NFL – AP source: New Lions coach Campbell gets 6-year deal
The Detroit Lions have hired Dan Campbell to be their coach. The Lions announced the agreement with the New Orleans Saints tight ends coach a day after formally introducing Brad Holmes as their general manager. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Campbell signed a six-year contract. Campbell also had the title of assistant head coach with the Saints. The 44-year-old has 11 years of experience in the NFL as a coach and 11 as a player. He was 5-7 as interim coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015. Campbell played for Detroit from 2006 to 2008.
NFL – Colts QB Rivers retires from NFL after 17 seasons
Longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers has decided to retire after playing one season with the Indianapolis Colts. His decision at age 39 comes less than two weeks after the Colts suffered a 27-24 loss at Buffalo in the wild-card round of the playoffs. Rivers spent his first 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers after they acquired him in a draft-day trade that sent Eli Manning to the New York Giants in 2004. Rivers finishes his career ranked among the league’s top five in career completions, career yards passing and career TDs. His 240 consecutive regular-season starts was the second-longest streak since 1970, trailing only Brett Favre. He never played in a Super Bowl.
NFL – Football great Brian Urlacher’s brother pardoned by Trump
The brother of Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher has been pardoned of federal charges that he recruited for a multimillion-dollar illegal offshore gambling ring. Casey Urlacher is the mayor of the tiny Chicago suburb of Mettawa and was among those pardoned in the final hours of President Donald Trump’s term. The 41-year-old was charged last February and pleaded not guilty. Brian Urlacher has supported Trump, contributing to his campaign shortly after his brother was indicted. He also visited the White House and presented Trump with a No. 54 Chicago Bears jersey days after his brother pleaded not guilty.
NFL – Chiefs’ Mahomes practices, remains in concussion protocol
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but practiced in a limited capacity on Wednesday, raising hopes the reigning Super Bowl MVP can play in Sunday’s AFC title game against Buffalo. The Chiefs typically breeze through practice on Wednesday with little contact before ramping things up on Thursday, and coach Andy Reid said that fit perfectly with what Mahomes was able to do. Reid didn’t say what phase of the five-step process Mahomes is in to be cleared to play, but the work he described his quarterback doing coincides with the fourth step.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Dallas Mavericks 124, Indiana Pacers 112
Atlanta Hawks 123, Detroit Pistons 115 – OT
Mavericks 124, Pacers 112 – Porzingis’ big night leads Mavericks past Pacers 124-112
Kristaps Porzingis posted season-high totals of 27 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 124-112 victory at Indiana. Dallas was in control most of the game as it snapped a three-game losing streak against the short-handed Pacers. Indiana has lost its last two by its two largest margins this season. Malcolm Brogdon finished with 26 points and Domantis Sabonis had 25 points in Indiana’s first game with fans in the stands. Dallas took the lead for good on the final basket of the third quarter and pulled away with an 11-4 run in the fourth.
Hawks 123, Pistons 115 – Young has 38, Collins adds 31 as Hawks beat Pistons in OT
Trae Young scored 38 points, John Collins had 31 and the Atlanta Hawks rallied to beat Jerami Grant and the Detroit Pistons 123-115 in overtime. Grant had a career-high 32 points, including all of Detroit’s nine points in overtime, to continue his hot start to the season. It wasn’t enough for the Pistons. Grant has scored 20 or more points in 13 consecutive games. Clint Capela had 27 points and a career-high 26 rebounds for Atlanta. The Pistons have the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Young scored 21 points in the third period, when Atlanta charged back after trailing by 14 points.
NCAAFB – Harbaugh adds Linguist, Helow to Michigan’s defensive staff
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has hired Maurice Linguist and George Helow to be assistants on defense, the latest moves that have reshaped his coaching staff. Harbaugh announced the additions Wednesday night, adding that defensive line coach Shaun Nua has agreed on a contract extension and confirming Brian Jean-Mary will return to coach linebackers. Harbaugh hired Baltimore Ravens linebacker coach Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator on Sunday. Linguist was the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach last season. Helow worked at Maryland last year as its special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach.
NCAAMBB – Men’s College Basketball
Today
Eastern Michigan at Toledo, 2:00 p.m.
Central Michigan at Akron, 6:00 p.m.
NCAAWBB – Women’s College Basketball
Last Night
Western Michigan 70, Miami (OH) 54
Eastern Michigan 70, Central Michigan 67
Today
(11) Michigan at (17) Ohio State, 3:00 p.m.
Notre Dame at Virginia Tech, 7:00 p.m.
(16) Indiana at Michigan State, PPD
NCAAHKY – Men’s College Hockey
Tonight
(8) Michigan at (16) Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.
NCAA – Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott stepping down at end of June
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott is stepping down at the end of June, ending an 11-year tenure in which the conference landed a transformational billion dollar television deal, but struggled to keep up in revenue and exposure with some of its Power Five peers. Sports Business Journal first reported the news Wednesday night and a person with knowledge of what was being called a mutual decision between Scott and university presidents who make up the league’s executive committee confirmed it to AP. Scott’s current contract was set to expire June 2022, but he will only finish out this academic year and assist with the transition to his successor.
