The NBA informed its teams Tuesday night that it is finalizing an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association on a set of health and safety protocols for the upcoming regular season, according to information in a memo obtained by ESPN. The protocols will require unvaccinated players to be under many of the same restrictions that the entire league played under for the vast majority of last season, before the COVID-19 vaccine was available. Vaccinated players, on the other hand, will have far fewer restrictions. For example, all fully vaccinated players, as well as Tier 1 personnel -- coaches and anyone else working regularly within 15 feet of players and referees, all of whom have already been mandated to get the vaccine -- will not have to undergo daily testing. The only time outside of that, vaccinated players and Tier 1 personnel will have to be tested only when they are symptomatic, a close contact of someone who tests positive for COVID-19 or a team medical...

TAMPA, Fla. -- When Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady takes the field Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to face his former team, the New England Patriots, he'll need just 68 yards to break Drew Brees' NFL career passing yardage record of 80,358 yards. Speaking Tuesday, Brees said he's ready to see it happen.  "I'm a firm believer that records are meant to be broken," said the former New Orleans Saints quarterback, who will be at the game working as an analyst for NBC Sports and has enjoyed a friendship with Brady dating back to 1999. Brees set the record, previously held by Peyton Manning, in 2018 in thrilling fashion -- launching a 62-yard touchdown to Tre'Quan Smith at home on Monday Night Football in a 43-19 rout of Washington. He's in favor of Brady doing it in similar fashion. "I'd be all for Brady just launching the first play of the game, just go ahead and get it out of the way," Brees said,...

TCU coach Gary Patterson criticized SMU for its role in the scuffle that followed Saturday's game in Fort Worth, Texas, and for using one of Patterson's country songs to mock his team. Patterson on Tuesday said SMU orchestrated an attempt to plant its flag at midfield at Amon G. Carter Stadium if the Mustangs won. After SMU's 42-34 victory, several players tried to plant the flag at midfield. TCU players responded to the attempt, and Horned Frogs assistant coach Jerry Kill suffered a concussion after being knocked down twice on the field. Kill, the former Minnesota and Northern Illinois head coach, suffers from epilepsy but is OK and has returned to work, Patterson said. Kill, 60, was initially knocked down by a TCU player during the fracas. Patterson said he wasn't sure if a TCU or SMU player knocked him down the second time. "You don't think it was planned?" Patterson said of the flag-planting attempt, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "They had a media person...

TCU coach Gary Patterson criticized SMU for its role in the scuffle that followed Saturday's game in Fort Worth, and for using one of Patterson's country songs to mock his team. Patterson on Tuesday said SMU orchestrated an attempt to plant its flag at midfield at Amon G. Carter Stadium if the Mustangs won. After SMU's 42-34 victory, several players tried to plant the flag at midfield. TCU players responded to the attempt, and Horned Frogs assistant coach Jerry Kill suffered a concussion after being knocked down twice on the field. Kill, the former Minnesota and Northern Illinois head coach, suffers from epilepsy but is OK and has returned to work, Patterson said. Kill, 60, was initially knocked down by a TCU player during the fracas. Patterson said he wasn't sure if a TCU or SMU player knocked him down the second time. "You don't think it was planned?" Patterson said of the flag-planting attempt, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "They had a media person from...

TCU coach Gary Patterson criticized SMU for its role in the scuffle that followed Saturday's game in Fort Worth, and for using one of Patterson's country songs to mock his team. Patterson on Tuesday said SMU orchestrated an attempt to plant its flag at midfield at Amon G. Carter Stadium if the Mustangs won. After SMU's 42-34 victory, several players tried to plant the flag at midfield. TCU players responded to the attempt, and Horned Frogs assistant coach Jerry Kill suffered a concussion after being knocked down twice on the field. Kill, the former Minnesota and Northern Illinois head coach, suffers from epilepsy but is OK and has returned to work, Patterson said. Kill, 60, was initially knocked down by a TCU player during the fracas. Patterson said he wasn't sure if a TCU or SMU player knocked him down the second time. "You don't think it was planned?" Patterson said of the flag-planting attempt, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "They had a media person from...

Bryson DeChambeau finished tied for second place in his group after the first day of the Professional Long Drivers Association World Championships in Mesquite, Nevada, averaging 406.2 yards on his five longest tee shots. DeChambeau hit drives of 412, 408, 407, 403 and 401 yards on Tuesday to advance to the next round. The field on Wednesday will be narrowed from 64 to 32, with the top eight from each group advancing to Thursday, then down to the final 16 for Friday's final round. His 412-yard drive was tied for third longest in his group with Josh Cassaday, who also had a 417-yard drive. Scottie Pearman, who leads the group, had a 413-yard drive. Each competitor has five sets in which they each hit six balls. In each set, they compete directly against two or three other people. First place in that set gets 200 points, second gets 100, third gets 50 and fourth gets 25. DeChambeau had three firsts and two seconds to finish with 800 points, which was tied with Jim Waldron behind...

DETROIT -- After attempting to trade linebacker Jamie Collins, the Detroit Lions announced Tuesday that he has been released. Collins, a nine-year veteran, stopped reporting to practice ahead of Week 3 as the Lions explored options for his future. Coach Dan Campbell said last week that he met with Collins to communicate the team's plans to seek a trade, but the Lions ultimately couldn't reach a deal for him. Collins can sign with another team immediately. He is making a fully guaranteed $8.8 million from Detroit this year ($5 million bonus, $3.8 million salary). A one-time Pro Bowler, Collins racked up 10 total tackles, with one for a loss, and a fumble recovery in back-to-back defeats to San Francisco and Green Bay this season. Campbell said last week that he felt it was "time for a reduced role" for Collins and decided to play the younger members of the roster. "We've been through two games now and you make your assessment and your judgement after two games...

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood said that he has chosen not to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, making him potentially unavailable for some of his team's games this season. The 24-year-old starter said he's "not currently" vaccinated, leaving open the possibility that he could still get the vaccine. He is the only Devils player not vaccinated. "I've not decided one way or the other whether I'm doing it. I'm taking a little bit of extra time," Blackwood said. "I have a couple of health concerns and health reasons why I'm working through it a little slower. I wanted to check off a couple of boxes, and not rush to do it." The NHL estimates that around 98% of its players will have been vaccinated before the season begins Oct. 12. There was no vaccine mandate by the league, but teams have strongly encouraged their players to get vaccinated, especially due to travel restrictions. Per an NHL and the NHLPA agreement on COVID-19 protocols,...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- LeBron James said he initially felt "skepticism" regarding the COVID-19 vaccine but ultimately decided to get it for the well-being of himself, his family and his team. "You're always trying to figure out ways that you can just be available and protect one another and put yourself in the best possible chance where you are available to your teammates, available to what we need to do on the floor," James said Tuesday as the Los Angeles Lakers hosted media day at their practice facility. "The ultimate goal is to obviously win a championship. And it starts with, obviously, health as the No. 1 thing. We're excited to know that we've given ourselves another opportunity to be available to each other, and that's what it came down to." Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said last week that he expected his entire roster to be deemed fully vaccinated by opening night of the regular season in mid-October. L.A.'s...

PITTSBURGH -- Despite a 1-2 start and a stagnant offense led by a 39-year-old quarterback playing behind a subpar offensive line, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is far from ripping up the team's plans entering the fourth week of the season. "We're not going to push the panic button," Tomlin said in his weekly news conference Tuesday. "What do I mean by the panic button? We're not going to dramatically change who and what we are at this juncture. "We're not resistant to change for the purposes of getting better, but we're not going to be so unsteady that we move away from our compass, our identity that we've worked hard to develop -- and will continue to work hard to develop -- and the emphasis on the style of play, whatever that may be in all three phases." That identity, though, is still something of a mystery. The Steelers rank last in the NFL with just 159 rushing yards through three weeks. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a QBR of 35.5, which ranks...

UFC fighter  Jon Jones allegedly pulled a woman's hair and head-butted a police car hours after one of his fights was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame last week. An arrest report released Tuesday by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department lays out the sequence of events that led to Jones being arrested Friday morning on two charges: injuring or tampering with a vehicle (a felony) and misdemeanor battery domestic violence. Jones was released Friday evening on $8,000 bail and is due back in court on Oct. 26. Jones was apprehended by police on the Las Vegas Strip just before 6 a.m. Friday. When he was taken into custody, the report states that Jones "became irate and smashed his head onto the front hood" of a police vehicle, causing a medium-sized dent and paint chipping. That led to the felony charge of injuring or tampering with a vehicle. In an interview at the Caesars Palace resort, the woman involved in the incident told police that Jones was a "little" physical...

Defenseman Jalen Smereck of HC Donbass said he won't play another game in the Ukrainian Hockey League until Kremenchuk forward Andrei Deniskin is "removed from the league" for making a racist gesture to him on Sunday. In the second period of their game, Deniskin shouted at Smereck, who is Black, and then pantomimed unpeeling a banana and eating it. He was ejected from the game, and the UHL announced that disciplinary proceedings would be opened against Deniskin. "These situations are very tough and I'm a big believer in standing up for what is right. Therefore, I have been putting a lot of thought into what comes next for me in my career," Smereck posted on Instagram. "As of right now, I have decided that I will be taking a personal leave of absence from HC Donbass and I will not play another game in the UHL until Andrei Deniskin is suspended and removed from the league." Smereck, 24, is a Detroit native who is playing his first season overseas. He was formerly a...

Connecticut heads into the WNBA semifinals Tuesday as not only the top seed but the team with the league MVP in Jonquel Jones, along with coach of the year Curt Miller and most improved player Brionna Jones. Forward Jonquel Jones won the MVP honor with 48 of 49 first-place votes and 487 total points from a national media panel. Phoenix center Brittney Griner finished in second place with 224 points and got the other first-place vote. Seattle forward Breanna Stewart was third (156), Minnesota center Sylvia Fowles was fourth (137) and Washington center Tina Charles fifth (127). Stewart (2018), Fowles (2017) and Charles (2012) are all past MVP winners. The honor marked a steady progression for Jones, who won the WNBA's most improved award in 2017 and was sixth player of the year in 2018. The 6-foot-6 Jones, 27, is in her fifth season in the WNBA. She was drafted No. 6 out of George Washington in 2016 by Los Angeles and traded to the Sun. She didn't play in the WNBA in 2020 when the...

Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman is flying to Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday to visit and work out for the  Buccaneers, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. Sherman, who has been in discussions with the Bucs for several weeks, needs a week or two from the time he signs with his next team until he's ready to play, sources told ESPN's Ed Werder. Coach Bruce Arians had previously said that general manager Jason Licht had reached out to Sherman to gauge his interest. NFL Network first reported that Sherman would be visiting the Bucs. Sherman, 33, would provide valuable experience to one of the league's youngest defensive backfields. He's also a sure tackler, which has been an issue for the Bucs' defense thus far this season. The Bucs are without Sean Murphy-Bunting, who was placed on injured reserve with a dislocated right elbow Sept. 20. He also serves as the team's nickelback. Jamel Dean, the team's third cornerback, left Sunday's game against the ...

Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert has a stress fracture in his back, but there's optimism that it could only be a minor setback and he could return sometime around the start of the season, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Tuesday. LeVert, who was traded to Indiana from Brooklyn as part of the James Harden deal, will undergo more testing, sources told ESPN. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 35 games for the Pacers last season. LeVert's physical with the Pacers following the trade revealed a cancerous mass on his kidney that required surgery in January. He eventually made his Pacers debut in March.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- When Dak Prescott ran out for his early workout routine, those inside AT&T Stadium cheered loudly. When he returned for pregame warm-ups in full pads, the cheers were louder. When he was announced with the starting offense before kickoff, it was even louder. Playing in his first home game in 351 days after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle, Prescott helped deliver the Cowboys to a 41-21 thrashing of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday by completing 21 of 26 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Leading up to the game, Prescott said he would take a moment or two to reflect on his work to get back to the field, although it was not a tear that trickled down his cheek during the national anthem.   "I think that was sweat," he said. "I don't remember crying but definitely just appreciation and gratitude. Thankful for just the opportunity to be back out here, doing what I love and doing it here at AT&T...

TAMPA, Fla. -- Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady acknowledged Monday that he will feel "different kinds of emotions" when he returns to Gillette Stadium this weekend for the first time since leaving New England, where he said he enjoyed "some of the greatest experiences of my life." Brady's Bucs visit the  Patriots, with whom he spent 20 seasons and won six Super Bowls, on Sunday (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).  "I know that locker room, I know that home locker room, I know that home tunnel, I know which way the wind blows, I know everything about that [place]," Brady told Jim Gray on their "Let's Go!" podcast on SiriusXM. "I know the way it smells. I know what a night game's like, I know what the fans are gonna sound like. So in some ways, that'll be really unique. I've never had that experience going to, you know -- it'll be a first time for me being on the other sideline. "I'm not going to necessarily reminisce. I don't think this is the moment for that....

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins said that his decision not to get the COVID-19 vaccine to this point is a "private" matter, bristling Monday when the topic of potential lost salary was broached in a somewhat tense back-and-forth with reporters during the team's media day. "It's my problem," Wiggins said of the possibility of lost earnings. "Not yours." Wiggins' current stance on the COVID-19 vaccine was the main talking point throughout news conferences with players and coaches all day. While the organization continues to be outwardly optimistic regarding Wiggins' ability not to miss any regular season games this season, the stance becomes trickier given the restrictions about to be imposed within the city. The San Francisco Department of Public Health said last week that there would be no exemption for anyone 12 and older at large indoor gatherings. "Under the current order, if unvaccinated, they cannot enter indoor areas...

MILWAUKEE -- It's been a little more than two months since the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2020-21 NBA championship, but star Giannis Antetokounmpo still wants to maintain the chip on his shoulder that helped bring them that title. "Are we satisfied? I'm not satisfied. I'm not even close to being satisfied," Antetokounmpo said at his season-opening news conference Monday. "That's the tone we got to set as a team. As the leader of this team, that's the tone I'm going to set. We understand that teams are coming for us, but we're going to be ready."   Antetokounmpo expressed a similar refrain along with the rest of his Bucks teammates. They will open training camp this week ready to turn the page from last season and focus on defending the franchise's first title since the 1970-71 season. So while Antetokounmpo spoke fondly about bringing the Larry O'Brien trophy home the night after the NBA Finals, carrying it through the drive thru at Chick-Fil-A and taking it...

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- Kawhi Leonard said part of the reason why he signed a four-year max contract to remain with the LA Clippers instead of opting for a shorter deal that could lead to a more lucrative contract is that he hopes to return and play this season. Leonard would not give a timetable for his recovery from surgery on July 13 to repair a partially torn right ACL that kept him out of the Clippers' final eight playoff games. He is expected to miss significant time. But the team's star revealed that a possible return this season factored into his decision to sign his four-year, $176.3 million contract in August. "Because I wanted to play," Leonard explained of his decision at the team's media day on Monday. "I mean, the best situation for me was to do it one-and-one and then opt out and sign a long-term five-year deal. But there's a lot of concerns that that brings up for you guys and your job, and it creates storylines that I'm going to leave the team [after...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers cornerback Josh Norman is back with the team after spending the night in the hospital with a bruised lung suffered early in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Norman's injury happened early in the second quarter when he took a helmet to the chest. He spit up blood and further examination revealed he had some fluid in his lungs, according to coach Kyle Shanahan. Upon leaving the hospital, Norman returned to the team and took part in meetings Monday afternoon. Shanahan said Norman is considered day-to-day and there's a chance he could play this week against the Seattle Seahawks, assuming he passes the necessary tests. "There's a possibility (he could play this week)," Shanahan said. "The way that goes, he has got to clear some imaging, he's got to pass the CT scans to get back to practice. From what I'm told, that could take anywhere from one day to throughout the week so we're just going to have to...

Multiple players accused former Florida women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer of creating a toxic environment during his tenure, including intimidation, verbal abuse and racist comments. Players went on the record with their allegations Monday in a story published in the school's newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator. The story also detailed multiple instances when players or their parents went to administrators with concerns well before Newbauer offered his resignation last July. In a statement released Monday, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin acknowledged concerns were brought to administrators, and Newbauer was asked to make "corrective actions." "It is our responsibility to provide a championship experience with integrity, along with the necessary support, for Gators student-athletes and staff," Stricklin said in the statement. "The culture of the women's program under head coach Cam Newbauer described in The Independent Florida Alligator article is in...

Though roughly 90% of NBA players are vaccinated as training camp approaches Tuesday, tension exists between those around the league mandated to be vaccinated and the nearly 40 unvaccinated players, league sources told ESPN. In some instances, vaccinated staffers said they're concerned about the health risks of being exposed to unvaccinated players. In others, staffers said they're upset that players aren't facing the same vaccine requirements as most team staff and referees. In still others, there's animosity toward the league itself for not imposing such a mandate. "Everyone who is vaccinated should be pissed at those who aren't," a veteran assistant coach said, adding, "Not requiring NBA players to be vaccinated is horses---." The league has pushed for mandatory vaccinations for players, league sources said, but  as ESPN first reported, the National Basketball Players Association has refused to budge on a vaccine mandate for players, referring to it as a "nonstarter" in...

The Denver Nuggets and forward Michael Porter Jr. have agreed on a five-year designated maximum extension that could be worth up to $207 million, Porter's agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Porter will hit that $207 million number if he makes one of the three All-NBA teams this season. Otherwise, he will get the five-year rookie max of $172 million. The deal marks the fourth max rookie contract extension to be handed out this offseason, a group that includes Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The other player to agree to a rookie extension so far is  Boston Celtics center Robert Williams, who agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension earlier this offseason. Porter and the Nuggets have spent the offseason working on the deal -- a complicated one due to the...

Though roughly 90% of NBA players are vaccinated as training camp approaches Tuesday, tension exists between those around the league mandated to be vaccinated and the nearly 40 unvaccinated players, league sources told ESPN. In some instances, vaccinated staffers say they're concerned about the health risks of being exposed to unvaccinated players. In others, staffers say they're upset that players aren't facing the same vaccine mandates as most team staff and referees. In others, there's animosity toward the league itself for not imposing such a mandate. "Everyone who is vaccinated should be pissed at those who aren't," a veteran assistant coach said, adding, "Not requiring NBA players to be vaccinated is horse s--t." The league has pushed for mandatory vaccinations for players, league sources said, but, as ESPN first reported, the NBPA has refused to budge on a vaccine mandate for players, referring to it as a "non-starter" in negotiations between the league and the...

Tyron Woodley got an "I love Jake Paul" tattoo on his left middle finger, as part of the wager he and Paul agreed to before and after their boxing match last month. Woodley posted a photo of the tattoo on his Instagram on Monday. "I love you son," Woodley wrote. "Now come and get this a-- whippin cause i heard you been talking back to your elders." Paul told ESPN two weeks ago that Woodley had eliminated himself from the running to be Paul's next opponent because he did not get the tattoo. Woodley was angling for a rematch, and in the aftermath of their Aug. 29 fight -- won by Paul via split decision -- Paul said he'd grant the rematch if Woodley got the tattoo. Woodley agreed and they shook hands on it. Woodley getting the tattoo now puts him back in play for the rematch, Woodley's manager Malki Kawa of First Round Management told ESPN. The tattoo bet first came up at a news conference in July. Both men agreed verbally that the loser would get a tattoo somewhere on their...

Former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon, who recently was informed that he is being reinstated, is planning to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, sources told ESPN. Gordon was flying to Kansas City on Monday and was expected to be signed to the Chiefs' practice squad on Monday night with the expectation that a promotion to the active roster will follow shortly thereafter. Gordon, 30, had multiple teams contact him and express interest in signing him. But one of the attractions of playing in Kansas City was making it a long-term stop and spending multiple seasons there, according to his agents, Eric Dounn and Matt Leist from LAA Sports. The Chiefs have been searching for a wide receiver who can play every down along with Tyreek Hill since losing Sammy Watkins as a free agent in the spring. They've given significant playing time to Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle, but none of those players have consistently...

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Everything is on the table for the Chicago Bears. Coach Matt Nagy said on Monday that all three Chicago quarterbacks --  Justin Fields, Andy Dalton and Nick Foles -- are under consideration to start on Sunday versus the Detroit Lions after Week 3's 26-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Dalton is currently sidelined with a left knee bruise, and Fields suffered an injury to his right throwing hand against the Browns. Fields underwent X-rays after the game and said he felt fine, but Nagy was not ready yet to commit to a starter for the Lions game. "All three are under consideration right now in regards to where they're at, so we'll just kind of have to see in the next couple days where they're all at," Nagy said. "We know where Nick's at, health-wise, but we just want to keep an eye on Justin and Andy. Then, for us to stay on that and make sure that we have a plan for any of those." Fields completed only 6 of 20...

Miami coach Manny Diaz defended his program and the school administration Monday, after pointed criticism that there was not a strong enough commitment to football from the university. Kirk Herbstreit questioned that commitment on College GameDay on Saturday, in comments that went viral and made their way to Diaz. Herbstreit questioned whether the athletic department was willing to make changes to support football, noting there remain ongoing problems that have kept Miami from being a national power over the last decade. Diaz opened his Zoom press conference with a statement pushing back on those comments, noting university President Julio Frenk led the charge for the season to move forward during the coronavirus pandemic last. "That would be a strong take for someone that didn't really seem that interested in athletics," Diaz said. Diaz also pointed out the improvements the Hurricanes have made to their facilities -- including building a new indoor practice facility and...

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey says he has "hope" of a reconciliation between star Ben Simmons and the Sixers, pointing to the  Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay as proof that things can turn around between a team and its disgruntled star. "I think there's a lot of hope," Morey said Monday morning during his season-opening news conference alongside coach Doc Rivers. "I would say I watched last night a player lead his team to victory when a thousand pounds of digital ink were spilled on how much he would never play for that team again. "Look, every situation is different, but we have a lot of optimism that we can make it work here." Rodgers, like Simmons, wanted off his current team while under contract. But unlike Simmons, Rodgers reported to training camp, and now is playing regular-season games for the  Packers. Simmons did not report to training camp Monday, as ESPN's Adrian...

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd has never hesitated to be honest. So in his Monday news conference following the team's 24-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Boyd was blunt when assessing how the Steelers finished the game at Heinz Field. "The last plays of the game for them, they gave up," Boyd said. "You could see it. They had three drops in a row." The veteran Bengals receiver was referencing the Steelers' final offensive drive of the game, in which rookie running back Najee Harris and wide receiver Chase Claypool alternated dropped catches in the team's final three offensive plays. Cincinnati took over, kneeled twice and ran out the clock for its second straight win over the Steelers and first in Pittsburgh since 2015. Cincinnati led by as many as 17 points in the second half and was in control for most of the game, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told reporters after the game. "We just played poorly and got...

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid has been released from the hospital, and the team expects him back at work later Monday or Tuesday. Reid will not participate in his usual Monday news conference. "He's in great spirits, doing well," said Ted Crews, the Chiefs executive vice president for communications. Reid left Arrowhead Stadium and was transported to the hospital after feeling ill following Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to the team. Reid, 63, was treated for dehydration and was expected to be fine, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano. The Chiefs didn't specify in a statement on Sunday night what was wrong with Reid, saying only that he "felt ill," but the team did say the coach is "doing well, currently resting and in stable condition." He stayed on the sideline until the end of the Chiefs' 30-24 loss and returned to the locker room afterward. Reid addressed the team as he normally would after the game, and at least one player,...

NEW ORLEANS --  Zion Williamson suffered a broken right foot during the summer but should be available for the regular season, New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said Monday. During his remarks at media day, Griffin said Williamson injured the foot early in the offseason prior to summer league and underwent surgery shortly thereafter to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot. "He had a fractured right foot that was repaired surgically," Griffin said. "His timeline should get him back on the court in time for the regular season. That would be our hope and our view. And we're very optimistic about what that looks like." Griffin said he, general manager Trajan Langdon and vice president of player care and performance Aaron Nelson met with Williamson and his parents to establish a timeline for return to play. "He was working out on his own on the court, and frankly was doing an unbelievable job; it's...

Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral has emerged as the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at U.S. sportsbooks ahead of the Rebels' trip Saturday to No. 1 Alabama. The SEC showdown between the Rebels and Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, features the Heisman front-runners in Corral and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. Corral is the favorite at most sportsbooks, with odds around +160, followed closely by Young at +200. At Caesars Sportsbook, Corral and Young are co-favorites at +180 to win the award. In the preseason, Corral could be found at 50-1 to win the Heisman at some sportsbooks, but his odds have improved significantly during the Rebels' 3-0 start. Corral has accounted for 14 touchdowns, the second most for an SEC player in the first three games over the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, behind only Tim Couch's 15 in 1997. Bettors have taken note; more money has been bet on Corral to win the Heisman than on any...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. --  San Francisco 49ers cornerback Josh Norman spent the night in a local hospital after departing Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers with bruised lungs, a source told ESPN's Ed Werder. Norman was still in the hospital this morning receiving diagnosis and treatment, according to the source. Norman was seen entering the blue medical tent on the Niners' sideline in the second quarter, moments after he'd caused Packers running back Aaron Jones to fumble the ball out of bounds and the Niners got a fourth-down stop at their 3-yard line. Soon after that, Norman walked to the locker room and did not return to the game. He played 30 snaps against Green Bay and was credited with a tackle and a forced fumble. After the game, Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said he was unsure of the severity of Norman's injury. Norman was making his first start with the 49ers since signing on Sept. 6, claiming the job opposite Emmanuel...

NEW ORLEANS --  Zion Williamson suffered a broken right foot during the summer but should be available for the regular season, New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said Monday. During his remarks at media day, Griffin said Williamson injured the foot early in the offseason prior to summer league and underwent surgery shortly thereafter to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot. "He had a fractured right foot that was repaired surgically," Griffin said. "His timeline should get him back on the court in time of regular season. That would be our hope and our view. And we're very optimistic about what that looks like." Griffin said he, general manager Trajan Langdon and vice president of player care and performance Aaron Nelson met with Williamson and his parents to establish a timeline to return to play. "He was working out on his own on the court, and frankly was doing an unbelievable job, it's crazy...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers on Monday acquired cornerback CJ Henderson and a fifth-round pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars for tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick, the teams announced. The Panthers' 2021 first-round pick, cornerback Jaycee Horn, is out for an extended time, possibly for the season, with multiple broken bones in his right foot. Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Horn will have surgery. He was placed on injured reserve Monday. Rhule said Henderson is a player the Panthers considered taking with the seventh overall pick in 2020. They used that pick on Auburn defensive tackle  Derrick Brown. "CJ Henderson is somebody we liked a long time,'' Rhule said. "Any chance you have to get a top 15 draft pick from the year before, it's very unique.'' It's an aggressive move for a 3-0 Carolina team that leads the NFC South by a game over Tampa Bay (2-1) and New Orleans (2-1) heading into Sunday's game at...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers on Monday agreed in principal to a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback  CJ Henderson, a league source confirmed to ESPN. The deal is expected to go through pending no unexpected holdups. The Panthers' 2021 first-round pick, cornerback Jaycee Horn, is out for an extended time, possibly the season, with multiple broken bones in his right foot. The Panthers liked Henderson, the ninth pick of the 2020 draft, coming out of Florida. They gave up tight end Dan Arnold and a third-round pick for him to fill an immediate need, the source confirmed. It's an aggressive move for a 3-0 Carolina team that leads the NFC South by a game over Tampa Bay (2-1) and New Orleans (2-1) heading into Sunday's game at Dallas. Horn, the son of former NFL wide receiver Joe Horn, suffered the injury in the third quarter of Thursday night's 24-9 win at Houston. Coach Matt Rhule confirmed on Friday that Horn...

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving did not attend the team's media day at Barclays Center on Monday because of New York City's COVID-19 protocols, and he declined to discuss his vaccination status or his intentions in dealing with the matter. Last month, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio issued an executive order that required New York-resident pro athletes that practice or play indoors to show proof of at least one vaccine shot. Speaking over Zoom, Irving repeatedly requested privacy when asked about the situation and indicated he planned to release more information at a later time. "I know that I'll be there every day no matter what and just be present for my teammates as one of the leaders on the team and be there for my growing tribe off the court," Irving said. "I know the focus has to be at an all-time high, no distractions. This is the last thing I wanted to create, was more distractions and more hoopla and more drama around this. I'm doing...

UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has been pulled from his title defense against Petr Yan at UFC 267 on Oct. 30 because of medical reasons, per sources. According to sources, Sterling (20-3) was denied medical clearance by doctors for the five-round fight. The UFC has not announced an official change to the card, but is discussing the creation of an interim title in Sterling's absence, per sources. The UFC 267 event will still take place on Oct. 30 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Sterling (20-3) won the UFC title in March, when Yan was disqualified in the fourth round of their title fight for throwing an illegal knee. The 32-year-old underwent neck surgery in April to address a lingering injury he'd dealt with for years. Sterling's neck is still an issue and the reason he was pulled from the fight, he wrote on social media. "As always, I like to share the truth and be transparent with my fan base that actually give a s--- about fighters health,"...

BROOKLYN -- Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will not attend the team's media day at Barclays Center on Monday because of New York City COVID-19 protocols, sources told ESPN. He is expected to travel with the team to San Diego later Monday and participate in the team's training camp this week. Last month, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio issued an executive order that required pro athletes to show proof of at least one vaccine shot to practice or play in the city. Last week, Nets general manager Sean Marks indicated that not all of the team's players have met that requirement, but he expected the team to be in compliance by the opening of the season next month. When teammate Kevin Durant was asked whether he was concerned about Irving's availability at home games, the forward said he didn't expect it to be an issue.   "That's on Kyrie, and that's his personal decision," said Durant. "What he does is not on us to speculate what may happen, but we trust in Kyrie,...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady's success in leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship in his first season in Tampa Bay might have been unexpected to some, but not his former coach, Bill Belichick. "Tom's a great player. Nothing surprises me that he does," Belichick said Monday morning. Belichick is preparing his Patriots to face the Brady-led Buccaneers on Sunday in one of the NFL's most anticipated games of the season (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). The matchup has also sparked questions about why Brady isn't still playing for the Patriots after spending the first 20 years of his career with them, which Belichick fielded in his weekly interview on sports radio WEEI on Monday, and then from reporters in a video conference. "I think we've been through all the dynamics of that. There were a lot of things there," Belichick said on WEEI. "He looked at his options and made his decision. We weren't as good an option as Tampa. You'd have to ask him about that,...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --  New York Giants middle linebacker and leading tackler Blake Martinez suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, according to multiple sources. Martinez, a team captain and the defensive signal-caller, will miss the remainder of the season. It's a crushing blow to a Giants defense that surrendered a game-winning drive in the final seconds on Sunday for the second consecutive week. The Giants also lost wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton in the game with hamstring injuries. Shepard is likely to miss some time, according to a source. The noncontact injury for Martinez occurred when he raced to the sideline to make a tackle on the opening drive. He fell to the ground awkwardly before reaching Atlanta's Cordarrelle Patterson. Martinez, 27, lay facedown until he eventually was helped to his feet, and he needed assistance from the trainer as he limped off the field. He...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The first comeback led to the second one for the Green Bay Packers. Without Davante Adams' speedy recovery from a hit to the chest, Aaron Rodgers might not have broken the San Francisco 49ers' hearts. But give Rodgers his best receiver and let him have 37 seconds on the clock -- even without a single timeout left -- and he'll get one of the NFL's most reliable kickers the chance to win it. That's exactly what Rodgers, Adams and Mason Crosby pulled off Sunday night at Levi's Stadium. Two throws to Adams -- one for 25 yards and another for 17 -- set up Crosby's 51-yard field goal as time expired for an improbable 30-28 victory.   "Yeah, you always worry with Aaron on the other side," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. Especially if Rodgers has Adams. That looked questionable after 49ers safety Jimmie Ward laid out Adams with 7:41 left in the contest. The Packers star wideout spent several minutes on...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The first comeback led to the second one for the Green Bay Packers. Without Davante Adams' speedy recovery from a hit to the chest, Aaron Rodgers might not have broken the San Francisco 49ers' hearts. But give Rodgers his best receiver and let him have 37 seconds on the clock -- even without a single timeout left -- and he'll get one of the NFL's most reliable kickers the chance to win it. That's exactly what Rodgers, Adams and Mason Crosby pulled off on Sunday night at Levi's Stadium. Two throws to Adams -- one for 25 yards and another for 17 -- set up Crosby's game-winning 51-yard field goal as time expired for an improbable 30-28 victory.   "Yeah, you always worry with Aaron on the other side," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. Especially if he has Adams. That looked questionable after 49ers safety Jimmie Ward laid out Adams with 7:41 left in the game. The Packers star wideout spent several minutes on...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald found quarterback Matthew Stafford following Sunday's decisive win over the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gave him a big hug and said, "I love you, man!" In front of a star-studded crowd that included four-time NBA champion  LeBron James, actor Jason Sudeikis and rapper-producer Dr. Dre, Stafford propelled the Rams to a 3-0 start as he passed for 343 yards and four touchdowns in a  34-24 victory over the previously undefeated Bucs at SoFi Stadium. "He's playing lights out," Donald said. "That's why he's here; we expect that from him. And I know he's going to continue doing what he's doing and even at a higher level." Bucs quarterback Tom Brady passed for 432 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a team-high 14 yards and a score, but he found himself under consistent pressure and was sacked three times. "It's just a good defense," said...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid left Arrowhead Stadium and was transported to a local hospital system after feeling ill following Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to the team. Reid, 63, was treated for dehydration and he is expected to be fine, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano. The Chiefs didn't specify in a statement on Sunday night what was wrong with Reid, only saying that he "felt ill," but the team did say the coach is "doing well, currently resting & in stable condition." Reid stayed on the sideline until the end of the Chiefs' 30-24 loss and returned to the locker room afterward. Reid addressed the team as he normally would after the game, and at least one player, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, said he was unaware there was anything out of the ordinary. But Reid felt ill and departed for The University of Kansas Health System for further evaluation, the team said. Reid didn't address...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- It was supposed to be a celebratory event. Instead, New York Giants owner John Mara was loudly booed during a halftime ceremony for legendary quarterback Eli Manning during a loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The problem was that Mara's team was in the process of losing 17-14. The Giants had just dominated the first half, yet went into the break trailing in what would end up being their third loss in three weeks to open the season. "I would boo, too," Mara said in the hallway heading to his suite before the start of the third quarter. "We're 0-2 and down at half." Make that 0-3 for the third time in five years. The Giants blew a lead late in the fourth quarter for the second consecutive week when Younghoe Koo kicked a 40-yard field goal with no time remaining. Giants fans appear to have reached their boiling point. They are not happy with the state of the storied franchise, which now has had one...

CHICAGO -- Paul Goldschmidt and Harrison Bader homered and the St. Louis Cardinals outlasted the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Sunday, posting their 16th consecutive victory. The streak is the longest in franchise history and has turned the National League wild-card race into a non-story in September. Though the Cardinals haven't clinched the No. 2 spot just yet, they are comfortably ahead of the field and are eyeing a wild-card matchup against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants next week. The streak is also the longest in the majors since Cleveland took 22 in a row in 2017, and the best in the National League since the New York Giants won 16 straight in 1951 on their way to an improbable pennant. Jake Woodford allowed six hits and two earned runs in 5.1 innings of work, leaving room for four relievers to close out the game. Genesis Cabrera (4-5) picked up the win in less than an inning, registering two outs and a...

Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Rhett Rodriguez, son of longtime coach Rich Rodriguez, has been hospitalized and is in intensive care with a lung injury he suffered during Saturday's game against Troy, according to his father. "Our family would like to thank everyone who has reached out with their thoughts and prayers for Rhett, as he is currently in the ICU at the hospital because of a lung injury from last night's game against Troy," Rich Rodriguez wrote in a tweet on Sunday. Rodriguez told ESPN that his son was still on a ventilator in the ICU as of Sunday evening. Warhawks head coach Terry Bowden said in a statement Sunday that Rodriguez was taken to Francis Medical Center with "severe trauma injury to the upper chest." He said the extent of Rodriguez's injury and his length of stay in the hospital are currently unknown.  Rich Rodriguez, the former head coach at West Virginia (2001-07), Michigan (2008-10) and Arizona (2012-17), is in his first season as the...