Sam Darnold is one win away from a Super Bowl victory that's eluded fellow QBs in the 2018 draft
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.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders will be one of the AFC's quarterbacks for the Pro Bowl Games, AP source says
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.
Top-ranked Arizona withstands late rally by No. 13 BYU to remain unbeaten with 86-83 win
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Brayden Burries scored 29 points and made the game-saving block in the final seconds as top-ranked Arizona remained unbeaten by holding off a furious rally from No. 13 BYU for an 86-83 victory. Jaden Bradley added 26 points for the Wildcats, who improved to 21-0 and matched the best start in school history. BYU trailed by 19 midway through the second half before trimming the deficit to one with a 12-2 run that began with just more than a minute left. Robert Wright III had a chance to put the Cougars ahead, but Burries came flying over from the weak side to block the shot from behind.
Ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter joins those calling for boycott of World Cup in United States
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.
Ex-Olympic snowboarder pleads not guilty to running a drug smuggling ring
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.
Europe's rising diversity is not reflected at the Winter Olympics. Culture plays a big role
VASTERAS, Sweden (AP) — The U.S. is not alone in grappling with diversity in winter sports. In Europe, immigration from Africa and the Middle East has rapidly changed the demographics of countries like Germany, France, Norway and Sweden since the turn of the century. That won't be reflected on their largely white rosters for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Academics point to social, financial and geographical barriers blocking the progress of immigrants in winter sports and say it will need a big cultural shift for anything to change.
Top-seeded Sabalenka beats 18-year-old American Jovic to reach the Australian Open semifinals
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka beat 18-year-old American Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open. Sabalenka is looking to win her third title in Australia in four years. Sabalenka won in 2023 and 2024 and was the runner-up a year ago to Madison Keys. Keys was knocked out of the tournament on Monday by fellow American Jessica Pegula. The match at Rod Laver began with the roof open as heat warnings hit Melbourne with temperatures expected to be above 40 Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit.
Rams are still stunned, saddened after a standout season ended just short of another Super Bowl
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams could return next season with nearly every important contributor to a team that fell just a few big plays short of another trip to the Super Bowl, and they have the resources to add even more playmakers. That doesn’t make the current players feel any better about their agonizing 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC title game. These Rams realize they had a team good enough to be something truly special. Yet their future still looks bright, with nearly every important player on the current team able to return if the Rams desire.
Giants and outfielder Harrison Bader agree to $20.5 million, 2-year contract, AP source says
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Free agent outfielder Harrison Bader and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $20.5 million, two-year contract. That's according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced. The 31-year-old Bader batted .277 with 17 home runs, 54 RBIs and a .796 OPS in 146 combined games with Minnesota and Philadelphia last season — setting career highs in all those categories. He was especially productive for the NL East champion Phillies after they acquired him at the July 31 trade deadline.
SEC sets record with 10 ranked teams, a 1st in 50-year history of women's AP Top 25; UConn, UCLA 1-2
NEW YORK (AP) — The Southeastern Conference has set a record with 10 teams in The Associated Press women's Top 25 basketball poll. Georgia enters at No. 23 after defeating then-No. 11 Kentucky. This gives the SEC the most teams ever in a single week in the poll's 50-year history. UConn remains the unanimous No. 1 choice and is the only undefeated team in women's college basketball. UCLA moves up to No. 2 after South Carolina's overtime loss to Oklahoma. After the SEC, the Big Ten has seven ranked teams. The Big 12 has four teams in the Top 25.
