Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is the new running back for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, and Miami settled on Malik Willis for a reset at quarterback after releasing Tua Tagovailoa. Indianapolis is keeping its top free agent in receiver Alec Pierce. People with knowledge of the agreements said the deals were among those reached on the opening day of NFL free agency. Two edge rushers are on the move. Jaelan Phillips is joining Carolina after Philadelphia traded for him last season. Dallas added edge rusher Rashan Gary in a trade with Green Bay.
One of the so-called fixers in a sprawling betting scheme to cash in on big bets on rigged NCAA basketball games has pleaded guilty. The federal prosecutors' office in Philadelphia says Jalen Smith appeared Monday in federal court and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges. Prosecutors say the Charlotte, North Carolina, man trained local basketball players and used those connections to recruit players in the scheme. Charges against Smith were unsealed in January along with 25 others. Prosecutors say Smith helped fix games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. They say he placed bets and recruited players with the promise of a big payment in exchange for purposefully underperforming during a game.
DALLAS (AP) — FIFA’s World Cup chief operating officer says the tournament is “too big” to be postponed because of global turmoil caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. Speaking Monday at the International Broadcast Center for the 48-nation tournament, which starts June 11, Heimo Schirgi said FIFA continues to closely monitor the Iran war and its fallout. The tournament, expanded from 32 nations to 48, is scheduled for 11 U.S. venues plus three in Mexico and two in Canada. While the Trump administration has imposed a travel ban on four of the nations that have qualified — Iran, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Senegal — it says it will make an exception for players, team officials and immediate relatives.
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Australia has granted asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s soccer team who were in the country for a tournament when the Iran war began. The women were transported from their hotel in Gold Coast, Australia “to a safe location” by Australian federal police officers in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time. There, they met with Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and the processing of their humanitarian visas finalized, the minister told reporters in Brisbane hours later. An official team list numbered 26 players, plus coaching and other staff. Burke didn’t detail what threats the players faced in Iran.
The Miami Dolphins are moving on from Tua Tagovailoa but his contract will still be an albatross on the team for two more seasons. The Dolphins announced their plans to cut Tagovailoa less than two years after he signed a $212 million extension in a move that will leave a record $99.2 million of dead money on Miami’s salary cap. The charge for Tagovailoa can be split over the 2026 and ’27 seasons if the Dolphins designate Tagovailoa to be cut after June 1 but nevertheless it will have to hit the team’s salary cap, topping the $85 million charge Denver took when cutting Russell Wilson two years ago.
Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drve in a big third inning to lead the United States to a 5-3 win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic at Houston’s Daikin Park. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy on Tuesday night, seeking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in Houston this weekend. Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico, which will face Italy Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes allowed one hit and struck out seven in four innings for the U.S.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a step-back 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left to cap a frantic final minute on a night he matched Wilt Chamberlain’s record for consecutive 20-point games, and the Oklahoma City beat the Denver Nuggets 129-126. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and a career-high 15 assists, becoming the second player in NBA history to have those totals and zero turnovers. He also had nine rebounds. In the third quarter, Gilgeous-Alexander reached the 20-point mark for the 126th straight game, matching Chamberlain’s streak from 1961-63. Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists for the Nuggets.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Travis Kelce is close to a new deal that keeps him with the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th season, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because no contract has been signed. Kelce has been weighing retirement and said he wanted to provide some clarity to the Chiefs by early March. Kansas City faces the start of free agency this week and the NFL draft in April. One reason Kelce is likely returning is to help the Chiefs bounce back from a tough 6-11 season, their worst since 2012. Another is to play again with Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL late last season.
Barcelona faces Newcastle as the Champions League round of 16 gets underway. The Spanish champion travels to St James’ Park for the first leg, with coach Hansi Flick leaving his players in no doubt about what’s a stake by describing it as “one of the most important moments of the season". Five-time European champion Barcelona hasn’t won the Champions League since 2015 and has had to watch on as its fiercest rival Real Madrid has dominated the competition. Flick delivered the Spanish title last season, but his team was knocked out of the Champions League at the semifinals stage. He is aiming to improve on that this time around.
HOUSTON (AP) — Tarik Skubal will not pitch again in the World Baseball Classic. The Detroit Tigers ace said Monday he didn't get a lot of sleep the last two nights as he mulled whether to make another start. In the end, the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner decided against it. Skubal started Saturday in a win over Britain. His plan was to make only one start in the WBC and then return to the Tigers. But he reconsidered because he didn't realize how emotional he would become while pitching for the U.S. Skubal is expected to secure a nine-figure contract after this season.
Finals
MLB SPRING TRAINING
INTERLEAGUE
Final St. Louis 7 Baltimore 2
Final Boston 5 Philadelphia 3
Final Houston 10 St. Louis 3
Final Atlanta 9 Minnesota 8
Final L.A. Angels 2 San Francisco 0
Final Arizona 2 Seattle 1
Final Texas 4 San Diego 1
Final Chicago White Sox 12 Colorado 3
Final Athletics 9 Cincinnati 7
Final Pittsburgh 5 N.Y. Yankees 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 6 Kansas City 2
Final Tampa Bay 4 Detroit 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final L.A. Dodgers 4 Milwaukee 3
Final N.Y. Mets 9 Miami 0
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final OT Los Angeles 5 Columbus 4
Final Washington 7 Calgary 3
Final N-Y Rangers 6 Philadelphia 2
Final OT Chicago 3 Utah 2
Final Ottawa 2 Vancouver 0
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (12)Gonzaga 65 Oregon State 56
Final Santa Clara 76 (21)Saint Mary's 71