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Canada’s Sidney Crosby (87) reacts after Canada lost to the United States in a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
The Associated Press
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NEW ALBANY, Ind. — NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — NFL wide receiver Rondale Moore, who suffered a season-ending training camp knee injury in each of the last two years after a standout college career at Purdue and a promising start in the league with the Arizona Cardinals, died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound on Saturday in his native Indiana, police said. He was 25.
Moore was found dead in the garage of a property in New Albany, police chief Todd Bailey said. The death remained under investigation. Floyd County Coroner Matthew Tomlin also confirmed Moore’s death. He said an autopsy would be conducted on Sunday.
After being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Moore dislocated his right knee during training camp and never played for them. He signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, but he blew out his left knee while returning a punt in their first exhibition game and spent another full season on injured reserve. Moore was so distraught after immediately realizing the seriousness of that injury that he slammed his hand down on a cart so hard the sound was audible throughout the stadium.
The Vikings said they had spoken with Moore’s family to offer condolences and support.
“I am devastated by the news of Rondale’s death. While Rondale had been a member of the Vikings for a short time, he was someone we came to know well and care about deeply,” coach Kevin O’Connell said in a statement distributed by the team. “He was a humble, soft-spoken, and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots. As a player, he was disciplined, dedicated and resilient despite facing adversity multiple times as injuries sidelined him throughout his career. We are all heartbroken by the fact he won’t continue to live out his NFL dream and we won’t all have a chance to watch him flourish.”
In a statement, the Cardinals said they were “devastated and heartbroken.”
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him and had the privilege of knowing such a special person,” the team said in a social media post.
Moore grew up in New Albany, just across the Indiana border from Louisville, Kentucky, and was named a first team All-American as a freshman at Purdue in 2018.
“Rondale Moore was a complete joy to coach. The ultimate competitor who wouldn’t back down from any challenge. Rondale had a work ethic unmatched by anyone. A great teammate that would come through in any situation. We all loved Rondale; we loved his smile and his competitive edge that always wanted to please everyone he came in contact,” Louisville coach Jeff Brohm said on social media. Brohm was the coach at Purdue when Moore played there.
Drafted in the second round by the Cardinals in 2021, Moore had 1,201 receiving yards and three touchdowns plus 249 rushing yards and one score over three seasons. He served as their primary returner for kickoffs and punts as a rookie before injuries pushed him away from that role.
“Can’t even begin to fathom or process this,” former Cardinals teammate J.J. Watt said on social media. “There’s just no way. Way too soon. Way too special. So much left to give. Rest in peace Rondale.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Dolphins released star receiver Tyreek Hill on Monday, ending the All-Pro’s four-year tenure in Miami.
Hill, who turns 32 on March 1, is recovering from a season-ending injury suffered in a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 29 that required surgery to repair significant damage to his left knee, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
It is one of several major roster cuts the Dolphins made on Monday. Miami also cut offensive lineman James Daniels and receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and will release two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb.
The Dolphins acquired Hill in a trade with Kansas City ahead of the 2022 season and gave him a $120 million, four-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid player at his position at the time.
His contract, which runs through 2026, would have represented around $51 million against Miami’s cap.
“These past few years have been some of the most meaningful of my life and career,” Hill said in an Instagram post Monday afternoon.
Hill had consecutive 1,700-yard receiving seasons in his first two years with Miami, including a league-leading 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The five-time All-Pro entered the 2025 season aiming to regain that elite form after a relatively down year in 2024, when he had 81 catches for 959 yards — his lowest totals in both categories since 2019.
He had 21 receptions for 265 yards before he was hurt while making a catch in Miami’s Week 4 win against the Jets. Hill was running toward the sideline and planted his left foot, and his knee twisted as he was getting pulled down. He was carted off the field and placed on season-ending injured reserve on Oct. 1.
Hill’s Dolphins tenure was characterized by tremendous production on the field coupled with numerous rocky moments off the field, including an altercation with police outside of Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the 2024 season opener, and pulling himself from that season’s finale and later indicating he wanted to play elsewhere.
In an October podcast interview, Hill, who has played 10 NFL seasons, said he was undecided on whether he plans to retire when he’s done rehabbing his injury, but on Monday he indicated on social media that he’s not done playing yet.
“The Cheetah don’t slow down. Ever,” Hill said in the post. “So to everyone wondering what’s next…just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back…Born Again.”
Chubb spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins after being traded to Miami from Denver in 2022.
He suffered a gruesome knee injury late in the 2023 season that required surgery to fix a torn anterior cruciate ligament, meniscus and patellar tendon in his right knee and sidelined him all of 2024. Chubb had 11 sacks — the most he had in a season since getting 12 as a rookie in 2018 — in 2023 before the injury.
Last season, Chubb’s 8 1/2 sacks led the team. He represented a $31 million cap hit for 2026.
New general manager Jon Eric Sullivan, who was hired by the Dolphins last month along with head coach Jeff Hafley, was expected to begin making moves to overhaul Miami’s roster.
“We will move with responsible aggression here,” Sullivan said when the Dolphins introduced him on Jan 22. “We will utilize every avenue of player acquisition to bolster this roster.”
Sullivan still faces the question on whether to move on from 2020 first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa, who was benched by former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel toward the end of last season because of poor play.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024, but has since shown a decline in accuracy and mobility. Tagovailoa finished 2025 with 15 interceptions, second most in the NFL and a career high.
He is guaranteed $54 million for 2026, and the Dolphins would incur significant hits to the salary cap by releasing him. Cutting him would result in a $99 million dead cap charge. If the move is designated as a post-June 1 release, those charges are split over two years, with $67.4 million allocated to the 2026 cap and $31.8 million in 2027.
Sullivan said last week at a fan event that he doesn’t know “what the future holds right now.”
“And I told Tua that,” Sullivan said. “We’re working through some things. What I can tell you is that we’re going to infuse competition into that room — whether Tua is part of the room, whether he’s not part of the room.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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FILE – This is a 2025 photo of Sebastian Walcott of the Texas Rangers baseball team. This image reflects the Texas Rangers’ active roster as of Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, when this image was taken in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
The Associated Press
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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a catch during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Associated Press
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CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn wrapped up her second successful training run in a row Saturday and appears ready to go for gold in the Milan Cortina Olympics downhill at the age of 41, little more than a week after rupturing the ACL of her left knee.
The American crossed in third position, 0.37 seconds behind leader and teammate Breezy Johnson, and pumped her fist after seeing the result.
“All good,” Vonn told The Associated Press.
Vonn is preparing to race the downhill on Sunday with a large brace covering her injured knee. She had a partial titanium replacement inserted in her right knee in 2024 and then returned to ski racing last season after nearly six years of retirement. She crashed during the final World Cup downhill before the Olympics, raising the possibility that she would end not just her season but her career.
Instead, she has been steadfast in saying she would ski at the Olympics if at all possible and, after a training run was canceled Thursday, hit the Olympia delle Tofana downhill course on Friday and Saturday with the other racers. She placed 11th in Thursday’s training, though the times mean nothing since the athletes do not always go all in.
Vonn holds the record of 12 World Cup wins in Cortina.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn has done this before. And succeeded.
The 41-year-old American skiing standout is “confident” she can compete at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite a torn ACL from a crash four days ago.
Vonn said that the damage to her left knee was a “completely ruptured” ACL, bone bruising “plus meniscal damage.”
After three days of physical therapy and doctors’ advice, Vonn tried skiing on Tuesday. She did not appear to be limping as she entered and exited a news conference.
“My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday,” Vonn said. “And as long as there’s a chance, I will try . . . I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate.”
Vonn crashed in a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on Friday and ended up in the safety nets. After skiing to the bottom of the course she was taken to hospital.
Vonn is expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Winter Games, which start Friday with the opening ceremony. Her first race comes two days later in the women’s downhill. She also plans on competing in super-G and the new team combined event.
The opening women’s downhill training session is scheduled for Thursday.
“My intention,” Vonn said, “is to race everything.”
Vonn has had numerous crashes and injuries in her career. One of her worst was at the 2013 world championships in Schladming, Austria during a super-G that was also held in difficult conditions.
Vonn tore her right knee. She returned the following season, got hurt again and missed the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
She was also battered up before the 2019 world championships but took bronze in downhill before going into a nearly six-year retirement.
“I’ve been in this position before. I know how to handle it,” Vonn said. “I feel a lot better now than I did in 2019 . . . And I still got a medal there with no LCL and three tibial plateau fractures. So, like I said, this is not an unknown for me. I’ve done this before.”
She persevered through a bruised shin that she treated with topfen cheese before winning gold in downhill at the 2010 Games.
“I don’t need topfen now. My knee isn’t swollen,” Vonn said.
Still, Vonn added, “This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far. Definitely the most dramatic.”
Teammate Bella Wright said Vonn has what it takes — a strong mental state — to ski through her injuries.
“If anyone can do it, it’s Lindsey,” Wright said.
Breezy Johnson, the downhill and combined world champion, was in a similar situation to Vonn at Cortina during a World Cup weekend in 2022.
“I’ve tried and failed to ski this course with no ACL and that doesn’t mean that she can’t do it,” Johnson said. “There are more athletes that ski without ACLs and with knee damage than what we talk about.”
Andrea Panzeri, the chief physician for the Italian Winter Sports Federation, said numerous athletes have competed at elite level with a torn ACL and other severe knee issues.
Vonn’s fellow downhiller Sofia Goggia came back to win a silver medal at the 2022 Olympics weeks after spraining her left knee, partially tearing her ACL and suffering a “minor fracture” of the fibula bone in her leg — plus some tendon damage.
Italian freetsyle skier Flora Tabanelli tore the ACL in her right knee in November but put off surgery until after the Olympics.
Tabanelli is 18, though.
“But (Vonn) has experience, the physical ability and the experience on this course,” Panzeri said. “If she decides to try and race, it’s because her clinical condition and her doctors are allowing her to. She doesn’t have anything to lose. I think it’s worth a try.”
Vonn made a stunning comeback last season after nearly six years away. Skiing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three other podium finishes in five races.
Including super-G, Vonn completed eight World Cup races and finished on the podium in seven of them. Her worst finish was fourth.
Women’s skiing during the Games will be in Cortina, where Vonn holds the World Cup record with 12 wins.
She has won three Olympic medals: Gold in downhill and bronze in super-G in 2010 and bronze in downhill in 2018.
It hasn’t just been about recovery for Vonn these past few days.
On her way to Cortina, she stopped at the grave of her childhood coach Erich Sailer, who died in August aged 99.
Sailer coached Vonn at Buck Hill in Minnesota. He’s buried just outside Innsbruck, Austria.
Vonn said she shed some tears during the graveside visit – the only tears she’s shed these past few days.
“I miss him. And I know exactly what he would say to me right now. And it definitely gives me additional hope that I know that he would support me,” Vonn added.
“He would say, ‘It’s only 90 seconds. What’s 90 seconds in a lifetime? It’s nothing. You can do it.’” Vonn said. “That’s what he said to me before my last run in Are, and I know he would say it to me again today.”
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Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott contributed.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
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LINCOLN, Neb. — Keaton Wagler scored 28 points and No. 9 Illinois won its 11th straight game, beating No. 5 Nebraska 78-69 on Sunday in the first matchup of top-10 teams the Cornhuskers have hosted.
The Fighting Illini (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten), who haven’t lost since falling 83-80 at home to Nebraska on Dec. 13, held the Huskers to four field goals in the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Nebraska (20-2, 9-2) lost its second straight after a 20-0 start. The Huskers were beaten on the road Tuesday by another top-10 opponent, No. 3 Michigan.
Jake Davis finished with 13 points for Illinois, Tomislav Ivisic scored 12 and David Mirkovic had 10.
Braden Frager returned for Nebraska after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury and scored 20 points.
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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Sean Payton said at his season-ending news conference Tuesday that Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had a preexisting ankle condition that make a fracture inevitable.
Nix broke a bone in his right ankle on Denver’s game-winning drive in the Broncos’ 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Nix flew to Birmingham, Alabama, last week for an operation performed by Dr. Norman E. Waldrop III, a renowned foot and ankle specialist at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center.
Nix watched from a suite Sunday as backup Jarrett Stidham took his place in Denver’s 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.
On Tuesday, the Broncos’ brass provided the fullest accounting yet of Nix’s injury, with Payton saying a preexisting issue made the fracture “a matter of when.”
“What was found was a condition that was predisposed — they always find a little more when they go in,” Payton said. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was a matter of when. When you look at the play and you’re trying to evaluate it — the operating surgeon said that this was going to happen sooner than later. Now, you go about the rehab, proper orthotics, all those things.”
Payton said he has no concerns about Nix’s health going forward even though Nix has had several ankle operations going back to high school.
“So listen, he’ll rehab his tail off and get ready and get back to being healthy,” Payton said. “I think for someone who runs with the ball, I think he’s done a pretty good job of protecting himself, not all the time, but for the most part, he’s done a pretty good job of sliding and understanding playing for another day.”
General manager George Paton said Nix is tracking to return in May when the Broncos begin organized team activities.
Just before going to the lectern for his wrapup news conference, Payton said he saw Nix cruising around team headquarters on his medical scooter, which he’ll use until he graduates to crutches and then a walking boot.
“He was just up above us here,” Payton said from the atrium of the Broncos’ suburban headquarters. “I said, ‘What are you doing? Getting your scooter laps in?’
“You have to know him. He’s fidgety to begin with,” Payton said. “He might have just been getting his scooter laps. He was up there, like, in an area he’d never be in department-wise. He’s handling it like a pro. Man, I’m sure there’s disappointment for him to have to watch” on Sunday.
Nix led the Broncos (15-4) to a franchise record-tying 14 wins in the regular season and their first playoff triumph since Super Bowl 50 a decade ago. He’s won 25 games in two seasons and has an NFL-best 11 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime during that span.
“It’s difficult to get as far as he brought us, and then also to see one of his contemporaries, someone in his draft class who he would have loved to have competed against, advance,” Payton said of Patriots QB Drake Maye, who was Nix’s predraft training partner.
“It’s a tough deal.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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NORTHALLERTON, England — Repeatedly heading a soccer ball “likely” contributed to the brain injury that was a factor in the death of former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen, a coroner found Monday.
McQueen died in June 2023 at the age of 70, with the cause of death given as pneumonia after he became frail and bed-bound for months.
In his narrative conclusions following an inquest, coroner Jon Heath said McQueen died from pneumonia as a consequence of mixed vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma.
“It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE,” the coroner said.
His daughter, Hayley McQueen, was in court to hear the findings. She gave evidence during the inquest, saying her father had said that ’heading a football for all those years probably hasn’t helped” his condition.
She said her father was relatively injury-free during his career but did suffer some concussions, adding: “They would just head back out and play.”
Hayley McQueen, a TV presenter, said she hopes the findings of the inquest will lead to change in soccer and “make sure that this really real, horrible problem isn’t a problem for future generations.”
McQueen played 30 games for Scotland between 1974-81, and for Manchester United and Leeds in a 16-year career.
After retiring as a player, McQueen went into coaching and became a TV pundit.
After his death, his family donated his brain to professor Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, the inquest heard.
Stewart has conducted extensive research into brain injuries in soccer and rugby players. He told the inquest he found evidence of CTE and vascular dementia.
Stewart said the only evidence available was that McQueen’s “high exposure” to heading a soccer ball contributed to the death and that heading the ball contributed to the CTE.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Drake Maye threw three touchdown passes, Marcus Jones returned one of C.J. Stroud’s four interceptions for a score and the New England Patriots defeated the Houston Texans 28-16 on Sunday to advance to the AFC championship game for the first time in seven years.
In Mike Vrabel’s first season as coach, the Patriots (16-3) will take on the Broncos (15-3) in Denver next Sunday, with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots will make their 16th conference championship game appearance and first since their run to their sixth Super Bowl title under Bill Belichick in the 2018 season. New England has won its last nine divisional round games.
Maye finished 16 of 27 for 179 yards, but had an interception and fumbled four times, losing two in cold conditions in which snow and rain fell throughout the game. One of Maye’s fumbles set up Houston’s first touchdown.
“Just proud of the guys,” Maye said. “Battled the elements. This is New England. This is what we’re trying to embrace and we want to embrace all season long. Props to our defense, played a hell of a game. We’ve got to protect the football better, but we made enough plays to win it.”
Carlton Davis III had two interceptions for New England. Craig Woodson added an interception and fumble recovery.
“They bring it every week,” Maye said of his defense. “It’s fun to watch. And we could help them out some more, but just proud of the guys. Enjoy this one, and we’re back on the road.”
The eight combined turnovers — Woody Marks also lost a fumble for Houston — were the most in a playoff game since 2015 when the Cardinals and Panthers combined for eight in the NFC championship game.
The Texans (13-6) have lost in the divisional round in three straight seasons under coach DeMeco Ryans. The franchise is now 0-7 all-time in this round.
Stroud finished 20 of 47 with a TD pass. All of his interceptions came in the first half as he became the first player with five or more INTs and five or more fumbles in a single postseason. Will Anderson forced two fumbles for the Texans.
Leading 21-16 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots stretched their lead to 27-16 when Kayshon Boutte got behind Derek Stingley Jr. and pulled in a diving, one-hand catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
The Texans had the ball with 5:48 to play, but punted on fourth-and-18 at their own 21 with 4:18 remaining.
New England’s next drive took the clock under two minutes. But the Texans turned it over on downs when Stroud’s fourth-down pass to Xavier Hutchinson was batted down by Robert Spillane.
With the Patriots leading 7-3 early, a series of miscues produced the next two scores.
Maye was strip-sacked by Danielle Hunter deep in Patriots territory, but left tackle Will Campbell fell on the ball and the Patriots punted.
The Texans gave it right back when Stroud’s deep pass along the sideline was intercepted by Davis III.
Maye fumbled again when he attempted to run on a busted play and had the ball stripped by Tommy Togiai and recovered by Azeez Al-Shaair. Six plays later, Stroud linked up with Christian Kirk on a 10-yard touchdown pass.
But on Houston’s next drive, Stroud was rushed up the middle by K’Lavon Chaisson and he lofted a pass that was intercepted by Jones and returned for the score to put New England back in front.
Later in the quarter, the Patriots’ lead increased to 21-10 when they capped a five-play, 56-yard drive with a 7-yard TD pass from Maye to Stefon Diggs.
Jones scored on an interception return for the second time this season. It was the first of his career in the playoffs and first for New England in the postseason since Asante Samuel had one vs. Indianapolis on Jan. 21, 2007, in the AFC championship game.
Texans: TE Dalton Schultz (calf) left in the first quarter and didn’t return. … LG Tytus Howard limped off and RB Woody Marks exited with a shoulder injury in the second quarter. … TE Cade Stover left in the fourth with a knee injury and didn’t return.
Patriots: LB Robert Spillane left in the first quarter with a thumb injury, but returned. … RB TreVeyon Henderson was shaken up after a second quarter run before jogging off. … S Craig Woodson exited after his INT with a head injury, but returned. … RB Rhamondre Stevenson left in the second quarter with an eye issue. … Davis left in the fourth quarter with a head injury.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay’s Micah Parsons calls his torn anterior cruciate ligament “the most challenging thing that I think I’ve ever faced as a human.”
But the All-Pro defensive end believes he can recover in time to play early next season.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since his Dec. 14 injury, Parsons said Monday that he hopes to be back for the start of the season, but added that a more realistic goal is “probably like Week 3, Week 4.”
“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” Parsons said. “I don’t think people realize how much the knee is. It’s the most challenging thing that I think I’ve ever faced as a human. When you talk about pain, can’t sleep, can’t move around. … I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night. My body’s tired. My mind’s tired. I’m exhausted, man. But it’s going to be worth it once I’m going to be able to move and play again.”
Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft both discussed their recoveries from torn ACLs as the Packers packed up their lockers two days after blowing a 15-point, fourth-quarter lead in a 31-27 wild-card playoff loss at Chicago.
Kraft, who tore his right ACL on Nov. 2, compared this injury to the torn pectoral muscle that caused him to spend part of the 2024 preseason on the physically unable to perform list. Kraft returned in time to play all 17 games that season.
“By the time Week 1 rolls around, I’ll be 10 months post-surgery and hopefully bulletproof by then,” Kraft said.
The Packers were leading the Denver Broncos in the second half when Parsons hurt his left knee, knocking him out for the rest of this season. They didn’t win again, losing their last five games.
It’s the first major injury of Parsons’ career. It ended his first season in Green Bay prematurely after the Packers acquired him in an August trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m not a very vulnerable person and during this period I’ve probably been the most vulnerable I’ve been in the last like, probably my whole life, Parsons said. “I’m telling people how much I need them and appreciate them being there for me.
“Because to be honest, man, you can’t go through this injury by yourself. … Like I can’t shower by myself. I can’t even get off the bed myself. So I couldn’t imagine being alone. So I’m so appreciative of my family being there for me.”
The injuries to Parsons and Kraft left the Packers without two of their best players.
Parsons had 12 ½ sacks this season to earn All-Pro honors despite missing the Packers’ final four games. Kraft had 32 catches for 489 yards and six touchdowns despite playing only eight games.
“I was on the cusp of putting together one of the greatest seasons by a Packer tight end, and that was something I was looking forward to, just leaving my legacy on this game and playing as hard as I could every snap for the for this team, because the end of the day, the guys in this room, they mean so much to me,” Kraft said.
Although the Packers were winless after his injury, Parsons said “there was no point in the season where I felt like we weren’t a championship-caliber team.”
The Packers led by at least nine points after halftime in three of their five losses to end the season. Another loss came when the Packers rested their starters in the regular-season finale at Minnesota.
Parsons and Kraft both expressed support for Matt LaFleur as speculation swirled about their coach’s future.
“I think Matt’s an outstanding head coach,” Kraft said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll remain here as a Packer. I think a lot of that talk is pretty silly.”
Parsons said LaFleur’s presence was part of the reason he wanted to come to Green Bay. Parsons said he mentioned that to LaFleur after seeing questions about the coach’s job status.
“You can get spoiled with good coach and good people, and you don’t realize until they’re gone,” Parsons said. “I don’t want to be at that point where we realize like, ‘Damn, we let such a great coach go.’ “
Parsons said players must take accountability regarding the way the season ended.
“There’s a lot of reality checks that us as players need,” Parsons said. “Yeah, I think as fans and people I see the same things you see. People want to look at the play-calling and people want to look that, but I’m looking at the effort of the guys. I look at the how guys are playing. Are we blocking? Are we getting blocks? Are we attacking? Those are the things us players we can control. And I think more people need to realize that.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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TORONTO — Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles scored 17 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Atlanta Hawks 118-100 on Monday night.
Murray-Boyles added seven rebounds and seven assists for Toronto (22-15) in place of injured starter Jakob Poeltl (back strain). Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic confirmed before that game that Poeltl had been cleared for contact.
Scottie Barnes finished with 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds as the Raptors beat the Hawks for the second straight game. Toronto defeated Atlanta 134-117 on Saturday.
Brandon Ingram had 19 points and nine rebounds as seven Toronto players reached double digits in scoring.
Jalen Johnson had 13 points and 14 rebounds and Onyeka Okongwu finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta (17-21).
Kristaps Porzingis returned to the Hawks’ lineup, after missing the second game of a back-to-back, scoring nine points in 20 minutes off the bench.
Hawks guard Trae Young missed another game as he recovers from a right quadriceps contusion.
Although both teams struggled with their 3-point shooting, Atlanta had a poor shooting night overall. The Hawks went 35 for 89 (39.3%) from the field, including 12 for 34 from 3-point distance.
The Raptors outscored the Hawks 64-44 in the paint. Toronto shot 47 for 90 (52.2%) from the field.
Hawks: Host New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
Raptors: At Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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Cleveland Cavaliers (20-17, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Indiana Pacers (6-30, 15th in the Eastern Conference)
Indianapolis; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana plays Cleveland looking to stop its six-game home losing streak.
The Pacers are 2-6 against division opponents. Indiana has a 2-23 record against teams over .500.
The Cavaliers are 6-3 against Central Division teams. Cleveland is 0-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Pacers average 110.6 points per game, 6.2 fewer points than the 116.8 the Cavaliers allow. The Cavaliers average 119.2 points per game, 0.5 fewer than the 119.7 the Pacers allow to opponents.
The teams play for the third time this season. The Cavaliers won the last matchup 135-119 on Dec. 2. Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points to help lead the Cavaliers to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith is averaging 25 points, eight assists and two blocks over the past 10 games.
Jaylon Tyson is scoring 13.1 points per game and averaging 5.6 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 30.0 points and 6.0 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 0-10, averaging 111.8 points, 39.8 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.4 points per game.
Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 120.5 points, 45.2 rebounds, 30.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.2 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin: out (thumb), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Isaiah Jackson: out (concussion), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Dean Wade: out (knee), Jarrett Allen: out (illness), Larry Nance Jr.: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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Miami Heat (15-15, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (15-16, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Friday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta plays Miami looking to stop its three-game home slide.
The Hawks have gone 9-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta has a 6-11 record against teams over .500.
The Heat are 9-10 in Eastern Conference play. Miami is 8-8 in games decided by at least 10 points.
The Hawks average 118.8 points per game, 1.2 more points than the 117.6 the Heat allow. The Heat are shooting 47.0% from the field, 0.9% lower than the 47.9% the Hawks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Johnson is shooting 52.3% and averaging 23.8 points for the Hawks. Vit Krejci is averaging 5.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is scoring 15.9 points per game and averaging 5.5 rebounds for the Heat. Andrew Wiggins is averaging 2.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 2-8, averaging 118.6 points, 40.7 rebounds, 31.3 assists, 9.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 126.0 points per game.
Heat: 2-8, averaging 110.6 points, 44.3 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.5 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Dyson Daniels: day to day (hip), Kristaps Porzingis: out (reconditioning), N’Faly Dante: out for season (knee), Mouhamed Gueye: day to day (shoulder).
Heat: Nikola Jovic: out (elbow), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe), Pelle Larsson: day to day (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (20-9, second in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Thursday, 12 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 236.5
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks square off against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks are 16-8 in Eastern Conference games. New York averages 120.1 points and has outscored opponents by 7.2 points per game.
The Cavaliers have gone 13-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks third in the NBA averaging 15.3 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 34.8% from downtown. Donovan Mitchell leads the team averaging 4.0 makes while shooting 38.8% from 3-point range.
The Knicks are shooting 47.9% from the field this season, 1.1 percentage points higher than the 46.8% the Cavaliers allow to opponents. The Cavaliers score 7.1 more points per game (120.0) than the Knicks allow their opponents to score (112.9).
The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 119-111 in their last matchup on Oct. 22. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points, and Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Brunson is shooting 48.2% and averaging 29.1 points for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 40.0 points over the last 10 games.
De’Andre Hunter is averaging 15.3 points for the Cavaliers. Mitchell is averaging 27.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 7-3, averaging 119.4 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 49.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.9 points per game.
Cavaliers: 5-5, averaging 122.6 points, 46.1 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Guerschon Yabusele: day to day (illness), Landry Shamet: out (shoulder), Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle), Miles McBride: day to day (ankle), OG Anunoby: day to day (ankle).
Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Evan Mobley: out (calf), Lonzo Ball: day to day (injury management), Larry Nance Jr.: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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Associated Press — When recruits were repeatedly punched and tackled during a role-playing exercise at the Texas game wardens academy last year, they were taking part in a longstanding police training tradition that critics say should be retired.
By the end of the day, at least 13 of the cadets reported injuries. At least two concussions. A torn knee. A bloody nose. A broken wrist. Two would need surgery. One would resign in protest. Another quit even before the drill.
A state investigation later found nothing wrong with the drill, which its supporters say is intended to teach recruits to make good decisions under intense physical and mental stress. The experience on Dec. 13, 2024, may have been traumatizing for some at the Texas Game Warden Training Center in Hamilton, Texas, but it was not unique.
Since 2005, drills intended to teach defensive tactics at law enforcement academies have been linked to at least a dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries, some resulting in disability, according to a review by The Associated Press.
The drills — frequently referred to as RedMan training for the brand and color of protective gear worn by participants – are intended to teach law enforcement recruits how to defend themselves against combative suspects. They’re among the most challenging tests at police academies. Law enforcement experts say that when properly designed and supervised, they teach new officers critical skills.
But critics say they can put recruits at risk of physical and mental abuse that runs some promising officers out of the profession. Academies have wide latitude in running such exercises, given a lack of national standards governing police training.
Here are some takeaways from AP’s report.
A string of tragedies across the nation in recent years has brought new attention to the details of curricula at law enforcement academies.
In August, 30-year-old Jon-Marques Psalms died two days after a training exercise at the San Francisco Police Department Academy. He suffered a head injury while fighting an instructor in a padded suit.
An autopsy found his death was an accident caused by complications of muscle and organ damage “in the setting of a high-intensity training exercise.” His family has filed a legal claim against the city and hired experts for a second autopsy.
In November 2024, a 24-year-old Kentucky game warden recruit died after fighting an instructor in a pool to the point of collapse, video obtained by AP shows. William Bailey’s death was ruled an accidental drowning due to a “sudden cardiac dysrhythmia during physical exertion.”
A year earlier, a Denver police recruit had both legs amputated after a training fight that his attorney called a “barbaric hazing ritual” left him hospitalized. An Indiana recruit died of exertion after he was pummeled by a larger instructor, and a classmate was disabled after fighting the same man.
Academies have discretion to design training within state guidelines, and AP found the drills take many forms at local police, county sheriff and state departments. They’re sometimes called “combat training,” “Fight Day” or “stress reaction training.”
Some recruits have to ward off several assailants at once. Others fight a series of instructors, one after another. Some academies intentionally use larger, more skilled instructors. The stated goals are generally the same: to use skills learned in the academy to fend off or subdue assailants and to never give up.
Recruits and instructors wear protective gear to cushion their heads from blows. But there are no uniform safety guidelines, including whether academies must have medical personnel on site.
One of the recruits injured last year was Heather Sterling, a former Wyoming game warden who had moved back to her home state of Texas to continue her career.
Sterling had been a defensive tactics instructor in Wyoming before enrolling in the Texas academy, and she was concerned when she learned about the so-called four-on-one drill.
During the exercise, cadets faced a barrage of attacks from four instructors playing the role of violent assailants. Cadets would have to kick and punch a bag held by an instructor and try to fend off attacks for 90 seconds or more.
Sterling thought the scenario was unrealistic. She said she had never been ambushed on the job, and she would be able to use her firearm or other force if that happened in real life.
Video shows that Sterling was punched seven times in the head in less than two minutes, and the last blow knocked off her wrestling helmet. She was also thrown to the ground.
Sterling said she had a pounding headache, and later drove herself to get medical treatment. She was diagnosed with a concussion.
Sterling passed the drill but resigned from the academy in protest. Now she’s speaking out in the hopes of bringing change to practices in Texas and elsewhere.
“I’m worried that someone is going to get killed,” she said. “This is a poorly disguised assault.”
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CLEVELAND — Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each scored 24 points as the Chicago Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 136-125 victory over the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Vucevic, who also grabbed 15 rebounds, had 11 points and six boards in the fourth quarter as the Bulls won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 19.
Seven players scored in double figures for Chicago. Josh Giddey had 17 points and Tre Jones added 16 off the bench.
Darius Garland scored a season-high 35 for Cleveland, which was missing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell due to illness. All-Star forward Evan Mobley will be sidelined for at least another week with a calf injury.
Rookie guard Tyrese Proctor scored 16 points in his first NBA start, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin had 15 off the bench.
The Cavaliers have dropped three straight and four of five. They’ve also lost five of their last six home games.
The game was tied at 115 before Chicago took control with a 17-8 run. Vucevic had seven points during the spurt, including a go-ahead layup.
Chicago had a 66-55 lead at halftime and was up 74-60 early in the third quarter before Cleveland fought back with a 27-9 surge. Jarrett Allen had 10 points and four rebounds while Garland scored nine points with four assists during the run.
Cleveland scored the game’s first 11 points before Chicago began to come back with six points on one trip down the floor. Buzelis hit a 3-pointer before Jaylon Tyson received a Flagrant 1 foul. Buzelis hit the free throw and Vucevic added a layup.
Game official Tre Maddox injured his leg at the end of the first quarter, reducing the officiating crew to two the rest of the game: Ray Acosta and Phenizee Ransom.
Bulls: At the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
Cavaliers: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Yarden Garzon scored 12 of her 25 points in the first quarter, and No. 7 Maryland routed Central Connecticut State 98-30 on Friday.
To the delight of the screaming kids in attendance for the team’s annual Field Trip Day game, Terrapins coach Brenda Frese wore a jersey with the number 67 on it before tip-off. Then Maryland nearly won by that margin.
The blowout was no surprise. Maryland entered the game as one of 12 unbeaten teams left in Division I, and Central Connecticut State was one of 10 without a victory. The Terps (13-0) scored the game’s first 10 points and led 39-14 after one quarter.
Garzon made four 3-pointers in the first period.
Oluchi Okananwa had 22 points and Isimenme Ozzy-Momodu, who appeared to hobble on her right leg before leaving the game in the fourth quarter, had 10 points and nine rebounds. Ozzy-Momodu said after the game she’s OK.
Lucia Noin led Central Connecticut State (0-11) with 12 points.
Maryland guard Saylor Poffenbarger has been dealing with an ankle injury, and she sat out Friday as a planned rest day before the team returns to conference play. The Terrapins have lost Lea Bartelme, Ava McKennie and Kaylene Smikle to season-ending knee injuries, and Bri McDaniel, who tore her ACL 11 months ago, now plans to redshirt this season.
After the Terps took a 64-18 lead, they attempted five straight 3-pointers before Garzon finally made one to gave Maryland exactly 67 points. That drew an excited response from the crowd, as expected.
Central Connecticut State: Hosts Long Island University on Jan. 2.
Maryland: Hosts Wisconsin on Dec. 29.
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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian accident investigators on Thursday released dramatic images of a skydiver’s parachute becoming entangled on an airplane’s tail, leaving him dangling at 4,500 meters (15,000 feet.)
The skydiver, Adrian Ferguson, used a hook knife to cut himself free and sustained minor leg injuries during the incident on Sept. 20 that began at Tully Airport in Queensland state. The pilot and 16 other parachutists on board the Cessna Caravan that day were not hurt.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released the video with its report on its investigation into the mishap.
The plane had reached the desired altitude where the skydivers were planning to execute a 16-way formation jump. A 17th parachutist was at an open door waiting to record video as the others jumped.
Ferguson was leaving the plane when the ripcord of his reserve chute became snagged on a wing flap, the report said.
The chute released and immediately jerked Fergson backward. He knocked the camera operator clear from the plane and into a free fall. Ferguson’s legs then struck the trail’s horizontal stabilizer before the chute tangled around it and left him dangling.
Ferguson used a knife to cut 11 lines that enabled him to fall from the plane with part of the torn chute.
He released his main chute, which fully inflated despite becoming entangled with remnants of the reserve chute, and he landed safely.
Meanwhile, most of the other skydivers had jumped. The pilot was left with two skydivers aboard battling to control the plane with part of the chute still tangled around the tail.
The pilot made a mayday call and was prepared to bail out wearing an emergency chute. But Brisbane air traffic authorities decided he had enough control of the plane to land safely at Tully. It landed without incident.
“Carrying a hook knife — although it is not a regulatory requirement — could be lifesaving in the event of a premature reserve parachute deployment,” the bureau’s chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
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