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MILWAUKEE -- Mike Cameron knew the ball had beaten him to the plate. "You still have to make the tag. I was safe," he said. Cameron slid under catcher Wil Nieves for the go-ahead run in the seventh and Yovani Gallardo showed a flash of emotion striking out 11 in seven innings, lifting the Brewers to a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Cameron's play helped Milwaukee salvage a split and win consecutive games for the first time this month after a miserable 8-16 start to July. "I was pretty shocked," Nationals starter J.D. Martin said. "I know the ball beat him there so I just kind of figured he was out." But plate umpire Joe West, working his 4,000th game, called Cameron safe because Nieves' tag wasn't low enough. Nieves didn't like the call, jumping around in disbelief, but said after the game that West was correct. "I just tagged him too high. I should've blocked the plate," he said. "It's one of those plays you've...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --  Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said he wants to add "competition" at quarterback for Drew Lock, but he also said he still believes in exercising patience. In his pre-draft remarks Thursday, Paton again said he likes Lock's potential as a quarterback but wouldn't commit to him being the team's Week 1 starter. Paton said he is still actively looking to add a quarterback, whether it be with a first-round pick or via free agency or a trade. That includes using the team's No. 9 pick in next week's draft or trading up in the first round. Asked specifically whether not adding a quarterback to the depth chart during free agency meant he was confident Lock would be the Week 1 starter, Paton said, "I don't know about Week 1. We're really high on Drew. I like seeing Drew here every morning when I come in. He's working hard. He's trending in the right direction. "As you know, he has a lot of talent. I think he's becoming a better pro, but...

There were 67 days, 30 missed games and five missed shots for Anthony Davis before he could finally stamp his return from injury with a bucket Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. After the Los Angeles Lakers star's 19-foot step-back jump shot fell through the net with 4 minutes, 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter to put L.A. up by one, Davis furrowed his brow and shook his head as if to say, "About time." Davis, playing for the first time since Feb. 14 after needing nearly nine weeks to recover from a calf strain and Achilles tendinosis in his right leg, started for the visiting Lakers and was finished by halftime of L.A.'s 115-110 loss. "I didn't think about it one time tonight," Davis said of his injury afterward. "Honestly, I just went out there and played. I think it can limit what you do if you're out there thinking about your injury, so I just went out and played and not think about it. Just go out there and have fun and be excited...

There were 67 days, 30 missed games and five missed shots for Anthony Davis before he could finally officially stamp his return from injury with a bucket Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. After the Los Angeles Lakers star's 19-foot step-back jump shot fell through the net with 4 minutes, 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter to put L.A. up by one, Davis furrowed his brow and shook his head as if to say, "About time." Davis, playing for the first time since Feb. 14 after needing nearly nine weeks to recover from a calf strain and Achilles tendinosis in his right leg, started for the visiting Lakers and was finished by halftime of L.A.'s 115-110 loss. Lakers coach Frank Vogel had told reporters before the game that Davis would play only in the first half and his playing time would be restricted to the 15-minute range. Davis finished with four points on 2-for-10 shooting, four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. He also missed...

Terrence Clarke, a freshman guard for the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team this past season, died following a car accident in the Los Angeles area on Thursday, it was announced. Clarke was 19 years old. Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. John Matassa, who works in the Valley Traffic Division, told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne that Clarke was a solo occupant in a vehicle that ran a red light going "at a very high rate of speed" in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles at approximately 2:10 p.m. PT. "The incident was captured on surveillance video. He collided with another vehicle that was preparing to make a left-hand turn. He struck the vehicle, hit a street light pole and ultimately hit a block wall," Matassa said. "He was transported to Northridge Hospital and was later pronounced deceased as a result of the collision." Matassa said the driver of the other vehicle, who was in a truck, did not claim any injuries. Clarke was driving a 2021 Hyundai Genesis, and he...

Terrence Clarke, a freshman guard for the Kentucky Wildcats this past season, died following a car accident in the Los Angeles-area on Thursday afternoon, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Clarke's mother was at his side when he died. He was 19 years old. "We are saddened and devastated by the tragic loss of Terrence Clarke," Paul told ESPN in a statement. "Terrence was an incredible, hard-working young man. He was excited for what was ahead of him and ready to fulfill his dreams. Our prayers go out to Terrence and his family, who ask for privacy during this difficult time." Clarke announced last month that he was entering this year's NBA draft and he had signed with Klutch Sports. This past season, Clarke played in the first seven games for the Wildcats but was sidelined with an ankle injury that kept him out until the season finale against South Carolina. He finished the year averaging 9.6 points. "As an adolescent, having the...

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young was diagnosed with a Grade 2 lateral ankle sprain and is expected to return once swelling and discomfort are gone, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. Young was injured Wednesday night in a 137-127 overtime loss at the New York Knicks. He had 20 points and 14 assists against the Knicks before turning the ankle when he landed after shooting a short floater with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter. Young left the game and did not return. An MRI on Thursday revealed a lateral left ankle sprain, the Hawks announced. Young has already been ruled out of Atlanta's next two games. Young, 22, is averaging 25.3 points and 9.6 assists for the Hawks, who entered Thursday's games at the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young was diagnosed with a Grade 2 lateral ankle sprain and is expected to return once swelling and discomfort are gone, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. Young exited Wednesday's loss to the New York Knicks after spraining his left ankle and is already ruled out for Friday's game against the Miami Heat. An MRI on Thursday revealed the Grade 2 sprain. Young, 22, is averaging 25.3 points and 9.6 assists for the Hawks, who entered Thursday's games at the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --  Denver Broncos general manager George Paton said he wants to add "competition" at quarterback for Drew Lock, but he also said he still believes in exercising patience. In his pre-draft remarks Thursday, Paton again said he likes Lock's potential as a quarterback but wouldn't commit to him being the team's Week 1 starter. Paton said he is still actively looking to add a quarterback, whether it be with a first-round pick or via free agency or a trade. That includes using the team's No. 9 pick in next week's draft or trading up in the first round. Asked specifically whether not adding a quarterback to the depth chart during free agency meant he was confident Lock would be the Week 1 starter, Paton said, "I don't know about Week 1. We're really high on Drew. I like seeing Drew here every morning when I come in. He's working hard. He's trending in the right direction. "As you know, he has a lot of talent. I think he's becoming a better pro, but...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --  Denver Broncos general manager George Paton wants to add "competition'' at quarterback for Drew Lock, but he also still believes in exercising patience. In his pre-draft remarks Thursday, Paton once again said he likes Lock's potential as a quarterback, but wouldn't commit to Lock being the team's Week 1 starter. Paton said he is still actively looking to add a quarterback, whether it be with a first-round pick, free agency or via a trade. That includes using the team's No. 9 pick in next week's draft or trading up in the first round. Asked specifically if not adding a quarterback to the depth chart during free agency meant he was confident Lock would be the Week 1 starter, Paton said, "I don't know about Week 1. We're really high on Drew. I like seeing Drew here every morning when I come in. He's working hard. He's trending in the right direction. "As you know he has a lot of talent. I think he's becoming a better pro, but we're still going to...

CHICAGO -- Count New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso in for this year's Home Run Derby at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Alonso won the contest the last time it was held, in 2019, edging fellow rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at Cleveland's Progressive Field for his first derby title. "I'm all-in," Alonso said Thursday afternoon from Wrigley Field, where the Mets finish up a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. "I'm ready. If I get invited, I'd love to do it. I'd love to defend my title." Last year's Home Run Derby was canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 edition will take place July 12 at Colorado's Coors Field after Major League Baseball moved the All-Star Game and related festivities from Atlanta. Alonso committed to the derby the day after hitting a monster home run that landed on the street beyond the left-center-field bleachers at Wrigley Field. It was measured at 429 feet. "I'm very happy that ball went far," Alonso said....

CHICAGO - Count New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso in for this year's Home Run Derby at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Alonso won the contest the last time it was held, in 2019, edging fellow rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at Cleveland's Progressive Field for his first derby title. "I'm all in," Alonso said Thursday afternoon from Wrigley Field, where the Mets finish up a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. "I'm ready. If I get invited, I'd love to do it. I'd love to defend my title." Last year's Home Run Derby was canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 edition will take place on July 12 at Colorado's Coors Field after Major League Baseball moved the All-Star Game and related festivities from Atlanta. Alonso committed to the derby the day after hitting a monster home run that landed on the street beyond the left-center-field bleachers at Wrigley Field. It was measured at 429 feet. "I'm very happy that ball went far," Alonso said. "I...

TAMPA, Fla. -- While several NFL players expressed excitement this week over a newly adopted rule that allows more flexibility when it comes to the numbers worn on players' jerseys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is not at all a fan. Brady took to Instagram on Thursday to express his dissatisfaction with the rule change, believing it will cause safety issues for the offense, such as identifying blitzers or who's the middle linebacker of the defense. "Good luck trying to block the right people now!" Brady posted on his Instagram story, with an image of the new numbers permitted. "Going to make for a lot of bad football!" Brady then posted a screen capture of a story about the rule and directed it to the NFL and NFL Players Association, with the words "DUMB" and "Why not let the Lineman wear whatever they want too? Why have numbers? Just have colored jerseys...why not wear the same number?...DUMB." The NFL's new rule, adopted Wednesday with a...

Dave Gettleman insists he would trade back in the NFL draft and called it an "urban myth" that he's unwilling, despite never having done so in his eight years as a general manager with the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Gettleman, the current general manager of the Giants, has the 11th pick in next Thursday's first round and six selections overall to work with this year. "I've tried in the past. Honest, I've tried to trade back," Gettleman insisted with a laugh when asked about his track record. "But it's got to be value. I'm not getting fleeced. I refuse to do it. If someone wants to make a bad trade back, God bless them." Gettleman has made 54 total selections as a general manager. He's traded up a few times (most recently back into the first round for Georgia cornerback DeAndre Baker in 2019), but never back. It has almost become an annual running joke. NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said earlier this week that he thinks...

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes, 33, has been moved to hospice care at his parents' home in Georgia two years after being diagnosed with liver disease. Hayes told ESPN before entering the hospital last month that he had been placed on a waiting list for a transplant at the Mayo Clinic and Northwestern Medicine in December after being hospitalized over 20 times in the past year. "The first diagnosis they gave me was alcoholic cirrhosis," Hayes said. "But when we dug in deeper, it became just chronic liver disease, because I don't drink like that. If I did drink, it was just like wine or something like that. But my body is made different. And that's what [my doctor] said -- 'Everybody's made different.'" "I went from 220 [pounds] to 150," Hayes said. "That was when I was first diagnosed." While alcoholic liver cirrhosis is on the rise in people ages 25-34, according to a 2018 University of Michigan study, Hayes said he suspects...

In what could be one of several changes to the Kentucky coaching staff after the Wildcats missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013, assistant coach Joel Justus has elected to take the top assistant post under Bobby Hurley at Arizona State, a source told ESPN on Thursday. In addition, assistant Tony Barbee, who has been on Kentucky's staff since 2014, will be hired as head coach at Central Michigan, sources told ESPN's Jeff Borzello on Thursday. Justus, who arrived in Kentucky in 2014 as director of analytics and then became a special assistant to the head coach, was the lead recruiter of many of the top prospects to go through Kentucky -- including  Bam Adebayo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Immanuel Quickley, Keldon Johnson, Johnny Juzang, Brandon Boston and others -- since he was elevated to an assistant coaching role in 2016. He will be replacing Rashon Burno, who left the Sun Devils to become...

Straight Talk with the Commissioner now available Commissioner Karl Stressman will be doing regular video reports on Prorodeo.com, called Straight Talk with the Commissioner, as part of his ongoing effort to improve communication with members and fans. The video is accessible on the PRCA's home page, and each report will be saved and remain readily available on RodeoUp.Com – the official video site of ProRodeo. The reports are being produced by PRCA Properties. The first report, which went online today, features video of the new Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Exhibit in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the July 11 induction ceremony, the new Mobile Merchandise initiative, the ProRodeo FanZone and much more. Straight Talk with the Commissioner is soliciting questions from members, media and fans through a new e-mail address dedicated to this project: TalktoKarl@prorodeo.com Chapman, Walls recovering from shoulder surgeries Texas tie-down ropers...

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry's 11-game streak of scoring at least 30 points ended Wednesday night during a 118-114 loss to the Washington Wizards. Curry shot 7-for-25 from the field, including a season-worst 2-for-14 from beyond the arc, and finished with 18 points. Despite the loss and the poor performance in Washington, Curry said he was proud of what he accomplished over the past month. "It was a great run," Curry said after the game. "It was something that hadn't been done before. It was going to end at some point. Now you got to start another one. So it's just a matter of the next-play mentality. Just try to get rejuvenated when we go home -- to do it home, road, some big games, put a streak together. It was a special ride, for sure. And never really get too hyped up on individual streaks or accolades like that. There were some historical names that I was able to pass. And doing something at this age was pretty special." Curry became the...

Washington Wizards rookie forward Deni Avdija suffered a season-ending hairline fracture in his right ankle during Wednesday night's game, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Avdija landed awkwardly after missing a layup late in the second quarter against the visiting  Golden State Warriors and was taken off the court in a wheelchair. Avdija underwent X-rays on the ankle that revealed the hairline fracture, which will not require surgery and has a recovery time of two to three months, the source told Wojnarowski. An MRI is set for Thursday to check for ligament damage. Avdija lay on the floor for several minutes following the injury, as teammates covered his lower right leg with a pair of warm-up pants from the bench as the training staff arrived. "Seeing a guy go down like that is real scary," Wizards center Daniel Gafford said. "You never know what is going to happen. Seeing him down on the floor as long as that, I felt his pain. I understand it's...

WASHINGTON -- Washington Wizards rookie Deni Avdija suffered a season-ending hairline fracture in his right ankle during Wednesday night's game, a source told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. An MRI is set for Thursday to check for ligament damage. Avdija underwent X-rays on the ankle that revealed the hairline fracture, which would not require surgery and has a recovery time of two to three months, the source said. Avdija landed awkwardly after missing a layup late in the second quarter against Golden State. He lay on the floor for several minutes and teammate Jordan Bell came off the bench to cover his lower leg with a jersey. Wizards employees carefully helped Avdija into a wheelchair and he was taken off the court while rubbing his head with a towel. Washington selected the 20-year-old Avdija out of his native Israel with the ninth pick in last year's draft. The 6-foot-9 small forward is averaging 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds this season. The Associated...

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James posted and later deleted a tweet on Wednesday about the fatal police shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl in Columbus, Ohio. In a series of tweets, James explained why he deleted the post. The since-deleted tweet by James showed a photo of officer Nicholas Reardon, who is white, with an accompanying caption, "YOU'RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY," along with an hourglass emoji, on Wednesday. Body camera footage released by the Columbus Division of Police showed the officer, identified Wednesday as Reardon, getting out of his car at a house where police had been dispatched after someone had called 911 saying they were being physically threatened. As the officer walks toward a group of people on the driveway, Bryant can be seen swinging a knife wildly at another girl or woman, who falls backward. The officer shouts several times to get down. Bryant then charges at another girl or woman, who is pinned against a car. From a few...

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. will miss time because of a violation of the NBA's health and safety protocols stemming from visiting a Miami strip club with teammate Sterling Brown that resulted in Brown being assaulted, sources told ESPN. Porter likely will be out until at least Sunday, Rockets coach Stephen Silas said prior to Wednesday's game against the  Utah Jazz. The NBA's health and safety protocols limit where players can go while on the road. Miami-Dade police said Brown had "multiple lacerations throughout his body" when they arrived at the strip club at 6:53 a.m. Monday in response to a fight. Brown, who has been sidelined by a knee injury, was transported to a local hospital. The Rockets announced before Monday's loss to the Miami Heat that Brown suffered facial lacerations from an assault by assailants whom he "had no prior knowledge of or interaction with" and would make a full recovery. Brown is back in Houston...

Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. will miss time due to a violation of the NBA's health and safety protocols stemming from visiting a Miami strip club with teammate Sterling Brown that resulted in Brown being assaulted, sources told ESPN. Porter will likely be out until at least Sunday, Rockets coach Stephen Silas said prior to Wednesday's game against the  Utah Jazz. The NBA's health and safety protocols limit where players can go while on the road. Miami-Dade police said Brown had "multiple lacerations throughout his body" when they arrived at the strip club at 6:53 a.m. Monday in response to a fight. Brown, who has been sidelined by a knee injury, was transported to a local hospital. The Rockets announced before Monday's loss to the Miami Heat that Brown suffered facial lacerations from an assault by assailants whom he "had no prior knowledge of or interaction with" and would make a full recovery. Brown is back in Houston recovering. "He...

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner said that NHL players were lied to by the NHL and NHLPA representatives about loosening restrictions after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, a claim that has been disputed by the league. "They told me yesterday that they're surveying all the teams to see who has taken the vaccine, and who has not taken the vaccines, and they're not going to change the rules for us as players until all the players have the vaccine at the same time so it's not a competitive edge," Lehner said in an impassioned news conference Wednesday. "That made me go crazy, to be honest. This is human lives and people are struggling with this stuff a lot in society, and we are humans as everyone else." Shortly after his remarks, Lehner tweeted: "As I'm frustrated like a lot of people in the world right now everything didn't come out of today's press in the right way. Main point is that we need to start take the mental health important as well in this situation. It...

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner said that NHL players were lied to by the NHL and NHLPA about loosening restrictions after receiving the COVID vaccine, a claim that has been refuted by the league. "They told me yesterday that they're surveying all the teams to see who has taken the vaccine, and who has not taken the vaccines, and they're not going to change the rules for us as players until all the players have the vaccine at the same time so it's not a competitive edge," Lehner said in an impassioned press conference on Wednesday. "That made me go crazy to be honest. This is human lives and people are struggling with this stuff a lot in society, and we are humans as everyone else." Shortly after his remarks, Lehner tweeted: "As I'm frustrated like a lot of people in the world right now everything didn't come out of today's press in the right way. Main point is that we need to start take the mental health important as well in this situation. It has a huge...

Florida Gators forward Keyontae Johnson, who was hospitalized after collapsing during a game in December, on Wednesday said he will not enter the 2021 NBA draft and is waiting for medical clearance to return to the team for next season. "I am progressing & steadily making progress daily in my health," Johnson said in a post on Twitter. "I am patiently waiting on medical clearance.  "... I plan to keep working to prepare for the upcoming season. My story continues to be written & driven by God! Go Gators!" Johnson was rushed to a local hospital on Dec. 12 after falling face-first onto the court following a timeout in the first half of a game against Florida State in Tallahassee. He was listed in critical but stable condition before being airlifted to a hospital in Gainesville days later with his mother by his side, and he slowly recovered and started to communicate with his family and friends in the days that followed. The cause of his collapse has yet to...

NFL owners approved a series of new rules Wednesday for the 2021 season, including one that will expand the influence of replay officials amid ongoing demands from coaches for more oversight of game-day officials. Owners rejected more robust proposals for a full-time sky judge, including one from the Baltimore Ravens that would have created a booth umpire. Instead, owners took the more modest step of giving the existing replay officials -- who sit in the press box of each stadium -- the authority to consult with referees on certain "specific, objective aspects of a play when clear and obvious video evidence is present," according to the language of the rule. Replay officials will not be able to throw flags or reverse calls on their own. But they can now offer referees advice based on what they've seen on broadcast replays in the areas of possession, completed or intercepted passes, the location of the ball relative to the boundary or end line, and whether a player is down...

The NFL will announce its 2021 schedule on May 12, the league announced. For the first time, each team will play a 17-game schedule in 2021. Each team will receive just one bye week, even with the expanded schedule. The NFL previously announced that the season will begin on Thursday night, Sept. 9, and will end on Jan. 9, 2022. The Pro Bowl will be played on Feb. 6, 2022, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will take place on Feb. 13, 2022.

Philonise Floyd issued a statement of support Wednesday for the Las Vegas Raiders after the organization received backlash for a tweet following the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for murdering his brother George Floyd. "On behalf of our family, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Las Vegas Raiders organization and its leadership for their support of our family and for our nation's ongoing pursuit of justice and equality for all. Now, more than ever, we must come together as one and continue on in this fight. For the first time in almost a year, our family has taken a breath. And I know that goes for so many across the nation and globe, as well. Let's take this breath together in honor of my big brother who couldn't. Let's do it for George," Philonise Floyd said. The Raiders' tweet, sent late Tuesday afternoon, read: "I CAN BREATHE 4-20-21." Floyd told officers, "I can't breathe," more than 20 times before he died when...

Former Pittsburgh Steelers and Georgia wide receiver Hines Ward is set to join Florida Atlantic's coaching staff, sources told ESPN. Ward, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers, entered coaching with the New York Jets in 2019 and remained there in 2020. Florida Atlantic does not have any full-time assistant jobs available, but The Owl's Nest, which first reported the move, noted that Ward is expected to work alongside new FAU wide receivers coach Joey Thomas, a former NFL and CFL player. Ward, 45, had 1,000 receptions for 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns in 217 career games for the Steelers between 1998 and 2011. He was a third-round draft pick out of Georgia, where he twice earned All-SEC honors. While at Georgia, Ward played for a coaching staff that included David Kelly, now Florida Atlantic's coordinator of player personnel. After retiring from the Steelers, Ward worked as an NFL analyst with NBC, and has been a contributor...

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Aldon Smith turned himself in Tuesday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an alleged battery in the New Orleans area, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. Smith turned himself in at St. Bernard Parish Prison shortly before 8 p.m. ET. He was booked and released Wednesday on $25,000 bond. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned July 14. An arrest warrant was issued for Smith on Monday for an alleged second-degree battery that occurred Saturday evening. St. Bernard Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia told ESPN that Smith allegedly choked a victim unconscious during a confrontation that began inside a coffee shop in Chalmette, Louisiana. The alleged incident rises to a second-degree battery charge because the victim was rendered unconscious, according to Nicosia. He said the victim was taken to a hospital but did not have to stay overnight. In a news release, the St. Bernard Parish District...

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Aldon Smith turned himself in Tuesday night after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with an alleged battery in the New Orleans area, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. Smith turned himself in at St. Bernard Parish Prison shortly before 8 p.m. ET. He was booked and released Wednesday on $25,000 bond. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned July 14. An arrest warrant was issued for Smith on Monday for an alleged second-degree battery that occurred Saturday evening. St. Bernard Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia told ESPN that Smith allegedly choked a victim unconscious during a confrontation that began inside a coffee shop in Chalmette, Louisiana. The alleged incident rises to a second-degree battery charge because the victim was rendered unconscious, according to Nicosia. He said the victim was taken to a hospital but did not have to stay overnight. In a news release, the St. Bernard Parish District...

Antonio Brown has resolved a civil dispute with former trainer Britney Taylor, who in a 2019 lawsuit had accused the wide receiver of sexually assaulting her. A settlement was reached, but per the agreement, no terms can be disclosed, a source told ESPN's Jenna Laine. "Antonio and Britney have been friends for over a decade. Several years ago they almost became business partners. Recently, they were involved in aggressive litigation. Having reflected on their relationship, both feel that the time has come to move on. Antonio is grateful for Britney's excellent training assistance. They are pleased that Antonio is doing so well with the Bucs and has a ring. Their dispute is resolved and they wish each other great continued success," Taylor's attorney, David Haas, said in a statement. Brown is currently a free agent after playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. General manager Jason Licht said Wednesday that the Buccaneers will continue to discuss a possible return...

The Minnesota Timberwolves dedicated their game ball to George Floyd's family after defeating the Kings 134-120 on Tuesday night in Sacramento. The win came hours after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the murder of Floyd in Minneapolis last May. "I think for all of us, we all felt that this game was bigger than basketball," Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns said after the game. "This was a moment that wasn't meant for us, this was meant for our city and for George Floyd's family. I think everyone in America right now is grieving with them and sending our prayers, blessings and love towards them. "They need it for countless days. They've been reminded of the tragedy that has taken place in their family and never truly got a chance to grieve and recover in any sort of way. So I think for us we were just trying to do our part to...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis, reacting to widespread criticism of a tweet sent from the team's Twitter account after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd, told ESPN on Tuesday night that the post was his idea, and he does not plan to delete it. The tweet, sent late Tuesday afternoon, read: "I CAN BREATHE 4-20-21." Floyd told officers, "I can't breathe," more than 20 times before he was killed when Chauvin pressed his knee into the back of Floyd's neck for about nine minutes last May.  Davis told ESPN that he "meant no disrespect" to Floyd's family with the tweet, and that he "took the lead" from Floyd's brother, Philonise, who said following the verdict, "Today, we are able to breathe again."  "I felt that was a powerful statement," Davis said. "Today was a day where I can breathe, and we can all breathe again because justice was served. But we have a lot of work to do still on...

NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy called Tuesday's guilty verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin "an important day for our country" but said it was hard to find reasons to celebrate and recognized there is more work to do. Van Gundy spoke to reporters ahead of Tuesday night's 134-129 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, shortly after Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a jury for his role in the murder of George Floyd last May outside of a local convenience store. "We had somebody needlessly killed right in front of us," Van Gundy said. "Right in front of all of us because we can see it on video. And no verdict was going to change that. And while it's just, it's hard to celebrate. It's also hard to celebrate because we've had other incidents just like it since the time George Floyd got killed. "I guess what you wonder out of all this is,...

Leaders from Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association met Tuesday for their first official negotiating session a little more than six months before the sport's collective bargaining agreement lapses, sources told ESPN. The long-anticipated meeting between the sides marked the first foray into what many in the sport fear could be a contentious and protracted negotiation, with the possibility of a work stoppage upon the Dec. 1 expiration of the current deal. Relations between the league and players have grown combative in recent years, with both sides accusing the other of operating in bad faith amid multiple failed efforts to reach deals. The league and union declined to comment on the discussions. At the same time, baseball has found unprecedented economic success amid more than a quarter-century of labor peace, and players and officials likewise continue to express hope that the differences between the sides can be bridged during the next half-year of discussions....

The PGA Tour put in place this year a $40 million bonus plan that will pay the top 10 players based on how much they "move the needle" rather than their performance on the course. In theory, players such as Tiger Woods, Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth could be among those to benefit. The idea is to reward players who drive engagement with sponsors and fans. It had been studied in the wake of an effort by a rival entity known as the Premier Golf League that over the past several years has attempted to lure players to a new circuit that would set up a worldwide schedule with guaranteed payments. Known as the Player Impact Program, the plan was first reported by Golfweek. The PGA Tour confirmed several of the details to ESPN, including the $40 million bonus pool that will pay $8 million to the player in the No. 1 position, with amounts decreasing down to the 10th spot. The rankings will be determined by...

James Harden experienced what the Brooklyn Nets are calling a "setback" in his hamstring rehabilitation and is now out indefinitely. "Back to square one," Nets coach Steve Nash said Tuesday. "We'll rehabilitate him and get him back whenever we can, and who knows when that will be. We'll support James and our performance team in getting him back in as best condition as possible. And hopefully that comes sooner than later, but there's no guarantee." Harden experienced the setback Monday during an "on-court rehab session" and had an MRI on Tuesday, according to the team's statement. Nash said that Harden didn't fall or execute a specific maneuver that caused him discomfort. "He just felt it," Nash said. "He didn't fall or stumble or anything out of the ordinary; he just felt something maybe in the ballpark of a strain. Then the scan revealed he did suffer a setback. So not much more to it other than just disappointment and that we have to rebuild and get him going...

BUFFALO, N.Y. --  Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane isn't rushing to get a deal done with quarterback Josh Allen -- although he said he's confident a deal will eventually get done. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Beane said he had spoken with the NFL's MVP runner-up from a season ago about extending his contract, which is entering the fourth year of Allen's rookie deal. However, Beane said he doesn't expect a deal to get done until at least after next week's NFL draft, and perhaps well into the spring or summer. "There's no rush, we'll have some kind of conversation," Beane said. "Listen, we would love to get Josh extended. No doubt. It has to be a number that works for him and works for us. That's been my conversation with them and they know the same. We're all on the same page. Josh wants to be here." Allen emerged as one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks last season, passing for 4,544 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2020, adding eight rushing...

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a jury Tuesday for his role in the murder of George Floyd last May outside of a local convenience store. The death of Floyd, who was Black, and the video that showed Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes, became a catalyst for the sports world's racial and social justice movement last summer. A jury of six white, four Black and two multiracial jurors deliberated 10.5 hours over two days -- four hours on Monday; 6.5 hours on Tuesday -- before rendering a verdict. ABCNews.com has full coverage of the decision. Chauvin faces a 40-year maximum sentence for the second-degree unintentional murder conviction, a 25-year sentence for third-degree murder and a 10-year sentence for second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin's bail was immediately revoked, and his sentencing will be in eight...

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter by a jury Tuesday for his role in the murder of George Floyd last May outside of a local convenience store. Floyd's death, and the video which showed Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for about nine minutes, became a catalyst for the sports world's racial and social justice movement last summer. A jury of six white, four Black and two multi-racial jurors deliberated nine hours over two days -- five hours on Monday; four hours Tuesday -- before rendering a verdict. ABCNews.com has full coverage of the decision. Chauvin faces a 40-year maximum sentence for the second-degree murder conviction, a 25-year sentence for third-degree murder and a 10-year sentence for second-degree manslaughter. "One year ago, George Floyd was murdered, causing unimaginable pain and trauma for his family, the Minneapolis community, and communities across the...

The English teams are backing out after a backlash.

The NFL and NFL Players Association have approved a position-specific helmet design for the first time since they began regulating equipment for players, representatives for both groups confirmed Tuesday. The helmet, known as the VICIS ZERO2-R TRENCH, was built for offensive and defensive linemen and is ranked No. 2 on the league's 2021 safety rankings. The helmets are equipped with bumpers on their front and upper sides, where NFL engineering studies showed are a common point of contact for linemen who absorb concussion-causing contact, according to Dr. Ann Good, a senior engineer at BioCore and a consultant to the NFL. The league and union have been ranking helmets based on proprietary safety data since 2015, using lab tests designed by BioCore, and began banning the lowest-performing helmets in 2019. The primary goal was to drive down reported concussion totals among players, which peaked at 281 during the 2017 season. The 2021 ratings, distributed to teams Tuesday,...

The NFL and NFL Players Association have approved a position-specific helmet design for the first time since they began regulating equipment for players, representatives for both groups confirmed Tuesday. The helmet, known as the VICIS ZERO2-R TRENCH, was built for offensive and defensive linemen and is ranked No. 2 on the league's 2021 safety rankings. The helmets are equipped with bumpers on their front and upper sides, where NFL engineering studies showed are a common point of contact for linemen who absorb concussion-causing contact, according to Dr. Ann Good, a senior engineer at BioCore and a consultant to the NFL. The league and union have been ranking helmets based on proprietary safety data since 2015, using lab tests designed by BioCore, and began banning the lowest-performing helmets in 2019. The primary goal was to drive down reported concussion totals among players, which peaked at 281 during the 2017 season. The 2021 ratings, distributed to teams Tuesday,...

Former Washington Football Team tight end Jordan Reed said he's retiring from the NFL because of lingering issues from multiple concussions suffered throughout his career. "I was pretty sure I was going to keep playing; I was feeling good about where I was at," Reed told ESPN. "But then I had some lingering effects and sought out professional help to get diagnosed. They told me it was not a good idea to keep playing. I agreed with them." Reed visited Orlando's Plasticity Center in late winter for a brain scan. He said based on the results it was recommended he retire. Reed said it took him a while to make the decision. "Before when I had a concussion I would feel better afterwards and I wouldn't have lingering effects," Reed said. "If I didn't have any symptoms I would have kept playing," he said. "I'm OK with it because I know the reason why I'm making the choice is for family and my children, so I can be there for them. It's just time." Reed, 30, played seven...

TAMPA, Fla. -- After re-signing all 22 starters on offense and defense from their Super Bowl LV win, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally have a backup quarterback on their roster for the 2021 season, re-signing Ryan Griffin. Sources told ESPN that the deal, which the team announced Tuesday, is for one year. Griffin, 31, will enter his seventh year with the Buccaneers and second backing up future Hall of Famer Tom Brady, whom Griffin infamously whisked away from cameras after the Super Bowl boat parade, a moment that went viral on social media, and something Brady chalked up to "just litTle avoCado tequila." Griffin served as the Bucs' No. 3 quarterback last season behind Blaine Gabbert, who remains unsigned. A source told ESPN that Gabbert is still an option for the team to bring back. With no pressing needs in the draft aside from depth, the Bucs are also considering drafting a developmental quarterback, should the right one be...

Khamzat Chimaev says he is finally on the mend from a very difficult bout with COVID-19 that threatened to end his promising career earlier this year. Chimaev (9-0) was scheduled to face Leon Edwards in a high-profile UFC bout in January and again in March, but he was forced to withdraw both times because of complications caused by COVID-19. The 26-year-old flew to Las Vegas in February to receive medical treatment, only to abruptly hint at retirement in a social media post on March 1. In his first interview since that post, Chimaev told ESPN on Monday that he has resumed training and would like to return to competition in August. "If you are sick, you cannot think about [a] fight," Chimaev said. "I was thinking, 'One month, sick. Then still, two months. When am I going to be finished with this s---?' I'm healthy now, hungry again. I want to get back and smash somebody and make money." Chimaev, who was born in Chechnya and lives in Sweden, also revealed he recently...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed coach Mike Tomlin to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Tuesday. The extension will run through the 2024 season. The 49-year-old is heading into his 15th season as the Steelers' head coach since taking over prior to the 2007 season. Tomlin led the Steelers to a Super Bowl XLIII victory in his second season with the team and appeared in Super Bowl XLV. Though he hasn't been back to a Super Bowl since the 2010 season, Tomlin's Steelers have been consistently successful. Pittsburgh has made the playoffs nine times under Tomlin and have finished first or second in the AFC North in 12 of his 14 seasons with seven division titles, including last year. Tomlin has compiled a 153-86-1 overall mark (including the playoffs) and has the highest winning percentage (.640) of any head coach in Steelers history, ahead of Hall of Famers Bill Cowher (1992-2006) and Chuck Noll (1969-91).

Former Washington Football Team tight end Jordan Reed is retiring from the NFL, a source confirmed Tuesday to ESPN. Reed, 30, played six seasons with Washington and spent last year with San Francisco, catching 355 passes with 28 touchdowns in a career often slowed by injuries. He played 10 games with the 49ers last season, catching 26 passes. When healthy, Reed scared opposing defenses because of his quickness to beat one-on-one matchups with linebackers and his size (6-foot-2, 242 pounds) to beat safeties. It's why, in 2015, Reed caught 87 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns and was a key reason Washington won the NFC East. He made his lone Pro Bowl appearance after the following season. But injuries limited Reed throughout his career, as he never played in more than 14 games in a season and three times played in 10 or fewer. He suffered at least seven documented concussions and dealt with soft-tissue injuries as well as knee and toe issues. Fractures in his...