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The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, which has been played every year since its inception in 1935, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. An official announcement is expected Tuesday. Stadium first reported the Sun Bowl's pending announcement. The game was scheduled for the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 31. El Paso has been dealing with a COVID-19 surge for several weeks. The county brought in the National Guard to help with its mobile morgues. The Sun Bowl, played in each of the previous 86 seasons, is tied for the second-longest consecutively played postseason bowl game, behind only the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual, which has been played annually since 1916. The Sun Bowl is the ninth bowl game canceled because of COVID-19; the Bahamas, Celebration, Fenway, Hawaii, Holiday, Motor City, Pinstripe and Redbox bowls are the others. The Sun Bowl pits teams from the ACC and Pac-12. The ACC has now...

The Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, which has been played every year since its inception in 1935, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. An official announcement is expected on Tuesday. Stadium first reported the Sun Bowl's pending announcement. The game was scheduled for the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 31. El Paso has been dealing with a COVID-19 surge for several weeks, bringing in mobile morgues and the National Guard to help. The Sun Bowl had been played in each of the previous 86 seasons, tying it for the second longest consecutively played postseason bowl game, behind only the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual, which has been played annually since 1916. The Sun Bowl is the ninth bowl game canceled because of COVID-19; the Bahamas, Celebration, Fenway, Hawaii, Holiday, Motor City, Pinstripe and Redbox bowls are the others. The Sun Bowl pitted teams from the ACC and Pac-12. The ACC has now lost four bowl...

Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker received a stem cell injection in his left knee and is out until at least the first week of January, the team said Tuesday. Walker received the injection after consultation with multiple specialists in early October and was put on a 12-week strengthening program. The Celtics said he is expected to return to on-court activities in early December, and an update on his availability to play in games will be provided in the first week of January. Walker, 30, averaged 20.4 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds last season, his first with the Celtics after signing a four-year contract in free agency. In the playoffs he averaged 19.6 points, 5. 1 assists and 4.1 rebounds as he helped the Celtics advance to the Eastern Conference finals, where Boston fell to the Miami Heat in six games. The Celtics also announced Tuesday that newly signed forward Tristan Thompson suffered a minor hamstring injury during an offseason workout before...

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller V and cornerback Bradley Roby have been suspended for six games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Fuller said the violation was a result of his taking prescribed medication not permitted under the policy. "Earlier this year, I sought treatment from a medical professional who prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL's drug policy," Fuller wrote on Instagram. "As it turns out, my trust in this professional was misplaced because this medication was NOT a permitted substance under the NFL Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances. "As a result of this mistake, I have been suspended for six games for taking this prohibited medication. I want to sincerely apologize to the Texans organization and all of my fans for this mistake. I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021." Roby, in a tweet Monday night...

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged Monday that his willingness to call out Jared Goff after a 23-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers was a departure from his routine postgame comments, but McVay expressed confidence that his fifth-year quarterback can take it. "I wouldn't say things if I didn't know there was broad shoulders to be able to handle it," McVay said, adding, "maybe while it was a little bit different approach, I think it was something that was honest that I know he's capable of correcting. "If anything, I think it's a reflection of the confidence I have, because I can be demanding of him in some of those settings, whether it be publicly or privately with our team." After Sunday's loss to the injury-plagued Niners, McVay did not shoulder the blame -- a typical move for the fourth-year coach -- but instead said bluntly, "Our quarterback has got to take better care of the football." Goff had two passes intercepted and lost a fumble against the...

LOS ANGELES --  LeBron James could be one and done playing the 1 for the Los Angeles Lakers. The newly acquired  Dennis Schroder said he intends to start at point guard for the defending champions. "I did this off-the-bench stuff already in two years with OKC," Schroder, who finished second behind teammate  Montrezl Harrell for Sixth Man of the Year for his role with the Thunder, said on an introductory videoconference call with reporters Monday. "I think I try to move forward, and I think with [ Anthony Davis] and LeBron, I can be helpful as a starter in the PG position." Schroder said that he has not spoken to Lakers coach Frank Vogel about his desire to start, however his representatives, Alex Saratsis and Jeff Austin of Octagon, discussed that aspect with the Lakers front office prior to L.A.'s trading guard Danny Green and the No. 28 pick in the draft to the Thunder to complete the deal. "I think my agent talked to the...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The COVID-19 outbreak in Baltimore has led to the Ravens- Steelers game being postponed to Wednesday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 3:40 p.m. ET. It becomes the first game of the NFL season to get postponed three times. The game is kicking off at 3:40 p.m. because NBC, which is broadcasting the game, wanted to honor its commitment to broadcast the 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday night, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. With the latest postponement, the Steelers' Week 13 game on Sunday against the Washington Football Team will now be played Monday at 5 p.m. ET, and the Ravens' Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys, which had already been moved once to Dec. 7, will now be played Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 8:05 p.m. ET. While the Steelers-Washington game was pushed to Monday, the Ravens' game against the Cowboys was pushed to Tuesday because of scheduling, a league source told ESPN's Brooke...

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller V has been suspended for six games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. Fuller said the violation was a result of his taking prescribed medication not permitted under the policy. "Earlier this year, I sought treatment from a medical professional who prescribed medication that he believed to be permitted under the NFL's drug policy," Fuller wrote on Instagram. "As it turns out, my trust in this professional was misplaced because this medication was NOT a permitted substance under the NFL Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances. "As a result of this mistake, I have been suspended for six games for taking this prohibited medication. I want to sincerely apologize to the Texans organization and all of my fans for this mistake. I am looking forward to putting this all behind me and returning better than ever in 2021." The suspension will take Fuller through the last five games of this...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The NFL is pondering a third postponement of the Baltimore Ravens' game against the  Pittsburgh Steelers to later this week, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The league canceled the Ravens' practice that was scheduled for Monday morning, a day before the team is scheduled to play the unbeaten Steelers at Heinz Field. Monday's round of Ravens test results produced no new positives that would impact Tuesday night's game, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano. There was one new positive, but it's a player on injured reserve who hasn't had close contact with anyone else, according to the source. The NFL has offered the Ravens the option to fly to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, which would offer the team another round of test results to evaluate but the Ravens haven't decided what to do. Baltimore's facility is reopening shortly and they will discuss their options, the source said. The Ravens are in the midst of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in...

The MRI on New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones showed a hamstring strain that is likely to force him to miss some time, according to a source. The first-place Giants (4-7) should know more later in the week when they get Jones moving around. Right now, coach Joe Judge said there are more questions than answers and they are in "wait-and-see mode" because it's natural for there to be swelling and tightness the day after an injury. But there is at least optimism that Jones' absence won't be long term. Tests on Monday ruled out a significant tear. New York plays on Sunday in Seattle. It seems highly unlikely that Jones would be ready for that contest. The following weeks against Arizona or Cleveland are more realistic. "I couldn't give you an answer on if it's one week or more than one week right now," Judge said Monday afternoon on a Zoom call. "I'm not qualified and, to be honest, the doctors I talked with today, they don't have that crystal ball...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio hopes three of his quarterbacks will be cleared Tuesday to return to work and said Monday that additional discipline is still "on the table" for Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles. The Broncos were without their entire quarterback depth chart for Sunday's 31-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints as Lock, Rypien and Bortles, who is on the practice squad, were all designated "high-risk'' close contacts to Jeff Driskel, who tested positive Thursday for COVID-19. The four quarterbacks were determined to have broken protocols by not wearing masks at all times or social distancing properly, including in a Tuesday meeting with Driskel. Lock, the team's starting quarterback, issued an apology on social media before Sunday's game and said he made an "honest mistake, but one that I will own.'' In their place, the Broncos used the team's running backs at quarterback as well as...

Cameron Smith tested positive for antibodies when reporting to training camp.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy challenged the team to "wake up" and "have some personal pride" in the wake of Sunday's disastrous 41-25 prime-time loss to the Green Bay Packers. "I know this: We better wake our tails up," Nagy said on a Monday Zoom call. "Every freaking coach on the staff, every player, better wake up and start understanding where we're at. Have some personal pride. Have a freaking sense of urgency. Know where we're at. Have some pride into who we're playing for and why we do this and then go find a way to win as a team. That's my challenge to every single person in that building this week is that. "Yesterday was flat-out embarrassing, and our guys know it. I'm not telling you something they don't know. They know it. But we're going to step up and all coaches, all players, and we've got five games left. For us, it's our own personal challenge as to where we're at and how we're going to do this thing. But that...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers have a new home, at least for their next two games. As had been expected since Santa Clara County announced on Saturday new COVID-19-related restrictions that prevent contact sports in the county for at least the next three weeks, the Niners announced Monday morning that they will hold their next two games at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. That, of course, is the home of the Cardinals, who have no day-of-game scheduling conflicts with the Niners moving forward. "The Cardinals organization, State Farm Stadium and League officials have been supportive and accommodating as we work through the many logistical issues involved in relocating NFL games," the 49ers said in a statement. Monday's announcement means the Niners will "host" the Buffalo Bills for Monday Night Football on Dec. 7 and the Washington Football Team on Dec. 13 in Arizona. The Niners' other game in that three-week time frame is set for...

Indiana starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in Saturday's win against Maryland. Coach Tom Allen on Monday confirmed the injury, which is to the same ligament Penix tore as a true freshman in 2018. He ended up redshirting the season. Penix suffered the injury while scrambling out of bounds at the Maryland 5-yard line with 4:36 left in the third quarter. The 12th-ranked Hoosiers won the game 27-11. Jack Tuttle, a transfer from Utah, replaced Penix against Maryland and will start this week when Indiana visits No. 16 Wisconsin. Tuttle completed all five of his pass attempts for 31 yards against Maryland and drew praise from Allen for staying prepared. Penix had 1,645 passing yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions this season and also rushed for two touchdowns. His 2-point conversion lifted Indiana over Penn State in overtime of the season opener, and he passed for a career-high 491 yards and five...

The Denver Broncos had no new positive coronavirus tests coming out of Sunday testing, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Broncos were without their entire quarterback depth chart for Sunday's loss to the Saints due to the positive test of backup quarterback Jeff Driskel and the fact that the team's three other QBs ( Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles) were all deemed to be high-risk contacts. Lock, the team's starting quarterback, issued an apology on social media before Sunday's game acknowledging that the quarterbacks had erred in not strictly adhering to mask policies with one another. In their place, Denver started Kendall Hinton, a wide receiver on the Broncos' practice squad who had some experience playing quarterback while at Wake Forest. Hinton finished 1-of-9 passing for 13 yards with two interceptions as Denver gained just 112 yards overall in a 31-3 loss.

The first Associated Press men's college basketball poll of the regular season remained steady at the top. The rest, predictably, was filled with change as teams exceeded or failed to live up to preseason expectations. Gonzaga and Baylor remained Nos. 1-2 in the poll released Monday. The Zags received 57 of 63 first-place votes from a media panel, and the Bears had six first-place votes. They were the only two teams to hold their places from the preseason poll. Gonzaga kept the top spot by a commanding margin with impressive wins in Fort Myers, Florida. The Zags (2-0) rolled over Kansas 102-90 and crushed Auburn 90-67 the next day. "We feel we can score on anybody," said Gonzaga's Drew Timme, who had 28 points and 10 rebounds against Auburn. "We've got great coaching. If we execute our offense and move the ball and not get stymied, we feel we can score on every team." Baylor was forced to drop out of the "Bubbleville" tournament in Uncasville, Connecticut,...

The driver walked away relatively unscathed from his burning car after it sliced in half and exploded into a fireball, following a crash on the first lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton threw what could have been a backbreaking interception late in the fourth quarter Sunday and didn't eclipse 100 yards passing, but he focused on the silver lining of his subpar performance -- a victory over the Arizona Cardinals. "I'll be the first person to say I didn't play my best game yesterday. But let's be totally clear: I don't play this game for statistic benefits. I don't play this game for any type of individual accolades. I play this game to win. I'm not going to apologize for winning," Newton said Monday morning on his weekly interview with sports radio WEEI. Newton finished 9-of-18 for 84 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 23.6 passer rating. He added nine rushes for 46 yards. "It's a strange feeling, but at the end of the day, I've had games where quarterback rating, statistics and everything, effort and all that, amounted to a loss. And I've had games like...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Rigoberto Sanchez will miss an unspecified amount of time to have a cancerous tumor removed, the Colts punter announced on Instagram Monday. "So grateful to be surrounded by doctors that helped me catch the cancerous tumor before it spread all over my body," Sanchez wrote on Instagram. "... Unfortunately, there are things you can't control in life and this is one of them. No plans or preparations would have gotten me ready for this kind of adversity, but like I told my wife, we can't flinch. ... Makes me sick that I'll have to miss some time playing beside my brothers, but I know they will hold it down." Concerns about Sanchez's health emerged after he didn't handle his normal kickoff duties in Sunday's loss to Tennessee. Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship kicked off, while Sanchez only punted against the Titans. Colts coach Frank Reich was vague when asked about Sanchez's health following the game. "Rigo is dealing with a physical issue that we...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The NFL canceled the  Baltimore Ravens' practice for Monday morning, a day before the team is scheduled to play the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Ravens are in the midst of one of the biggest coronavirus outbreaks in professional sports with at least one positive test for the past eight days. Baltimore has officially placed 18 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list in the past week and has since had three starters -- tight end Mark Andrews, outside linebacker Matthew Judon and wide receiver Willie Snead IV -- test positive, according to sources. As of Monday morning, the Ravens are still deciding on when to travel to Pittsburgh, according to a source. Baltimore was originally set to take two planes, which would allow for extra social distancing, to Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning and play the Steelers at Heinz Field that night. But the Ravens could leave as early as Monday night because the Pittsburgh area...

Florida State has had its scheduled game nixed for the third straight week, the ACC announced Sunday. The Seminoles were scheduled to play at Duke on Saturday, but after issues with COVID-19 and contact tracing hit the team last week, the league opted to adjust that game and will have Miami play at Duke instead. Florida State postponed each of its previous two games just hours before kickoff, including a Nov. 21 date with Clemson that resulted in a public spat between the two schools regarding coronavirus protocols.   After Clemson traveled to Tallahassee, Florida, for that game, the school learned that one player had tested positive for COVID-19. Although the ACC suggested that it was acceptable for the game to be played and said that Clemson had not violated protocols, Florida State's medical advisors disagreed, and the game was postponed out of what FSU called an abundance of caution. A week later, Florida State fell victim to the same Friday testing protocols,...

Left-handed starter Mike Minor and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a two-year deal that is pending a physical, sources confirmed to ESPN's Jeff Passan. With the deal, Minor returns to the city where he revitalized his career as a reliever in 2017. Minor, who turns 33 on Dec. 26, has since become a rotation stalwart. He was traded from the Texas Rangers to  Oakland for the stretch drive as the Athletics wrapped up the American League West title last season. Minor went 1-1 with a 5.48 ERA in his four starts in Oakland after the trade, in which Texas received two players to be named later and international slot money. Overall, he went 1-6 with a 5.56 ERA and 62 strikeouts for both teams in 2020. His fastball velocity took a step back last season, and his propensity for giving up fly balls showed in his allowing 11 home runs in 56 2/3 innings. His average of 17.7 pitches per inning was his highest rate since his rookie season in 2010 with...

The game began with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs seeing something unusual: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were single-covering wide receiving Tyreek Hill early and often. The Chiefs took advantage to the point that Hill had one of the best receiving games in NFL history before the Bucs adjusted and consistently sent safety help his way. But by then, Hill was the fifth receiver ever to get 260 yards and three touchdowns and the Chiefs were well on their way to a 27-24 victory that pushed their record to 10-1. Cornerback Carlton Davis was often the victim on Hill's 13 catches, which gained 269 yards and included touchdowns of 75, 44 and 20 yards. "I don't think it was necessarily [about] a matchup,'' Mahomes said. "It was man coverage with no one over the top. We don't get that a lot, especially with [Hill] and his ability, and whenever we do, we try to take advantage of it.'' Mahomes had his fifth career...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers found out that they had become NFL nomads for at least the next three weeks the same way the rest of the world did on Saturday afternoon: via a news conference. The team was on its plane heading to Los Angeles to play the Rams when word spread that Santa Clara County had announced new COVID-19-related restrictions that put a three-week ban on all contact sports within county lines. Word spread quickly on social media, and soon, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan was inundated with players, coaches and family members wondering what it means. He wasn't pleased with the lack of a heads-up from the county. "For us to be heading out here [Saturday] and the relationship we have with them and for our players and coaches and everyone on that plane and our wives to find that out while we're getting on a plane and no one to tell us, it was just extremely disappointing," Shanahan said. "I get it: They made that decision, and we've got to deal...

DENVER --  Broncos safety Kareem Jackson conceded that the team's quarterbacks made a mistake by not following the league's COVID-19 protocols, but he also said that he believes the NFL sent the Broncos out to play Sunday's game with a practice squad wide receiver lined up at quarterback much of the time as an example to the league's other 31 teams. The Broncos, with Kendall Hinton at quarterback for just more than half of the team's snaps, lost 31-3 to the New Orleans Saints at Empower Field at Mile High. "I feel like maybe [the game] could have been moved, but at the same time, maybe the league was making an example of us as far as maybe not doing the things we needed to do in that particular room, that quarterback room,'' Jackson said. "Obviously, the guys didn't follow their protocols, and for [the NFL] to see that, I guess they felt like they had to make an example, so at the end of [the] day, it is what it is. "... Obviously, it's our...

The game began with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs seeing something unusual: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were single-covering wide receiving Tyreek Hill early and often. The Chiefs took advantage to the point that Hill had one of the best receiving games in NFL history before the Bucs adjusted and consistently sent safety help his way. But by then, Hill was the fifth receiver ever to get 260 yards and three touchdowns and the Chiefs were well on their way to a 27-24 victory that pushed their record to 10-1. Cornerback Carlton Davis was often the victim on Hill's 13 catches, which gained 269 yards and included touchdowns of 75, 44 and 20 yards. "I don't think it was necessarily [about] a matchup,'' Mahomes said. "It was man coverage with no one over the top. We don't get that a lot, especially with [Hill] and his ability and whenever we do, we try to take advantage of it.'' Mahomes had his fifth career 400-yard...

DENVER -- Just over 24 hours after the Denver Broncos pulled all three of their quarterbacks off the practice field because of COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, they opened a game with running back Phillip Lindsay taking a direct snap and spent most of the day with a practice squad wide receiver as their quarterback. And then things went about as expected in a 31-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints at Empower Field at Mile High, as the Saints emptied the bench in the closing minutes. Head coach Vic Fangio said after the game that he was disappointed in the quarterbacks -- Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles -- who put the team and the league in a position in which Denver had to play without a QB. He explained that the quarterbacks came in on an off day to watch film and were lax about mask and social distancing protocols, leading to them being deemed "hisk-risk" close contacts to quarterback Jeff Driskel, who tested...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. --  Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Willie Snead IV tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, a source told ESPN. Snead will become the seventh projected starter on offense to go on the reserve/COVID-19 list in the past week and will miss the Ravens' next two games: Tuesday at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dec. 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. It's the eighth straight day of at least one positive test for Baltimore. "We are in a midst of a trial but we are built for this!" Snead tweeted Saturday. "Keep pressing on!"  Snead, 28, is Baltimore's third-leading receiver this season, catching 28 passes for 379 yards. His three touchdown catches rank second on the team. Over the past four games, Snead had been the Ravens' most productive wide receiver, totaling 17 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns while the rest of the Ravens' wide receivers have 19 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns over that span. The Ravens have added...

The Saints and Patriots were hit with fines; Broncos and Ravens under scrutiny.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have fired general manager Dave Caldwell after a third consecutive season of double-digit losses. Caldwell has been the Jaguars' GM since January 2013 and has presided over only one winning season. The Jaguars are 39-86 in his tenure and have lost 10 or more games in every season under Caldwell except 2017. Sunday's 27-25 loss to the Cleveland Browns dropped Jacksonville to 1-10 this season. "I've met with Dave Caldwell to express my appreciation for his service to the Jacksonville Jaguars as our general manager," owner Shad Khan said in a statement. "Dave was exceptionally committed and determined to bring a winner to Jacksonville, but unfortunately his efforts were not rewarded with the results our fans deserve and our organization expects. Our football operation needs new leadership, and we will have it with a new general manager in 2021." Head coach Doug Marrone and his staff will continue to serve the team through...

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones left with a hamstring injury in the third quarter of Sunday's 19-17 victory over the  Cincinnati Bengals. Colt McCoy took his place as the Giants held on for the win, leaving them tied for first place in the NFC East with the Washington Football Team. The Giants (4-7) have already beaten Washington twice this season. Jones was injured at the end of a 7-yard run. He briefly reached for the back of his right leg while on the ground, but remained in the game. Two plays later, Jones could hardly drop back and made an awkward third-down throw while limping. He went to the ground and again grabbed at the back of his leg, before being taken off the field and being sent to the medical tent for treatment. Jones returned the following drive for two plays. After limping onto the field, he threw one pass before being removed from the game. He was unable to drive the ball with the leg clearly a problem. The Giants were...

The Boston Celtics have traded Gordon Hayward and second-round draft picks in 2023 and 2024 to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for a conditional 2022 second-round draft pick. The sign-and-trade agreement creates a $28.5 million trade exception for the Celtics, the largest in NBA history. The Celtics will get Charlotte's draft pick only if the Hornets finish in the top five in the league next season, so it's unlikely they will get anything in the deal other than unloading Hayward's contract. Hayward, 30, declined his $34.2 million player option with Boston earlier this month, ending a tumultuous three-year run with the team, then agreed to a four-year, $120 million deal with the Hornets. "We are thrilled to welcome Gordon and his family to the Hornets organization and Charlotte," general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. "Gordon is an NBA All-Star, a proven scorer and playmaker and a tough competitor that will fit well into the needs of our team....

DENVER -- As former practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton warmed up inside Empower Field at Mile High to start at quarterback Sunday for the Denver Broncos, the team's usual starting quarterback, Drew Lock, took to social media to apologize for a "mistake'' in following the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles, who was on the practice squad, were all removed from Saturday's practice and told to isolate after being designated as "high-risk'' close contacts to quarterback Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.   Lock admitted Sunday the quarterbacks had not followed the league's guidelines for masks when the quarterbacks had been in a meeting together. "In a controlled and socially distanced area, we let our masking slip for a limited amount of time. An honest mistake, but one I will own," Lock wrote in a statement. "I sincerely apologize and I fully understand why these safety...

Vanderbilt fired football coach Derek Mason on Sunday, one day after a 41-0 loss at Missouri dropped the Commodores' record to 0-8. Mason had a 27-55 record in his sixth season at Vanderbilt. He is the sixth-winningest coach in program history and only the second to lead the Commodores to two bowl games. In a statement on Twitter, Mason wrote, "It has truly been my honor to have been given the opportunity to teach, mentor, champion and coach hundreds of Vanderbilt young men and one courageous female." "On behalf of the entire Vanderbilt community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Coach Mason for his many years of dedication and service leading our football program," athletic director Candice Storey Lee said in a statement. "Derek cares deeply about the student-athletes under his charge. His tenure at Vanderbilt will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, not only on the field, but in the classroom and as young...

DENVER -- As former practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton warmed up inside Empower Field at Mile High to start at quarterback Sunday for the Denver Broncos, the team's usual starting quarterback, Drew Lock, took to social media to apologize for a "mistake'' in following the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles, who was on the practice squad, were all removed from Saturday's practice and told to isolate after being designated as "high-risk'' close contacts to quarterback Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.   Lock admitted Sunday the quarterbacks had not followed the league's guidelines for masks when the quarterbacks had been in a meeting together. "In a controlled and socially distanced area, we let our masking slip for a limited amount of time. An honest mistake, but one I will own," Lock wrote in a statement. "I sincerely apologize and I fully understand why these safety...

Sunday's game at U.S. Bank Stadium was hyped for Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater returning to Minnesota as a franchise quarterback, but rookie linebacker/safety Jeremy Chinn stole the show with two touchdowns in 10 seconds. Carolina's second-round pick out of Southern Illinois picked up a strip sack by defensive tackle Zach Kerr and raced 17 yards for his first NFL touchdown on the third play of the second half. On Minnesota's next play, Chinn helped strip the ball from running back Dalvin Cook on a run up the middle and went 28 yards for the score that made it 21-10. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Chinn is the third player in NFL history with multiple fumble return touchdowns in a game. Al Nesser had three for the Akron Pros in 1920 and Fred Evans had two for the Chicago Bears in 1948. Chinn is also the first player to score two defensive touchdowns in the same game since Samson Ekuban for the  ...

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers captain Cameron Heyward understands that in this strange season, one played amid the COVID-19 pandemic, schedules are going to shift, and plans must be fluid. It's a message he's imparted to his teammates as the Steelers faced not one, but two postponements because of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Baltimore Ravens organization that left the team with a total of 22 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. "This is just a chapter in our book," Heyward told teammates. "This is something we will be able to write down in the future and hopefully it is along with a Super Bowl, but for this group, we just keep rolling with it. "We understand that every team is going through something like this. Not to this extent, but we have to be ready for any situation. I think Coach [Mike Tomlin] has laid out the plan. It's up for us to follow it and it's up for us to bounce back with it." The Steelers were back on the practice field Sunday after...

Vanderbilt fired football coach Derek Mason on Sunday, one day after a 41-0 loss at Missouri dropped the Commodores' record to 0-8 this season. Mason had a 27-55 record in his sixth season at Vanderbilt. He is the sixth-winningest coach in program history and only the second to lead the Commodores to two bowl games. In a statement on Twitter, Mason wrote, "It has truly been my honor to have been given the opportunity to teach, mentor, champion and coach hundreds of Vanderbilt young men and one courageous female." "On behalf of the entire Vanderbilt community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Coach Mason for his many years of dedication and service leading our football program," athletic director Candice Storey Lee said in a statement. "Derek cares deeply about the student-athletes under his charge. His tenure at Vanderbilt will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, not only on the field, but in the classroom and as...

Vanderbilt has parted ways with coach Derek Mason as the Commodores are winless in 2020, the school announced Sunday. Mason was 27-55 at the school, including a 0-8 mark this season against only SEC opponents. The Commodores have lost 12 straight SEC games, the longest active streak for a Power 5 school. "On behalf of the entire Vanderbilt community, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Coach Mason for his many years of dedication and service leading our football program," athletic director Candice Storey Lee said in a statement. "Derek cares deeply about the student-athletes under his charge. His tenure at Vanderbilt will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to our student-athletes, not only on the field, but in the classroom and as young people." Vanderbilt was Mason's first head-coaching job, following a notable tenure as Stanford's defensive coordinator. Offensive coordinator Todd Fitch will serve as the interim head coach.

Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller says she plans to stay with the football team as long as it will have her, even after the other kickers on the roster clear coronavirus protocols and return to practice. On Saturday, Fuller became the first woman to play for a Power 5 football team when she kicked off to open the second half against Missouri. A senior goalkeeper on the Vanderbilt soccer team, Fuller said Sunday during a Zoom call that playing in the game made her want to keep going. "I would love to learn more, so if those guys come out of quarantine, I would love to learn from them and their experience," Fuller said. "I've been having a lot of fun doing this. It's a challenge for me, but it's something I know I can do. It's applicable from doing a goal kick to a field goal kick, so I want to continue learning, and if those guys can help me, I'm all for it." Fuller said she planned to attend meetings on Sunday and added, "I'm sticking around until someone...

Baltimore's game at Pittsburgh is still on for Tuesday night and the NFL intends for it to be played, according to sources. As of Sunday morning, there have been at least 11 Ravens players and eight staffers who have tested positive for COVID-19, sources said. Baltimore had two new cases from Saturday's testing as Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Matthew Judon tested positive, a source told ESPN. Andrews, one of two current NFL players with Type 1 diabetes, said in early August that he was always committed to playing during the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm a healthy person and I've worked really hard since a very young age of keeping my body in the best shape and keeping tight control of my blood sugar," Andrews said on Aug. 10. "At the end of the day, that's the most important thing. I'm treating myself as a normal person. If I would get COVID, it would interact just like anybody else because I treat myself like anybody else...

Haas driver Romain Grosjean escaped serious injury after being involved in a massive crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix that ripped his car in half and engulfed it in flames.  The incident occurred when Grosjean made contact with AlphaTauri's Daniil Kvyat, which pitched him straight into a barrier in an impact registered at over 50 G-forces. Grosjean's car was ripped apart and immediately burst into flames. Grosjean was stuck in the flames for nearly 10 seconds. The FIA medical car, which follows the pack on the first lap, was quickly on the scene to help Grosjean from what was left of his car and its survival cell. The French driver, 34, who looks set to leave F1 at the end of the year, was immediately taken to the circuit medical centre. He needed to be helped to the medical vehicle.  Haas said the Frenchman has at least one suspected broken rib.  "Romain is doing okay, I don't want to make a medical comment but he had light burns on his hands and ankles," Haas team principal...

Baltimore's game at Pittsburgh is still on for Tuesday night and the NFL intends for it to be played, according to sources. As of Sunday morning, there have been nine Ravens players and eight staffers who have tested positive for COVID-19, sources said. Baltimore had two new cases Saturday as Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews and Pro Bowl outside linebacker Matthew Judon tested positive, a source told ESPN. Andrews, one of two current NFL players with Type 1 diabetes, said in early August that he was always committed to playing during the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm a healthy person and I've worked really hard since a very young age of keeping my body in the best shape and keeping tight control of my blood sugar," Andrews said on Aug. 10. "At the end of the day, that's the most important thing. I'm treating myself as a normal person. If I would get COVID, it would interact just like anybody else because I treat myself like anybody else would." This marks the...

The Denver Broncos are starting undrafted rookie practice squad wide receiver  Kendall Hinton at quarterback Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, but the team wanted their starting QB to be Rob Calabrese, their offensive quality control coach for the past two years, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Denver felt that Calabrese had the strongest command of its offense and he could run the system better than anybody, sources told ESPN. The league denied those requests that were made throughout the day Saturday, saying that the Broncos could not activate a coach to their active roster. The league doesn't want coaching staffs being storage areas for potential players, sources said. While the team and some of its players took to social media to make light of the quarterback situation for Sunday's game, Hinton, who was the quarterback at Wake Forest for three seasons, was elevated from the practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement. As a quarterback at Wake...

Rookie Jalen Hurts has been getting first-team reps at quarterback ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles' Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks, sources told ESPN. Carson Wentz is still expected to start, but there's been a noticeable increase in Hurts' snaps with the first team at QB, signaling the likelihood of a more expansive role as Wentz's struggles continue. Hurts, the team's second-round pick in April, has been used primarily as a gadget player to date, with just two of his 31 snaps resulting in him throwing a pass. But signs point to more opportunities with the ball in his hands Monday night. Coach Doug Pederson hesitated last week when asked about potentially making a quarterback change before ultimately saying Wentz would remain the starter. Wentz is in the midst of his worst season as a pro. He is first among all players in interceptions (14), fumbles (10) and sacks (40), ranks 32nd in completion percentage (58.4), 31st in yards...

Baltimore's game at Pittsburgh is still on for Tuesday night and the NFL intends for it to be played, according to sources. As of Sunday morning, there have been nine Ravens players and eight staffers who have tested positive for the coronavirus, sources said. Baltimore had two new cases Saturday. Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews was one of two Ravens players who tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, a source told ESPN. Andrews, one of two current NFL players with Type 1 diabetes, said in early August that he was always committed to playing during the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm a healthy person and I've worked really hard since a very young age of keeping my body in the best shape and keeping tight control of my blood sugar," Andrews said on August 10. "At the end of the day, that's the most important thing. I'm treating myself as a normal person. If I would get COVID, it would interact just like anybody else because I treat myself like anybody else would." The...

Rookie Jalen Hurts has been getting first team reps at quarterback ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles' Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks, sources told ESPN. Carson Wentz is still expected to start, but there's been a noticeable increase in Hurts' snaps with the first team at QB, signaling the likelihood of a more expansive role as Wentz's struggles continue. Hurts, the team's second-round pick in April, has been used primarily as a gadget player to date, with just two of his 31 snaps resulting in him throwing a pass. But signs point to more opportunities with the ball in his hands Monday night. Coach Doug Pederson hesitated last week when asked about potentially making a quarterback change before ultimately saying Wentz would remain the starter. Wentz is in the midst of his worst season as a pro. He is first among all players in interceptions (14), fumbles (10) and sacks (40), ranks 32nd in completion percentage (58.4), 31st in yards...

The NFL fined the New Orleans Saints $500,000 and took away a seventh-round draft pick because they didn't wear masks during their postgame celebrations after beating Tampa Bay 38-3 in Week 9, league sources told ESPN on Sunday. The Saints, who were not happy about the discipline, have appealed the league's decision. The Saints believe other teams across the league also have celebrated victories without masks, but none has been been hit the way New Orleans has. Saints players and the team itself posted celebration videos from their postgame locker room, and it immediately gained the attention of the NFL. Coach Sean Payton, linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Jameis Winston, who made his season debut in the victory over his former team, were among those seen dancing and celebrating in the video posted to Instagram by receiver Tre'Quan Smith. Davis and C.J. Gardner-Johnson also posted videos of the postgame ...

Mike Tyson shared a hug with Roy Jones Jr. once the final bell sounded. Making his much-anticipated boxing return, the former heavyweight champion's exhibition fight against fellow legend Jones on Saturday night was unofficially ruled a draw. After the eight-round bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Tyson, who last fought in 2005, said he would "absolutely" do another exhibition. "I could've done everything better," Tyson said. "Everything I was doing I could've done it better, so God willing, I'll be better the next exhibition." Both fighters showed flashes of their former glory, but ultimately Tyson overwhelmed Jones with his heavy hitting, breaking down Jones after the fourth round. Tyson outlanded Jones 67-37, according to CompuBox. Tyson also had a 57-28 advantage in power punches, including 35 to the body. Jones admitted afterward that the body shots "took a toll" on him. "I like him, but the dude is so strong, man," Jones said afterward. "I understand why they say...