can tell you is I love this team. I love everything about this organization. This is where I want to be. This is where I want to keep coaching and leading." O'Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah each signed four-year contracts when they were hired within weeks of each other in 2022. They put together a combined 20-14 record in their first two seasons, but owners Zygi and Mark Wilf decided against offering contract extensions to either at the midpoint of their deals. Mark Wilf said in August that those discussions would be targeted for after the 2024 season, if warranted, and the Vikings went on to post an...

FRISCO, Texas -- Jerry Jones' timeframe on whether to keep Mike McCarthy as Dallas Cowboys coach could be affected by the Chicago Bears. Multiple sources said the Bears have sought permission to speak with McCarthy regarding their head coaching vacancy. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Cowboys have yet to respond to the request. McCarthy's contract expires Wednesday, but the Cowboys hold exclusive negotiating rights through Jan. 14. After that McCarthy would become a coaching free agent. After Sunday's 23-19 season-ending loss to the Washington Commanders, Jones continued to praise McCarthy but was noncommittal regarding the coach's future in Dallas. McCarthy said he "absolutely" wants to return to Dallas, where he has posted a 49-35 regular-season record but is just 1-3 in the playoffs. The Cowboys finished 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, McCarthy's first season. Jones was asked if he would allow a team to...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson sustained a season-ending torn ACL in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears, coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. "Yeah, it's not good," LaFleur said. "He'll be out for this season or the rest of the year." As for quarterbacks Jordan Love and Malik Willis, both of whom sustained injuries in Sunday's game, LaFleur wasn't sure whether they would be limited in practice this week. Love left the game in the second quarter after landing on his right elbow, which caused numbness in his throwing hand. Willis played the rest of the game but banged his throwing hand on the helmet of a Bears player on the second-to-last series of the game. "I talked to both of those guys," LaFleur said. "They seem to be doing all right, but as far as their limits, I think they're going to be OK, but we'll find out over the next two days." Watson was coming off a bruised left knee that forced him to miss...

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler withdrew from next week's American Express to give his injured right hand a few more weeks to heal, he announced on his Instagram account. The two-time Masters champion said he hopes to return at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, to be played Jan. 30-Feb. 2 in Pebble Beach, California. "After consulting with my medical team, I have made the decision to withdraw from next week's American Express tournament to give my injury more time to heal," Scheffler wrote on Instagram. "I am still hopeful to begin my 2025 season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am." Scheffler suffered a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand while cooking dinner on Christmas Day and had surgery to remove glass fragments, according to his manager, Blake Smith. Scheffler was expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, Smith said. The 28-year-old missed the PGA Tour's 2025 season opener, the Sentry, which was won by Hideki Matsuyama in...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson sustained a season-ending knee injury in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears, coach Matt LaFleur said Monday. LaFleur didn't get into the specific nature of Watson's injury, but a source told ESPN that initial tests showed the receiver has a torn ACL. The source said that Watson was expected to undergo more tests to determine what other damage, if any, there is to his right knee and that no decision has been made on when or where Watson will have surgery. NFL Network reported that there was believed to be more damage than just Watson's ACL.  "It's not good," LaFleur said Monday. Watson was coming off a bruised left knee that forced him to miss the previous week's game at Minnesota. It's unclear whether that had any impact on the injury to his right knee. It was a noncontact play in which the ball went to Dontayvion Wicks across the field. Watson needed help getting off the field and...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Antonio Pierce is operating as if he will remain the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after a 4-13 season, though he had yet to meet with team owner Mark Davis and general manager Tom Telesco when he addressed reporters in his end-of-season news conference Monday. "I haven't been told anything different," said Pierce, who was wearing a throwback Raiders Starter jacket at the podium. Asked if he'd like his status "cleared up," Pierce shrugged. "It's only coming from the outside," he said of swirling speculation. "It's not inside the building. To me there's nothing to clean up until I hear from inside the building." As such, Pierce said he did not anticipate making any changes to his staff in the wake of the team's fewest wins since 2018. It was also the first time the Raiders were winless against AFC West opponents since 2006. The Raiders endured a 10-game losing streak, their longest in-season skid since they began the 2014 season 0-10 and had the NFL's...

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has a bulging disk in his back and is expected to miss at least one to two weeks, sources told ESPN. There is optimism that treatment over the coming days will provide a return-to-play target date, sources said. The Mavs announced Sunday that Irving would miss Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies with a lumbar sprain in his back. He did not join the team on the road trip, remaining in Dallas to be reevaluated, sources said.   Irving did not play in Friday's home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he was ruled out hours before tipoff with an illness. Dallas is already down one superstar, as guard Luka Doncic has been out since suffering a strained left calf during the Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic, who was seen using a scooter to move around at the arena Friday night, is expected to be reevaluated in the final week of January. The Mavs, who also dealt with...

Las Vegas Raiders players credited head coach Antonio Pierce for keeping them motivated despite a 10-game losing streak and 4-13 season, and the team unity is part of the reason he expects to be back as head coach in 2025. "I'm really proud of how we finished the season," Pierce said Monday at his usual day-after-game press conference. Pierce said he is continuing to fulfill his role as head coach and hasn't heard "anything different," leading to the expectation that he will be in the role in 2025. Tight end Brock Bowers and quarterback Aidan O'Connell were among the players who said Sunday they wanted Pierce to return. "Just being myself every day. I never change, win, lose or draw," Pierce said. "It was challenging. When you lose 10 straight, how do you keep going in front of the team to motivate them? ... I thought you saw some things, you could see the players improving." "We've got to get better players, got to coach better. You've got to do a lot of...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he planned to move quickly to hire a head coach, while also addressing the decision to fire Jerod Mayo after just one season. "This whole situation is on me," Kraft said Monday. "I feel terrible for Jerod, because I put him in an untenable situation. I know that he has all the tools as a head coach to be successful in this league. He just needed more time before taking the job. "In the end, I'm a fan of this team first, and now I have to go out and find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully championships." The Patriots, who were 4-13 under Mayo, have already submitted a request to speak with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, according to a source. Kraft, 83, was also asked if former Patriots linebacker and former Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel is near the top of his list. "There are some wonderful people that we've heard about. I'd rather...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Initial tests showed that the knee injury Green Bay Packers receiver Christian Watson sustained in Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears was a torn ACL, a source told ESPN. The source said that Watson was expected to undergo more tests to determine what other damage, if any, there is to his right knee and that no decision has been made on when or where Watson will have surgery. NFL Network reported that there was believed to be more damage than just Watson's ACL. Packers coach Matt LaFleur indicated after the game that Watson's status for the postseason was not good. "I'm not super confident about that right now," LaFleur said Sunday. LaFleur is expected to meet with reporters later Monday afternoon. Watson was coming off a bruised left knee that forced him to miss the previous week's game at Minnesota. It's unclear whether that had any impact on the injury to his right knee. It was a noncontact play in which the ball went to ...

The Seattle Seahawks have fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after one season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. The move comes a day after the Seahawks finished 10-7 in coach Mike Macdonald's first season, and after speculation had been mounting that Grubb's job was not safe. The Seahawks ranked 21st in offensive scoring (20.0 points per game), 14th in total offense (332.2) and eighth in passing yards (236.5). But the run game Macdonald wanted to rely on as a defensive-minded head coach was a constant struggle, with Seattle finishing 28th in rushing (95.7) and 17th in yards per carry (4.2). Grubb had never coached in the NFL until the Seahawks hired him in February, bringing the OC and offensive line coach Scott Huff back to Seattle after they had followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama. Quarterback Geno Smith, a strong Grubb supporter, mentioned that fact while giving a glowing endorsement of his playcaller after Seattle closed out the...

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a setback in his rehab from his torn Achilles tendon that will extend his recovery process, general manager Andrew Berry announced Monday. Berry said the setback was discovered during an end-of-season physical and that Watson, who has been splitting time between Cleveland and Miami for his rehab, reported some discomfort. Berry added that it was too early to give a timeline for the quarterback's recovery and that the team would know in the coming days and weeks if another surgery is needed. Berry said the 29-year-old Watson's setback would not significantly impact the team's outlook at the quarterback position this offseason. The Browns are expected to look to free agency to upgrade a quarterback room that threw the most interceptions (23) in the NFL this season. And with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 draft, Cleveland is in position to take one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's...

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a setback in his rehab from his torn Achilles tendon that will extend his recovery process, general manager Andrew Berry announced Monday. Berry said the setback was discovered during an end-of-season physical and that Watson, who has been splitting time between Cleveland and Miami for his rehab, reported some discomfort. Berry added that it was too early to give a timeline for the quarterback's recovery and that the team would know in the coming days and weeks if another surgery is needed. Berry said the 29-year-old Watson's setback would not significantly impact the team's outlook at the quarterback position this offseason. The Browns are expected to look to free agency to upgrade a quarterback room that threw the most interceptions (23) in the NFL this season. And with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland is in position to take one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, scheduled to interview Tuesday for the team's head coaching vacancy, is convinced he will land the job. If it happens, he says he will put an end to the Aaron Rodgers "country club." Ryan, appearing Monday morning on ESPN New York radio, ripped the future Hall of Famer for skipping the team's mandatory minicamp last June to take a vacation to Egypt. He also criticized the organization's "abysmal" leadership for condoning it. "Clearly, when you have a guy that doesn't show up for mandatory minicamp -- and, by the way, he's your quarterback, coming off an injury -- I think that's an absolutely ridiculous message you send to the team," Ryan said during a spot on the "DiPietro & Rothenberg Show." "If he comes back, things would be different. If he's back, it ain't gonna be the country club, show up whenever the hell you want to show up. That ain't gonna happen. I'll just leave it at that," Ryan...

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has fired defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, Swinney announced Monday. The Tigers' defense -- particularly against the run -- took a significant step back in the third season under Goodwin. Clemson allowed an average of 160.6 rushing yards per game -- its worst performance since 2011. That includes 292 yards rushing allowed in a 38-24 loss to Texas in a College Football Playoff first-round game last month. Goodwin was promoted from within in 2022 to replace Brent Venables, who left to become head coach at Oklahoma. In 2021, the last season under Venables, Clemson ranked No. 7 in the country in rush defense (96.3 yards per game) and No. 8 in total defense (310.2 yards per game). Swinney said he met with Goodwin on Sunday night to inform him of the decision. "Wes has been a part of our program for 13 of the past 16 years, and he played an instrumental part in all of our success," Swinney said in a statement. "I love Wes and his family and...

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals have fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday. Anarumo was part of coach Zac Taylor's original staff when Taylor was hired in 2019. Anarumo played an integral role in the Bengals' turnaround from the worst team in the AFC North to playing in the franchise's first Super Bowl in 33 years. Cincinnati also fired offensive line coach Frank Pollack, defensive line coach Marion Hobby and linebackers coach James Bettcher, a source confirmed to ESPN. Those dismissals were first reported by The Athletic. Cincinnati's defense struggled in each of the past two seasons as the Bengals missed the postseason in 2023 and 2024 after winning back-to-back division championships and making deep playoff runs. This season, Cincinnati finished 26th in points allowed per drive and was 30th in the NFL in defensive red zone efficiency, according to ESPN Research. A significant change was required after the Bengals squandered...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Despite watching his team finish with double-digit losses for the 10th time in his 13 seasons as the Jacksonville Jaguars' owner, Shad Khan said he never considered a complete organizational overhaul, a move he said would be "like shooting yourself in the foot." Instead, he said he made the decision to fire only head coach Doug Pederson on Monday morning but retain general manager Trent Baalke in large part because he felt the Jaguars were the most predictable team in the NFL. "What is a complete overhaul of the franchise?" Khan asked on a Zoom call with reporters Monday afternoon. "Health and wellness of the players, medical statistics, analysis, scouting, and a number of other elements along with contract administration, all of those areas we have really changed [and] improved certainly over the last four or five years. So to change all of that is almost like suicidal. "You've got 85 people working on that side [of the organization] and you say,...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants are retaining general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll off a 3-14 season, team president John Mara announced in a statement. The quick decision comes on the heels of a 20-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, concluding a season that included a franchise-record 10-game losing streak and 11 losses in the last 12 games. The statement read, in part: "Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles with the organization. As disappointing as the results of the season have been, [team chairman Steve] Tisch and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team. We look forward to the future and the result we all desire." Schoen and Daboll each has two years remaining on his contract. They will be under pressure to produce a better result immediately. While Mara didn't put a specific timeline on a turnaround, there doesn't seem to be much...

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson insists his teenage son has no influence on the team's decisions and referred to a recent report about the organization's dysfunction as a "smear piece." Johnson told the New York Post that he read the story published last month by The Athletic, which reported that the 77-year-old owner takes advice from his teenage son Brick. "I think the article is a typical smear piece -- unsubstantiated," Johnson told the Post in a report published Monday. "Nobody really stood up and put their name on anything. It's absolutely untrue. Everything was out of context. When you're losing games, it gives people the artistic license to kind of do what they want." As part of its report, The Athletic cited multiple sources who shared that Brick Johnson, 18, has an influential role in decisions pertaining to the Jets' roster and staff. The report also mentioned Woody Johnson's younger son, Jack, as being included in that process. A source confirmed to...

The  Jacksonville Jaguars arrived home early Monday morning after the winter storm that snarled travel across the central United States delayed their return from Indianapolis. The team's charter was delayed for seven hours, with players and staff remaining on the plane on the tarmac at Indianapolis International Airport after Sunday's 26-23 loss to the  Colts. The chartered flight touched down in Jacksonville at 2:50 a.m. ET Monday morning. Indianapolis was among the cities under a winter storm warning into Monday. The National Weather Service forecast called for heavy snow at times, an accumulation of 2 to 5 inches, freezing drizzle and wind gusts of up to 40 mph in central Indiana. The Jaguars (4-13) had hoped to get out of Indianapolis before the worst of the storm, but Sunday's game went to overtime and caused enough of a delay that players, coaches and staff got stuck. The charter flight finally was cleared to leave at 1 a.m. EST and landed in Jacksonville...

The  Jacksonville Jaguars arrived home early this morning after the winter storm that snarled travel across the central United States delayed them in Indianapolis following Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Colts. The team's charter was delayed for seven hours, with players and staff remaining on the plane on the tarmac at Indianapolis International Airport. The chartered flight touched down Monday in Jacksonville at 2:50 a.m. ET.   Indianapolis was among the cities under a winter storm warning into Monday. The National Weather Service forecast called for heavy snow at times, an accumulation of 2 to 5 inches, freezing drizzle and wind gusts of up to 40 mph in central Indiana. The Jaguars had hoped to get out of Indianapolis before the worst of it, but their game against the Colts went to overtime and caused the players, coaches and staff to get stuck until their flight was finally cleared to leave at 1 a.m. ET. It delayed owner Shad Khan's scheduled meeting with coach Doug...

The  Jacksonville Jaguars arrived home early this morning after the winter storm that snarled travel across the central United States delayed them in Indianapolis following Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Colts. The team's charter was delayed for seven hours, with players and staff remaining on the plane on the tarmac at Indianapolis International Airport. The chartered flight touched down in Jacksonville at 2:50 a.m. ET.   Indianapolis was among the cities under a winter storm warning into Monday. The National Weather Service forecast called for heavy snow at times, an accumulation of 2 to 5 inches, freezing drizzle and wind gusts of up to 40 mph in central Indiana. The Kansas City Chiefs decided to remain overnight in Denver following their game against the Broncos because of the storm.

DETROIT -- Before Jahmyr Gibbs ran onto the field for the biggest regular-season game of his young career, his idol,  Lions great Barry Sanders, dropped a gem in his ear. "Go get it," Sanders told Gibbs while dapping him up. By the end of regulation, the 22-year-old Gibbs had etched his name in the record books. During Detroit's 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, the second-year Lions running back exploded for a career-high four touchdowns to help Detroit clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time while winning a second straight NFC North title and earning a first-round bye for the playoffs. "We're obviously having a better season this year, and I think everybody is still counting us out a little bit, so being able to shut them up a little bit feels good," Gibbs told ESPN. Gibbs became the first Lions player to lead the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns (20) since Sanders in 1991 (17) while setting a single-season...

The winter storm that has snarled travel across the central United States delayed the Jacksonville Jaguars from returning from Indianapolis following Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Colts. The team's charter was delayed for seven hours, with players and staff remaining on the plane on the tarmac at Indianapolis International Airport. The chartered flight departed at 1 a.m. ET.   Indianapolis was among the cities under a winter storm warning into Monday. The National Weather Service forecast called for heavy snow at times, an accumulation of 2 to 5 inches, freezing drizzle and wind gusts of up to 40 mph in central Indiana. The Kansas City Chiefs decided to remain overnight in Denver following their game against the Broncos because of the storm.

DETROIT -- Before Jahmyr Gibbs ran onto the field for the biggest regular-season game of his young career, his idol,  Lions great Barry Sanders, dropped a gem in his ear. "Go get it," Sanders told Gibbs while dapping him up. By the end of regulation, the 22-year-old Gibbs had etched his name in the record books. During Detroit's 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night, the second-year Lions running back exploded for a career-high four touchdowns to help Detroit clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed for the first time while winning a second straight NFC North title and earn a first-round bye for the playoffs. "We're obviously having a better season this year and I think everybody is still counting us out a little bit so being able to shut them up a little bit feels good," Gibbs told ESPN. Gibbs became the first Lions player to lead the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns (20) since Sanders in 1991 (17) while setting a single-season franchise record for...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The Seattle Seahawks were already eliminated from playoff contention heading into their season finale against the Los Angeles Rams, but with $6 million on the line, the game was far from meaningless for Geno Smith. The veteran quarterback had three contract escalators worth $2 million apiece within reach, and he hit all three in Seattle's 30-25 win at So-Fi Stadium. "I was just trying to win," Smith said. By doing so, Smith hit one of his escalators that was tied to Seattle (10-7) either making the playoffs or winning 10 games. The other two were tied to Smith's season-long performance. He needed 185 passing yards to finish with at least 4,282, which he surpassed early in the fourth quarter. For the other, he needed to finish at or above 69.7555% completion rate, which he did by completing 20 of 27 attempts for 223 yards. Four of Smith's completions were to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who tied Tyler Lockett's single-season franchise...

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Teddy Stiga scored on a breakaway at 8:04 of 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a 4-3 victory over Finland on Sunday night in the world junior hockey championship game. The Boston College winger -- a healthy scratch at the start of the tournament -- collected a forward pass from Denver's Zeev Buium and beat goalie Petteri Rimpinen through the leg pads to end it. "You got to find a role," Stiga said. "Trying to do what I could do best to help the team win. It wasn't always points and scoring. Being able to top it off with one there was pretty cool." The Americans avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in group play, overcoming a two-goal deficit in the second period to win their second straight title and seventh overall. "Dynasty ... it's sick," said Ryan Leonard, the U.S. captain from BC who was the tournament MVP. "There's no better feeling. We wanted to do something that's never been accomplished. It's crazy." Boston University teammates Brandon...

DENVER -- It was a thousand-word picture, as a beaming, 24-year-old rookie quarterback enjoyed a moment with thousands of his newest friends, almost a decade in the making. After the Denver Broncos clinched the seventh, and final, playoff spot in the AFC with a 38-0 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High,  Bo Nix took a victory lap, high-fiving roaring, ecstatic fans around the stadium. "I learned I've got to run a little more during the week because that's a long lap,'' Nix said with a wry smile. "I was a little tired at the end. The fans deserve it, and it's been a long time coming.'' A long time indeed. Sunday's win, over a Chiefs team that rested most of its front-line players with the AFC's No. 1 seed already locked up, clinched the Broncos' first postseason trip since their Super Bowl 50 win to close the 2015 season. No player on the current roster has worn a Broncos uniform in a postseason game. Left...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill hinted at a potential exit from the team after a season-ending loss Sunday to the New York Jets, during which he did not play in the final quarter. Speaking to reporters in the locker room after the 32-20 loss, which officially eliminated the Dolphins from playoff contention, Hill expressed his frustration in missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. When asked for his message to the team as a captain, Hill offered a surprising response. "I don't even know, bruh. This is my first time I haven't been in the playoffs," he said. "For me, I just have to do what's best for me and my family -- if that's here or wherever the case may be. I'm about to open up that door for myself ... I'm out, bruh. It was great playing here but at the end of the day, I have to do what's best for my career. "I'm too much of a competitor to just be out there." Hill and the Dolphins restructured...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- There was briefly some question about who the sack would officially be awarded to, as New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye didn't immediately hit the ground. The result, however, was Buffalo Bills defensive end  Von Miller being credited for the sack and a 9-yard loss in the first series of their Week 18 matchup. The sack was Miller's sixth of the season, earning him a $1.5 million bonus. (He reached a $1 million bonus earlier this season when he achieved two sacks.) The play was Miller's second snap of three total as the Bills had nothing to gain or lose on Sunday, having already been locked into the AFC's No. 2 seed. The Patriots went on to win  23-16, with a vast majority of Buffalo's starters and significant contributors playing limited snaps, if any. "In particular [reaching the sack incentive] was great because I think it was the first third down and third play of the game," Bills coach Sean McDermott...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans secured the top overall pick in the draft with a 23-14 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday after the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots, who would have clinched the No. 1 pick with a loss, instead will pick No. 4 overall after defeating the Bills 23-16. The Cleveland Browns will select No. 2, followed by the New York Giants at No. 3. Titans coach Brian Callahan elected to play both Will Levis and Mason Rudolph against the Texans in the season finale. Callahan said splitting time between the quarterbacks was done to get them both one last chance to play and was not based on trying to lose to improve draft the team's status. The Titans finished the year with a 3-14 record in Callahan's first season as coach. This is the worst season for the team since 2015, when it finished 3-13. Former Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired seven games...

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys' season came to an end with a 23-19 loss to the Washington Commanders Sunday, and now comes the challenging part. Does owner and general manager Jerry Jones retain Mike McCarthy, whose contract expires Wednesday, or does he begin a search for his ninth head coach since he purchased the team in 1989? For more than 40 minutes, Jones spoke to the media outside the locker room, speaking glowingly about McCarthy but never fully committing to him for 2025 and beyond. "I don't know that I am considering making a change is really what I'm trying to say," Jones said. McCarthy has posted a 49-35 regular-season record with the Cowboys, but he is 1-3 in the playoffs, has not advanced past the divisional round and suffered two of the more painful home postseason defeats in franchise history. The Cowboys' Super Bowl drought is now at 29 seasons. "Mike's one of the best coaches that I think there is," Jones said. "He was made the coach...

SAN FRANCISCO --  Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga will be re-evaluated in three weeks after an MRI confirmed he suffered a significant lateral right ankle sprain, the team said Sunday. Kuminga sustained the injury late in the second quarter of Saturday's 121-113 win over the Memphis Grizzlies when he landed awkwardly in the paint and rolled his right ankle. He left the game immediately after and left Chase Center on crutches following the win. He underwent an MRI on Sunday. Kuminga had been in the midst of his best career stretch, receiving more opportunity and being utilized as a primary scorer at times. He averaged 20.5 points over the past 14 games. But now the Warriors will be without their most explosive athlete for at least three weeks. He will miss at least 11 games. Warriors coach Steve Kerr called losing Kuminga "brutal." The 22-year-old is averaging a career-high 16.8 points and 5 rebounds per game this season. Last month he became...

OKLAHOMA CITY --  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 33 points and 11 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away from the Boston Celtics 105-92 on Sunday for a franchise-record 15th straight win. The Thunder, who improved to 30-5, have not lost a game that counts in the standings since Dec. 1. Their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup final does not count on the team's record. Jayson Tatum had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the defending NBA champion Celtics. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, but went scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting in the second half. Gilgeous-Alexander scored nine points in the first 3½ minutes of the game to help the Thunder take an early lead, but Boston rallied and led 65-55 at halftime. The Thunder trimmed the deficit to 80-76 at the end of the third quarter and regained the lead, 81-80, on two free throws by Jalen Williams early in the fourth. Oklahoma City remained in control, and back-to-back 3s...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In a surprising turn, Jerod Mayo is out after one year as head coach of the New England Patriots, the team announced Sunday. The Patriots finished the 2024 season with a 4-13 record. Mayo's one-year tenure matches Rod Rust, who went 1-15 in 1990, for the shortest in franchise history. "For me, personally, this was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. "I have known Jerod for 17 years. He earned my respect and admiration as a rookie in 2008 and throughout his career for his play on the field, his leadership in the locker room and the way he conducted himself in our community. When he joined our coaching staff, his leadership was even more evident, as I saw how the players responded to him. When other teams started requesting to interview him, I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach. Winning our season-opener on the road at Cincinnati only strengthened my convictions....

Former USC and Boise State quarterback Malachi Nelson has committed to UTEP, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel. The former five-star was the No. 1 overall recruit in ESPN's Class of 2023 and will be UTEP's highest ranked recruit ever. He entered the portal for the second time in his college career on Dec. 12. Nelson, who has three years of eligibility remaining, turned down high-profile and more lucrative opportunities because of his faith in UTEP coach Scotty Walden, per ESPN sources. After being initially committed to Oklahoma while still at Los Alamitos High School in Southern California, Nelson flipped to USC and followed head coach Lincoln Riley there once he took the job with the Trojans in late 2021. Nelson was an early enrollee who spent his first year at USC behind starter Caleb Williams and backup Miller Moss. He attempted only three passes in limited action during the 2023 season before transferring to Boise State last offseason...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Playing in perhaps the final game of his NFL career, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers added another milestone to his list of accomplishments. The future Hall of Famer threw his 500th career touchdown in Sunday's season finale against the Miami Dolphins, becoming only the fifth player in NFL history to reach the plateau. Rodgers, 41, joined Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and former teammate Brett Favre (508) on the 500 list.   Rodgers did it on a 5-yard pass to tight end Tyler Conklin, giving the Jets a 7-6 lead with 7:57 left in the second quarter. Conklin presented the ball to Rodgers, who took it and jogged off the field, receiving a big hug from interim coach Jeff Ulbrich. As the Jets' offense sputtered through losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills, Rodgers had been sitting on 499 for eight quarters. A few days before facing Miami, he said, "I would be fine...

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Buccaneers clinched the NFC South for the fourth straight season and Mike Evans reached 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th straight year, tying Jerry Rice's NFL record, as Tampa Bay defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-19 on Sunday. Evans secured the milestone with a catch on the Bucs' final play. "It's been hard to do for 11 straight years, and to be tied with one of the -- if not the greatest receiver of all time -- it means a lot to me and my family," Evans said. "NFC South champs, and then tied in history with Jerry Rice, so that made it that much [sweeter]." Evans then said of his teammates: "I love those guys to death." Leading 20-19 with two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield looked for Evans in the end zone, a pass that, if completed, would have gotten the franchise's all-time leading scorer to 1,000 yards. But on a second-and-2 from the New Orleans' 11-yard line, Mayfield saw Evans was...

Ruben Amorim praised  Manchester United for their spirited 2-2 draw against Liverpool before adding that he is trying to "shock" with his comments about the team because everyone is "too comfortable." Amad Diallo's 80th-minute equaliser at Anfield, after goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah had given Liverpool a 2-1 lead, earned Amorim's team a point against the Premier League leaders and ended a three-game losing streak.  Lisandro Martínez scored the opening goal for United.  United could have won it when Harry Maguire was given a clear chance to score seven minutes into stoppage time, but the England center half put his shot over the crossbar. After going into the game by saying that his players were "afraid" to have the ball, Amorim said his shock therapy approach is designed to shake the club out of its malaise. "I'm trying that [motivation] every day," Amorim told reporters. "I'm...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Thomas Brown will have the opportunity to remove the interim tag from his title when he interviews for the Chicago Bears' head coach opening after the season. On ESPN 1000's Bears pregame show, general manager Ryan Poles said Brown will receive a formal interview after five games as the Bears' interim head coach. Brown replaced Matt Eberflus, who was fired Nov. 29. "He will get an interview, and I'm excited to hear his thoughts," Poles said. "Because he's been here. He's been here, he's seen and reflected just like we have on the past and how we got to this and why were the results, the results. So I'm excited to hear from his side on how we got here and how he would fix it." The Bears have lost four straight games with Brown as the interim head coach and close the 2024 season Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Brown, who started the season as the passing game coordinator, was promoted to offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron was...

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced the dismissals Sunday, less than 24 hours after Cleveland completed a disappointing season marred by injuries and ineffective play at quarterback. The last-place Browns lost 35-10 on Saturday to the Baltimore Ravens to finish 3-14 -- their worst record since their winless 2017 season. "I think the world of those two guys as people, as coaches," Stefanski said. "But we're going to go in a different direction. ... This is something that we all own, we all share in." Dorsey and Dickerson lasted only one season in Cleveland, which entered Sunday ranked 28th in the NFL in total offense and 32nd in scoring. Dorsey was the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator before being fired from that position in November 2023. He was hired by the Browns in February to work under the offensive-minded Stefanski...

Paige Bueckers scored 15 points before exiting with an injury in No. 7 UConn's 83-52 rout of host Villanova on Sunday. Bueckers added nine assists for the Huskies (13-2, 4-0 Big East) before getting hurt with 1:17 left in the third quarter after a collision near midcourt. Bueckers was going for a loose ball when Villanova's Jasmine Bascoe dove and went into the All-American's left knee, bending it back awkwardly. "She's pretty good. I mean, it was unfortunate, the kid dove for the ball and I'm sure people saw. Paige turned her back and it was a weird situation," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said after the win. "It's funny because we had someone at the scorer's table ready to check in. But she'll be fine. She looks good. I'm optimistic, let's put it that way." Bueckers -- who tore the ACL in that knee in 2022, an injury that sidelined her for a year -- sat on the court for a minute before limping off. She went to the locker room before returning to the...

Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada plans to file the paperwork required to enter the NCAA transfer portal, a source told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Sunday. Rashada, the No. 31 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN 300, did not appear in a game during his lone season as a backup for the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound redshirt freshman from Pittsburg, California, is reentering the portal in search of an opportunity to become a starter and will have three more seasons of eligibility at his next school. Rashada became one of the most high-profile recruits of the name, image and likeness era of college athletics when he flipped from Miami to Florida in December 2022 after agreeing to a four-year, $13.85 million deal with Florida's now-defunct Gator Collective. Rashada signed with the Gators but did not enroll at the school after the NIL collective failed to make promised payments and attempted to terminate the agreement. Rashada sued Florida coach Billy Napier, former...

After failing to beat Texas during his four years at Kansas State, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard noted the upcoming showdown against the Longhorns carries "extra motivation" for him. "That was the only team I didn't beat when I was in the Big 12," Howard said Sunday. "They're always a good team. But none of those games were unwinnable. Definitely excited to get another chance at these guys." Howard's Buckeyes face Texas in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday with a trip to the national championship on the line. Howard has thrived in his two outings in the College Football Playoff, posting a postseason QBR of 98.3, the best of any playoff quarterback. Ohio State defeated Tennessee 42-17 in the opening round then Oregon 41-21 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Howard passed for a total of 630 yards with five touchdowns in those games, propelling the Buckeyes to the playoff semifinal against the Longhorns. "Texas is a heck of...

Former USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch have committed to Georgia, the brothers told ESPN on Sunday. The brothers are former top-100 recruits who loom as significant additions for the Bulldogs in 2025. They both have two seasons of eligibility remaining. Zachariah Branch is the No. 9 overall player and No. 4 wide receiver in ESPN's transfer portal rankings. He earned first-team All-American honors in 2023 while emerging as one of the most electric players in college football. "I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special," Zachariah Branch told ESPN. "They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me." Zachariah Branch can boost a Georgia receiving room that was beset this season by off-field issues and inconsistent play. Georgia led the...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans secured the top overall pick in the draft with a 23-14 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday after the New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots, who would have clinched the No. 1 pick with a loss, instead will pick No. 4 overall after defeating the Bills 23-16. The Cleveland Browns will select No. 2, followed by the New York Giants at No. 3. Titans coach Brian Callahan elected to play both Will Levis and Mason Rudolph against the Texans in the season finale. Callahan said splitting time between the quarterbacks was done to get them both one last chance to play and was not based on trying to lose to improve draft the team's status. The Titans finished the year with a 3-14 record in Callahan's first season as coach. This is the worst season for the team since 2015, when it finished 3-13. Former Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired seven games...