Sports

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — There was no umpire behind the plate calling balls and strikes when the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates kept playing Tuesday. There wasn’t even one of those so-called robo umps that could become part of the game in the future. Umpires left the field after Baltimore’s Josh Lester grounded out to

By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Kevin Willard has Maryland on track to reach the NCAA Tournament in his first season as coach. A big part of the team’s improvement has come at home. The Terps went 16-1 and did not lose a conference game this season in College Park.

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired winger Jesse Puljujarvi in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. The move comes with the NHL waiting for the New York Rangers to finalize a deal with Chicago for Patrick Kane. Minnesota also acquired well-traveled forward Marcus Johansson from busy Washington. The Capitals traded

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Noah Song has no illusions of the challenges ahead as he approaches the end of his first week of spring training since joining the Philadelphia Phillies from the U.S. Navy. Dressed in white pinstripe pants and a red BP jersey with 52 and Song on it,

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Green Bay Packers are still waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether or where he’ll play next season. Other teams at the NFL’s annual scouting combine seem to be jockeying for other quarterbacks. As coaches and general managers kicked off one of the league’s biggest

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles have promoted quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator. Johnson replaces Shane Steichen after he left to become head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The Eagles also hired Sean Desai as defensive coordinator. They hired him away from his role as associate head coach with the Seattle Seahawks. Desai

By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy’s delayed surgery could happen next week if the swelling in his injured elbow has been reduced. Purdy was originally scheduled to undergo the operation last week to repair his throwing elbow that got hurt in the NFC championship game. But Dr. Keith Meister

MIAMI (AP) — Thirty-two Central American and Caribbean nations will start qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup in March 2024 as part of a competition in which teams will play up to 12 matches to reach the tournament. The United States, Mexico and Canada receive automatic berths as co-hosts of the World Cup being

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer Sean Payton said Tuesday that he tried to lure Vic Fangio back to Denver as his defensive coordinator before the former Broncos head coach chose to join the Miami Dolphins as their defensive coordinator. “Do I think he would have been a great asset for us? Yes,” Payton

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired winger Jesse Puljujarvi in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. The move comes with the NHL waiting for the New York Rangers to finalize a deal with Chicago for Patrick Kane. Minnesota also acquired well-traveled forward Marcus Johansson from suddenly selling Washington. The Wild

ROME (AP) — After nearly three decades and 6½ months of agony this season Cremonese has finally won a match in Serie A again. The promoted club beat Roma 2-1 with a late penalty from Daniel Ciofani after Giallorossi coach Jose Mourinho was sent off for dissent earlier in the match. Cremonese’s 30-match winless streak

By ROB MAADDI and STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writers Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder’s future is on the agenda for discussion at upcoming committee meetings in Florida ahead of the annual NFL meeting in Arizona in late March, according to a person familiar with the docket. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry says the team intends to release veteran safety John Johnson III after two seasons. Speaking at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Berry said the Browns will soon part ways with Johnson, who signed a $33.75 million contract with the team

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The Carolina Hurricanes have acquired winger Jesse Puljujarvi in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Carolina sent the rights to 22-year-old unsigned draft pick Patrik Puistola to Edmonton in the swap of young Finns. The Hurricanes hope to unlock Puljujarvi’s offensive production after the No. 4 pick in 2016

By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer College football administrators are looking at ways to reduce the number of plays in games in the name of player safety. A tweak in clock operating procedures is likely the first step. The NCAA Football Rules Committee is meeting in Indianapolis this week and recommendations it forwards and

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — All-Star slugger Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres finalized a $350 million, 11-year contract, the fourth-largest in baseball history. The deal will keep Machado with the Padres through 2033 and is the latest contract handed out by big-spending owner Peter Seidler. Machado, who has helped turn the Padres into a

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the upcoming hard-court tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami because of the left hip flexor injury that has sidelined him since the Australian Open. The 22-time Grand Slam champion tweeted about his withdrawals and posted videos of himself in the gym. Nadal is a

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane says safety Damar Hamlin has a few more visits to doctors before determining whether he can pursue his goal of returning to play football after going into cardiac arrest and having to be resuscitated on field in January. Beane says all is well