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 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 requirements 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...

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 is flying to Kansas City on Monday, and he is expected to be signed to the Chiefs' practice squad tonight 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...

DETROIT -- As soon as Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hit the ball, he veered left hoping he would not come up short like he did on a couple of 65-yarders in pregame warm-ups. But, after the ball bounced high off the crossbar and through the uprights, Tucker sprinted down the field, where he was swarmed by teammates and lifted up in celebration. Tucker's 66-yard field goal -- the longest in NFL history -- lifted the depleted Ravens to a dramatic 19-17 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. "Thankfully, we found an extra yard-and-a-half that I didn't have three hours before," said Tucker, who held the ball from the winning kick in his hand. "I'm grateful for that." Tucker's 66-yarder eclipsed Matt Prater's 64-yard field goal in 2013 as the longest in NFL history. Tucker is more than the record holder for the longest kick and the most accurate kicker in NFL history. He's also the most clutch. Tucker improved to 16-for-16 in his NFL...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid left Arrowhead Stadium in an ambulance following Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to a source. Reid, 63, stayed on the sideline until the end of the Chiefs' 30-24 loss and returned to the locker room afterward. A source close to Reid told ESPN's Jeff Darlington that the coach was in good spirits when he departed for precautionary observation after he felt ill. A Chiefs source told Darlington that Reid is expected to be fine -- and there was very little alarm about the coach's status within the organization. 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 a local hospital for examination, a source said. He didn't address the media as he would normally after a game, leaving that job for assistant head...

Ohio State senior linebacker K'Vaughan Pope has been dismissed from the team following a highly publicized incident on Saturday in which he was escorted off the field during the Buckeyes' home win against Akron, according to a statement from coach Ryan Day on Sunday. "K'Vaughan will continue to have the use of programs that benefit our student-athletes, such as our Student-Athlete Support Services Office, and we will support him with his progress toward graduation," Day stated in the news release. "He will remain on scholarship through the duration of this semester." According to Lettermen Row, Pope tried to enter the game in the second quarter but was waved off by linebacker Teradja Mitchell. Pope walked toward the locker room, but an Ohio State staffer brought him back to the sideline. According to the report, Pope then threw his gloves into the stands and attempted to take off his jersey on the sideline. A few Ohio State coaches had conversations with...

PITTSBURGH -- Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was ruled out with a rib injury late in the third quarter of the  Pittsburgh Steelers' 24-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. When the injury occurred wasn't immediately obvious. Smith-Schuster had three catches on four targets for 25 yards, including one that went for 16 yards. The Steelers already entered Sunday's game without their top target, as wide receiver Diontae Johnson was inactive with a knee injury sustained on the final play of the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Soon after, right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was helped off the field after a false start when sustaining an apparent injury and was replaced with Joe Haeg. Okorafor was later ruled out and was being evaluated for a concussion.

DETROIT, Mich. -- On an afternoon where one of the NFL's all-time greats, Calvin Johnson, was being honored with his Hall of Fame ring ceremony, Detroit Lions fans expressed their frustration with ownership by mercilessly booing team owner Sheila Ford Hamp. During halftime of the game vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Ford Hamp was trying to congratulate the legendary Lions receiver, but was showered with boos that were louder than those the visiting Ravens received when they ran onto the field. Johnson seemed a bit uncomfortable at first as he tried to quiet the boos by pushing his hands to the ground with a hand gesture while also remaining professional in his Hall of Fame gold jacket. "Lions fans? Isn't it great to have Calvin Johnson here in Ford Field," Ford Hamp asked while speaking over the crowd. "Calvin, witnessing your amazing career was an honor and a privilege and my family and I want to thank you for all you've done for the Detroit Lions and...

PITTSBURGH -- Trailing 24-7, the Pittsburgh Steelers won't have one of their top offensive threats if they attempt to mount a late-game comeback against the Cincinnati Bengals. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was ruled out with a rib injury late in the third quarter. When the injury occurred wasn't immediately obvious. Smith-Schuster had three catches on four targets for 25 yards, including one that went for 16 yards. The Steelers already entered Sunday's game without their top target, as wide receiver Diontae Johnson was inactive with a knee injury sustained on the final play of the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Soon after, right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor was helped off the field after a false start after sustaining an apparent injury and was replaced with Joe Haeg. Okorafor was later ruled out and was being evaluated for a concussion.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots running back James White, one of the NFL's clutch players on third down, was carted off the field and quickly ruled out with a hip injury in Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. On a third-and-3 play with 11:34 remaining in the second quarter, White had rushed for 6 yards around the left end when he was tackled by linebacker Demario Davis. White immediately rolled over and grabbed for his right hip. Almost every Patriots player came over to him before a cart took him to the locker room for X-rays. Entering Sunday's game, White led the Patriots with 12 receptions for 94 yards, while adding nine rushes for 32 yards. He had the one carry for 6 yards in the Patriots' 28-13 loss. The eight-year veteran, who has spent his entire career with the Patriots, entered this season having the most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a running back in the NFL since 2015. In his...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown was ruled out for the second half of Sunday's 25-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Brown tweaked a hamstring in the first quarter and didn't return, playing only eight snaps before coming out. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine took most of the snaps in Brown's place. Brown had one carry for three yards. He didn't register a catch but was targeted twice before suffering the hamstring injury. For the season, Brown has seven receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Titans rookie outside linebacker Rashad Weaver was carted off in the third quarter after going down with an apparent right leg injury.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars kick returner Jamal Agnew now has one of the longest possible plays in NFL history. Agnew returned Matt Prater's missed 68-yard field goal attempt for a 109-yard touchdown to give the Jaguars a 13-7 lead over the Arizona Cardinals as the first half ended at TIAA Bank Field. Prater holds the NFL record with a 64-yard field goal set in 2013, when he was with the Denver Broncos. Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury decided to have Prater try a 68-yarder rather than have quarterback Kyler Murray throw a Hail Mary with two seconds remaining in the first half. The kick was short, and Agnew caught it with his feet just in front of the end line. He headed up the left sideline and broke tackles by Max Garcia and Demetrius Harris between his own 20- and 40-yard lines, picked up key blocks by Malcom Brown and Josh Allen, and Allen, Lerentee McCray and  Shaquill...

Utah football player Aaron Lowe was fatally shot early Sunday in Salt Lake City, less than a year after teammate and friend Ty Jordan was killed in an accidental shooting. "We are devastated to hear about the passing of Aaron Lowe," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Aaron's family and friends, along with the other individual who was harmed in this tragic incident. Aaron was a great teammate, friend, brother and son and was loved by anyone who crossed paths with him. He will be deeply missed." Salt Lake City police said Lowe, 21, died on the scene in a shooting at a house party in the city's Sugar House neighborhood. A second person, a woman who was not identified, also was shot and was in critical condition at a local hospital. Police said they first received a call at 10:30 p.m. Saturday about a noise complaint for the house party and then received a second call at 12:20 a.m. Sunday about a fight involving a weapon. No...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants lost wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton to hamstring injuries in the first half of Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium. Starting middle linebacker Blake Martinez also needed to be helped off the field with a noncontact knee injury. The Giants came into the contest with concerns about the health of wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hip). The offseason acquisition was in and out of the game in the first half. Rookie Kadarius Toney and C.J. Board were receiving significant snaps with the Giants' shortage at wide receiver. Shepard and Slayton hobbled off the field after plays in the first half Sunday. They went into the locker room almost instantly. Martinez fell to the ground while trying to make a tackle early in the first quarter. He was helped to the sideline by a trainer before heading into the locker room. Shepard was the Giants'...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots running back James White, one of the NFL's clutch players on third down, was carted off the field and quickly ruled out with a hip injury in Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. On a third-and-3 play with 11:34 remaining in the second quarter, White had rushed for 6 yards around the left end when he was tackled by linebacker Demario Davis. White immediately rolled over and grabbed for his right hip. Almost every Patriots player came over to him before a cart transported him to the locker room for X-rays. Entering Sunday's game, White led the Patriots with 12 receptions for 94 yards, while adding nine rushes for 32 yards. The eight-year veteran, who has spent his entire career with the Patriots, entered this season having the most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a running back in the NFL since 2015. In his absence, the Patriots turned to veteran Brandon Bolden to...

Oakland Athletics shortstop Elvis Andrus suffered a fractured left fibula when he rounded third base before scoring the winning run Saturday in the bottom of the ninth inning of a  2-1 victory over the  Houston Astros. Andrus was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday. Manager Bob Melvin had said Saturday that Andrus felt a pop in his ankle and was taken for X-rays. Andrus stumbled as he rounded third and fell onto home plate to score the winning run. He was checked by the training staff and had to be helped off the field. Andrus, 33, is batting .243 with three homers and 37 RBIs, his first season with Oakland after he was acquired in an offseason trade from the Texas Rangers. The infielder spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Rangers and is a two-time All-Star. The A's also placed infielder/designated hitter Jed Lowrie on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a sprained right hand. Lowrie, 37, is hitting .245 with 14 home...

University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe was fatally shot early Sunday in Salt Lake City. "We are devastated to hear about the passing of Aaron Lowe," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Aaron's family and friends, along with the other individual who was harmed in this tragic incident. Aaron was a great teammate, friend, brother and son and was loved by anyone who crossed paths with him. He will be deeply missed." Salt Lake City police said Lowe, 21, died on the scene in a shooting at a house party in the city's Sugar House neighborhood. A second person, a woman who was not identified, also was shot and was in critical condition at a local hospital. Police said they first received a call at 10:30 p.m. Saturday about a noise complaint for the house party and then received a second call at 12:20 a.m. Sunday about a fight involving a weapon. No arrests have been made. "Aaron was a terrific young man, a leader on our...

Roger Federer has said he is "in a really good place" with his recovery from last month's knee surgery but clarified that he would not rush into returning to the court. The 40-year-old Federer, who shares the men's record of 20 major titles with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, had two knee operations in 2020 that kept him out of the tour for more than a year. He returned to action in March but injured the knee again during the grass-court season and said he needed more surgery to resume playing. "It was a tough process to take that decision, just because I already had couple of knee surgeries last year," Federer told American former world No. 1 Jim Courier in an interview at the Laver Cup on Saturday. "I was really unhappy with how things went at Wimbledon. I was just nowhere near where I wanted to be to play at the top, top level. But I tried my best, and at the end, at some point, too much is too much. Now I've just got to take it step by step." Federer...

Lewis Hamilton claimed his 100th victory at the Russian Grand Prix after a late rain shower prompted one of the wildest race finishes Formula One has ever seen. The win made Hamilton the first driver to 100 victories in F1 history and put him back in the lead of the championship over Max Verstappen, who capitalised on the late drama to finish second.  It came amid almost unbelievable scenes at the end of the race, as a late rain shower led to chaos. Hamilton had been chasing down longtime race leader Lando Norris, who decided to stay out on the dry tyre when Hamilton pitted for the intermediate.  Hamilton's decision proved to be the right one as the rain intensified, with Norris quickly struggling to keep his car on the race track. By the time Norris pitted he had lost the sizeable advantage he and Hamilton had built up over the rest.  It was a heartbreaking finish for Norris, who had been just four laps away from the first win of his Formula One career when the rain came. The...

Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles has been voted the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth time, the league announced Sunday. Fowles received 31 votes from the 49-member panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Los Angeles guard Brittney Sykes was second (six votes), and Connecticut forward Jonquel Jones and Phoenix forward Brianna Turner tied for third with four votes each. Phoenix center Brittney Griner received two votes, and Connecticut guards Briann January and Jasmine Thomas received one each. Only one player has earned the Defensive Player of the Year honor more than Fowles: former Indiana forward Tamika Catchings, who retired in 2016 after winning it five times. Fowles will lead third-seeded Minnesota against the No. 6-seeded  Chicago Sky in a WNBA second-round playoff game Sunday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The WNBA also named its All-Defensive teams Sunday. Fowles, Sykes, Jones, Turner and January were on the first team. Griner, Thomas,...