Sports News

An MRI revealed that Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving sustained a right heel contusion, the team announced Saturday afternoon. Irving returned to Dallas to begin treatment and will not play in Monday's road game against the Memphis Grizzlies. There is no timetable set for his return. Sources said Irving is dealing with significant pain, but there was relief throughout the organization that he did not suffer a major injury as a result of teammate Dwight Powell's scary fall on Irving's foot during Friday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Irving, who is averaging 23.0 points and 5.2 assists per game this season, has been dealing with soreness in his right foot throughout the season. He has missed four games, including a home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last week. The injury occurred after Irving was fouled on a drive to the basket with 3:51 left in the half. As Irving fell to the ground, Powell leaped for the loose...

The Columbus Crew beat defending champion LAFC 2-1 on Saturday to win their third MLS Cup title. Columbus, playing at its home Lower.com Field, dominated the first half to take a two-goal lead through a Cucho Hernández penalty and a Yaw Yeboah strike. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) LAFC pulled a goal back in the second half through Golden Boot winner Dénis Bouanga in the 74th minute but Columbus held on for a deserved win. The Crew, one of the league's original clubs, previously won MLS Cup titles in 2008 and 2020. Only the LA Galaxy (five) and D.C. United (four) have won more titles. Los Angeles, a 2018 expansion team, was looking to become the fourth MLS team to win consecutive titles after beating the Philadelphia Union in last year's MLS Cup. The result was a defeat in a third major final for LAFC this season. The Black and Gold lost the Concacaf Champions League title to Liga MX's...

The officiating crew that did not call a blatant and potentially game-deciding pass interference penalty during Sunday night's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers game missed a similar call one week earlier in Atlanta on a play that harkened back to one of the most controversial non-calls in NFL history. With Kansas City attempting a game-tying rally in the final minute in Lambeau Field, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a long pass to wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but Packers cornerback Carrington Valentine appeared to go over Valdes-Scantling's back before the ball arrived. The Chiefs sideline screamed for a pass interference penalty while Valdes-Scantling threw up his arms, looking for a flag that was not thrown. The Packers held on for the win  27-19. Officials are evaluated on every play of every game. League officiating staff analyze the performance of every official, both for the calls...

The Dallas Mavericks feel fortunate that star guard Kyrie Irving avoided a major injury after teammate Dwight Powell's scary fall on Irving's right foot during Friday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, as further testing revealed a bruise but no structural damage, sources told ESPN. Irving remains in significant pain, sources said. His status for Monday's road game against the Memphis Grizzlies has yet to be determined. Irving, who is averaging 23.0 points and 5.2 assists per game this season, has been dealing with soreness in his right foot throughout the season. He has missed four games, including a home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder last week. The injury occurred after Irving was fouled on a drive to the basket with 3:51 left in the half. As Irving fell to the ground, Powell leaped for the loose ball and took an awkward fall backward, landing on Irving's foot. Irving was in obvious pain and stayed on the ground for...

The most unique player in baseball history has joined one of the most storied franchises in the world -- for more money than anyone could have possibly imagined. Shohei Ohtani, the transcendent two-way talent who spent the past three years redefining what was possible at his sport's highest level, signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, announcing his decision on his Instagram page. "To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision," Ohtani wrote. "I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team." Ohtani's contract is the largest in baseball history by more than $250 million, topping the 12-year, $426.5 million extension given in 2019 to Mike Trout, his now-former teammate with the Los Angeles Angels. It also easily topped the $450 million deal signed by  Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to become the largest...

Manchester United are "not good enough to be consistent," according to manager Erik ten Hag, after their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. United followed up the 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday with a dire performance against Bournemouth, who have now won four of their last five games. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Afterwards Ten Hag questioned whether his squad are good enough to string a run of wins together after failing to build on the result in midweek. "I think, as a squad, we are not good enough to be consistent and we have to work as a squad to improve that," said Ten Hag. "As a group, we have to improve, we have to get tougher, be ready for the game, from the start. I said it can't be in this league if you are not playing on the highest levels, because you get killed." United, who have now lost 11 of their 23 games this season, face a crucial week with Bayern Munich...

EAGAN, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested Friday night and charged with misdemeanor operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.  According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Phillips was stopped on I-394 in Minneapolis at approximately 9:45 p.m. CT. He showed signs of impairment and ultimately his blood alcohol content tested at 0.10. The legal limit in Minnesota is 0.08. Phillips was booked into the Hennepin County jail at 11 p.m. CT. He was released at 1:26 a.m. after posting a $300 bond, according to jail records. Phillips has an initial court appearance scheduled for Dec. 21. The team is scheduled to depart Saturday afternoon for Las Vegas, where the Vikings will take on the Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. "Wes immediately notified the team following his arrest last night," the Vikings said in a statement. "This morning we contacted the NFL, and after internal discussion, made the decision Wes will travel...

EAGAN, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was arrested Friday night and charged with misdemeanor operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to Hennepin County jail records. The arrest took place in suburban Minneapolis at 11 p.m. CT, the records show. Phillips was released at 1:26 a.m. CT after posting a $300 bond and has an initial court appearance scheduled for December 21. Additional details were not immediately available. The team is scheduled to depart Saturday afternoon for Las Vegas, where the Vikings will take on the Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. "Wes immediately notified the team following his arrest last night," the Viking said in a statement. "This morning we contacted the NFL, and after internal discussion, made the decision Wes will travel with the team to Las Vegas this afternoon. We will continue to gather information regarding the incident and have further comment at the appropriate...

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals did not violate the NFL's injury policy before quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending injury in Week 11, league sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. The NFL was investigating why Burrow was not listed on the injury report leading up to the Nov. 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens. A social media post by the team the day before the game had shown Burrow wearing a compression sleeve on his right hand coming off the team plane in Baltimore. The post was later deleted. Burrow suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist during the loss to Baltimore. He said he felt a pop when he made a touchdown throw to running back Joe Mixon, which was one play after Burrow was hit by Ravens defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. After the game, Bengals coach Zac Taylor and players said they were unaware of any wrist injury Burrow was dealing with before he suffered the tear. When Taylor announced Nov. 17 that Burrow would miss...

BEREA, Ohio --  Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper has cleared the concussion protocol, putting him in position to play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cooper suffered the concussion in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He returned to practice Friday and cleared the protocol Saturday. Cleveland's top wideout, Cooper has 50 receptions for 799 yards and two touchdowns. It's unclear who will be Cooper's quarterback, as the Browns have declined to name a starter between veteran  Joe Flacco and rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Cleveland waived PJ Walker on Saturday. Walker had played in six games and started two this season, including the Browns' 19-17 upset of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. The Browns also downgraded right tackle Dawand Jones to out with a knee injury. Jones injured the knee during Thursday's practice.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is transferring to Oregon for his final season of eligibility, the former  Oklahoma player announced Saturday. Gabriel was one of the top quarterbacks available in the transfer portal this offseason and gives the Ducks a starting quarterback for the 2024 season. Starter Bo Nix, who originally transferred to Oregon from Auburn, is out of eligibility and will look to enter the NFL draft. Gabriel is transferring from Oklahoma, where offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby had just left to take the head-coaching job at Mississippi State. Gabriel ranked sixth among all FBS quarterbacks this season in passing yards with 3,660. He also ranked No. 8 in passing touchdowns with 30 and was No. 10 in completion percentage. Gabriel transferred to Oklahoma from UCF and played for the Sooners the past two seasons. He was the top priority for the Oregon coaches in the quarterback transfer market and is going to help the Ducks'...

Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro is being barred from Philadelphia's sideline for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys for his part in last Sunday's sideline scuffle with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw. "This is an ongoing conversation with the NFL, and we are going to respect the restriction that is currently in place," the Eagles said in a statement Saturday. "Although Dom will not be on the sideline this Sunday, he will continue to fulfill his role with the team in all other capacities." DiSandro is allowed to go to Dallas with the Eagles and do all his regular duties, but he will not be on the sideline. DiSandro and other Eagles officials met Friday with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the league office in New York, league sources said. The league still is reviewing additional material to see if further discipline is warranted. The NFL sent a memo to all teams Wednesday reminding them to "please ensure that all members of...

Eagles head of security Dom DiSandro is being barred from being on Philadelphia's sideline for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys for his part in last Sunday's sideline scuffle with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, according to league sources. DiSandro is allowed to go to Dallas with the Eagles and do all his regular duties, but will not be on the sideline. DiSandro and other Eagles officials met Friday with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the league office in New York, sources said. The league still is reviewing additional material to see if further discipline is warranted. The NFL sent a memo to all teams Wednesday afternoon reminding them to "please ensure that all members of your game-day staff understand that their role does not extend to being involved with game day altercations and that they must refrain from such involvement." Greenlaw said Wednesday that he and DiSandro exchanged apologies via intermediaries. "We just...

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt is in the concussion protocol. Watt reported the symptoms Friday morning following the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots and was subsequently placed in the protocol, per Steelers team spokesperson Burt Lauten. To return to play, Watt must be cleared by an independent neurologist. Pittsburgh's next game is Saturday at the Indianapolis Colts. Watt was injured on the first play of the Thursday night game when running back Ezekiel Elliott's knee hit Watt in the face at the end of a run.  Watt came off the field for several snaps, but returned to the field later in the first quarter with a tinted visor. He finished the game playing 90% of defensive snaps. The Steelers' other starting pass-rusher,  Alex Highsmith, is also dealing with an injury. He exited the loss to the Patriots in the second quarter with a neck injury.

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt is in the concussion protocol. Watt reported the symptoms Friday morning following the Steelers' 21-18 loss to the Patriots and was subsequently placed in the protocol, per Steelers team spokesman Burt Lauten. To return to play, Watt must be cleared by an independent neurologist. The Steelers' next game is Saturday at the Indianapolis Colts. Watt was injured on the first play of the Thursday night game when running back Ezekiel Elliott's knee hit Watt in the face at the end of a run.  Watt came off the field for several snaps, but later took the field later in the first quarter with a tinted visor. He finished the game playing 90% of defensive snaps. The Steelers' other starting pass rusher Alex Highsmith is also dealing with an injury. He exited the loss to the Patriots in the second quarter with a neck injury.

SAN ANTONIO -- With his team mired in a double-digit losing streak, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has tried shaking things up with his starting lineup. On Friday, that meant moving rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama to the center spot and surrounding him with four perimeter players in the starting group for the first time this season. But despite the move, the result stayed the same. The Spurs dropped their franchise-record-tying 16th consecutive game, a 121-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls. San Antonio is 3-18 this season, their worst start in franchise history through 21 games. They lost despite a huge night from Wembanyama: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. At 19 years and 338 days, he became the youngest player in NBA history with a game of 20 points and 20 rebounds, passing the mark held by Dwight Howard in 2005 by just four days. Wembanyama and Howard are the only teenagers in league history to reach 20-20 in a game. The...

Jaylen Brown was ejected for the first time in his NBA career Friday night.  The Boston Celtics star believes it never should have happened.  Brown picked up a technical foul for arguing a call in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Boston, then was ejected after picking up a second T when he went to the bench shortly afterward.  The Celtics won  133-123, but that did little to ease the emotions of Brown and Boston coach Joe Mazzulla after the game.  "To be honest, I'm not sure," Brown told reporters when asked why he was tossed. "But I wish I would've got my money's worth. I always thought my first career ejection would be something a little more exciting. Maybe a tussle or something, guys get folded up, go to the ground, not some overemotional ref who had a bad day. What I'm most upset about is I should've got my f---ing money's worth."  Brown picked up the initial technical when he appeared to complain after being whistled for a foul...

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels continued to collect postseason awards when additional honors were handed out Friday night. Daniels, named The Associated Press player of the year on Thursday, won the Walter Camp national player of the year award as well as the Davey O'Brien Award as the top quarterback in college football. Washington quarterback  Michael Penix Jr. won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation's best all-around player, while  Payton Wilson of NC State won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player as well as the Dick Butkus Award as top linebacker.  Daniels, a San Bernardino, California, native who transferred to LSU from Arizona State in 2022, led the nation in total offense this season with 4,946 yards in 12 games (412.2 yards per game). He passed for 3,812 yards, third nationally, and his 40 touchdown passes tied him for first with Oregon QB Bo Nix, who played in one more game than Daniels. The...

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels continued to collect postseason awards when the honors were handed out Friday night. Daniels, named The Associated Press player of the year on Thursday, won the Davey O'Brien Award as the top quarterback in college football, and Payton Wilson of North Carolina State won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the top defensive player. Daniels, a San Bernardino, California, native who transferred to LSU from Arizona State in 2022, led the nation in total offense this season with 4,946 yards in 12 games (412.2 yards per game). He passed for 3,812 yards, third nationally, and his 40 touchdown passes tied him for first with Oregon QB Bo Nix, who played in one more game than Daniels. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Daniels also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 TDs. His 50 touchdowns rushing and passing combined, along with a 2-point conversion on a passing play, made him responsible for a nation-high 302 points. Wilson was...

The Atlanta Braves acquired infielder David Fletcher and catcher Max Stassi from the Los Angeles Angels for first baseman Evan White and left-handed reliever Tyler Thomas on Friday, the team announced, continuing a money-juggling effort in the wake of a previous trade. At the beginning of the winter meetings, Atlanta dealt for outfielder Jarred Kelenic and a pair of higher-paid players: White and pitcher Marco Gonzales. During the meetings, the Braves flipped Gonzales and his $12 million salary to Pittsburgh along with cash in exchange for a player to be named later. White, who is owed $17 million for the remaining two guaranteed seasons and the buyout on his contract, was the latest to move -- and is unlikely to be the last. Stassi, sources said, will almost certainly be traded as well, with Atlanta already boasting a pair of catchers ( Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud) and Stassi owed $7 million in...

The Red Sox acquired outfielder Tyler O'Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, dealing for the powerful right-handed hitter whose upside has been curtailed by injuries but is expected to slot into Boston's everyday lineup. The Cardinals, who received right-handed reliever Nick Robertson and minor league right-handed starter Victor Santos in the deal, had put O'Neill on the trade market this winter and expected to move him before the new year. While the 28-year-old's breakout season two years ago looked to cement his place as a core member of the Cardinals going forward, the injuries as well as a public fight with St. Louis manager Oli Marmol paved the way for his exit. When healthy, the two-time Gold Glove winner is an All-Star-caliber player. In 2021, he finished eighth in National League MVP voting, hitting .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs and 80 RBIs. Over the past two seasons, he has played in 168 games, slashing .229/.310/.397 with 23...

METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr has cleared concussion protocol and will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, the team announced on Friday night. Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (foot/left hand) and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (thigh) are also questionable after missing the week of practice, while wide receiver Chris Olave is questionable after missing two practices with the flu. "I have felt better, but I'm doing great, that's for sure," Carr said in a pool report distributed to the media by the team on Friday. Carr was placed into concussion protocol in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, the second time he had gone into protocol in a month. Carr also left the Saints' game against the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 12 after sustaining a concussion. The Saints were on a bye the following week, but Carr returned the following week...

Tennis Hall of Famer Chris Evert has been diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer and is undergoing treatment again. The 18-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement released through ESPN on Friday that the cancer was found after she underwent a series of medical tests this week. She is an on-air announcer for ESPN. The statement says that Evert, who was first diagnosed with an early stage of ovarian cancer in December 2021, has again begun undergoing chemotherapy treatments. "While this is a diagnosis I never wanted to hear, I once again feel fortunate that it was caught early," she said in the statement. "Based on a PET CT scan, I underwent another robotic surgery this past week. Doctors found cancer cells in the same pelvic region. All cells were removed, and I have begun another round of chemotherapy." The 68-year-old Evert said she is temporarily stepping away from her ESPN coverage duties for treatment and "will be unable to join my colleagues when ESPN...

Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen has committed to transfer to Mississippi State, he told ESPN on Friday. Shapen was one of the most experienced and productive quarterbacks in the NCAA transfer portal, as he started 23 career games at Baylor over three seasons. In three seasons there, he threw for 5,574 yards, 36 touchdowns and completed 63.7% of his passes. He'll link up with first-year Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby, a noted maestro of prolific offenses. Shapen received strong interest from a flurry of Power 5 programs, but ultimately found the best fit and offensive potential in Starkville. He'll be immediately eligible and has at least one season of eligibility remaining. Shapen's verbal commitment came even before he visited officially, although he did visit the campus during high school recruiting. (Shapen was also a strong baseball recruit in high school.) Shapen plans to visit Starkville next weekend, as Mississippi State is slated to host a handful of...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- MLS commissioner Don Garber said 2023 has been "a transformational year for our league," hailing the media partnership with Apple, record attendance and the arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami. Speaking to reporters during his annual state of the league address Friday, Garber said  MLS set a record for total attendance at almost 11 million and reached new highs for digital and social media engagement and merchandise sales. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Without supplying specific metrics, Garber quoted Apple CEO Tim Cook as saying on a recent earnings call that the company was beating its expectations for subscriptions. He also referenced comments by Apple senior vice president for services Eddy Cue that multiple games drew over 1 million viewers. Garber added that it's still early days for the partnership. "What we're focused on is the amount of subscriptions that we're selling, the amount...

The Boston Red Sox have acquired outfielder Tyler O'Neill in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced Friday.  Boston sent right-hander Nick Robertson and minor league pitcher Victor Santos to St. Louis to complete the deal. The righty-hitting O'Neill, 28, has spent all six of his major league seasons with St. Louis, highlighted by a 2021 campaign in which he batted .286 with 34 homers and 80 RBIs.  He has battled injury in the past, however, and was limited to just 96 games in 2022 and 71 this past season, when he hit .231 with nine home runs.  O'Neill, a two-time Gold Glover, has played all three outfield positions but has spent the bulk of his time in left. He joins a Red Sox team that traded outfielder Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees earlier this week. O'Neill is in his final season of arbitration eligibility and could become a free agent after the 2024 season. He is projected to earn a salary of $5.5...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- MLS commissioner Don Garber said that 2023 had been "a transformational year for our league," hailing the media partnership with Apple, record attendance, as well as the arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami. Speaking to reporters during his annual State of the League address on Friday, Garber stated that MLS set a league record for total attendance -- almost 11 million-- at MLS matches this year, as well as record highs for digital and social media engagement and merchandise sales. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) While not supplying specific metrics, Garber quoted Apple CEO Tim Cook as saying on a recent earnings call that Apple was beating its expectations in terms of subscriptions. He also referenced comments by Apple senior vice president for Services Eddy Cue that multiple games drew over 1m viewers. Garber added it's still early days of the partnership. "What we're focused on is the...

LAS VEGAS -- On their march to the NBA's in-season tournament's title game, the Indiana Pacers have knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks -- the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs last season. Now, Indiana finds itself up against the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James in Saturday's title game, with the right to be the first team to lift the NBA Cup on the line -- a situation Tyrese Haliburton says feels like a storybook ending to Indiana's coming-out party over the past few months. "Like any kid born in 2000, LeBron was my favorite player growing up," Haliburton said Friday afternoon after Indiana's practice here at T-Mobile Arena, "and it's hard for him not to be for a lot of us. Growing up, I was a Cavs fan, then a Heat fan, then a Cavs fan again, then a Lakers fan before I got drafted. It's just how it went. "To be able to compete against him in...

The Boston Red Sox have acquired outfielder Tyler O'Neill in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced Friday.  Boston sent in right-hander Nick Robertson and minor league pitcher Victor Santos to St. Louis to complete the deal. The righty-hitting O'Neill, 28, has spent all six of his major league seasons with St. Louis, highlighted by a 2021 campaign in which he batted .286 with 34 homers and 80 RBIs.  He's battled injury in the past, however, and was limited to just 96 games in 2022 and 71 this past season, when he hit .231 with nine home runs.  O'Neill, a two-time Gold Glover, has played all three outfield positions but has spent the bulk of his time in left. He joins a Red Sox team that traded outfielder Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees earlier this week. 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills players and general manager Brandon Beane offered their support for coach Sean McDermott on Friday, one day after the coach held a team meeting to address remarks referencing 9/11 that he made in training camp in 2019 and became public this week.  "Obviously when you're in leadership positions, you've got a lot of people looking up to you, and none of us are perfect, OK," said Beane, who is in his seventh season in Buffalo with McDermott after also working together for the Carolina Panthers. "I think Sean acknowledged that. I went into the team meeting yesterday, I think he talked to [the media] first, went into the team meeting and I thought it was very authentic. I thought the guys all saw that, felt that, and know Sean for who he is. I think you guys that have been around here some years know who Sean's character is. I'll stand by his character every day of the week." McDermott, who held the meeting with the team late...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale still expressed a desire to return to the New York Giants next season, even after details of tension between him and coach Brian Daboll emerged in recent weeks. Fox Sports reported before the Giants' 10-7 win over the New England Patriots on Nov. 26 that the tension between Martindale and Daboll is palpable to those in the building and that it wouldn't be surprising if they eventually parted ways. The report even suggested the split could happen during the season. Daboll  downplayed any potential rift between the two coaches in the days after that game. However, he wouldn't directly answer questions about Martindale's future and instead made awkward food-related jokes. "The biggest argument that Wink and I have had is who has the last piece of pizza," Daboll said. Martindale didn't say anything Friday to suggest that the relationship was unsalvageable. "We're fine," he said. "It's the same...

FRISCO, Texas -- Two days after surgery to remove his appendix, Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is back at The Star and said he plans to be on the sideline calling plays Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. "I feel good and anticipate everything staying normal Sunday night," McCarthy said on his scheduled conference call Friday. McCarthy's return to the Cowboys was made in style. According to running back Tony Pollard, 50 Cent's "Many Men" was playing as the coach walked into the offense's meeting for the first time since the start of the week. "It was a cool little entrance," Pollard said, adding he was happy for his coach to be healthy because "it's bigger than football." McCarthy said he thought he had a stomach virus for the past week or so. When he arrived at the facility Wednesday, he met with head athletic trainer Jim Maurer and went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. A few hours later, McCarthy had surgery. By...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Chiefs will be without running back Isiah Pacheco on Sunday against the Bills at Arrowhead Stadium because of a shoulder injury that kept him out of practice all week.  The injury is to the same shoulder Pacheco had surgery on this past offseason.  Asked whether Pacheco is a candidate for injured reserve, coach Andy Reid said Friday it was too early to tell.  Pacheco leads the Chiefs and is fifth in the NFL in rushing with 779 yards. He also has 33 receptions and seven total touchdowns. He rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in last week's game against the Green Bay Packers before being ejected in the fourth quarter for taking a swing at an opposing player. The Chiefs have Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon as veteran backups at running back. Edwards-Helaire, the Chiefs' first-round draft pick in 2020, lost his starting spot to Pacheco last season and has played little in 2023, rushing for 140...

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have decided not to name a starting quarterback ahead of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns will start either veteran Joe Flacco or rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is out of concussion protocol and practiced Friday. Whoever starts might not have wide receiver Amari Cooper. He is still in the concussion protocol after getting hurt Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams and is considered questionable to play. Flacco started that game. Thompson-Robinson started the two games before that but was knocked out of the game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 26 with the concussion. "You don't have to," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, when asked why he wouldn't name a starter. In his season debut against the Rams, Flacco completed 23 of 44 passes for 254 yards. He tossed a pair of touchdown passes but also threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter in a 36-19...

BEREA, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have decided not to name a starting quarterback ahead of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns will start either veteran Joe Flacco or rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who is out of concussion protocol and practiced Friday. Whoever starts might not have receiver Amari Cooper. He's in the concussion protocol after getting hurt Sunday against the Rams. Flacco started that game. Thompson-Robinson started the two games before that but was knocked out of the game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 26 with the concussion. "You don't have to," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said, when asked why he wouldn't name a starter. In his season debut against the Rams, Flacco completed 23 of 44 passes for 254 yards. He also tossed a pair of touchdown passes, though did throw a costly interception in the fourth quarter in a 36-19 loss. Flacco signed with the Browns on Nov. 20, following the...

The United States and Mexico submitted a joint bid Friday to co-host the 2027 Women's World Cup that, if successful, would see the North American neighbours stage global soccer's two showcase events in back-to-back years. Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands earlier Friday put in a joint bid to be the 2027 hosts, while Brazil put forward its bid to world soccer governing body FIFA last month. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) U.S. Soccer said in a statement that bringing the Women's World Cup to North America would capitalise on a moment of extraordinary growth in women's sports to deliver a tournament of unprecedented success. The United States and Mexico, along with Canada, are set to co-host the 2026 men's World Cup, but rather than viewing that as negative, U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone described it as a huge plus. "This is a pivotal time for women's soccer," said Parlow Cone. "The U.S. and Mexico are in a unique...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars coach Doug Pederson says the team will wait until Sunday before deciding whether injured quarterback Trevor Lawrence will start against the Browns. Lawrence suffered a right high ankle sprain in Monday night's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but he practiced on a limited basis Thursday and was going to do the same Friday and has been listed as questionable. "He's feeling good," Pederson said. "He moved around a little bit [Thursday], see how he does today. Kind of base it on the medical staff, how Trevor feels." The Jaguars on Friday also placed wide receiver Christian Kirk on injured reserve because of the groin injury he suffered against the Bengals. Kirk is the Jaguars' leader in receiving yards (787) and second in receptions (57). He will have to miss four games before he is eligible to return from IR. Lawrence said Wednesday that his ankle feels much better than he anticipated, just two days after left...

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis has been upgraded to available for Friday's game against the visiting New York Knicks. Porzingis sat out the Celtics' past four games because of a low-grade strain in his left calf. The 28-year-old is averaging 18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks in 15 games this season. He is in his first season with Boston after being acquired from the Washington Wizards via trade in June. Porzingis has averaged 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 blocks in 417 career games (416 starts) with the Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Wizards and Celtics. He was selected by New York with the fourth overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft.

Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis has been upgraded to available for Friday's game against the visiting New York Knicks. Porzingis sat out the Celtics' past four games due to a low-grade strain in his left calf. Porzingis, 28, is averaging 18.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks in 15 games (all starts) this season. He is in his first season with Boston after being acquired from the Washington Wizards via trade in June. Porzingis is contributing 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 blocks in 417 career games (416 starts) with the Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Wizards and Celtics. He was selected by New York with the fourth overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Some Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC said Friday, in a decision that removed the option of a blanket ban over the invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee's decision confirms moves it started one year ago to reintegrate Russia and military ally Belarus into global sports and nine months after it urged sports governing bodies to look at ways to let individual athletes compete. It is up to each Olympic sport's governing body to assess and enforce neutral status for individual athletes who have not actively supported the war and are not contracted to military or state security agencies. Those who are given neutral status must compete without national identity of flag, anthem or colors. Russia remains banned from team sports. "Participation in the Olympics is an athlete's dream," Russia's sports minister, Oleg Matytsin, was quoted as saying by the country's news agency, TASS. "But the conditions...

PITTSBURGH -- In a celebratory locker room following the Patriots' 21-18 win over the Steelers on Thursday at Acrisure Stadium, veteran safety Jabrill Peppers essentially dedicated the victory to coach Bill Belichick. "We needed it. I just feel good we could get it done for Bill and the rest of the coaches," Peppers said after the team snapped a five-game losing streak. "I don't really like all the flak he's been getting, because it's on us as players to go out and execute. I personally feel like the game plan has been phenomenal week in and week out, and when we had opportunities to make plays, we didn't make them. But we made enough tonight." Belichick's 24th season with the Patriots has been among his most challenging, with his team at 3-10 and in last place in the AFC. In a reflection of the struggles, the Patriots' next game, originally scheduled for Dec. 18 against the Kansas City Chiefs, was flexed out of prime time and will be...

LAS VEGAS -- Star forward Zion Williamson claimed accountability for the New Orleans Pelicans' failure to compete in the most meaningful game of his career. The Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 133-89 rout of the Pelicans in Thursday's semifinals of the NBA's in-season tournament at T-Mobile Arena. It ranks as the third-most lopsided regular-season loss in the New Orleans franchise's history. Williamson agreed with Pelicans coach Willie Green's assessment that there was "just a lack of competitive spirit from our group" and blamed his timid play for setting the tone. Williamson finished with 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 turnovers in 26 minutes, during which the Pelicans were outscored by 33 points. "I got to be better," Williamson said. "I got to be more aggressive, finding my shot. I got to do more things to get my team going. I think I was too laid-back tonight, and I just can't do that. And defensively I got to be better." Lakers star ...

LAS VEGAS -- Star forward Zion Williamson claimed accountability for the New Orleans Pelicans' failure to compete in the most meaningful game of his career. The Los Angeles Lakers rolled to a 133-89 rout of the Pelicans in Thursday's semifinals of the NBA's in-season tournament at T-Mobile Arena. It ranks as the third-most lopsided regular-season loss in the New Orleans franchise's history. Williamson agreed with Pelicans coach Willie Green's assessment that there was "just a lack of competitive spirit from our group" and blamed his timid play for setting the tone. Williamson finished with 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 turnovers in 26 minutes, during which the Pelicans were outscored by 33 points. "I got to be better," Williamson said. "I got to be more aggressive, finding my shot. I got to do more things to get my team going. I think I was too laidback tonight and I just can't do that. And defensively I got to be better." Lakers star ...

LAS VEGAS -- The NBA's inaugural in-season tournament has provided an ideal platform for LeBron James -- weeks shy of his 39th birthday -- to prove that he is still in his prime. With dramatic theater lighting setting the atmosphere for the tournament semifinals at T-Mobile Arena, James put on a show in the Los Angeles Lakers' 133-89 win Thursday over the New Orleans Pelicans. James poured in 30 points and added eight assists and five rebounds to earn the Lakers a date with the Indiana Pacers, who beat the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the day, in Saturday's championship game. And to think, heading into this past offseason, James thought about walking away from the game and the competition, where he clearly still thrives. "If you decide to retire, or whatever the case may be, you're not a part of it anymore, so it wouldn't be me leaving it on the table because I would have never had the table set," James told ESPN. "But I'm happy that...

LAS VEGAS -- The NBA's inaugural in-season tournament has provided an ideal platform for LeBron James -- weeks shy of his 39th birthday -- to prove that he's still in his prime. With dramatic theater lighting setting the atmosphere for the tourney's semifinals at T-Mobile Arena, James put on a show in the Los Angeles Lakers' 133-89 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. James poured in 30 points and added eight assists and five rebounds Thursday to earn the Lakers a date with the Indiana Pacers, who beat the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the day, in Saturday's championship game. The Lakers star, in his 21st season, has been so good for so long that performances like he had against the Pelicans when he made 9-of-12 shots (including 4-for-4 from 3), committed zero turnovers and registered a plus-minus of plus-36 in the 23 minutes he played, sometimes seem ordinary for him. However, taking a moment to consider that James is closer in age to...

LAS VEGAS -- Giannis Antetokounmpo said the Milwaukee Bucks simply have to be better after the Indiana Pacers knocked them out of the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament Thursday, criticizing a lack of organization and saying the team sometimes is "not organized at all." "The talent level we have is incredible," Antetokounmpo said after putting up 37 points and 10 rebounds in the 128-119 loss at T-Mobile Arena. "But we have to be more organized. "I feel like sometimes we're not organized at all. We don't know what we try to get from our offense, or sometimes defensively we're not sprinting back. We don't shoot a lot of early 3s. At the end of the day, you have to protect the ball. You have to know where the ball is. We had a lot of situations today that they got a lot of dunks, open 3s, early 3s. We have to be better. "Nobody is going to give you nothing. Like sometimes I feel like we expect just because we have great players out there, that ...

LAS VEGAS -- The NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament has provided an ideal platform for LeBron James -- weeks shy of his 39th birthday -- to prove that he's still in his prime. With dramatic theater lighting setting the atmosphere for the tourney's semifinals at T-Mobile Arena, James put on a show in the Los Angeles Lakers' 133-89 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. James poured in 30 points and added eight assists and five rebounds Thursday to earn the Lakers a date with the Indiana Pacers, who beat the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the day, in Saturday's championship game. The Lakers star, in his 21st season, has been so good for so long that performances like he had against the Pelicans when he made 9-of-12 shots (including 4-for-4 from 3), committed zero turnovers and registered a plus-minus of plus-36 in the 23 minutes he played, sometimes seem ordinary for him. However, taking a moment to consider that James is closer in age to...

LAS VEGAS -- As Tyrese Haliburton watched his step-back 3-pointer fall through the net, giving the Indiana Pacers what would become an insurmountable lead over the Milwaukee Bucks inside the final minute of the Eastern Conference semifinal in the NBA's in-season tournament, he turned and stared at his wrist. The implication was obvious: The closing moments of the game, which usually are reserved for "Dame Time" when Damian Lillard is involved, had become Haliburton's time to shine this Thursday at T-Mobile Arena. There were still 48 seconds on the clock as Haliburton celebrated, but they were a mere formality. By the time they ticked off, Haliburton -- who finished with 27 points, 7 rebounds, 15 assists and no turnovers -- and the Pacers had emerged with a 128-119 victory over Milwaukee, moving Indiana into the tournament's championship game against the Los Angeles Lakers. "Tyrese is just one of those transcendent players," Pacers coach Rick...

Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz has been hired as Duke's next head football coach, it was announced Thursday night. "We are grateful and humbled for this opportunity and could not be more excited to be the head football coach at Duke University," Diaz said in a statement. "... Duke University is an elite institution in every facet, and we are excited to be a part of it. I'm beyond excited to get to work." Duke, which conducted finalist interviews in Las Vegas this week, has scheduled an introductory news conference for Saturday. Diaz is coming off a season in which he led the nation's top statistical defense, as the Nittany Lions held opponents to 223.2 yards per game -- the best single-season defensive performance in the sport since Alabama in 2011. He also brings head-coaching experience in the ACC, as he led Miami to three bowl-eligible seasons during his time there from 2019 to 2021. Diaz, whose 2020 Miami teami was ranked as high as No....

The draw for next summer's Copa America has placed the tournament host United States in a group with the competition's joint all-time champion  Uruguay, while fellow Concacaf invitee  Mexico will face Ecuador. Current titleholder and defending champion  Argentina -- tied with Uruguay for the most Copa titles of all time -- is set for a clash against two-time winner  Peru in the group stage, and in the fourth group, nine-time winner  Brazil will take on 2021 third-place finisher  Colombia. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) CONMEBOL's Copa America will have 16 teams, including six Concacaf invitees: 2023-24 Nations League semifinalist Mexico, the U.S.,  Jamaica and  Panama, as well as the two winners of play-in games ( Canada vs. Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica vs. Honduras) that will be held March 23. Alongside the U.S....