Latest News
Report: Russell Westbrook joins Nuggets on 2-year deal
A week after he was waived by the Utah Jazz, veteran guard Russell Westbrook will sign a two-year, $6.8 million veteran minimum contract with the Denver Nuggets, his agent told ESPN on Friday. Per the ESPN report, Westbrook was in Denver on Friday to sign the deal, which includes a player option for the 2025-26 season. Westbrook, 35, was waived last Saturday by the Jazz following a sign-and-trade deal that sent guard Kris Dunn to the Clippers. Westbrook joined the Clippers late in the 2022-23 season after he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Jazz and then waived. He returned to a starting role late in the season during a short 21-game stint with the Clippers, then transitioned to a bench role last season and finished seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Westbrook averaged 11.1 points with 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the Clippers last season in 68 games (11 starts). In 16 NBA seasons, the nine-time All-Star and 2016-17 league MVP has averaged 21.7 points with 7.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 1,162 games (1,039 starts) for the Oklahoma City Thunder (2008-19), Houston Rockets (2019-20), Washington Wizards (2020-21), Lakers (2021-23) and Clippers. --Field Level Media
NBA Breaking News
Phillies acquire OF Austin Hays from Orioles
The Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday for right-hander Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. Hays, 29, batted .255 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 63 games this season. He was the starting center fielder for the American League in the 2023 All-Star Game. He is a career .262 hitter with 66 homers and 242 RBIs in 557 games with the Orioles. Dominguez, 29, posted a 3-2 record with one save and a 4.75 ERA in 38 relief appearances this season. He is 19-17 with 28 saves and a 3.55 ERA in 230 career games in relief with the Phillies. Pache, 25, batted .202 with nine RBIs in 50 games this season. He is a career .179 hitter with six homers and 42 RBIs in 213 games with the Atlanta Braves (2020-21), Oakland Athletics (2022) and Phillies. The Orioles designated right-hander Vinny Nittoli for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Dominguez, who was available to pitch Friday. Pache was also available after reporting to the Orioles. The Phillies also reinstated right-hander Michael Rucker from the 60-day injured list. He opened the season on the 15-day IL with a right hand arterial vasospasm and was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 3. Rucker, 30, pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2021-23 and posted a 5-2 record with a 4.96 ERA and one save in 96 relief appearances. --Field Level Media
MLB Breaking News
O's acquire RHP Zach Eflin, ship 3 minor leaguers to Rays
The American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles bolstered their starting rotation on Friday, acquiring veteran right-hander Zach Eflin and cash considerations from the Tampa Bay Rays. In exchange, the Rays received three minor leaguers: right-hander Jackson Baumeister, outfielder Matthew Etzel and infielder/outfielder Mac Horvath. Eflin, 30, is 5-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 starts this season, his second with Tampa Bay. He's in the second year of a three-year, $40 million deal with the Rays after spending his first seven seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2023, Eflin tied for the American League lead in wins, finishing 16-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 31 starts. In his nine MLB seasons, Eflin is 57-60 with a 4.26 ERA in 177 games (165 starts). Baumeister, 22, is ranked as the Orioles' No. 17 prospect and No. 6 pitching prospect by MLBPipeline.com. This season, he's 1-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 18 starts at Class A Aberdeen. Etzel, 22, was a 10th-round pick in 2023 and is slashing .289/.363/.445 with 15 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 46 runs, 41 stolen bases and 47 RBIs in 83 combined games between Double-A Bowie and Aberdeen. Horvath, 23, is the No. 10 prospect in the Baltimore system by MLBPipeline.com. This season at Aberdeen, he is slashing .233/.328/.417 with 19 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 26 steals and 41 RBIs in 71 games. --Field Level Media
MLB Breaking News
QB Tua Tagovailoa lands richest deal in Dolphins history
The Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year, $212.4 million extension, his agency confirmed with ESPN on Friday. The new contract includes $167 million guaranteed and is the largest in Dolphins history. The $53.1 million average annual ranks third in the NFL behind Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, both at $55 million. Tagovailoa, 26, led the NFL with 4,264 passing yards in 2023. He started all 17 games (11-6 record), completing 69.3 percent of his passes with 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. A first-round pick (fifth overall) by Miami in 2020, Tagovailoa has thrown for 12,639 yards with 81 TDs and 37 picks in 53 career games (51 starts). Tagovailoa made his NFL playoff debut last season, completing 20 of 39 passes for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 26-7 wild-card loss at Kansas City. He had been a limited participant or non-participant for the first two days of training camp, but practiced in full at Friday's session. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
K.J. Choi surges in front at Senior Open Championship
K.J. Choi carded his second straight 69 on Friday to secure a two-shot lead after the second round at The Senior Open Championship in Scotland. Choi offset three bogeys with four birdies and an eagle. He took the lead after following a birdie on the par-4 11th with an eagle at the par-5 12th on a day where competitors battled 10-20 mph winds at Carnoustie Golf Links. "It's still a tough course, every tee shot and second shot," Choi said. "My home in Dallas in the States, it's windy, very strong. I can practice my iron play, low ball, curving ball, right-to-left kind is a tough shot." This marks Choi's third time holding at least a share of the lead after the second round on the PGA Champions Tour. The 54-year-old from South Korea is seeking his second Champions victory, his first coming at the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship. Canada's Stephen Ames dropped to second place after shooting an even-par 72 to enter the weekend at 4 under. Ames posted pars on all but two holes in the second round. He birdied the par-5 12th and bogeyed the par-4 17th. "I think it was a bit tougher today, this morning, than it was yesterday afternoon," Ames said. "A lot more blustery. It was more going for the middle of the greens, 25-, 30-footers. It was tough to make birdies from there." The 60-year-old Ames has nine Champions titles, including the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Classic, but the Canadian has never won a Champions major. Two-time Senior Open runner-up Padraig Harrington is tied for third after shooting a 2-under 70. The Irishman won the 2007 Open Championship and can become the fifth golfer to win The Open and The Senior Open. "Three behind going into the weekend. ... That's where you want to be," Harrington said. " ... We've only played 36 holes. Feels like we've done 72 at this stage. Been a tough 36 holes with that weather and wind and you've got to all be on, and I'm sure it's going to be another 36 of tough mental fortitude to come." Harrington is level with Australia's Richard Green, who carded a 72. Green, 53, is vying for his first Champions win. Defending champion Alex Cejka of Germany shot 74 on Friday and is one of seven players tied for 21st at 3 over. India's Arjun Atwal shot a 4-under 68 to card Friday's lowest round. --Field Level Media
Golf Breaking News
Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell speaks at Khyree Jackson funeral
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke on the toughness of the late Khyree Jackson at a funeral held on Friday for the rookie cornerback who was killed in a car accident earlier this month. O'Connell said Jackson opted to play through shoulder pain in camp despite encouraging the fourth-round pick to seek treatment. "I wouldn't have held it against him one bit if he decided it was time to fix that shoulder," O'Connell said. "... He looked at me, and said, 'Nope, I can play. I have to be out there with my brothers. I would rather do what I have to do and fight through it to be out there and try to help my team win.'" Jackson, 24, was expected to compete for a starting spot after the Vikings selected him out of Oregon in April's NFL Draft. Jackson was one of three killed in a three-car crash in Prince George's County, Md., in the early hours of July 6. Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton Jr., 24, were also killed. The three were football teammates at Dr. Henry A. Wise High in Maryland. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (illness) still not practicing
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is still under the weather and missed another training camp session on Friday. "He's fighting through an illness, working with our doctors, doing all the tests -- even more tests to make sure that we've got everything covered, and I'm confident that he'll be back pretty soon," head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after practice. "It's just unpredictable. I mean, you guys have been sick before, and sometimes it's not easy. So, that's what we're dealing with." Jackson, the NFL's reigning MVP, has missed four of the first five practices at training camp. He briefly participated on Wednesday but departed after only an hour. Backup quarterback Josh Johnson, 38, ran the first-team offense in Jackson's absence. Rookie Devin Leary, a sixth-round pick in April, and undrafted free agent Emory Jones are also on the 90-man training camp roster. Jackson, 27, passed for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 821 yards and five touchdowns in 16 starts last season (13-3 record) to win his second MVP trophy (2019). Baltimore opens preseason play Aug. 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson hasn't played in a preseason game since 2021, when he completed 3 of 4 pass attempts. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Patrick Mahomes on Raiders' puppet video: 'It'll get handled'
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn't put much stock in the Las Vegas Raiders' recent attempt at humor. The Raiders caused a stir on social media Thursday after video emerged of rookie safety Trey Taylor carrying a Kermit the Frog puppet. The Muppets character was sporting a Mahomes jersey and a wig reminiscent to the quarterback's curly hair. It's a curious move by the Raiders to mock Mahomes -- you know, given his resume and his dominance in the rivalry between the AFC West rivals. The two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion was asked if the video would provide additional motivation when the teams meet on the field. "Yeah, I mean, it's still early in the year. Stuff like that happens," Mahomes said Friday. "It'll get handled when it gets handled." Mahomes, 28, traditionally has handled the Raiders, posting a 10-2 record in 12 starts. He has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 3,573 yards versus Las Vegas with 30 touchdowns and four interceptions. The first chance Mahomes has to add to those totals is Oct. 27, when the Chiefs visit Las Vegas for a Week 8 clash. The division rivals will reconvene in Kansas City on Nov. 29. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce downplayed the incident on Friday. "We addressed it as a team yesterday and we nipped it in the bud. It's over with," Pierce said. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
Fans react as West Indies mount a late fightback to put England under pressure on Day 1 of the 3rd Test
On Day 1 of the 3rd Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Indies faced a challenging start after being bowled out for 282 runs. Despite a resilient 61-run innings from Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored his half-century off 70 balls and hit 8 fours, West Indies struggled against England’s disciplined bowling attack. Gus Atkinson was particularly…
Cricket Breaking News
Jackets' Patrik Laine cleared to return from player assistance program
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine was cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program on Friday. Laine entered the program on Jan. 28 after he experienced a setback in his recovery from a broken clavicle, an injury he sustained in a game on Dec. 14 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said Thursday that the team would entertain all options in regard to Laine, who previously requested a trade out of Columbus. Since Laine last played, Waddell has taken over as GM and hired Dean Evason to coach the team. "Patrik's made it clear that, even before all the changes this summer, he would like a fresh start someplace," Waddell told TSN 1050. "Now, I can't rule out any options, even returning here because it takes two teams to make a trade and if there's not a trade that makes any sense to us, then we have to just deal with what reality is. "(Laine's agent) Andy Scott told him multiple times that we will make sure we look at everything and know the situation, and we know Patrik's feelings and (if) we can find the right fit, certainly we will do that. But, if not, we'll have to just deal with it." Laine, 26, had nine points (six goals, three assists) in 18 games last season. In 480 regular-season games with the Jets (2016-21) and Blue Jackets, Laine has recorded 388 points (204 goals, 184 assists) since being selected by Winnipeg with the second overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft. --Field Level Media
NHL Breaking News
Red Sox acquire LHP James Paxton from Dodgers
The Boston Red Sox welcomed back a familiar face on Friday by acquiring left-hander James Paxton from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox sent minor league infielder Moises Bolivar to the Dodgers to complete the deal. Boston also transferred right-hander Bryan Mata to the 60-day injured list to make room for Paxton. Paxton, who spent the 2023 season with Boston, was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on Monday. He posted an 8-2 record with a 4.43 ERA in 18 starts with the Dodgers since signing a one-year, $7 million contract in the offseason. Paxton, 35, stepped up for Los Angeles while its rotation dealt with myriad injuries. In 11 major league seasons, Paxton is 72-40 with a 3.76 ERA over 174 starts for the Seattle Mariners (2013-18, 2021), New York Yankees (2019-20), Red Sox and Dodgers. Bolivar, 17, is batting .270 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 31 games with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox. --Field Level Media
MLB Breaking News
Georgia WR Rodarius 'Rara' Thomas arrested on family violence charges
Georgia wide receiver Rodarius "Rara" Thomas was arrested early Friday on a felony charge of cruelty to children-family violence and two misdemeanor counts of battery-family violence. According to records from the Athens-Clarke County Jail in Athens, Ga., Thomas was booked at 3:20 a.m. No bond was set. Georgia law uses the term "family violence" similarly to how other states use the term "domestic violence." This is the second time the Eufaula, Ala., native has been arrested on family violence charges. In January 2023, Thomas faced charges of felony false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery after the University of Georgia police said he prevented a woman from leaving a dorm by blocking her exit and telling her she couldn't leave, and of causing bruises to the woman's body, according to ESPN, which reviewed an arrest warrant. Thomas successfully completed a pretrial diversion program to have those charged dropped in March 2023. The Athletic reported that Thomas was held out of much of Georgia's spring practice as a disciplinary measure. Georgia officials were aware of the latest arrest. "This is a pending legal matter. We will have no further comment at this point," Steven Drummond, Georgia's associate athletic director for strategic communications, told The Athletic. Thomas, 21, spent two years at Mississippi State before moving to Georgia via the 2023 transfer portal. In 11 games (eight starts) for Georgia last season, he notched 23 catches for 383 yards with one touchdown. With the departure of star tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Ladd McConkey to the NFL, Thomas was expected to play an important role for Georgia's passing game. --Field Level Media
NCAA Football Breaking News
Shubman Gill spills beans on working under the newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir
In a recent press conference, Shubman Gill, India’s newly appointed vice-captain for ODI and T20I formats, shared his insights into Gautam Gambhir‘s coaching approach. With the India tour of Sri Lanka 2024 on the horizon, Gill’s comments shed light on the evolving dynamics within the team and the strategic vision shaping their upcoming matches. Shubman…
Cricket Breaking News
Lions K Michael Badgley out for season
Detroit Lions kicker Michael Badgley will be placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the upcoming season after sustaining a "significant" leg injury in Thursday's practice, the team announced Friday. "We feel awful for Badge," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "He worked his tail off to get ready for this season. He was having a good spring and was ready for camp. It's tough." Campbell said the injury, which multiple media outlets reported as a torn hamstring, will require surgery. Badgley was Detroit's kicker for the final four regular-season games and the playoffs in 2023. He was 13 of 15 on extra points in the regular season and made all four field goal attempts. In the postseason, Badgley made all 11 extra points and three field goals he attempted in three games. In the NFC Championship Game, he was twice bypassed for field-goal attempts with the team going for it on fourth down in a game Detroit eventually lost 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers. Badgley, who turns 29 on Sunday, also was Detroit's kicker for the final 12 games of 2022. Overall, he is 98 of 119 on field goals and 168 of 175 on extra points in six NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers (2018-20), Indianapolis Colts (2021), Tennessee Titans (2021), Chicago Bears (2022) and Lions. He has 462 points in 64 career games. Detroit will now turn to former UFL star Jake Bates, who signed with the team in June and had been expected to compete with Badgely for the job. The Lions waived kicker James Turner when they signed Bates. Bates, 24, spent the spring with the Michigan Panthers and made 21 of 28 field goals, including a 64-yard attempt and two others of at least 60 yards. The Panthers play at Ford Field, the home of the Lions. Bates played his senior season in 2022 at Arkansas, where he was a kickoff specialist and didn't attempt field goals. He was named to All-SEC first-team after leading the conference with an average of 64.47 yards per kickoff. --Field Level Media
NFL Breaking News
SF vs TEX, MLC 2024, Challenger: Match prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy tips and Pitch report | San Francisco vs Texas Super Kings
San Francisco Unicorns will face Texas Super Kings in the Challenger of the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024. The clash will take place at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. San Francisco are the only team who defeated current finalist Washington Freedom and performed in a great manner. On the other hand Texas Super Kings…
Cricket Breaking News