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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Aaron Rodgers is back as the starting quarterback of the New York Jets -- healthy, confident and ready for a potential do-or-die season for himself and the entire organization. "If I don't do what I know I'm capable of doing, we're all probably going to be out of here," Rodgers said Tuesday after his second OTA practice -- the first open to the media. "I like that kind of pressure, though." The four-time MVP amplified the narrative surrounding the Jets, that the fates of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas likely hinge on the 2024 season. The Jets are 18-33 under the leadership of Saleh and Douglas and are hoping Rodgers and a win-now roster can end the NFL's longest active playoff drought -- 13 years. Rodgers, 40, put himself on the hot seat as well. "You might not say it, but as you get older in the league, if you don't perform, they're going to get rid of you or bring in the next guy to take over," he said. "I mean, it...

PITTSBURGH -- Justin Fields received the long-awaited call as he ate a late dinner in Italy on March 16. Weeks earlier, the Chicago Bears informed their former first-round quarterback at his exit meeting they planned to move on from him and draft a quarterback with their No. 1 overall pick. Finally, after a lengthy limbo dating to the 2023 offseason, Fields learned he was a Pittsburgh Steeler in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick at 10 p.m. in Milan, Italy. "We were in the same situation last year with having the No. 1 pick, and it was just a little bit different this year," Fields said Tuesday, speaking for the first time since the trade. "I'm not naive to the fact that -- I can read body language and stuff like that. It wasn't really just a shock to where it's like, 'Oh, I got traded.' I knew what was going to happen beforehand. So I'm just glad I got traded to the spot that I wanted to be at." He also added it was a "relief" to know his...

Women's basketball star  Angel Reese, who is from Maryland, is part of the ownership group for a new professional women's soccer team launching in Washington, D.C. Reese was announced on Tuesday as one of the founding owners of the DC Power Football Club, one of eight teams that will compete in the inaugural season of the USL Super League, which kicks off in August. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Reese led LSU to its first NCAA championship in women's basketball in 2023 and became a household name as she led LSU past Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the 2023 title game. She was also named the best player in the tournament that year. In April, the WNBA's Chicago Sky drafted Reese with the No. 7 pick in this year's draft. "I want to help grow women's sports and elevate female athletes across the board," Reese said in a statement. "We're taking over, and I'm honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women's soccer in...

The Big 12 conference became the first named party in the House v. NCAA case to vote to settle that case and related antitrust cases, sources told ESPN, forging a path to a new era in college athletics. Big 12 presidents and chancellors voted virtually Tuesday afternoon to unanimously approve, with departing members Texas and Oklahoma abstaining. The 12 continuing members from this year's conference all voted to pass. The other four power conferences and the NCAA board of governors are expected to vote in the upcoming days. The settlement is widely expected to pass, which will chart a new course for college sports in establishing a framework for schools to share millions of dollars with their athletes in the future and create a fund of more than $2.7 billion to pay former athletes who were not allowed to sign name, image and likeness (NIL) deals. Sources have consistently indicated to ESPN that there's little resistance on the conference level, and the NCAA is also expected...

Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after just one season in charge, the club confirmed in a statement Tuesday. Sources told ESPN that Pochettino, 52, departed following talks in the past 48 hours with co-owner Behdad Eghbali and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) Pochettino, who also publicly confirmed he had dinner with co-owner Todd Boehly on Friday, guided Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semifinals during his solitary campaign. Sources insisted that although Pochettino had a year remaining on his contract, the decision was amicable on both sides. Stewart and Winstanley said in a club statement: "On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time...

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg on Tuesday said the city's police department will investigate whether its officers followed proper protocols when world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested Friday outside Valhalla Golf Club, the site of last week's PGA Championship. Louisville police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said in a statement Tuesday that an update on the investigation will be provided Thursday. "The internal investigation is still ongoing. Any policy violations that are revealed through the course of the investigation will be appropriately addressed according to LMPD's disciplinary protocol," she said in the statement. Greenberg said he thought it was "critically important" that police address its investigation, "not just in high-profile events like [those that] took place on Friday, but on a regular basis. "And if policies are not being followed, there will be transparency about that. There will be action taken," he said, according to the Louisville...

Mauricio Pochettino has left his role as  Chelsea manager by mutual consent after less than 11 months in charge despite qualifying for European football next season, the club confirmed Tuesday. Pochettino's exit means Chelsea owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, are on the lookout for their fourth manager since taking over at the club in May 2022. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club's history," Pochettino said in the club's statement. "The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.' The 51-year-old, who joined Chelsea on a year two-year deal last summer, has left with the west London club finishing seventh in the Premier League and qualifying for the Europa Conference League, UEFA's third-tier continental competition. Chelsea spent...

Mauricio Pochettino has left his role as  Chelsea manager by mutual consent after less than 11 months in charge despite qualifying for European football next season, sources confirmed to ESPN. Pochettino's exit means Chelsea owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, are on the lookout for their fourth manager since taking over at the club in May 2022. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The 51-year-old, who joined Chelsea on a year two-year deal last summer, has left with the west London club finishing seventh in the Premier League and qualifying for the Europa Conference League, UEFA's third-tier continental competition. Chelsea spent around £380 million ($478.26m) on 10 players in the last summer transfer window but struggled with consistency for much of the season.   A young squad coupled with long-term injuries to  Christopher Nkunku and club captain Reece James saw them suffer 11 losses in the...

HOUSTON -- Less than a month after being shot in the leg, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell participated in the team's OTAs. Dell was shot at a private event in Sanford, Florida, where authorities said a teenage gunman injured 10 people after an altercation on April 28. Dell's wound was minor, and he was released from the hospital shortly after the shooting. The Texans' 2023 third-round pick had no limitations and participated in individual drills, 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s. "Happy for Tank to get back out there. He went through a very tragic situation," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "We're just happy that he's here, happy that he's back out being able to do what he loves doing and that's playing football. It's fun to see him running around. Being that same player he's been before, making plays and being a dynamic player for us. Everyone is excited to see Tank." Beyond the shooting, Dell was also recovering from a broken leg he suffered in an early December...

The Tampa Bay Lightning have reunited with a familiar face, bringing back defenseman Ryan McDonagh in a trade with Nashville on Tuesday. The Lightning sent a 2025 second-round draft choice and 2024 seventh-round selection to the Predators for McDonagh and the Edmonton Oilers' 2024 fourth-round pick. Tampa Bay previously traded McDonagh -- for defenseman Philippe Myers and forward Grant Mismash -- to Nashville in July 2022. It was a salary cap dump the Lightning had to make at the time despite how valuable McDonagh had been on their back end through Stanley Cup championship runs in 2020 and 2021. He was originally traded to Tampa Bay by the New York Rangers in February 2018 as part of a multiplayer swap that included J.T. Miller. McDonagh signed a seven-year, $47.25 million contract extension with the Lightning that June and went on to produce a career-best season in 2018-19 with nine goals and 46 points in 82 games. It was the next two...

Caitlin Clark has another big endorsement deal on the way. The 2024 No. 1 WNBA draft pick and NCAA Division I basketball's all-time leading scorer has signed a multiyear partnership with Wilson that will include a signature basketball collection, the company announced Tuesday. According to Boardroom, the only other athlete who has developed a signature collection with Wilson is Michael Jordan. The company has already dropped three white-and-gold Clark-branded Wilson basketballs -- titled Threes Up, Record Breaker and Crowd Maestro -- that feature laser engravings with some of the guard's signature moments from her time at Iowa. "I think it is super special, and it's been fun for me," Clark told Boardroom. "I feel like I was just that young kid who had those basketballs that I would store in the garage. I'm just very lucky and fortunate to partner with Wilson to create something that everyone can enjoy. It connects with a lot of generations, and it'll be fun to see kids walking...

Plenty of pro athletes play golf during their offseason, but Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves took it a step further, trying to qualify for an event on the Korn Ferry Tour. He fell short, however, shooting a 76 at Willow Creek Golf Club in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Monday and missing qualifying for the Knoxville Open by 11 strokes. "You can't really compare anything to it," Reaves said, according to PGATour.com. "I was nervous, I will say that, but it was a lot of fun. I was on the first tee shaking a little bit, didn't hit a good ball, but other than that, it was a lot of fun to play some competitive golf." Reaves is an avid golfer who hadn't played a competitive event since high school. He told the Los Angeles Times that the plan came together quickly. "I was laying on the couch the other day and I was bored, and I called [my friend Trent Swaim] and said 'Find me a Monday qualifier around here,'" Reaves said. He told the newspaper that his short game,...

Plenty of pro athletes play golf during their offseason, but Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves took a step further, trying to qualify for an event on the Korn Ferry Tour. He fell short, however, shooting a 76 at Willow Creek Country Club in Knoxville, Tenn., on Monday to miss qualifying for the Knoxville Open by 11 strokes. "You can't really compare anything to it," Reaves said, according to PGATour.com. "I was nervous, I will say that, but it was a lot of fun. I was on the first tee shaking a little bit, didn't hit a good ball, but other than that, it was a lot of fun to play some competitive golf." Reaves is an avid golfer who hadn't played a competitive event since high school. He told the Los Angeles Times that the plan came together quickly. "I was laying on the couch the other day and I was bored, and I called [my friend Trent Swaim] and said 'Find me a Monday qualifier around here,'" Reaves said. He told the newspaper that his short game, specifically...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The injured person in an alleged May 6 assault at a Dallas nightclub in which Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is reportedly a suspect has asked police not to file charges, according to Dallas police. Asked by email about the status of the investigation, Dallas police responded by saying, "The reporting party has signed an affidavit of non-prosecution. The investigation is ongoing.'' Dallas police have said that officers responded to a report of an assault at a Dallas nightclub around 2:30 a.m. on May 6. Charges have not been filed in the case. The Dallas Morning News reported that Rice is a suspect. A man was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including swelling on one side of his face, the Morning News reported. Rice is working with the Chiefs this week as they begin their offseason practices. He was arrested last month for his involvement in a March 30 six-car crash in Dallas that left at least seven...

The jersey worn by New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth when he "called his shot" in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series will go up for auction in August, Heritage Auctions announced Tuesday. The sale of the road gray Ruth jersey, available to the public for the first time in 19 years, is expected to set a record for a sports collectible at auction, where it could fetch upward of $30 million, according to Chris Ivy, Heritage Auctions' director of sports auctions. The auction is set for Aug. 23-25. The jersey last sold for $940,000 in 2005 with Grey Flannel Auctions. At that time, it was dated to the 1932 season and purported to be from that year's series. But the jersey has now been photo-matched by MeiGray Authenticated as the one Ruth wore in Game 3. "There were a couple of things that helped [this jersey] stand out from previous seasons," said Jim Montague, MeiGray's vice president of authentication. "How the Y was positioned on the front of the jersey in relationship to the...

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has become as popular for his winning ways as he has for his amusing personality -- and that nature has one player drawing comparisons to an award-winning comedian and actor. "I hope I don't get in trouble for this, but he reminds me of Will Ferrell," Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman said Monday. "I don't know if it's the way that he speaks, his analogies and everything, but they really remind me of Will Ferrell." Perryman said that he hadn't told Harbaugh yet but imagined Harbaugh would hear these comments and talk to him about it at practice on Tuesday. When asked which version of Ferrell Harbaugh reminds him of, Perryman said perhaps Ferrell's acting in the movie "Step Brothers." He joked that Will Ferrell in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" might also get him in trouble. "I don't know if it's his tone of voice or the way he talks in general, but the first thing that comes to mind is...

Former University of Florida football recruit Jaden Rashada is suing coach Billy Napier, along with a big-time Gator booster and others, claiming they defrauded him out of millions of dollars by backing out of a promised $13.85 million agreement after the quarterback had turned down offers tied to other programs. The lawsuit filed Tuesday includes an allegation that Rashada signed his national letter of intent to Florida on Dec. 21, 2022, less than an hour after Napier promised the player's father a $1 million "partial payment" that day upon signing. Rashada never received the $1 million, and the boosters never fulfilled the deal, the lawsuit states. Rashada is the first known college athlete to sue his coach or a booster due to a dispute of a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal. His case, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Florida, comes during a tumultuous time for the relatively new NIL market for college athletes. A mixture of state...

England manager Gareth Southgate named his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024 with call-ups for Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Kobbie Mainoo, but there was no place for Marcus Rashford or Jordan Henderson. Southgate included five uncapped players in total -- Liverpool's  Curtis Jones and  Jarell Quansah,  Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford -- as part of an expanded group strong in attacking talent. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Cole Palmer,  Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins were rewarded for fine seasons with Chelsea,  Newcastle and  Aston Villa, respectively, while Brentford forward Ivan Toney was also included despite returning in January from an eight-month suspension for breaching...

INDIANAPOLIS -- As if the massive expectations and brutal opening schedule weren't significant enough challenges for Caitlin Clark to confront at the start of her WNBA career, she faced another culprit Monday night: her left ankle. The Indiana Fever rookie and No. 1 draft pick, who has been the subject of unrelenting defensive focus while transitioning to the pro game, rolled her ankle in the second quarter of the Fever's 88-84 loss to the Connecticut Sun, an injury that left Clark sprawled on the court and clutching her ankle in pain. Clark was unable to get to her feet unassisted and limped to the locker room immediately after being helped up. A sellout home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse fell silent as Clark's teammates surrounded her. Meanwhile, her coach held her breath. "I was worried," Indiana's Christie Sides said. "A lot." It was the latest in a series of obstacles Clark has dealt with to start her highly anticipated rookie season. But...

England manager Gareth Southgate will name his provisional squad for Euro 2024 on Tuesday, with sources telling ESPN that Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi are due to be included but Marcus Rashford and  Jordan Henderson will miss out. Henderson joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq last summer before joining Ajax in January in an attempt to remain in contention for the European Championship. However, Southgate will leave him out for this summer's tournament in Germany. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Rashford has had a difficult season with Manchester United, registering seven goals in 33 league appearances as the team finished eighth in the Premier League. Sources have told ESPN that Chelsea left-back  Ben Chilwell will also miss out. Southgate will name his final squad, which can include 26 players, next month. Neither Eze, Guéhi nor Colwill have previously appeared at a...

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos will retire from football after playing for Germany at this summer's European Championship, the player announced on Tuesday. Kroos, 34, has won 22 trophies with Madrid since joining in 2014, including four Champions Leagues -- plus another with Bayern Munich -- and four LaLiga titles. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The midfielder first raised the prospect of retiring in 2022, before deciding to play on for another season, but has now chosen to end his career this summer. "After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end," Kroos posted on Instagram. "I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one. "At the same time this decision means that my career as an active...

The first international signee of Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions will debut on the undercard of Paul's July 20 showdown with Mike Tyson, officials confirmed with ESPN on Tuesday. India's Neeraj Goyat (18-4-2, 8 KOs) will compete for the first time under the MVP banner against Brazilian superstar Whindersson Nunes in a six-round super middleweight bout contested at 165 pounds. Goyat, 32, is the first Indian fighter to make the WBC world rankings and is recognized as one of the best boxers in the country. He utilized a social media campaign earlier this year in an effort to land a fight with Paul but instead found himself signing with Paul's promotion. Goyat has over a million followers on Instagram and has appeared on Indian television and Bollywood movies. Goyat -- a three-time WBC Asia titleholder -- has won nine of his last 10 fights, with his only loss coming to lightweight and super lightweight title contender Jose Zepeda. But it was his viral video that caught the...

With a slightly fading voice and a ticket to the Western Conference finals in hand, Connor McDavid said what many were surely thinking about his team's latest performance. "We know how to make it stressful," McDavid told Sportsnet. McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers saw their three-goal lead come under threat late in the third period with the Vancouver Canucks scoring twice. Even with those goals, the Oilers held firm in a 3-2 win Monday in Game 7 of the second-round series. Now, the Oilers will travel to Dallas where they will face the Stars in the conference final for the right to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. For the Oilers, this will be their second trip to the conference final in the past three years, while the Stars are making a consecutive appearance. Three second-period goals from Cody Ceci, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signaled the Oilers were 20 minutes away from the conference final. Then, their...

INDIANAPOLIS -- As if the massive expectations and brutal opening schedule weren't significant enough challenges for Caitlin Clark to confront at the start of her WNBA career, she faced another culprit Monday night: her left ankle. The Indiana Fever rookie and No. 1 draft pick, who has been the subject of unrelenting defensive focus while transitioning to the pro game, rolled her ankle in the second quarter of the Fever's 88-84 loss to the Connecticut Sun, an injury that left Clark sprawled on the court and clutching her ankle in pain. Clark was unable to get to her feet unassisted and limped to the locker room immediately after being helped up. A sellout home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse fell silent as Clark's teammates surrounded her. Meanwhile, her coach held her breath. "I was worried," Indiana's Christie Sides said. "A lot." It was the latest in a series of obstacles Clark has dealt with to start her highly anticipated rookie season. But...

An unresolved contract situation will prolong Tee Higgins' absence in Cincinnati. The Bengals star receiver still has not signed his franchise tender and is not expected to by next week, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday, which would make Higgins ineligible to report for Cincinnati's organized team activities that run May 28-30 and June 3-6. Cincinnati's mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13. Higgins cannot rejoin the team until he signs. Higgins and the Bengals have been unable to come to terms on a long-term deal. The two sides haven't discussed an extension in over a year, a source told ESPN. Of the eight players who were given the franchise tag this offseason, Higgins is the only one who has not signed a multiyear contract. Earlier this month, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow voiced support for Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who are both seeking new deals. "Those guys have their business they need to take care...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos will have to wait to see how much linebacker Drew Sanders had improved from his rookie season in 2023 because the third-round pick a year ago will now miss at least most of the 2024 season. Sources told ESPN on Monday night Sanders suffered a torn Achilles early on in the team's offseason program in mid-April, as first reported by 9News in Denver. Sanders has had surgery to repair the torn tendon, and his recovery time is expected to be between six and nine months. It does leave open the possibility Sanders, whom the Broncos selected in the third round of the 2023 draft (67th overall), could return before season's end if his recovery goes well. It is unclear what day Sanders suffered his injury given coach Sean Payton has consistently said he would not discuss injuries in the offseason or players' specific progress in recovery, but seven days before the draft opened on April 25, general manager George Paton was asked about the...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --  Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers set a team record when he homered for the sixth consecutive game in Monday night's 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Devers had shared the mark of five with Jimmie Foxx (1940), Ted Williams (1957), Dick Stuart (1963), George Scott (1977), Jose Canseco (1995) and Bobby Dalbec (2020). "He's a freak," Red Sox winning pitcher Tanner Houck said. "A guy that can hit any pitch at any time, and to see what he's done, I mean, he's just an incredible player." He is the first major leaguer to do it since the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout had a seven-game streak Sept. 4-12, 2022. "I'm very proud to be in that conversation with him," Devers said through an interpreter. "Obviously we know the type of superstar that he is. He's a future Hall of Famer and superstar, and to be in the same level with him is very nice." The Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch had a five-game...

After nine NFL seasons, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVante Parker has decided to retire, he said Monday night. As much as he looked forward to his time with the Eagles, Parker resolved to spend more time with his family that includes his four children. "I want to see my kids, spend quality time with them," Parker said. "I want to be there for them whenever I can." Parker finished his NFL career with 369 catches for 5,266 yards and 27 touchdowns. The 31-year-old Parker looks forward to whatever is next, though he has no definitive short-term professional plans. "I'm just going to take things slowly," he said. Asked what he'll remember most about his NFL career, Parker replied: "The camaraderie. The brotherhood in the locker room on whichever team it was. Everyone always welcomed me with open arms, and I appreciated them for that." "I also appreciate the  Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the opportunity. I always will have love for the...

Dallas, Minnesota, Indiana and Boston have each made to their conference's championship series. The panel weighs in on what two teams could be playing for the league championship.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- New Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales loves the way quarterback Bryce Young has picked up an offense that has helped Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson and Geno Smith have career seasons. "He's doing fantastic with it," Canales said Monday after the first full day of voluntary workouts. "So, for us the formations are pretty vanilla so we can just teach the concept we want out of each route, the depth, the footwork we want. "As I expect him to do, he's really mastered that part of it." Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft, loves Canales' technique and having only one primary voice in his ear. He said the latter in particular has been "super important" after a disastrous rookie season in which he went between then-coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown as playcallers. That was difficult because, according to multiple sources close to the situation, the coaches had different philosophies. "Really, it's the...

Mohamed Salah has given his strongest indication yet about his future at Liverpool by saying he will "fight like hell" to win trophies for the club next season. The Egypt international, 31, enters the final year of his Liverpool contract next month and no deal has yet been reached between the club and Salah to prolong his stay at Anfield. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Liverpool rejected a £150 million offer from Saudi Arabian team Al Ittihad for Salah in the final days of last summer's transfer window, but a renewed bid from the Saudi Pro League to recruit Salah is anticipated during the forthcoming transfer window. With Jurgen Klopp stepping down as manager at the weekend after eight-and-a-half years in charge -- and Feyenoord coach Arne Slot confirmed as his successor on a three-year contract -- doubts over Salah's future have intensified. In a post on social media, Salah has hinted at being at...

Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who has been in talks with the Minnesota Vikings regarding a contract extension, was not spotted at the team's training facility Monday for the start of OTAs, team sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jefferson also didn't participate in the earlier portion of the Vikings' offseason program, which, like OTAs, is voluntary. Last month, during the NFL draft, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said the team and Jefferson were making progress on a deal, although the sides paused talks during the draft. The Vikings and Jefferson have been discussing terms of the deal for more than a year. Adofo-Mensah said previously that they got "unbelievably close" to a deal last summer before tabling the talks at the start of the 2023 regular season. Jefferson also missed all of the Vikings' 2023 voluntary workouts before reporting for mandatory minicamp as he worked through negotiations. Last month, Philadelphia Eagles receiver ...

Scottie Scheffler's arraignment on multiple charges stemming from an incident prior to the second round of the PGA Championship has been delayed until June 3. Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, told ESPN that a not guilty plea will be entered on the new date in Louisville. The arraignment was originally scheduled for Tuesday. A conflict in Romines' schedule was the reason for the change in date, he told ESPN. Scheffler was arrested and handcuffed outside Valhalla Golf Club in the early morning hours Friday for not following police orders during a pedestrian fatality investigation.  John Mills, 69, was pronounced dead at the scene at about 5:09 a.m. after being hit by a shuttle bus. He was working for a PGA Championship vendor. Traffic was stopped because of the accident and Scheffler was attempting to reach the golf course when the incident occurred. Scheffler was booked on four charges, including second-degree assault of a police officer after his vehicle allegedly...

Auburn running back Brian Battie is in critical condition following a shooting in his hometown of Sarasota, Florida, on Saturday that killed his brother, Tommie Battie, 24. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze asked for prayers for Battie on his social media account Monday. Freeze said there was a setback Sunday and that Battie remains on a ventilator. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office released a statement over the weekend that it was investigating a shooting that occurred in the 3400 block of 17th Street early Saturday morning. Deputies initially responded to the Tallywood Centre Plaza at approximately 3:30 a.m. where they observed a large crowd with multiple shooting victims in the parking lot. One victim, Tommie L. Battie IV, was pronounced dead at the scene. Four additional victims were transported to local hospitals in both Manatee and Sarasota counties. Auburn's only official statement at this point is that the school is aware of the incident and still gathering...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Rashee Rice is with the Kansas City Chiefs and participating as they begin full-squad offseason practice, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Rice was also a participant in an earlier portion of the Chiefs' offseason program when meetings were being held virtually. Rice, 24, was arrested this spring in Dallas and charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury for his involvement in a six-car crash on a freeway. Police have alleged that Rice was racing another vehicle at high speeds and was traveling as fast as 119 mph shortly before the crash. He is being sued in Texas for over $1 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages by two people who say they were injured in the crash. Rice is also a suspect in an alleged assault that injured a man at a Dallas nightclub earlier this month. Rice led Chiefs wide...

Arne Slot has been confirmed as Liverpool manager with the 45-year-old officially announced as Jürgen Klopp's successor at Anfield 24 hours after his predecessor's final game in charge. Slot waved farewell to Dutch club Feyenoord on Sunday after a 4-0 win against Excelsior in Rotterdam and will start his new role at Liverpool on June 1. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Sources have told ESPN that Slot has signed a three-year contract at Anfield, securing him to the club until the end of the 2026-27 season. Liverpool agreed a £9.4 million ($11.9m) compensation package with Feyenoord earlier this month and quickly reached an agreement on personal terms with Slot, but an announcement on his appointment was delayed in order to not overshadow Klopp's departure. However, Slot confirmed the news this past Friday by saying in his final Feyenoord news conference that he would be moving to Anfield to take over at...

MLB opened an investigation Monday into allegations that former Los Angeles Angels infielder David Fletcher gambled with an illegal bookie, an MLB source told ESPN, but investigators face a significant hurdle at the start -- where they're going to get evidence. ESPN reported Friday that Fletcher, who is currently playing for the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate, bet on sports -- but not baseball -- with Mathew Bowyer, the Southern California bookmaker who took wagers from Shohei Ohtani's longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Fletcher's close friend Colby Schultz, a former minor leaguer, also bet with Bowyer and wagered on baseball, including on Angels games that Fletcher played in while he was on the team, according to sources. "Government cooperation will be crucial in a case like this where we don't have evidence," the MLB source said. MLB investigators will request an interview with Fletcher at some point, but he has the right to...

DENVER -- With about 30 seconds left, reality began to set in and Nikola Jokic started to congratulate  Minnesota Timberwolves players. In the span of 22 minutes, the  Denver Nuggets' quest to repeat as champions disintegrated in stunning fashion. The Nuggets blew a 20-point third-quarter lead on their home floor to lose  98-90 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.  The way they lost -- squandering a 58-38 lead from the 10:50 mark in the third quarter -- left the reigning champs shell-shocked and incredibly frustrated. It was the largest blown lead in a Game 7 in the past 25 years. "The season's over," a frustrated Michael Malone said in his news conference as Wolves players could be heard roaring in celebration in their locker room next door through the wall. The suddenness of the Nuggets' repeat run ending had not settled in yet. "That's what's hard," Malone said when asked about what went wrong. "F--- being up 20. Season's...

DENVER -- With about 30 seconds left, reality began to set in and Nikola Jokic started to congratulate  Minnesota Timberwolves players. In the span of 22 minutes, the  Denver Nuggets' quest to repeat as champions disintegrated in stunning fashion. The Nuggets blew a 20-point third-quarter lead on their home floor to lose  98-90 in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.  The way they lost -- squandering a 58-38 lead from the 10:50 mark in the third quarter -- left the reigning champs shell-shocked and incredibly frustrated. It was the largest blown lead in a Game 7 in the past 25 years. "The season's over," a frustrated Michael Malone said in his news conference as Wolves players could be heard roaring in celebration in their locker room next door through the wall. The suddenness of the Nuggets' repeat run ending had not settled in yet. "That's what's hard," Malone said when asked about what went wrong. "F--- being up 20. Season's...

DENVER -- The Minnesota Timberwolves' historic 20-point comeback over the Denver Nuggets in Sunday's Game 7 to earn a trip to the Western Conference finals actually started 13 months ago at bar a few miles away from Ball Arena. The Timberwolves had just lost to the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in April 2023, with Anthony Edwards' potential game-tying 3 coming up empty as time expired in Game 5. Afterward, Edwards and a couple of teammates went to a cocktail lounge, Forget Me Not, in the Cherry Creek neighborhood, with their chartered flight back home not scheduled to leave until the next morning. Of all of the gin joints in all of the towns in all of the world, Denver point guard Jamal Murray -- fresh off a 35-point showing in the closeout game -- just so happened to walk into the same bar as the Timberwolves. And Edwards, a budding star yet to have the breakout postseason that has turned him into a bona fide superstar this spring, had...

DENVER -- Minneapolis is going to party like it's 2004. For the first time in two decades, the Minnesota Timberwolves are back in the Western Conference finals. The Wolves, who trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, stormed back to complete the largest comeback in a Game 7 in the past 25 postseasons, winning 98-90 on Sunday night to dethrone the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, the Nuggets became the fifth consecutive defending champion to fail to reach the conference finals. With Minnesota's 22-year-old breakout star, Anthony Edwards, struggling through a 6-for-24 shooting night, Wolves four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns turned in the most impressive performance of his nine-year career. Towns, the franchise's No. 1 pick in 2015 and the longest-tenured member of the team, scored 23 points with 12 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. More importantly, he gave about as effective a one-on-one defensive effort against...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Jim Otto, a Pro Football Hall of Fame center whose iconic No. 00 jersey anchored the middle of the Oakland Raiders' offensive line for 15 seasons, has died at age 86. The Raiders, who moved from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020, announced his death Sunday night, calling him "The Original Raider." The cause of death was not immediately known. Otto was the dominant center of his era -- many would argue of any era -- as he had a singular goal: "Never will they kick my butt." Indeed, Otto did most of the kicking in a 15-year career that never saw him miss a game. From the AFL's initial season of 1960 through the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and his retirement following the 1974 season, Otto started 210 straight regular-season games, 223 including the playoffs, and was a Pro Bowler 12 times, a first-team All-Pro selection 10 times. He was known later in life as "Pops" in the Raiders organization. "I accept that," he said in 2014, "and cherish that." Many have long suggested...

One of the greatest rivalries in mixed martial arts history will recommence next month. Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will face Chael Sonnen in a boxing match June 15 in Brazil, the Spaten Fight Night promotion announced Sunday. Silva, 49, had been teasing his career finale earlier this week, claiming his final fight would take place next month in his birthplace of Sao Paulo. Sonnen, 47, confirmed his participation via social media. "Oh Anderson, yoohoo," Sonnen said. "It's me again. See you June 15." Silva (34-11) and Sonnen (30-17-1) produced one of the most memorable two-fight rivalries in UFC history. Silva was in the midst of a UFC-record 16 consecutive wins when he ran into Sonnen in 2010. The outspoken title challenger from West Linn, Oregon, was a massive underdog going into their first meeting at UFC 117. Sonnen shocked the world for 23 minutes of that fight, dominating Silva with takedowns and ground-and-pound before Silva secured a...

LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani's first walk-off hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers was also his first game-ending hit in the majors in nearly four years. His still-new teammates and fans who celebrated with him Sunday at Chavez Ravine expect to see many more feats from a superstar who's somehow getting even better in Dodger Blue. Ohtani pulled a low fastball to right with two outs in the 10th inning, scoring Jason Heyward and ending the Dodgers' 3-2 victory over  Cincinnati. Two teammates doused Ohtani with water, while a crowd of 52,656 roared for the latest feat by the $700 million slugger. "We always say he's the best player in the world, and you see it," Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages said. The clutch hit off Alexis Diaz capped an extraordinarily eventful week for Ohtani, who is thriving on the field for Los Angeles amid the potential off-field distraction of his former interpreter being charged with bank and tax fraud after...

One of the greatest rivalries in mixed martial arts history will recommence next month. Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will face Chael Sonnen in a boxing match on June 15 in Brazil, Spaten Fight Night promotion announced on Sunday. Silva, 49, had been teasing his career finale earlier this week, claiming his final fight would take place next month in his birthplace of Sao Paulo. Sonnen, 47, confirmed his participation via social media. "Oh Anderson, yoohoo," Sonnen said. "It's me again. See you June 15." Silva (34-11) and Sonnen (30-17-1) produced one of the most memorable two-fight rivalries in UFC history. Silva was in the midst of a UFC-record 16 consecutive wins, when he ran into Sonnen in 2010. The outspoken title challenger from West Linn, Oregon was a massive underdog going into their first meeting at UFC 117. Sonnen shocked the world for 23 minutes of that fight, dominating Silva with takedowns and ground and pound before Silva secured a...

NEW YORK -- As he sat at the podium, his left hand and wrist immobilized after suffering a fracture in a season-ending 130-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson was asked if this season was a success. "No," he said, flatly. Asked later why that was the case, he responded, "Did we win the championship? Did we get close?" After a pause, he continued, "So, no. That's my mindset. "That's just how it is." That could also apply to Brunson's injury, which occurred in the third quarter when, he said, he swiped down at Tyrese Haliburton and felt something in his hand. After a brief trip to the locker room, Brunson returned to the court for 14 seconds before checking back out with 3:02 to go in the third quarter and heading to the locker room for what would become the rest of both the game and New York's season. "I thought I just jammed it, to be honest with you," Brunson said of...

LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani delivered his second major league walk-off hit Sunday, a two-out single in the 10th inning that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Andy Pages hit an early two-run homer for the Dodgers, who have won 20 of 26 after taking three of four from Cincinnati. Pinch hitter Will Smith drew a one-out walk in the 10th from Alexis Diaz (1-3), who got Mookie Betts to fly out before Ohtani stroked a single to right, scoring Jason Heyward. Ohtani's latest feat set off a loud celebration for another huge weekend crowd at Dodger Stadium, and the two-time American League MVP's teammates doused him with water in celebration. "I was looking to just put the ball in play, so I'm glad it worked out well," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "We dropped the first game of the series, so we really wanted to finish strong." Ohtani's only other walk-off hit in Major League Baseball was...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- They can't call Xander Schauffele the best golfer in the world without a major championship victory any longer. The 30-year-old from San Diego captured his first major victory Sunday by outlasting LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau and Norway's Viktor Hovland in the final round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. After starting the day tied for the lead with two-time major winner Collin Morikawa, Schauffele silenced his critics who claimed he couldn't close out a big one by posting a 6-under 65 in the final round to finish with a 72-hole total of 21 under and defeat DeChambeau by 1 shot and Hovland by 3. Schauffele recorded the lowest 72-hole score to par and the lowest 72-hole scoring total (263) in a major championship. It was the ninth straight PGA Championship won by an American. "I was actually kind of emotional after the putt lipped in," said Schauffele, whose last victory came at the Scottish Open in...

NEW YORK -- As he sat at the podium, his left hand and wrist immobilized after suffering a fracture in a season-ending 130-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson was asked if this season was a success. "No," he said, flatly. Asked later why that was the case, he responded, "Did we win the championship? Did we get close?" After a pause, he continued, "So, no. That's my mindset. "That's just how it is." That could also apply to Brunson's injury, which occurred in the third quarter when, he said, he swiped down at Tyrese Haliburton and felt something in his hand. After a brief trip to the locker room, Brunson returned to the court for 14 seconds before checking back out with 3:02 to go in the third quarter and heading to the locker room for what would become the rest of both the game and New York's season. "I thought I just jammed it, to be honest with you," Brunson said of briefly...

NEW YORK -- There was huge anticipation for Sunday to produce a historic Madison Square Garden game. It absolutely did, just not one anyone could've expected. Improbably and unexpectedly in a road Game 7 situation, the Indiana Pacers had one of the greatest shooting halves in the 77-year history of the NBA. When the stunned New York Knicks tried to recover with a second-half push, the Pacers superstar and their super sub stepped in and delivered the final blows. The result was a 130-109 Pacers victory, eliminating the Knicks by finishing off four victories in five games after falling behind 2-0 in the series. The Pacers will now head to Boston to open the Eastern Conference finals against the  Celtics on Tuesday. "Well we're the uninvited guest. Here we are," said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after the Pacers completed their second consecutive series win over a higher seed. "When you win a Game 7 in Madison Square Garden, you've made history. It's...