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Alabama cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold plan to enter the 2024 NFL draft and won't return to the Crimson Tide next season, sources told ESPN on Thursday. McKinstry and Arnold formed one of the top cornerback duos in the country this season. ESPN's Mel Kiper has McKinstry ranked as the No. 3 cornerback in the draft and Arnold as the No. 5 cornerback. Both were Associated Press first-team All-Americans, and Arnold led the Crimson Tide with five interceptions. McKinstry and Arnold join linebackers Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner and offensive tackle JC Latham as Alabama players heading to the NFL. Braswell announced his plans Thursday on social media. Turner told ESPN after the 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl that he was turning pro. "Throughout my tenure at UA, I've achieved my primary goals of winning a national championship and, above all, earning my degree," Braswell wrote on Instagram. "Along...

LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo led the first round of All-Star voting in results released by the NBA on Thursday afternoon. Antetokounmpo was the leading overall vote-getter, with more than 2.1 million people voting for him, while James was the only other player to top more than 2 million votes. James would set an NBA record with a 20th All-Star selection, breaking a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Joining Antetokounmpo atop the East frontcourt voting was Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (1.84 million votes) in second and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (1.77 million) in third. They had a commanding lead over Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (767,913) in fourth and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (426,589) in fifth. It was a similar story out West, with James, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (1.81 million) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (1.64 million) being the...

Golden State forward Draymond Green -- on an indefinite league suspension since Dec. 13 -- is expected to return to the Warriors' facility in the coming days to start ramping up to resume play, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Green will miss his 11th game when the Warriors face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, but his plan to rejoin the team to start working himself back into playing shape is the final step toward him restarting his season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has the final say on the reinstatement timeline, but it's believed that Green will have satisfied the league's requirements to return once he is deemed properly ramped up to play, sources said. While away from the Warriors since he struck  Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during a Dec. 12 game, Green has been participating in individual counseling sessions and  periodic virtual meetings that include team, league and union officials designed to chart his progress toward...

Golden State forward Draymond Green -- on an indefinite league suspension since Dec. 13 -- is expected to return to the Warriors' facility in the coming days to start ramping up to resume play, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Green will miss his 11th game when the Warriors face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, but his plan to rejoin the team to start working himself back into playing shape is the final step toward him restarting his season. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has the final say on the reinstatement timeline, but it's believed that Green will have satisfied the league's requirements to return once he is deemed properly ramped up to play, sources said. While away from the Warriors since he struck  Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during a Dec. 12 game, Green has been participating in individual counseling sessions and  periodic virtual meetings that include team, league and union officials designed to chart his progress toward...

Quarterback Malachi Nelson, ESPN's No. 1 overall recruit from 2023, will take an official visit to Boise State in the upcoming days, sources told ESPN on Thursday. It will be his first visit since leaving USC, where Nelson spent his freshman season in 2023 before entering the NCAA transfer portal in December. The trip to Boise State will mark his first official visit, as he's received interest from myriad high-profile programs. Boise State looms as the favorite, sources told ESPN, as Nelson looks for a blue-collar program where he can blend in and prove himself while growing up with a strong team. After being redshirted at USC in 2023, he would immediately available with four years of eligibility remaining. Nelson would have an opportunity to earn the starting job at Boise State after quarterback Taylen Green's transfer to Arkansas. The Broncos won the Mountain West championship in 2023 under interim coach Spencer Danielson and have...

Joe Dumars, the NBA's executive vice president and head of basketball operations, told ESPN on Thursday that the investigation into the Nets sitting several players in one game last week, and the $100,000 fine Brooklyn received for violating the league's player participation policy, was about following through on the standards he communicated to teams about the new rules before the season began. "We've been very clear with teams what we are trying to accomplish, and what we'd like to see," Dumars told ESPN shortly after the fine was announced Thursday afternoon. "And, if I'm just cutting to the chase, if you're going to sit four starters at one time, that's going to violate the policy and it violates the spirit of what we're trying to do here. Brooklyn sat four players -- Spencer Dinwiddie (rest), Dorian Finney-Smith (left knee soreness), Cam Johnson (right knee sprain/injury maintenance) and Nic Claxton (left ankle sprain/injury maintenance)...

After stepping away from the franchise to address his mental health, guard Ricky Rubio announced Thursday that he is ending his 12-year NBA career. Rubio, 33, addressed his decision in a post on social media, writing that July 30 -- shortly before he first put his playing career on hold -- "was one of the toughest nights of my life" but adding that he is doing better. "One day, when the time is right, I would love to share my full experience with you all so I can help support others going through similar situations. Until then, I would like to keep it private out of respect for my family and myself, as I'm still working on my mental health," Rubio wrote. "But I'm proud to say I'm doing much better and getting better everyday." Sources told ESPN on Thursday that Rubio and the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed on a contract buyout. The move, which covers the $6.1 million left on this year's contract and $6.4 million for 2024-25, gives the Cavaliers some...

The Detroit Lions' Aaron Glenn, the Miami Dolphins' Frank Smith and the Dallas Cowboys' John Fassel are the top-ranked defensive, offensive and special teams coordinators in the NFL, according to a survey of players conducted by the NFL Players Association during the 2023 season. The survey is part of the union's broader report card project it launched last year, surveying players throughout the league on various topics related to their teams. Last year's survey asked players to rate their teams on a number of factors, including ownership, practice facilities, coaching, etc. This year, the union wanted to broaden the survey and include more topics, and one of them was coordinators. "We got really great participation in last year's report card survey, but we wanted to think about what other areas matter to guys day to day," NFLPA president J.C. Tretter told ESPN in a phone interview Thursday morning. "So, the idea of evaluating the coordinators was brought...

Providence star forward Bryce Hopkins will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee, the school announced Thursday. Hopkins suffered the injury early in the second half of Wednesday night's 61-57 loss to Seton Hall. He landed awkwardly following a transition pass to Devin Carter and immediately reached for his leg, clearly in pain. Hopkins needed to be helped off the floor and into the locker room. "We all feel for Bryce and his family in this difficult time," Providence coach Kim English said in a statement. "We will be with him throughout this process to help him come back stronger than ever. We ask that all of Friartown keeps Bryce and his family in your thoughts and prayers." Hopkins, a 6-foot-7 junior, has been No. 23 Providence's best player since transferring to the Friars from Kentucky in the spring of 2022. He averaged 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, earning first-team All-Big East accolades...

The Atlanta Braves have signed left-hander Chris Sale to a two-year, $38 million contract extension, the team announced Thursday, restructuring his deal in the wake of his trade from the Boston Red Sox last week. Sale's previous contract ran through 2024 and guaranteed him $27.5 million -- though $10 million of it was deferred, bringing the present value down to around $20-21 million -- with a $20 million club option for 2025. The new deal bumps Sale's present-day guarantee significantly, giving him $16 million in 2024 and $22 million in 2025, while the Braves add a buyout-free $18 million club option for 2026. The Braves' commitment to Sale, who will turn 35 on March 30, was already clear when they traded Vaughn Grissom, their top hitting prospect, to the Red Sox for Sale and $17 million. While the cash will pay this year's salary, Atlanta's commitment to Sale in 2025 and procurement of the 2026 option gives the team certainty as its pitching...

The NCAA and ESPN announced Thursday that 40 NCAA championships, including women's basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball, will be on ESPN networks for the next eight years. The agreement includes rights to 21 women's championships and 19 men's. Division I women's basketball, women's volleyball, women's gymnastics and the Football Championship Subdivision title game will all be on network television (ABC). More than 800 hours of NCAA championships will appear on ESPN linear networks throughout the year, with more than 2,300 combined on linear and digital platforms. It extends a relationship between the NCAA and ESPN that, like ESPN, began in 1979. ESPN began televising every game of the NCAA women's basketball tournament in 2003 and has carried events such as the men's College World Series since 1980. "ESPN and the NCAA have enjoyed a strong and collaborative relationship for more than four decades, and we are thrilled that it will continue as part of this new, long-term...

The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund haven't yet finalized a deal to combine their commercial assets, including the rival LIV Golf League, into a new for-profit entity that would reunify the fractured sport. But the competing circuits' biggest stars seem to be warming up to each other after two years of nonstop bickering. In response to PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy's comments that he was too judgmental of golfers who jumped to the LIV Golf League, LIV Golf captain Phil Mickelson urged fans not to "pile on" McIlroy and suggested it was time "to let go of our hostilities." "This quote and the many others made today by Rory probably weren't easy to say," Mickelson wrote on his X account Wednesday. "Let's not use this as an opportunity to pile on. Rather, it's time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work toward a positive future." Mickelson, one of the most outspoken critics of the PGA Tour during the circuits' battle for the best...

Left-hander Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves have agreed to a two-year, $38 million contract extension, sources told ESPN on Thursday, restructuring his deal in the wake of his trade from the Boston Red Sox last week. Sale's previous contract ran through 2024 and guaranteed him $27.5 million -- though $10 million of it was deferred, bringing the present value down to around $20-21 million -- with a $20 million club option for 2025. The new deal bumps Sale's present-day guarantee significantly, giving him $16 million in 2024 and $22 million in 2025, while the Braves add a buyout-free $18 million club option for 2026. The Braves' commitment to Sale, who will turn 35 on March 30, was already clear when they traded Vaughn Grissom, their top hitting prospect, to the Red Sox for Sale and $17 million. While the cash will pay this year's salary, Atlanta's commitment to Sale in 2025 and procurement of the 2026 option gives the team certainty as its pitching...

After stepping away from the franchise to address his mental health, guard Ricky Rubio and the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed on a contract buyout -- likely marking the end of Rubio's accomplished 12-year NBA career, sources told ESPN on Thursday. The buyout -- which has $6.1 million left on this year's contract and $6.4 million for 2024-2025 -- gives the Cavaliers some financial relief and opens up a second spot on the team's roster. If Rubio continues his professional career, it will likely be where he started as a 14-year-old prodigy -- his native Spain. Over the summer, Rubio, 33, had his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, alert the Cavaliers' president of basketball operations, Koby Altman, about his need to step away to address those mental health issues. The Cavaliers had accommodated Rubio, but discussions shifted in recent weeks to a buyout as it became clearer that Rubio did not anticipate playing for the Cavaliers -- or even in the NBA --...

Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl on Wednesday as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. Purdy is the first San Francisco 49ers quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl since Jeff Garcia in 2002. Tagovailoa is the first Miami Dolphins quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl since Dan Marino in 1995, ending the longest active drought in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It's the first time the two starting quarterbacks are first-time picks since the 1999 season, when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was one of nine players picked from the 49ers (12-4), who clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed. He was joined by edge rusher Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, cornerback Charvarius Ward, linebacker Fred Warner...

LOS ANGELES -- Finally back at Crypto.com Arena after a brutal December in which they were seemingly perpetually on the road and slid in the standings, the Los Angeles Lakers looked like strangers in their own home in Wednesday night's 110-96 loss to the Miami Heat. The schedule was supposed to be favorable for the Lakers coming into the new year, with 11 of their first 12 January games in L.A., but the Heat -- with their star, Jimmy Butler, out for the second straight game because of right foot irritation -- were the team that looked comfortable. "It's a little bit of everything right now," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said afterward, explaining how his team has gone 2-8 in its past 10 to fall to No. 10 in the Western Conference. "We're not executing. That team played harder than us tonight, executed better than us tonight, more physical than us tonight. We got outworked tonight, so it's a bit of everything right now. "If we keep on this train, it's not going...

LOS ANGELES --- As Bronny James stood at the free throw line with two seconds left and a six-point lead against California,  California fans at the Galen Center chanted, "Bronny!" Thrilled to be back home for the first time in 24 days, the Trojans beat the Golden Bears 82-74 on Wednesday to win for just the second time in seven games. For James, it was his first Pac-12 conference win and first home victory since he returned to the court on Dec. 10 after missing more than four months after suffering cardiac arrest in late July. James, a freshman guard and the eldest son of  Los Angeles Lakers star  LeBron James, later underwent a procedure to treat a congenital heart defect. James made his first four shots from the field, including throwing down an alley-oop dunk off a pass from fellow freshman standout Isaiah Collier in the first half. He finished with 10 points, three assists and two rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. While James is...

Kylian Mbappé said Wednesday he has yet to decide whether he will sign a new contract to stay at Paris Saint-Germain beyond this season or leave on a free transfer in the summer. The French World Cup winner, who has long been a target of Real Madrid, said last summer that he had no intention of extending his deal with the Ligue 1 champions, meaning he is now able to negotiate with other clubs ahead of a potential move at the end of the season. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) However, speaking after scoring to help PSG lift the Champions Trophy, Mbappé said his mind is not yet made up. "No, to start with I'm very motivated by this year," he told reporters after a 2-0 win over Toulouse. "It's very important. We have titles to win and we have already won one. "I haven't made my decision yet. I haven't made a choice. With the agreement I had with the president in the summer, my decision is...

Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. It's the first time the two starting QBs are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was one of nine players picked from the San Francisco 49ers, who clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed. He was joined by edge rusher Nick Bosa, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, fullback Kyle Juszczyk, tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, cornerback Charvarius Ward, linebacker Fred Warner and tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers (13-3) had the most players selected. Baltimore (13-3) and Dallas (11-5) each have seven Pro Bowl players. Quarterback Lamar Jackson, safety Kyle Hamilton, center Tyler Linderbaum, defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, linebackers ...

David Tepper, owner of the Carolina Panthers, was caught on camera throwing a drink at Jacksonville fans as his team fell to the Jaguars 26-0. The NFL fined him $300,000 for his role in the fray.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander wasn't expecting the one-game suspension that the team handed down last week, but he believes both sides might be in a better spot because of it. Alexander, the NFL's highest-paid cornerback at $21 million a year, was suspended for last week's win at the Minnesota Vikings after he anointed himself a game captain against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 24 and nearly botched the pregame coin toss. Matt LaFleur said that wasn't the only thing that led to the suspension in what has been an injury-filled campaign for the former All-Pro cornerback, but the Green Bay coach would not say whether Alexander had been fined previously for other missteps this season. "Yeah, I was surprised by the suspension," Alexander said Wednesday following his first practice back with the team. "I thought maybe I'd get fined." Alexander insisted the suspension has not marred the relationship between the two...

Alabama had nine players enter the transfer portal Wednesday, including starting center Seth McLaughln, former five-star receiver Shazz Preston and freshman quarterback Eli Holstein. McLaughlin was in his fourth year with Alabama and will have up to two years of eligibility remaining at the program he plays for next. He saw his first meaningful action for the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game against Georgia in 2021. He started in eight games at center in the 2022 season and started all 14 games in 2023. McLaughlin played center in the College Football Playoff semifinal loss against Michigan. He had two snaps go off target in the game, which seemed to be a culmination of snapping issues throughout the season between McLaughlin and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. Alabama offensive lineman Terrence Ferguson also entered his name in the transfer portal, hurting the depth on the interior of the line for the 2024 season. Preston was...

SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins star receiver Tyreek Hill and his family are safe after firefighters responded to a large fire at his home. Fire Marshal Robert Taylor of the Davie Fire Rescue Department told ESPN that the cause of the fire was unclear as of Wednesday afternoon. Nobody living at the 9,300-square-foot Berkshire Court house, located about 30 miles northwest of Miami, was harmed, according to Taylor. Team officials said Hill was made aware of the incident during Wednesday's practice and left to attend to the matter. Local station WSVN 7 News helicopters showed Hill arriving at the property just before 3 p.m. ET with his left foot in a walking boot. He could be seen embracing his wife, Keeta Vaccaro, whom he married last month, and his mother, Anesha Sanchez. Hill, 29, also was roaming around outside near the home, sometimes with his hand on his chest or on his face, speaking to authorities. Taylor said crews from Southwest Ranches and...

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler won two official PGA Tour tournaments in 2023, while Spain's Jon Rahm won four times, including his second major championship at the Masters in April. While Scheffler is still a member of the PGA Tour, Rahm became the latest star to jump to the rival LIV Golf League on Dec. 7, accepting a multiyear contract worth more than $300 million. That might be one of the explanations for why PGA Tour members on Wednesday voted Scheffler as player of the year for 2022-23. He became the first back-to-back winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award since Tiger Woods was player of the year three straight times from 2005 to 2007. "I've never been one to boast about my accomplishments, so sitting in front of a microphone, I'm not going to sit there and tell you how great I am," Scheffler said. "That's not really my thing. But at the end of the day, like I said, I'm proud of the year I had. The consistency was something that I'm very...

PHILADELPHIA -- Eagles receiver A.J. Brown addressed the root of his recent frustrations Wednesday and pushed back at speculation that he has an issue with coach Nick Sirianni. "People say I'm beefing with Nick," Brown said. "I'm not mad at Nick, I'm not mad at nobody. We have a great relationship. "We're riding with Nick. We're riding with [offensive coordinator] Brian [Johnson]. We just have to come out and play ball." Brown declined to speak to the media after the Eagles' past two games -- a shaky win against the Giants on Christmas Day followed by Sunday's upset defeat to a 12-loss  Cardinals team that delivered a blow to Philadelphia's chances of winning the NFC East. Brown was seen shaking his head as the offense faltered late against Arizona and told reporters he had "nothing to say" after the game before walking out of the locker room. "Like I said after the game, I was raised that if I have nothing nice to say I'm not going to say...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- After suffering a stinger in the fourth quarter of the Buffalo Bills' win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, quarterback Josh Allen said that he's "good to go" ahead of the team's game at the Miami Dolphins and that he is not affected "at all" by the injury. Allen was listed as a full participant in the team's walk-through on Wednesday with the neck injury, in addition to a right finger injury. He has not missed a start since his rookie season. "Still sore, we'll continue to take it one day at a time," coach Sean McDermott said of Allen's neck injury. "But I anticipate him playing." The neck injury took place on Allen's final play in the game vs. the Patriots as he rushed for four yards to secure a first down and basically end the game. Backup quarterback Kyle Allen came in for the final two plays to kneel out the clock in victory formation. The winner of the Bills-Dolphins game Sunday night will clinch the AFC...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Running back Saquon Barkley, faced with the realization that this Sunday could be his final game with the New York Giants, on Wednesday reiterated his desire to remain with the team for the remainder of his career. "I've mentioned before that I want to be a Giant for Life," Barkley said. "That was a goal of mine when I got drafted. I wanted to leave a legacy here, but it's out of my control." Barkley, 26, is playing this season on a revised franchise tag and is set to become a free agent after Sunday's finale. He said he hasn't heard about the organization's intentions. New York (5-11) has the option to use a second franchise tag on Barkley at $12.1 million. The running back, who has 924 rushing yards this season, is open to negotiating a new deal before the start of free agency, even though the two sides couldn't come to an agreement last year. "I'm still as open as I was before," Barkley said. "I just want something that is fair. ......

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Just like 2019, the Baltimore Ravens will rest NFL Most Valuable Player favorite Lamar Jackson in the regular-season finale. This means Jackson will have at least a 19-day break before playing in the AFC divisional round. Ravens coach John Harbaugh announced Wednesday that Jackson would not play Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a game that has no playoff ramifications for Baltimore. The Ravens (13-3) clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye last week, but the Steelers (9-7) need a victory given that they have a 21.6% chance of reaching the postseason, according to ESPN Analytics. "It's really not any one thing that goes into it," Harbaugh said. "Just all things considered, it seemed to be the right thing to do. We had conversations with Lamar and others and made the decision." Tyler Huntley will start for Baltimore, which will host a divisional-round game on Jan. 20 or 21. "I'm cool with it," Jackson said. "Me and...

SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. -- Firefighters were called to battle a fire at the home of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill on Wednesday afternoon. It was unclear what caused the fire at the 9,000-plus square-foot Berkshire Court house, but team officials said Hill was made aware of the incident during Wednesday's practice and left to attend to the matter. Nobody living at the home was harmed. Local station WSVN 7 News helicopters showed Hill outside the home with his wife, Keeta Vaccaro, and mother, Anesha Sanchez. Firefighters appeared to quickly locate the source of the fire and get it under control. WSVN 7 News also showed a large amount of smoke coming out of the roof as firefighters doused it with water. Hill moved into the home in 2022 shortly after he was traded to the Dolphins by the Kansas City Chiefs and signed a four-year, $120 million contract. Hill, 29, has a league-leading 1,717 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches. No NFL player has...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With the Kansas City Chiefs locked into the AFC's No. 3 playoff seed, Patrick Mahomes will get the final game of the regular season off. Coach Andy Reid said Mahomes won't play in Sunday's game against the Chargers in Los Angeles. Reid suggested other regulars would get the week off, but he wasn't specific. "I just want to make sure that we're ready when [playoff] time comes,'' Reid said. Blaine Gabbert will replace Mahomes and make his first start of the season for the Chiefs on Sunday. Gabbert, a 12-year NFL veteran, hasn't started a game since 2018 with the Tennessee Titans. Gabbert hasn't played since replacing Mahomes in the second half of a win over the Chicago Bears in Week 3. The Chiefs needed their backup quarterback to play in two playoff games in recent seasons when Mahomes left with an injury. "It's a great dry run,'' Gabbert said. "Ultimately the reason we play football is to play in the games and it's a...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Quarterback Zach Wilson's third season with the New York Jets is over, and the team is talking like there won't be a fourth. The No. 2 pick in 2021 remains in the concussion protocol, the Jets said Wednesday, and will miss his third straight game Sunday -- the season finale against the New England Patriots. Trevor Siemian will start again. Wilson is under contract for 2024, but it appears as if the Jets are ready to find a new backup for Aaron Rodgers next season. Coach Robert Saleh said he expects Wilson, 24, to have a long career in the NFL, but he was noncommittal when asked about the quarterback's future with the Jets. "We'll see," Saleh said. "It's all things that we're going to have talk about once the season's over, but whether it's here or somewhere else, I believe he's going to have a hell of a career." The Jets thought Wilson would solve their decades-long problem at quarterback, but the former BYU standout...

As No. 1 Michigan prepares to face No. 2 Washington on Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T, Wolverines players pushed back on allegations of their involvement in the highly publicized sign-stealing scandal, saying any possible NCAA penalties, including vacating wins, wouldn't detract from their accomplishments this season. "We did things the right way as players," Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy said during a teleconference Wednesday. "It would be very unfortunate [to] not get recognized for all the hard work that we put in and everything we accomplished over this last year. "But at the end of the day, you know it's not going to change the amount of accomplishment and the amount of pride for being on this football team and just everything that we accomplished because we know what we put in. We know the work that we put in, and we know that we did things the right way as players. Whatever happened, with all the...

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland will rest several key players in Sunday's regular-season finale at Cincinnati, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday. Cleveland is locked into the 5-seed in the AFC playoffs and will face the winner of the AFC South division in the first round of the postseason. Stefanski said quarterback Joe Flacco would be among the players who rest Sunday. Jeff Driskel, whom the Browns signed over the weekend, will get the start at quarterback instead. "We've earned this opportunity," Stefanski said of resting players. "We're going to utilize it." Driskel will be the fifth quarterback to start for Cleveland this season, joining Flacco, Deshaun Watson, PJ Walker and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting two of their best offensive players back on the practice field Wednesday -- and potentially on the field for Sunday's critical AFC South matchup in Tennessee. The team opened the 21-day practice window for receiver Christian Kirk (core muscle injury) to return from injured reserve, and coach Doug Pederson said quarterback Trevor Lawrence (sprained right AC joint) is expected to be a limited participant in practice for the first time since he was injured against Tampa Bay on Dec. 24. However, Pederson wouldn't go into how realistic the chances of one or both playing against the Titans are -- although he wouldn't rule it out, either. "It's feeling better," Lawrence said of his throwing shoulder. "Certain movements bother [it] more than others. There's some things that I can do and there's some areas where I have totally normal strength and it's functional and all that, but in certain positions there's...

Two days after his team finished the season with a victory over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, LSU coach Brian Kelly is cleaning house by moving on from four assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Matt House, safeties coach Kerry Cooks, cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples and defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey will not be retained, according to a statement by the program. "I want to thank each of these coaches for their work on behalf of our football program and our institution during their time here," Kelly said. "Decisions like these are always difficult, and we do not make them lightly, but they are made with the best interests of our program and our student-athletes in mind. Moving forward, we will continue working to build a championship caliber coaching staff in support of our mission to Graduate Champions." The Tigers (10-3) finished with a second straight 10-win season since Kelly arrived from Notre Dame, riding an electric offense led by...

North Carolina defensive coordinator Gene Chizik will not return for 2024, coach Mack Brown announced Wednesday. Chizik, who was in his second stint as UNC defensive coordinator, returned in 2022 after five years away from the game after Brown asked him to come back to help fix the Tar Heels' defense. Though UNC made improvement, the Tar Heels still ranked in the bottom third of the country in total defense for the second straight season. After opening the season 6-0, North Carolina lost five of its final seven games. In those five losses, North Carolina gave up at least 30 points in each game. "We met extensively following the season, and despite the improvements from last season to this season, we mutually agreed that parting ways would be in the best interest of both he and the program," Brown said. Chizik had previously been a head coach at Iowa State and Auburn, where he won a national championship in 2010. In addition, UNC announced senior defensive analyst Ted Monachino...

Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy says he regrets being too quick to judge players who joined LIV Golf and now accepts that the Saudi-backed tour is part of the sport. McIlroy has been a vocal critic since the breakaway tour launched in 2022 and signed up a host of big names, causing a rift that threatened to tear golf apart. He previously accused some golfers who defected from the PGA Tour of being duplicitous and said he would rather retire than join LIV. But McIlroy now says it is no longer his job to fight that battle. "I think, at this point, I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods' position," McIlroy told the "Stick to Football" podcast. "We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that's what I realized over the last two years. I can't judge people...

PERTH, Australia -- Novak Djokovic crashed to his first defeat of the season and first in Australia for six years with a stunning 6-4 6-4 loss to Alex de Minaur, who put Australia on course for a 2-0 win over Serbia in their United Cup quarterfinal Wednesday. Djokovic was hampered by a right wrist problem in Serbia's victory over Czech Republic on Tuesday. The world No. 1 had the wrist worked on again by a trainer before De Minaur earned a late break and went on to clinch the opening set. Australian Open champion Djokovic dropped serve yet again to hand De Minaur a 4-3 advantage in the second set and saved three match points later, but he was unable to prevent the loss ahead of the year's first Grand Slam later this month. Djokovic was on a 43-match winning streak in Australia and preparing for a tilt at an 11th Melbourne Park title, having last lost in the country to Chung Hyeon in the fourth round of the 2018 edition when he was plagued by an elbow issue. "It's...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Add another contender to the Oklahoma City Thunder's list of impressive recent conquests. The Thunder built a big lead over Boston and held off a late comeback bid for a 127-123 win Tuesday night over the Celtics, owners of the NBA's best record. Oklahoma City has won eight of its past nine games, putting the Thunder second in the Western Conference at 23-9. That span has featured wins over elite competition, including the first-place teams from both conferences (the  Minnesota Timberwolves and the Celtics) and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, who Oklahoma City beat twice on the road. "That's a talented young team, and I don't believe this was some fluke game for them," Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis said after his 34-point, 10-rebound performance wasn't enough to prevent Boston's six-game winning streak from being snapped. "They've been playing really well. They're at the top of the West, no? So a really...

Reigning national player of the year Caitlin Clark added to her highlight reel Tuesday night, hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the fringe of Iowa's half-court logo to secure a 76-73 victory for the host  Hawkeyes over the Michigan State Spartans. After a back-and-forth outing in which both teams led for stretches, and with the tie game's final seconds ticking away on Iowa's last possession, Clark drained the 3 and ran to the front row on the court's far side to celebrate with fans. A few seconds before, it looked like the Hawkeyes might not get a good last look and overtime was on the horizon. But forward Hannah Stuelke, standing beyond the top of the 3-point arc, passed the ball to Clark, and the guard faked right, took a dribble step-back and then launched the shot with 0.1 seconds remaining. "We practice those plays every single day in practice," Clark said in her postgame interview on Peacock. "That's what we run every single...

The Grambling women's basketball team ushered in the new year Tuesday night with a performance unseen in any year before it. Eight players scored in double figures and the Lady Tigers rolled to a 159-18 triumph at home against the College of Biblical Studies that marked the biggest margin of victory (141 points) in Division I women's basketball history. Grambling (6-5), which plays in the SWAC, set a school record for points, with Arianna Mosley (27), Kahia Warmsley (20) and Amanda Blake and DeMya Young (15 each) leading the way. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 34-0 lead, not allowing their opponent's first points until the 2:14 mark of the opening quarter. They closed that period with a 12-4 run, then scored the first 12 points of the second quarter en route to an 82-10 lead at the half. Grambling was just as dominant in the second half, allowing three points in the third quarter -- the College of Biblical Studies' lone field goal of the...

The Grambling women's basketball team ushered in the new year Tuesday night with a performance unseen in any year before it. Eight players scored in double figures, and the Lady Tigers rolled to a 159-18 triumph against The College of Biblical Studies in Louisiana, that marked the biggest margin of victory (141 points) in Division I women's basketball history. Grambling (6-5), which plays in the SWAC, set a school record for points, with Arianna Mosley (27), Kahia Warmsley (20) and Amanda Blake and DeMya Young (15 each) leading the way. The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 34-0 lead, not allowing their first points until the 2:14 mark of the opening quarter. They closed that period with a 12-4 run, then scored the first 12 points of the second quarter en route to an 82-10 lead at the half. Grambling was just as dominant in the second half, allowing three points total in the third quarter -- The College of Biblical Studies' lone field goal of...

Georgia junior Brock Bowers, the first two-time winner of the Mackey Award as the top tight end in college football, announced Tuesday that he's entering the NFL draft. Bowers, a native of Napa, California, is ranked as the No. 5 prospect available for the 2024 NFL draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.; ESPN analyst Jordan Reid ranks him as the No. 8 available prospect. "Dawg Nation, words cannot describe how thankful I am for what these last 3 years [have] brought," Bowers wrote on Instagram. "It has been an unbelievable honor and privilege to play for this university. It has given me memories that will last a lifetime. First, I'd like to thank my family for always being there to support me through my journey. Especially my mom and dad for making countless trips across the country." Bowers was a three-time All-SEC and All-American selection after making an immediate impact with the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2021. He had 56 receptions for 882 yards...

In a video distributed Tuesday, the NFL reminded its teams that players bear the burden of ensuring they have properly reported as eligible receivers -- a clear response to last weekend's chaotic finish in the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 victory over the Detroit Lions. Players who wear Nos. 50-79 or 90-99 must report to the referee in order to be eligible to receive a pass. For the play in question, Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, who wears No. 68, approached referee Brad Allen to report as eligible. "It is the responsibility of the player to be sure that change in status is clearly communicated to the referee by both a physical signal, with his hands up and down in front of his chest, and to report to the referee his intention to report as an eligible receiver," NFL senior vice president Walt Anderson said in the video. But two other Lions offensive linemen -- tackles Dan Skipper and Penei Sewell -- also approached Allen in an attempt...

PHILADELPHIA -- Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan said All-Star guard Zach LaVine has a "realistic" chance of returning from a sore right foot within the next week, possibly as soon as Friday's home game against the Charlotte Hornets. LaVine has missed the past 16 games with the injury.  "I don't know what the exact date's going to be, but the way he's progressing right now and the fact that he's in full-fledged contact, [it's] very, very positive," Donovan said before Tuesday night's 110-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.  "I don't know what the medical [team], how much data they want to see in terms of game load kind of practices that he can handle. But everything that's been thrown at him in terms of the way he's progressed, he's handled really, really well."  LaVine remained in Chicago for the Bulls' trip to Philadelphia and then New York, where they face the Knicks on Wednesday. Donovan said LaVine had no setbacks during workouts with...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper on Tuesday was fined $300,000 by the NFL for what the league called his "unacceptable conduct" during Sunday's 26-0 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tepper was caught on video throwing a drink in the direction of Jaguars fans from his open-air suite at Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium. "All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways that respect our fans and favorably reflect on their team and the NFL," the league said in a statement. Tepper in a statement said he is "passionate" about his team but regrets his behavior. "I should have let NFL stadium security handle any issues that arose," he said. "I respect the NFL's code of conduct and accept the League's discipline for my behavior." Tepper is the second-richest owner in the league with a net worth of $20.6 billion. The fine represents less than 1% of 1% of his wealth. It is similar to the $250,000 fine former ...

Both Washington and Michigan survived close New Year’s Day games and are now headed to face each other in the National Championship. The Panel gives its take on who has the edge to win the big game.

NEW YORK -- Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have two opportunities to opt out of his record $325 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although the timing is tied to his pitching elbow's health. If Yamamoto has Tommy John surgery or is on the injured list for a right elbow injury for 134 consecutive service days from 2024 to '29, he would have the right to opt out after the 2031 and 2033 World Series, according to terms of the deal obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday. If he avoids Tommy John surgery and doesn't miss that much time with an elbow issue during that window, he can instead opt out after the 2029 and 2031 World Series. In the first scenario, the Dodgers would gain a $10 million conditional option for 2036 with no buyout. Yamamoto does not have the right to block trades but could opt out of the contract after the end of any season in which he is traded. Los Angeles announced the agreement two weeks after signing two-way star ...

NEW YORK -- Yoshinobu Yamamoto will have two opportunities to opt out of his record $325 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although the timing is tied to his pitching elbow's health. If Yamamoto has Tommy John surgery or is on the injured list for a right elbow injury for 134 consecutive service days from 2024-29, he would have the right to opt out after the 2031 and 2033 World Series, according to terms of the deal obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday. If he avoids Tommy John surgery and doesn't miss that much time with an elbow issue during that window, he can instead opt out after the 2029 and 2031 World Series. In the first scenario, the Dodgers also would gain a $10 million conditional option for 2036 with no buyout. Yamamoto does not have the right to block trades but could opt out of the contract after the end of any season in which he is traded. Los Angeles announced the agreement two weeks after signing two-way star Shohei...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. --  Dalvin Cook's disappointing season with the New York Jets came to a premature end Tuesday, as the four-time Pro Bowl running back was waived with one game remaining, according to his agency. The move was mutually agreed upon, according to a source, and will allow Cook to catch on with a playoff team. He also restructured his contract to forfeit remaining guarantees, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cook's playing time had been shrinking for weeks, and it hit rock bottom Thursday night in Cleveland, where he was in uniform but didn't play a single snap in the Jets' 37-20 loss to the Browns -- a career first. The next day, coach Robert Saleh praised Cook for his professionalism through "a hard season," adding, "You know when a player is hurting, and I know he's hurting. But his story is not over." Cook, 28, will be subject to a 24-hour waiver period. In the 15 games in which he played, Cook carried the ball only 67 times for 214...