ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos on Monday told Russell Wilson they’re going to release him next week, just 18 months after signing the quarterback to a five-year, $242 million contract extension. Wilson went 11-19 in Denver. He had an awful first season under Nathaniel Hackett, but bounced back last season under Sean Payton. However, Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of the season. Wilson is 35 years old and is entering his 13th NFL season in 2024.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Kelce has retired after 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce officially called it quits Monday at the Eagles’ NovaCare Complex. The 36-year-old ended a career in which he became not only one of the great centers of his era who played a key role in the franchise’s lone Super Bowl championship but a beloved Philly personality and popular podcast host. Kelce was a sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft. He ended his career by making 156 straight starts, and he earned six All-Pro Team selections. He said it was always a goal to play his whole career in one city. He played 193 regular-season games for the Eagles.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NFL's annual scouting combine has evolved from hidden gem into the league's second-biggest offseason event over the past three decades because of new twists. This year it was the opt-outs. All-American receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. chose not to speak to reporters. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams decided to skip the medical exams. Will the decisions of two players who do not have agents begin a trend? That may not be clear till next year when the combine returns to Indianapolis.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the Buccaneers instead of testing his worth in free agency. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. ESPN first reported the agreement, saying it includes $35 million guaranteed. The 30-year-old Evans is the only player in NFL history to begin his career with 10 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving. He's also Tampa Bay’s career leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. He tied Tyreek Hill for the league lead in TD catches with 13, while finishing with 79 receptions for 1,255 yards, in 2023.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Jalen Bridges scored a career-high 32 points and 11th-ranked Baylor overcame a double-digit deficit in the final 13 minutes to beat Texas 93-85. It was the last scheduled game between the longtime rival schools separated by only about 100 miles. Ja’Kobe Walter and RayJ Dennis each had seven points in a 21-2 run for the 22-8 Bears during a stretch when Texas missed 11 consecutive shots. The Longhorns also lost big man Dylan Disu to a left knee sprain after he went down with just over 11 minutes left. Dennis had 16 points and eight assists, while Walter finished with 15 points. Max Abmas, the NCAA men’s active career scoring leader, had a season-high 33 points to lead 19-11 Texas.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Texas big man Dylan Disu had to be helped off the court after spraining his left knee Monday night in a loss at 11th-ranked Baylor. The Longhorns said he would be evaluated after the team got back to campus. Coach Rodney Terry indicated the 6-foot-9 forward was going to be fine. Disu fell to the floor and remained down after getting tangled up with a Baylor player. He grabbed at his left leg and put no weight on it when being helped to the locker room. He did return to the bench late in the game without any brace or wrap on his knee.
UNDATED (AP) — Houston still has a tight grip on No. 1 in the AP Top 25 while Kansas is out of the top 10 for the first time in three seasons. The Cougars received 52 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel to hold the top spot for the second straight week. UConn moved up a spot to No. 2 and had six first-place votes to leapfrog No. 3 Purdue, which had four first-place votes. Tennessee and Arizona round out the top five. Kansas dropped seven places to No. 14 this week after consecutive losses, ending a 55-week streak in the top 10.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 2Stanford and No. 3 Iowa have jumped up behind top-ranked South Carolina in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. Ohio State fell to fourth. USC was fifth, its highest ranking since 1994 when the team was fourth. Texas dropped three spots to sixth. UCLA, LSU and UConn were next and N.C. State moved up two places to 10th. Conference tournaments kick off this week ahead of the NCAA Tournament later this month.
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson says reserve freshman JoJo Tugler broke a bone in his right foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Tugler is one of the top-ranked Cougars’ best defenders. The 6-foot-7 forward was averaging 3.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 28 games this season. Sampson says Tugler will have surgery on Thursday. It's the third season-ending injury for the Cougars.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed on a $126 million, three-year contract for 2025-27, the fourth-highest average salary in baseball history at $42 million. Wheeler gets $23.5 million this year in the final season of a $118 million, five-year contract. Wheeler’s average trails only Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani ($70 million), Texas pitcher Max Scherzer ($43.33 million) and Houston pitcher Justin Verlander ($43.33 million).
UNDATED (AP) — EA Sports has announced that more than 10,000 athletes have accepted its offer to have their likeness featured in its upcoming college football video game. EA Sports began reaching out to college football players in February to pay them to be featured in the game that’s scheduled to launch this summer. The video-game developer said players who opt in to the game will receive a minimum of $600 and a copy of EA Sports College Football 25. There will also be opportunities for them to earn money by promoting the game. EA Sports says more than 11,000 athletes have been sent an offer.
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma’s NCAA record win streak in softball ended at 71 games with a 7-5 loss to Louisiana in eight innings. The Sooners claimed their third straight national title last season, then won their first 18 games this season before losing to the Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday. Louisiana (10-12) led 4-2 in the seventh before Oklahoma rallied to force an extra inning. Louisiana’s Sam Roe singled in the eighth to score two and gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 7-4 lead. Louisiana's Chloe Riassetto earned the win in a complete game.
MONDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (9)Duke 79 NC State 64
Final (11)Baylor 93 Texas 85
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final Minnesota 4 Atlanta 3
Final Pittsburgh 7 Tampa Bay 3
Final Toronto 5 Philadelphia 2
Final Chicago White Sox 5 Arizona 2
Final Cincinnati 15 Oakland 8
Final N.Y. Yankees 3 Miami 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Detroit 2 Boston 1
Final Minnesota 7 Baltimore 2
Final L.A. Angels 3 Texas 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Washington 1 St. Louis 0
Final San Diego 2 Chicago Cubs 1
Final Colorado 12 San Francisco 10
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Memphis 106 Brooklyn 102
Final Milwaukee 113 L.A. Clippers 106
Final Minnesota 119 Portland 114
Final Utah 127 Washington 115
Final Chicago 113 Sacramento 109
Final L.A. Lakers 116 Oklahoma City 104
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Boston 4 Toronto 1
Final Florida 4 N-Y Rangers 2
Final Columbus 6 Vegas 3
Final SO St. Louis 2 Philadelphia 1
Final Colorado 5 Chicago 0