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CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, in his first public comments since his home was broken into during Monday night's game, spoke Wednesday about the degree to which he felt his privacy was violated. Before answering questions during his usual midweek news conference, Burrow issued an opening statement addressing the burglary that occurred at his Cincinnati-area home while the Bengals were on the road to face the Dallas Cowboys. "I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one, and way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share," said Burrow, who implied that he was not going to answer any specific questions about the incident. But in his limited comments on the situation, Burrow agreed that one of the more frustrating parts was the amount of information that is now part of the public discourse.  According to an incident report obtained by ABC News, the break-in was initially...

In one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history, six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick was named the new head coach at North Carolina on Wednesday night.  UNC officials said the sides agreed to a five-year deal pending approval by the board of trustees, which is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting Thursday.  Belichick, 72, worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. This will be his first college coaching job.  Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955. "I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times," Belichick said as part of a release announcing the move. "I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill." Belichick's hiring at North Carolina, which hasn't won an ACC football title since 1980, was spearheaded...

Former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez is finalizing a deal to return to the country roads where he experienced his greatest success as a head coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.  Rodriguez, the current head coach at Jacksonville State, has emerged as the target to be the Mountaineers' new coach, per sources, and a deal was expected to come together in the near future. Rodriguez, 61, spent seven seasons at the school (2001 to 2007), which included three straight 10-win campaigns and a Sugar Bowl win over  Georgia in 2006. He had West Virginia on the cusp of the Bowl Championship Series title game in his final year before an upset loss to  Pittsburgh. After that loss, Rodriguez left for  Michigan in a tense split, including a legal battle over his buyout. Rodriguez is a West Virginia native, which made the bitterness of his departure sting even worse but makes his return home powerful. As West Virginia's search for a replacement for...

In one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history, six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick was named the new head coach at North Carolina on Wednesday night.  UNC officials said the sides agreed to a five-year deal pending approval by the board of trustees, which is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting Thursday.  Belichick, 72, worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. This will be his first college coaching job.  Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to '55. "I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times," Belichick said as part of a release announcing the move. "I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill." Belichick's hiring at North Carolina, which hasn't won an ACC football title since 1980, was...

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier announced Wednesday that he would return to the Tigers for his senior season. "I'm fully committed to bringing this university a championship," Nussmeier said in a video posted to social media. "My teammates, coaches, and the fans will get the absolute best out of me every single day until we complete that goal." After backing up Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels in 2022 and 2023, Nussmeier took over as the Tigers' starting quarterback this season and threw for 3,739 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Nussmeier, the son of Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier, is ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s No. 7-ranked draft-eligible quarterback and was a potential first-round pick. LSU went 8-4 during the regular season and will play Baylor in the Texas Bowl on New Year's Eve.

The Phoenix Suns are among the teams that  Jimmy Butler's agent has indicated in NBA circles that the six-time NBA All-Star is open to as a destination as the Miami Heat listen to trade offers, league sources told ESPN on Wednesday. As reported in the Inside Pass on Tuesday, the Heat are open to dealing Butler if the trade proposal is right, according to league sources, and Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, expressed in league circles that he was open to the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Suns. Butler was believed to prefer a win-now contender. He said Wednesday he doesn't mind his name being in the rumor mill. "I actually like it," Butler said. "It's good to be talked about. I don't think there's such a thing as bad publicity -- to a point." Butler, 35, is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists this season. He's one of the NBA's elite competitors and is a perennial postseason performer....

LAS COLINAS, Texas -- Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he is perplexed by his team's 3-10 record but will evaluate its performance in totality after the season -- including the outlook at quarterback. He also expressed support for coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. "We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10, so it's a little perplexing what happened," Haslam told ESPN as he departed the NFL owners meetings Wednesday.  Asked whether he has the right players in place with Stefanski and Berry, Haslam added: "I do. We do. We're very supportive." Berry and Stefanski signed contract extensions before the 2024 season and have made the playoffs together in 2020 and 2023. The primary issue for Cleveland is the quarterback position. Deshaun Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two years. He has struggled with injuries and poor play since the team acquired him from the Houston Texans and then signed him...

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and receiver A.J. Brown addressed the speculation surrounding their relationship Wednesday, with both indicating it isn't fractured, as teammate Brandon Graham suggested earlier this week. "BG was just being BG," Brown said at his locker Wednesday. "He's emotional. In that case, he just misspoke. Me and Jalen are good." Hurts echoed Brown's sentiment, saying that Graham, one of the most respected players on the team, "spoke out of place. He knows that." The drama started following the Eagles' 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers, marking their ninth consecutive victory. The passing game was not up to their standards, as Hurts finished 14-of-21 for 108 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Brown, who wasn't targeted until late in the second quarter despite flashing open on a couple of occasions, slammed his helmet on the sideline following a three-and-out and expressed frustration after the...

Six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick is finalizing a deal to become the new head coach at North Carolina, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.  The expected hiring of Belichick, 72, will resonate as one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history. He worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels in the 1950s. Belichick's hiring at North Carolina, which hasn't won an ACC football title since 1980, was spearheaded by board chair John P. Preyer, who had homed in on Belichick in recent weeks. The sides met multiple times at length, including for five hours on Sunday, and those talks culminated with Belichick finalizing the deal Wednesday.  For a program awash in apathy and mediocrity, this marks a distinct and compelling shift from Mack Brown, as Belichick gives the Tar Heels an...

Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie scored to lead Juventus to a 2-0 Champions League win over Manchester City on Wednesday, a major blow to the English champions' hopes of clinching a top-eight spot in the group stage of Europe's elite competition. City, who lifted the 2023 Champions League trophy, continued a poor run of form which has brought only one victory in their last 10 games across all competitions. "You can see that sometimes one action we miss the ball or lose a duel and you can see that we drop immediately," City midfielder Ilkay Gündogan told Amazon Prime. "It has such a big effect on us right now. At the crucial moment right now we are doing the wrong things." Vlahovic scored by the narrowest of margins in the 53rd minute when Kenan Yildiz swung the ball in and the Serb's header from close range sneaked past City keeper Éderson and just across the line, according to the goalline technology. City picked up the tempo...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers congregated as a team Wednesday for the first time since Sunday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, only an important figure was missing from the group: LeBron James. "LeBron is not with the team right now," Lakers coach JJ Redick said after practice. "He's out for personal reasons, excused absence." James sat out the Blazers game because of soreness in his left foot. It was the first game James, 39, missed all season. With the schedule providing a break -- L.A. plays just two games in a 10-day stretch from Dec. 9-18 -- Redick gave the entire team Monday off and designated Tuesday as an optional "get what you need" day. Redick met with many of the Lakers' players individually Tuesday, but James was not present, the coach said. The coach was asked about the upcoming break on Sunday and made it clear he would give his players the freedom to use the time as they deemed fit. "Heck, if somebody wants to...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs will be one of four NFL teams embarking Sunday on a stretch of schedule that will have them playing three games in 11 days. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City teammates aren't looking forward to it. "All you can do is focus on the game and the practice that you had that day," Mahomes said. "I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch by tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and you prepare. The coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field. We practice hard as anybody, but they know how to kind of dial it back when we need it. "It is not a good feeling. I'm excited to play on Christmas to hopefully get back from what we did last year [when the Chiefs lost on the holiday to the Las Vegas Raiders], but you never want to play this many games in this short of time. It's just not great for your body. But at the end of the day, it's your job, your profession. You have to come...

DALLAS -- The Boston Red Sox acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, using their deep well of prospects to land the best starting pitching available on the trade market. Catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez are heading to Chicago in exchange for Crochet. Crochet thrived in his first season in the White Sox's rotation last year after transitioning from a relief role. While the teams had discussed multiple iterations of a deal, talks accelerated after Boston fell short in attempts to sign outfielder Juan Soto, left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Crochet, 25, was dominant over 146 innings this year, striking out 209 while walking just 33. With a fastball that sits at 97 mph, a high-end slider and a cutter he added to great effect, Crochet looked like a frontline starter --...

DALLAS -- The Boston Red Sox have acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, a source told ESPN, using their deep well of prospects to land the best starting pitching available on the trade market. Catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez are heading to Chicago in exchange for Crochet, sources said. Crochet thrived in his first season in the White Sox's rotation last year after transitioning from a relief role. While the teams had discussed multiple iterations of a deal, talks accelerated after Boston fell short in attempts to sign outfielder Juan Soto, left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. The 25-year-old Crochet was dominant over 146 innings this year, striking out 209 while walking just 33. With a fastball that sits at 97 mph, a high-end slider and a cutter he added to great effect, Crochet...

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus will make his season debut on Friday against the Washington Wizards, barring setbacks, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Strus suffered an ankle sprain in training camp workouts in mid-October. He started all 70 games he played in last season, averaging career highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks and totaling the second-highest plus-minus on the Cavaliers. His return provides a major boost for their shooting and wing depth. Strus has increased his stats across the board in every season of his career. He is entering his sixth NBA season. The Cavaliers will now be able to deploy their most-used starting lineup from last season, when healthy, with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Strus, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Cleveland had an 18-10 record when those five started together.

North Carolina is working to close a deal with Bill Belichick to make the six-time Super Bowl champion the Tar Heels' coach, but sources told ESPN there are still issues that both sides need to work through. Sources added that the "ball is in Belichick's court" and that North Carolina officials are on board with him becoming the coach. A resolution is expected in the near future, sources said. Among the issues are the potential role for his son and current Washington defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick; North Carolina's name, image and likeness resources; Belichick's salary, and resources for the staff and reporting structure. Talks between North Carolina and Belichick have been ongoing since at least last week, sources said. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Belichick met with North Carolina officials for five hours Sunday. Belichick was typically coy about the situation in an interview on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday afternoon. He confirmed to McAfee that he had...

DALLAS -- The Boston Red Sox are finalizing a trade to acquire left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, sources told ESPN, using their deep well of prospects to land the best starting pitching available on the trade market. Catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez will head to Chicago for Crochet, sources said. Crochet thrived in his first season in the White Sox's rotation last year after transitioning from a relief role. While the teams had discussed multiple iterations of a deal, talks accelerated after Boston fell short in attempts to sign outfielder Juan Soto, left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. The 25-year-old Crochet was dominant over 146 innings this year, striking out 209 while walking just 33. With a fastball that sits at 97 mph, a high-end slider and a cutter he added to great effect,...

LAS VEGAS -- NCAA president Charlie Baker is "bullish" on the prospect of the NCAA basketball tournaments expanding to 72 or 76 teams in the near future. Baker said he has been having productive conversations with television partners and members of the NCAA's basketball committees on expanding from the current 68-team bracket. He said the NCAA would have to make a decision to move forward by the end of this year's March Madness in order to implement the expanded field for the 2026 tournament. He said the tournament is unlikely to grow any bigger than 76 because of the limited window they have to schedule games between the time when conference championships end and coverage of the Masters begins. "I'm bullish on the conversations we've had about going to 72 or 76, and I think the committees are willing to consider that, but I don't think it's going to be anything beyond that," Baker said after speaking about the future of the NCAA at a conference hosted by Sports Business...

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders receiver Noah Brown likely will miss the rest of the season after suffering a "significant internal injury" in Week 13, coach Dan Quinn said. Brown -- who made headlines this season when he caught a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels in the closing seconds to beat the Chicago Bears 18-15 on Oct. 27 -- exited the Commanders' 42-19 win over Tennessee on Dec. 1 with what was initially diagnosed as a rib injury. Further testing revealed the injury was to his kidney. He has not yet been placed on injured reserve, but Quinn said, "It's likely heading that way." "That one hurts," Quinn said of losing the eighth-year receiver. The Commanders (8-5) currently have the seventh seed in the playoff race heading into Sunday's game at New Orleans (5-8). The one bit of good news for Washington involved corner Marshon Lattimore, who has missed his past five games -- four with the Commanders --...

If an Ohio lawmaker gets his way, teams attempting to plant their flags in the middle of Ohio Stadium during Ohio State games will be dealing with more than just pepper spray. Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams introduced a bill Tuesday that would classify flag planting at Ohio Stadium around Buckeyes football games as a felony. The O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act, authored by Williams, comes in response to Michigan's attempt to plant its flag after a Nov. 30 win at Ohio State, which set off a brawl between the teams. Police employed pepper spray to separate players and other team personnel. Ohio State University police are investigating the incident, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies and resulted in an injury to an officer. According to Williams' bill, "No person shall plant a flagpole with a flag attached to it in the center of the football field at Ohio stadium of the Ohio State University on the day of a college football competition, whether before,...

If an Ohio lawmaker gets his way, teams attempting to plant their flags in the middle of Ohio Stadium during Ohio State games will be dealing with more than just pepper spray. Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams introduced a bill Tuesday that would classify flag-planting at Ohio Stadium around Buckeyes football games as a felony. The O.H.I.O. Sportsmanship Act, authored by Williams, comes in response to Michigan's attempt to plant its flag after a Nov. 30 win at Ohio State, which set off a brawl between the teams. Police had to employ pepper spray to separate players and other team personnel. Ohio State University police are investigating the incident, which involved multiple law enforcement agencies and resulted in an injury to an officer. According to Williams' bill, "No person shall plant a flagpole with a flag attached to it in the center of the football field at Ohio stadium of the Ohio State University on the day of a college football competition, whether before,...

DALLAS -- The Texas Rangers have acquired power-hitting corner infielder Jake Burger from the the Miami Marlins in exchange for two shortstop prospects in Echedry Vargas and  Max Acosta, and a young left-handed starting pitcher in Brayan Mendoza. Burger, 28, is controllable for four years and compiled 63 home runs with the Marlins and the Chicago White Sox over the past two years, batting .250/.305/.488 while playing first and third base in 278 games. In Texas, where Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung man first and third base, respectively, Burger seemingly slots in as the everyday designated hitter, adding more length to a lineup that, at full health, can be among the sport's most prodigious. The Marlins acquired Burger from the White Sox in August 2023, one of the final pieces to a team that made a surprising run to the playoffs. They have since gone into a full rebuild under current president of baseball...

The Buffalo Bills added 10 noncontrolling minority owners to the team's ownership group in a vote approved at the NFL league meetings in Dallas on Wednesday, including Basketball Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. The limited partners added by the Bills mark the first time in franchise history the team has brought in minority owners. Among the minority owners added is Arctos, a private investment firm. In August, NFL owners approved a measure to allow private equity firms to purchase a maximum of 10% stake in NFL teams. Speaking at the meetings, Bills owner and CEO Terry Pegula -- in his first public comments since 2019 -- said that Arctos approached the Bills about joining. Other minority owners brought in by the Bills include multiple from Western New York. Also, during the meeting, both the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins had minority noncontrolling ownership additions approved. The Dolphins also added a private-equity firm to the...

Quarterback Darian Mensah, the top-rated player in ESPN's transfer portal rankings, has committed to Duke, he told ESPN on Wednesday. Mensah is a redshirt freshman who will have three years remaining. He entered the portal in recent days after leading Tulane to the AAC title game in his first year as the starter. It marks a distinct transfer portal statement for Duke, which saw starting quarterback Maalik Murphy transfer out after a 9-3 season. Mensah was one of the country's most sought-after players, and he shut down his recruitment after visiting Duke's campus Tuesday. Mensah shined for the Green Wave in 2023, throwing for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 65.9% of his passes. He led the American Athletic Conference in completion percentage and efficiency, leading Tulane to a 9-4 mark. Mensah said he hung out with Duke's offensive line during his visit Tuesday night and came away impressed by the group. He also went...

The 2034  World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia and the 2030 World Cup will be held across  Morocco, Portugal and Spain with three one-off matches held in three South American countries, FIFA confirmed in an extraordinary general congress on Wednesday. The decision was announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino following a virtual congress. The 2030 and 2034 World Cups each had only a single bid and both were confirmed by acclamation by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. "We are bringing football to more countries and the number of teams has not diluted the quality. It actually enhanced the opportunity," Infantino said about the 2030 World Cup.  "The vote of the congress is loud and clear," said Infantino, who had asked officials on a bank of screens to clap their hands at head level to show their support. Saudi Arabia was the only bidder for the 2034 edition of tournament. "This is a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and a...

Transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, the top-rated player in ESPN's transfer portal rankings, has committed to Duke, he told ESPN on Wednesday. Mensah is a redshirt freshman who will have three years remaining. He entered the portal in recent days after leading Tulane to the AAC title game in his first year as the starter. It marks a distinct transfer portal statement for Duke, which saw starting quarterback Maalik Murphy transfer out after a 9-3 season. Mensah was one of the country's most sought-after players, and he shut down his recruitment after visiting Duke's campus Tuesday. Mensah shined for the Green Wave in 2023, throwing for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 65.9% of his passes. He led the AAC in both completion percentage and efficiency, leading Tulane to a 9-4 mark. Mensah said he hung out with Duke's offensive line during his visit on Tuesday night and came away impressed by the group. He also went to Duke's basketball...

Michigan Wolverines junior cornerback Will Johnson has declared for the NFL draft, he announced on social media Wednesday. Johnson is the No. 2 prospect in ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's latest Big Board rankings.  Johnson played in only six games this year because of a foot injury but still returned interceptions for touchdowns in wins over Fresno State and USC. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham also declared for the draft this week. He's projected to be a high first-round pick as well.

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is expected to miss several weeks with a right ankle sprain, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Barnes was injured in the third quarter of Monday's loss to the New York Knicks when he landed on center Karl-Anthony Towns while attempting to block his shot in front of the rim. Barnes was helped off the court by teammates before hopping on one foot to the locker room, unable to put weight on his right foot. The Raptors announced Wednesday that imaging confirmed that Barnes had sprained his ankle and that he would be reevaluated in a week. Barnes' injury comes as he has taken a major jump this season, averaging career highs of 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. He is one of four players in the NBA averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 2024-25. Barnes is on pace to join Pascal Siakam in 2021-22 as the only Raptors players to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal in a...

The NFL will play a regular-season game in Berlin for the first time next season, the league announced Wednesday. The game will be played at the Olympic Stadium. It will be the fifth regular-season game played in Germany. The NFL has played games in Munich and Frankfurt since the 2022 season. "Germany has a rich tradition of American football, and the NFL has a deep history with the city of Berlin," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "We first held a preseason game at the Olympic Stadium 34 years ago, before it was home to NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder in the early 2000s. Now, with almost 20 million NFL fans in Germany, we'll make a historic return to the city playing a regular season game for the first time as we open the next chapter in our relationship with Berlin." From 1990 to 1994, the NFL played five American Bowl games at the Olympic Stadium, and the venue also was home to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe from 2003 to 2007. Beginning next season, the NFL...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he spent "all day" thinking about his Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff elimination at the hands of the  Mavericks last spring and then singlehandedly outscored Dallas' star duo Tuesday night. Gilgeous-Alexander's 39-point outing in the Thunder's 118-104 win over the Mavericks in an NBA Cup quarterfinal -- punching the Thunder's ticket to Las Vegas, where they will face Wednesday's Golden State- Houston winner in a semifinal on Saturday -- was the kind of performance that can fuel an MVP campaign. But Gilgeous-Alexander gave credit to a couple of his teammates --  Luguentz Dort and  Cason Wallace -- for him exceeding the combined point total of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. They were the primary defenders on the Mavericks' stars, who finished with 33 points. "Hell of a job by Lu and Cason," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's more impressive to hold them that low...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said he spent "all day" thinking about his Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff elimination at the hands of the  Mavericks last spring and then singlehandedly outscored Dallas' star duo Tuesday night. Gilgeous-Alexander's 39-point outing in the Thunder's 118-104 win over the Mavs in an NBA Cup quarterfinal -- punching the Thunder's ticket to Las Vegas, where they'll face Wednesday's Golden State-Houston winner in a semifinal on Saturday -- was the kind of performance that can fuel an MVP campaign. But Gilgeous-Alexander gave credit to a couple of his teammates --  Luguentz Dort and  Cason Wallace -- for him exceeding the combined point total of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. They were the primary defenders on the Mavs' stars, who finished with 33 points. "Hell of a job by Lu and Cason," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's more impressive to hold them that low than it is for me to get 39 points. I...

DALLAS -- The Texas Rangers agreed to a trade for power-hitting corner infielder Jake Burger, sources told ESPN on Tuesday night. In exchange, the Miami Marlins will receive two shortstop prospects in Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, and a young left-handed starting pitcher in Brayan Mendoza. Burger, 28, is controllable for four years and compiled 63 home runs with the Marlins and the Chicago White Sox over the past two years, batting .250/.305/.488 while playing first and third base in 278 games. In Texas, where Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung man first and third base, respectively, Burger seemingly slots in as the everyday designated hitter, adding more length to a lineup that, at full health, can be among the sport's most prodigious. The Marlins acquired Burger from the White Sox in August 2023, one of the final pieces to a team that made a surprising run to the playoffs. They have since gone into a full rebuild under current...

MILWAUKEE -- The Bucks are heading to Las Vegas for the second consecutive season after beating the Orlando Magic 114-109 on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the NBA Cup. The Bucks will be the only team returning to Las Vegas, where they lost last December in the semifinals of the in-season tournament. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said the team has some "unfinished business" from last season. "Losing is not a good feeling," Antetokounmpo said after Tuesday's game. "But we definitely learned from it." Jalen Suggs led a shorthanded Magic team to a near upset without stars  Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner. Suggs scored 32 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, but he missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and Damian Lillard scored nine of his 28 points in the final minute. Bucks forward Bobby Portis said returning to Las Vegas this season was...

Nathan Eovaldi agreed to terms with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, sources told ESPN, a deal that keeps him with the team he helped win the 2023 World Series. The contract is for three years and $75 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan. Eovaldi, who will be 35 at the start of next season, made 29 starts for Texas this year, going 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA. He is 91-81 in his 13-year career, with a 4.07 ERA. Eovaldi has a longstanding reputation for being diligent in his preparation and also for being a positive mentor for teammates. The Rangers failed to make the playoffs in 2024 after winning their championship, and internally, the Texas staff felt it needed to add at least one starting pitcher from the free agent market.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- One day after taking to social media and attributing his downturn in production to a lack of opportunities, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver  Deebo Samuel stood by his assertion Tuesday. On Monday afternoon, Samuel wrote on X, "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball!" He later deleted the post and added a separate one that said he was "not hating on any of my teammates." With the Niners preparing for the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, Samuel was asked if he wanted to offer any further clarification on his posts.  "You read what you read," Samuel said. "[I'm] a little frustrated for sure." Samuel's frustration stems from a lack of production the likes of which he hasn't had since early in his rookie season. Over the past four games, Samuel has 97 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches, an average of 5.7 yards per touch. Samuel hasn't exceeded 35 yards from scrimmage in any of those four contests, finishing...

Former Alabama coach Mike Shula is being promoted to offensive coordinator at South Carolina after spending this past season as an analyst for the Gamecocks, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Shula played a key role in the development of redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, who blossomed into one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. Shula will replace Dowell Loggains, who left to become the head coach at Appalachian State. Prior to joining Shane Beamer's staff in 2024, Shula had spent his previous 17 seasons in the NFL as an offensive coordinator and/or quarterbacks coach. He was quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers when Cam Newton entered the NFL as a rookie in 2011 and then went on to win league MVP in 2015 and lead the Panthers to the Super Bowl. Shula, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Don Shula, played quarterback at Alabama in the mid-1980s and later coached the Crimson Tide from 2003 to 2006 before...

Chip Lindsey has agreed to a deal to become the new offensive coordinator at Michigan, sources told ESPN on Tuesday night.  The Wolverines had been targeting Lindsey in the wake of last week's firing of Kirk Campbell, with sources telling ESPN's Pete Thamel and Max Olson earlier Tuesday that a deal with the longtime coach was expected.  Lindsey, who went 15-19 as Troy's coach from 2019 to 2021, has spent the past two seasons as offensive coordinator at North Carolina. He also has coordinator experience from stints at UCF, Auburn, Arizona State and Southern Miss. The 50-year-old, who started his career as a high school coach in his native Alabama, replaces Campbell, who was fired last week after his first season running the Wolverines' offense.  North Carolina had the nation's No. 7 offense in 2023, when Lindsey coached quarterback Drake Maye, who went to the New England Patriots with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Lindsey...

MILWAUKEE -- Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points, Damian Lillard had nine of his 28 in the final minute and the Milwaukee Bucks returned to the NBA Cup semifinals by beating the Orlando Magic 114-109 on Tuesday night. Milwaukee reached the semifinals of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas last December and will be the only returning team in Year 2. The Bucks will play Saturday against the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. Jalen Suggs led a short-handed Orlando team with 32 points but missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 12 seconds left. Lillard was fouled and sank two free throws with 9.1 seconds remaining and Suggs missed a potential tying 3.   Antetokounmpo then made both free throws with 5 seconds left and the Bucks held on. Antetokounmpo extended his streak to 22 straight games with 20 or more points on 50% shooting from the field, the longest streak to open a...

DALLAS -- The Washington Nationals will have the first pick in the 2025 MLB draft for the third time in franchise history after winning the draft lottery Tuesday at baseball's winter meetings. Washington had the fourth-best odds (10.8%) to land the top pick. The Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins (22.5% each) were tied for the best chance, but the Marlins fell to seventh and the Rockies will select fourth. The Los Angeles Angels will pick second after having the third-best odds for the first selection. The Chicago White Sox, despite losing a modern-day record 121 games, were not eligible for a lottery pick -- one of the top six selections -- because the collective bargaining agreement stipulates a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan cannot hold a lottery pick in consecutive drafts. The White Sox chose fifth in the 2024 draft. The Athletics were also ineligible because teams that receive revenue sharing cannot have a...

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose seven victories on tour this past season were the most since Tiger Woods in 2007, won the Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour Player of the Year. Scheffler, who won a second green jacket at the Masters, a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and a FedEx Cup title, is the first golfer since Woods (2005 to 2007) to win the honor in three consecutive seasons. "On behalf of the PGA Tour, congratulations to Scottie Scheffler on a truly historic season, capped off with his first FedExCup title and today a third consecutive Jack Nicklaus Award as PGA Tour Player of the Year," commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement Tuesday. "Scottie took on challenges from the best players in the world on the biggest stages all season, and being honored as PGA Tour Player of the Year is the ultimate sign of respect from his peers." On Sunday, Scheffler won his second straight title at the Hero World Challenge, an unofficial tournament that Woods...

Two-time All-Star Max Fried and the New York Yankees agreed to an eight-year, $218 million contract, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, the largest guarantee for a left-handed pitcher. The deal, which is pending a physical, is the 12th contract of at least $100 million the Yankees have given out in franchise history, breaking a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most by any team. Fried, 30, who blossomed into one of the best pitchers in the National League over seven years with the Braves, is a two-time All-Star with a 2.81 ERA over the past five seasons in Atlanta -- tops in the majors, just ahead of Corbin Burnes (2.88) among MLB starting pitchers over that span. Though he does not overwhelm hitters with his raw stuff, his artistry on the mound and his ability to go deep into games were attractive to teams in search of an Opening Day-type starter. The Yankees made the move for Fried -- who was also pursued by the  Boston Red...

DALLAS -- The Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Yimi Garcia are in agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract, a source told ESPN on Tuesday. Garcia, 34, will return to Toronto after the Blue Jays dealt him to the Seattle Mariners at the July trade deadline last season. He posted a 2.70 ERA in 29 appearances for Toronto and a 6.00 ERA in 10 games for Seattle before finishing the season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Garcia is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2025 season. The veteran reliever qualifies as the first notable offseason addition for the Blue Jays, who are aggressively looking to add top-end talent this winter after a disappointing last-place finish in the American League East. The Blue Jays were one of five teams to make significant offers to Juan Soto before he chose to sign with the New York Mets. They remain interested in acquiring an outfielder and a starting pitcher.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, sidelined all season because of inflammation in his right knee, returned to practice Tuesday, coach Ty Lue said. Leonard could return to game action within the next two weeks, barring any setbacks, sources told ESPN. It was the first time Leonard, 33, had practiced with the team since last season. Leonard's knee also caused him to bow out of the Paris Olympics in the summer after originally being selected to play for Team USA. "He did offensive script, defensive work, and just no contact," Lue said. "But he did it pretty much everything else." Leonard could be seen leaning against a basketball stanchion after practice while James Harden and Kris Dunn got in extra shooting, but he did not speak to reporters. Lue said Leonard looked good and added that his presence gave the team a lift. The Clippers have lost three out of their past five games and on Tuesday announced that Derrick Jones...

DALLAS -- The agent for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado said Tuesday there is "ongoing" discussion with the St. Louis front office as it relates to a potential trade of the eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, who is willing to switch positions to help facilitate a deal.  Arenado, 33, could be on the move as the Cardinals enter a transition phase and are unlikely to compete for a playoff spot in 2025. "Nolan wants to win, and there's more details, but that's really between them and I don't want to have any effect on what [Cardinals president of baseball operations John] Mozeliak is trying to do," agent Joel Wolfe said from the winter meetings. "Nolan's willing to strongly consider it, if it's the right place to go, but he's not going to go just anywhere. "He has a full no-trade clause, so he has that right, and he's a veteran player and we hope something good happens, but he's not going to approve and move his family and go play (just...

Kylian Mbappé was substituted because of an injury during the first half of Real Madrid's Champions League clash at Atalanta on Tuesday, minutes after scoring his 50th career goal in the competition. The France forward was substituted in the 35th minute after he went down with a non-contact injury, although he was able to walk off on his own.  Rodrygo came on in his place. A source has told ESPN that Mbappé felt discomfort in his left thigh and will undergo tests on Wednesday. Until then, it had been an excellent night for Mbappé. He used an expert piece of control with his left foot to gather a pass from Brahim Díaz before he quickly darted past a defender and unleashed a shot with his right foot into the far corner after just 10 minutes. It meant Mbappé reached the 50-goal milestone in 79 matches -- the fourth fastest in Champions League history after Ruud van Nistelrooy (62 games), Lionel Messi (66), and Robert...

The incident follows a string of high-profile athletes' homes being targeted.

Kylian Mbappé was substituted with an apparent injury during the first half of Real Madrid's Champions League clash at Atalanta on Tuesday, minutes after scoring his 50th career goal in the competition. The France forward was substituted in the 35th minute after he went down with an injury, although he was able to walk off on his own.  Rodrygo came on in his place. Until then, it had been an excellent night for Mbappé. He used an expert control with his left foot to gather a pass from Brahim Díaz before he quickly darted past a defender and unleashed a shot with his right foot into the far corner after just 10 minutes. It meant Mbappé reached the 50-goal milestone in 79 matches -- the fourth fastest in Champions League history after Ruud van Nistelrooy (62 games), Lionel Messi (66), and Robert Lewandowski (77). Cristiano Ronaldo leads the all-time Champions League scoring list with 140 goals and Messi is next with...

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns on Tuesday made multiple roster moves, including waiving wide receiver Kadarius Toney after a pair of costly blunders in the team's 27-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Toney, who was signed from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of the matchup, was flagged 15 yards for taunting after catching a punt early in the fourth quarter with the Browns trailing 27-7. He later muffed a punt that the Steelers recovered. It's unlikely he'll return to the practice squad. After the defeat, which officially eliminated the Browns from playoff contention, coach Kevin Stefanski said the penalty would be "addressed." The Browns also placed cornerback Greg Newsome II on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, which ends his season. Stefanski said it's the same hamstring that Newsome had surgery on last summer and forced him to begin training camp on the non-football injury list. Cleveland also signed wide...

FRISCO, Texas --  Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will have surgery on his right knee, but owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas he was not sure when Overshown would return. Multiple sources said after the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that Overshown's injury was more than just a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning to determine the extent of the injury.  "I don't know at this time the time-date on his rehab," Jones said, "but I just can't tell you how bad I feel for him because he's just been through that mental and physical rehab on his other knee ... It's the toughest time for a player. And we all see the loss and know what it's going to mean for us in our remaining four games. Bottom line is it's really sad that he's having to have this surgery for him as an individual and obviously us as a team." Overshown took a hit...

FRISCO, Texas --  Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown tore the ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee and is scheduled to have surgery this week, according to multiple sources. Significant recovery time will be needed after surgery, sources said. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that Overshown would have surgery, but that he was not sure when Overshown would return. Multiple sources said after the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that Overshown's injury was more than just a tear of the ACL.  "I don't know at this time the time-date on his rehab," Jones said earlier Tuesday, "but I just can't tell you how bad I feel for him because he's just been through that mental and physical rehab on his other knee. ... It's the toughest time for a player. And we all see the loss and know what it's going to mean for us in our remaining four games. Bottom line is it's really sad that he's having to...