Month: September 2021

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets released cornerback Bless Austin and surprisingly moved on from a projected starter in their young secondary. The 25-year-old Austin was entering his third season with the Jets and was expected to start opposite Bryce Hall. With Austin gone,

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have promoted general manager Jerry Dipoto to president of baseball operations and signed manager Scott Servais to a multiyear contract extension, keeping the pair locked in to oversee the completion of the franchise rebuild started three years ago. Both deals had been expected

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have parted ways with yet another unrestricted free agent they signed earlier this offseason. The Panthers released former Seahawks wide receiver David Moore and claimed guard Michael Jordan from the Cincinnati Bengals off waivers. Moore signed a two-year contract with Carolina in March that included a $1.25 million

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — New coach. New general manager. No Julio Jones. The Atlanta Falcons have embarked on a new era that doesn’t include the greatest receiver in franchise history. Jones was dealt to the Tennessee Titans for a couple of draft picks. The trade helped the Falcons deal with

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Kimi Raikkonen will retire at the end of the Formula One season, concluding a career that spanned two decades and included the 2007 world championship. Raikkonen is in the final year of his contract with Alfa Romeo. Raikkonen’s retirement will open a seat at Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season. The

By The Associated Press Only Seattle (nine) and Kansas City (eight) have had more consecutive winning seasons than the Tennessee Titans’ five straight in the NFL. The Titans overhauled the defense. They then traded for seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones. He joins an offense already led by the NFL’s back-to-back rushing leader Derrick

By The Associated Press American defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Erik Palmer-Brown, and forward Nicholas Gioacchini were loaned before Europe’s summer transfer window closed. Carter-Vickers was sent to Scotland’s Glasgow Celtic from England’s Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan. The Scottish team said it has an option to buy his rights. Gioacchini was loaned to first-tier

By The Associated Press Indianapolis already has one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, two 1,000-yard rushers and a young, confident defense. If Carson Wentz stays healthy and productive, the Colts could become a serious contender in the AFC. Yes, general manager Chris Ballard bet big on Wentz following the worst season of his five-year

By ANNA LIZ NICHOLS Associated Press/ Report for America LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State has named deputy athletic director and Spartan football alumnus Alan Haller its new athletic director. Haller has been deputy athletic director since 2019 and with the athletic department since 2010. The former campus police lieutenant played for coach George Perles

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer Atlantic Coast Conference coaches are counting on high program COVID-19 vaccination rates to minimize risks of illnesses or lineup-depleting contact tracing for the upcoming  college football season. That has meant teams working through the offseason’s final weeks toward an 85% threshold of vaccinated players, coaches and staffers. Teams that

By The Associated Press The Panthers have one of the most dynamic players in the league in running back Christian McCaffrey and a pair of returning 1,000-yard receivers in D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson along with super-talented rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. One of the biggest questions will be if the offensive line can protect new

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Pro Football Writer EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings are bracing for a season-long absence for on-the-rise tight end Irv Smith Jr., after knee surgery for a torn meniscus. Smith had the procedure done by team physician Dr. Christopher Larson. He was injured last week. Smith was in line for

By The Associated Press Coming off a dismal season, the Atlanta Falcons head into a rebuilding year with a new coach, a new general manager and no Julio Jones. The Falcons traded the greatest receiver in franchise history, the most prominent in a series of moves that were needed just to make the salary cap

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Southeastern Conference officials are trying to get back to normal on football game days, with stadiums filled with fans and grills being fired up outside, even in a portion of the country where the states have among the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates. The SEC will fully reopen for business

By The Associated Press The New Orleans Saints’ first season without Drew Brees in 15 years will pose more challenges than adjusting to a new quarterback. It starts with being displaced from New Orleans by Hurricane Ida and playing their home opener in Jacksonville. Jameis Winston is the new starting QB. Coach Sean Payton says

By The Associated Press The Niners blamed injuries for their fall from NFC champs in 2019 to out of the playoffs in 2020. They head into this season in relatively good health and expect to contend once again in the NFC. The 49ers traded three first-round draft picks for Trey Lance because they believed they

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) — The defending AFC North champion Pittsburgh Steelers have their work cut out if they want to return to the playoffs. While quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is returning for an 18th season, he will be playing in front of an entirely retooled offensive line. The Steelers spent much

By RONALD BLUM AP Sports Writer SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — U.S. star Christian Pulisic and goalkeeper Zack Steffen will miss the Americans’ opening World Cup qualifier at El Salvador on Thursday night. Pulisic, the top American player, is regaining fitness after after testing positive for COVID-19. He has said he is fully vaccinated.

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers opens its season playing host to Temple on Thursday night in a game that will have no restrictions on fans. The game is a sellout at 52,454, the first home sellout since 2016 against Michigan. Schiano says having the fans back will be fun,

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer The college football season begins — mostly back to normal — with a huge Labor Day weekend of games. On the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast, Kirk Herbstreit from ESPN joins the AP’s Ralph Russo to talk about his new book “Out of the Pocket.”

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Pro Football Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have made clear that five straight winning seasons, three playoff berths and one AFC South title simply aren’t enough. Not this season. Reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in 22 seasons is squarely in the Titans’ sights. Coach

By The Associated Press The Arizona Cardinals have added a handful of veterans in an effort to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Cardinals picked up defensive end J.J. Watt, receiver A.J. Green and center Rodney Hudson in hopes to push ahead in the NFC West, which has been one of

By STEPHEN HAWKINS and BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer The New Orleans Saints will play their season opener in Jacksonville after being displaced by Hurricane Ida. Instead of playing in the Superdome for the Sept. 12 opener against the Green Bay Packers, the Saints will host the game at the home of the Jaguars. The

By The Associated Press The Los Angeles Rams want to play in the first Super Bowl at their own SoFi Stadium in February. Anything less will be a disappointment, even though most of this core will be together for the near future. Coach Sean McVay is betting heavily on himself by trading a good, limited

By The Associated Press The Seattle Seahawks expect to be contenders again in the loaded NFC West. Their starters could rival any other team in the league, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, budding star wide receiver DK Metcalf and safety Jamal Adams. But depth could be a concern as Seattle appears thin at some positions