Sam Darnold will be starting in the Super Bowl before Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and the rest of the NFL’s Class of 2018 quarterbacks. It took Darnold five teams and eight seasons to get here. Darnold led the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 record, a division title, the No. 1 seed and was at his best in the NFC championship game. Despite an oblique injury, Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle’s 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. He completed 25 of 36 passes and had no turnovers. Labeled a bust early in his career, Darnold was still doubted by critics following his impressive turnaround. Now, he’s one win away from hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Shedeur Sanders has been selected as a replacement QB on the AFC’s roster for next week’s Pro Bowl Games, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NFL has not announced roster changes. Yahoo Sports was the first to report on Sanders’ addition. Sanders played in eight games, and started the Browns’ final seven games, going 3-4. He had a 56.6% completion rate and 68.1 passer rating along with 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sanders was not selected as one of the four alternate selections at quarterback when the rosters were first announced.
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Olympic fans may know that Cortina d’Ampezzo hosted the Winter Games once before, in 1956. Less well known is that 15 years earlier, during World War II, the Italian town held a world skiing championships that served as a propaganda showcase for fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Germany competed under the swastika flag and was able to rely on expert skiers from annexed Austria. Germany and Mussolini-controlled Italy swept the Alpine medals with the Axis powers’ enemies excluded. The International Skiing Federation wiped out all the results after the war. Sports historian Nicola Sbetti says “they were world championships that were part of an Axis plan to create a new world order.”
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is backing a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States because of the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration at home and abroad. Blatter was the latest international soccer figure to call into question the suitability of the United States as a host country. He called for the boycott in a post on X that supported the comments of Mark Pieth in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Der Bund. Pieth chaired the Independent Governance Committee’s oversight of FIFA reform a decade ago.
MILAN (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will have a security role during the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games. Sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome on Tuesday confirmed information shared with local media. The agents will support diplomatic security details but won't run immigration enforcement operations. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala has expressed opposition, stating ICE is not welcome in the city. Italian authorities have been hesitant to confirm ICE's role. U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead a delegation at the opening ceremony on February 6. The confirmation follows recent controversies involving ICE operations in Minneapolis.
DENVER (AP) — Sean Payton's decision to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal has sparked plenty of debate after the Denver Broncos' 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship. On Sunday, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham's incomplete pass ended a promising drive. Critics, including NFL analyst Mark Schlereth, argue Payton should have taken the points, especially with worsening weather. The Patriots capitalized, tying the game and eventually winning with a field goal. Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed a crucial attempt late in the game, taking responsibility for the miss.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned top FBI fugitive made his first appearance in a U.S. court on charges he allegedly ran a billion-dollar multinational drug trafficking ring and orchestrated multiple killings. Authorities said Ryan Wedding turned himself in at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City last week and was flown to California after a yearlong effort by authorities to arrest him. His lawyer said he didn't surrender in Mexico and was arrested. Wedding pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday in federal court in Santa Ana, California. Wedding was indicted in the U.S. in 2024 on federal charges of running a criminal enterprise, murder, conspiring to distribute cocaine and other crimes.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff has shattered her racket in frustration after losing to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open quarterfinals. The third-seeded Gauff struggled with her serve, recording five double-faults in the first set. She was broken four times in that set and twice more in the second. The match ended in 59 minutes as she lost 6-1, 6-2. Gauff tried to find a private spot after the match to vent but was caught on camera in a quiet area under Rod Laver Arena. She explained she prefers not to break rackets publicly but still needed to release her emotions.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open has put its Extreme Heat Protocol into play for the second time in this tournament. The policy uses a ‘Heat Stress Scale’ ranging from 1 to 5. This scale considers air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and wind speed. When the index hits 5 play is suspended on outside courts and the roof is closed on the three arenas at Melbourne Park. That happened on Saturday during Jannik Sinner’s match on the center court. The measures were activated again on Day 10 after Aryna Sabalenka won the opening match on Rod Laver Arena. The protocol aims to ensure player safety and consistency during extreme conditions.
Kawhi Leonard has been leading the NBA in scoring since December 20th, averaging 31.8 points per game. James Harden has averaged 25.1 points in that stretch. The Los Angeles Clippers have the best scoring differential in the Western Conference during this period. Blogger Robert Flom promised to eat his tweet if the Clippers went 15-3 at any point this season. They did, and he kept his word. The Clippers started the season 6-21 but have turned things around. They are now in play-in tournament range, a remarkable comeback. Coach Tyronn Lue and fans are optimistic about the team's progress.
Finals
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final N-Y Islanders 4 Philadelphia 0
Final Tampa Bay 2 Utah 0
Final OT N-Y Rangers 4 Boston 3
Final Edmonton 7 Anaheim 4
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)Arizona 86 (13)BYU 83
Final (4)Duke 83 (20)Louisville 52