National Sports - The Morning Sun

FILE -New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) hands off the ball to New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York Giants have reached a new four-year contract with quarterback Daniel Jones and put a franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley, Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

AP source: Giants give Jones 4-year, $160M deal, tag Barkley

The New York Giants have reached a new four-year contract with quarterback Daniel Jones and put a franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley. A person with knowledge of the situation told The … more

By TOM CANAVAN | 3/7/23

CAPTION CORRECTS DATE Players of Dortmund waRM up prior the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Chelsea FC and Borussia Dortmund at Stamford Bridge, London, Tuesday March 7 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Dortmund's Julian Brandt injured in CL game at Chelsea

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt was injured and substituted after just five minutes of his team’s Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Chelsea. The 26-year-old Brandt rubbed … more

3/7/23

FILE - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson speaks to the media at a press conference after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Oct. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. The Baltimore Ravens announced Tuesday, March 7, 2023, that they were designating Jackson as their franchise player, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this month after the expiration of his rookie contract. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

AP source: Lamar Jackson gets nonexclusive tag from Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens say they are designating Lamar Jackson as their franchise player. That prevents him from becoming an unrestricted free agent this month after the expiration of his rookie … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 3/7/23

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Sorting out who's No. 1 will continue after NFL combine

The process of sorting out this year's No. 1 overall draft pick began at the NFL's annual scouting combine. It's far from over. After seeing Anthony Richardson of Florida wow scouts with an … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 3/7/23

PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan walks along the 17th hole during the pro-am of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

New PGA Tour schedule still about good golf, Monahan says

Commissioner Jay Monahan doesn't believe the new PGA Tour model is just like the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. He spoke for the first time since the tour announced big changes that focus on bringing the top … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 3/7/23

Alabama forward Brandon Miller (24) tries to drive the lane against Texas A&M guard Tyrece Radford (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 4, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

AP: Alabama's Brandon Miller SEC player, newcomer of year

Alabama freshman Brandon Miller is the Associated Press Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Miller's outstanding season has been shadowed by his alleged role in a … more

By JOHN ZENOR | 3/7/23

Tiger Woods, left, talks to PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan on the 15th hole during the pro-am of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)

Column: Would new PGA Tour model have stopped defections?

The PGA Tour looks to have stolen a page or two from the LIV Golf playbook. The tour will have 11 designated tournaments next year with small fields, big money and no cuts. Just like LIV. It's … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 3/7/23

The Champions League trophy is displayed before the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans to get refunds after Champions League chaos

UEFA will refund Liverpool fans who bought tickets for last season’s Champions League final because of the chaos that occurred outside the stadium in Paris. The governing body of European soccer … more

By JAMES ROBSON | 3/7/23

Oakland Raiders Josh Jacobs arrives for the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 57 football game, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

AP source: Raiders place franchise tag on Josh Jacobs

A person familiar with the situation says the Las Vegas Raiders have placed the franchise tag on running back Josh Jacobs. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move hasn’t been … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 3/6/23

NFC quarterback Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl against the AFC, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Seahawks, QB Geno Smith reach agreement on 3-year deal

The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with quarterback Geno Smith on a three-year contract that keeps the AP comeback player of the year in the Pacific Northwest. The contract is the first big … more

By TIM BOOTH | 3/6/23

Andretti Motorsport driver Romain Grosjean (28), pole sitter, leads the pack through Turn 1 at the start of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg auto race Sunday, March 5, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Column: IndyCar bullish on future even after sloppy opener

IndyCar had a sloppy season-opening race but it didn't mar the excitement for the upcoming season. IndyCar in its fourth year under Roger Penske's ownership has committed to an aggressive marketing … more

By JENNA FRYER | 3/6/23

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo hits a single against the Washington Nationals during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

MLB shift limits raising batter spirits and averages so far

Major League Baseball's new limits on infield shifts are raising batter spirits this spring. They might be bosltering batting averages, too. Batting averages across the league are up slightly from … more

By ALANIS THAMES | 3/6/23

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout catches a fly ball near the wall hit by Milwaukee Brewers' Keston Hiura during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 1, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

World Baseball Classic has more stars after 6-year absence

The World Baseball Classic opens Wednesday at Taichung, Taiwan, when the Netherlands plays Cuba and Panama faces Taiwan. Group C of the 20-nation tournament begins Saturday in Phoenix, featuring the … more

By RONALD BLUM | 3/6/23

Boston Red Sox Justin Turner reacts after being hit in the face on a pitch by Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Manning in the first inning of their spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Boston's Justin Turner hit in face by pitch, leaves game

Boston Red Sox infielder Justin Turner was taken to a hospital after leaving a game against the Detroit Tigers when he was on the face with a pitch. The 38-year-old fell to the ground after getting … more

3/6/23

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Sunday, March 5, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Giannis' triple-double taken away by the NBA in stat review

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he stole a triple-double. The NBA took it back. The NBA adjusted the statistics from Sunday night's Milwaukee-Washington game and erased Antetokounmpo’s final rebound, … more

3/6/23

FILE - Carolina Panthers quarterback Steve Beuerlein (7) eludes Philadelphia Eagles' Mike Mamula (59) in the third quarter of an NFL football game at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999. Mamula was among the first players to train specifically for the staple of tests he'd face at the NFL combine: the 40-yard dash that calibrates speed, the three-cone drill that calculates agility and the 225-pound bench press that gauges strength and stamina. (AP Photo/Rick Havner, File)

Brady, Brown prove combine flops can become NFL stars

Boston College defensive end Mike Mamula didn't have much of an impactful NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. But he was a trailblazer in the league nonetheless. He was among the first prospects … more

By ARNIE STAPLETON | 3/6/23

FILE - Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The NFL reinstated suspended receiver Calvin Ridley on Monday, March 6, 2023, clearing the way for him to join his new team in Jacksonville. The league said Ridley, who had been suspended indefinitely since March 2022 for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, is eligible to participate in all team activities beginning immediately. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

NFL reinstates Jaguars WR Ridley after gambling suspension

The NFL reinstated suspended receiver Calvin Ridley and cleared the way for him to join his new team in Jacksonville. The league says Ridley is eligible to participate in all team activities … more

By MARK LONG | 3/6/23

FILE - Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord plays in an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Two-year starter C.J. Stroud is off to the NFL in the draft next month, which means Ohio State coach Ryan Day needs to find a new quarterback for 2023. The race pits third-year backup Kyle McCord, who has seen limited action in his first two seasons, against second-year player Devin Brown. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

QB auditions take center stage in Ohio St spring practice

With two-year starter C.J. Stroud off to the NFL, the competition for a new starting quarterback takes center stage as Ohio State begins spring practice. The race pits third-year backup Kyle McCord, … more

By MITCH STACY | 3/6/23

FILE - AFC quarterback Derek Carr (4) of the Las Vegas Raiders looks to pass during the flag football event at the NFL Pro Bowl, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. Former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, a personal familiar with the agreement said Monday, March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)

AP source: Derek Carr agrees to 4-year contract with Saints

A person familiar with the situation says former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition … more

By BRETT MARTEL | 3/6/23

South Carolina's Aliyah Boston holds up the championship trophy after defeating Tennessee 74-58 to win the championship game of the Southeastern Conference women's tournament in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

South Carolina No. 1 for 37th straight week, Iowa now No. 2

South Carolina remains No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball poll for a 37th consecutive week. That breaks a second-place tie with Louisiana Tech for the longest streak all time. Only … more

By DOUG FEINBERG | 3/6/23