FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady says he’s leaving the New England Patriots after 20 seasons, six Super Bowls and three MVPs. Brady becomes a free agent this afternoon, when he already could have an agreement in place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His representatives were in serious negotiations with the Bucs yesterday. Patriots owner Robert Kraft told ESPN, “It's not the way I want it to end, but I want him to do what is in his best personal interest.”
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts and longtime Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Philip Rivers have worked out a one-year contract. That’s according to a person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be officially announced until Wednesday. General manager Chris Ballard adds an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback to the roster less than 24 hours after acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in a trade with San Francisco.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints and quarterback Drew Brees have agreed to a two-year, $50 million contract. A person familiar with the situation spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on yesterday because the deal has not been announced. His new contract gives the 41-year-old, 19-year veteran the leverage to decide after this season whether he wants to continue playing. Brees is the NFL's all-time leader in completions with 6,867, yards passing with 77,416, and touchdowns with 547.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have worked out a deal with Teddy Bridgewater to replace quarterback Cam Newton. A person familiar with the deal says Bridgewater is taking a three-year, $63 million contract after winning all five of his starts for New Orleans last season. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday on Twitter the team is working with Newton and his agent to find a trade partner, although the 2015 says he never asked to be dealt.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant and three other members of the Brooklyn Nets have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total to seven known players in the NBA. The team announced Tuesday that one player is exhibiting symptoms, while the other three are asymptomatic. All four players have been isolated and are under the care of team physicians. The Nets added that all players and members of their travel party are being asked to remain isolated and closely monitor their health.
UNDATED (AP) — Most of the more than $1 billion the NCAA made last year came from the men's Division I basketball tournament. A massive television rights deal with CBS and Turner accounts for about $800 million. The cancellation of the tournament because of the coronavirus will cause the NCAA some red ink on its balance sheet this year. How much is hard to determine. No games means CBS and Turner won't have to pay, though it's likely some of that huge fee has already been doled out. Insurance could cover some of the losses. And the lost year might lead to a discounted one-year extension to the current deal with CBS and Turner that runs through 2032.
NEW YORK (AP) — South Carolina is No. 1 in the final Associated Press women's basketball poll of the season for the first time in school history. The Gamecocks received 26 first-place votes and No. 2 Oregon got the other four. Baylor, Maryland and UConn round out the top five. The AP has always released its final poll of the season before the start of the NCAA Tournament, which has been canceled because of the virus pandemic. Louisville, Stanford, N.C. State, Mississippi State and UCLA round out the top 10.