Sports

MIAMI (AP) — A former NFL wide receiver and South Florida native has pleaded guilty to stealing identities to fraudulently obtain coronavirus-related unemployment insurance benefits in California. Kenbrell Armod Thompkins pleaded guilty Monday in Miami federal court to unauthorized access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to court records. According to a plea agreement,

MOSCOW (AP) — Patson Daka has scored four goals to inspire Leicester’s comeback in a 4-3 win over Spartak Moscow in the Europa League. With Leicester 2-0 down in the Russian capital, the Zambia striker pulled a goal back in the last minute of the first half before netting three more times after the break

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin linebacker Leo Chenal is coming off a career-best performance against Army and leads the Badgers with 42 total tackles despite missing Wisconsin’s first two games due to a positive COVID-19 test. LSU’s Damone Clark is the only player from a Power Five conference averaging

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans have released veteran defensive end Whitney Mercilus. He was the 26th overall pick in the 2012 draft and has spent his entire career with the Texans. Mercilus was one of the longest-tenured players on the team after most of the team’s stars have been traded or released in recent

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA is set to make the 2022 World Cup finals tournament draw in Qatar on April 1. That’s before two of the 32 qualifying teams will be known because of match schedule delays in the COVID-19 pandemic. FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the draw ceremony plan Wednesday. Just 30 of the 32

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen will miss the rest of the season after having knee surgery. Hansen was injured in the second quarter against Wisconsin on Oct. 9 and made his announcement on Twitter. He says it pains him to say he won’t play another game for the Illini. He thanked coaches,

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Max Verstappen is in the first championship fight of his Formula One career as he heads to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, as the championship leader. The Dutch driver holds a six-point lead over seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton with six races remaining. The low-key son of

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Halfway through the season the Bulldogs are ranked first in the Top 25 and the Crimson Tide fourth. Eight of the past nine SEC title games have featured either Alabama or Georgia or both.

SALZBURG, Austria (AP) — Salzburg’s young squad has taken a big step closer to reaching the Champions League knockout stage with a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg. Noah Okafor scored twice after 19-year-old forward Karim Adeyemi netted early to put the Austrian team on course for victory as it bids to reach the knockout round for

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Matt Ryan is looking to see more growth from the offense when the Atlanta Falcons return from their bye week for this week’s game in Miami. Top wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s return should help. Ryan says Ridley “was flying around” in his return to

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gerard Piqué’s goal has equaled a Champions League scoring mark for defenders and helped Barcelona defeat Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 to end its losing streak and get back in position to advance to the knockout stage of the European competition. Piqué scored his 16th Champions League goal to secure the crucial win

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco has had surgery to remove a bone fragment from his pitching elbow and is projected to resume baseball activities this winter. Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek operated Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The 34-year-old Carrasco was obtained by the

By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Boston College coach Earl Grant knows it’s likely going to be a tough first year on the job for him. Grant was hired at BC in March after spending seven seasons at the College of Charleston, where he took the program to the NCAA Tournament in 2018,

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — FIFA’s drive to get approval in December for holding World Cups every two years stalled Wednesday. This was one day after its president Gianni Infantino met with fierce resistance from European soccer leaders. Infantino instead announced FIFA would host a remote “global summit” on Dec. 20

By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI (AP) — After dropping passes in the preseason, Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver Ja’Marr Chase has worked his way into the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year. A highlight-reel downfield block to spring Joe Mixon for a touchdown in Sunday’s rout of the Detroit Lions just added to

By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Rutgers ended a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought last season and walked away from the accomplishment a little disappointed. After beating Clemson in the opening round, the Scarlet Knights blew a nine-point lead against Houston in the final five minutes two days later. The Cougars went

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press An attorney says former Washington State University football coach Nick Rolovich’s termination for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination was unlawful and an attack on his Catholic faith. Attorney Brian Fahling also says Rolovich intends to take legal action. Rolovich and four of his assistants were fired for not

ROME (AP) — Lazio has suspended eagle trainer Juan Bernabè after he was filmed making a fascist salute in front of fans. Bernabè has been the falconer and the trainer of Lazio’s eagle mascot Olympia since 2010. A video showed Bernabè holding Olympia and making the fascist salute while chanting “Duce, Duce” along with the

By DORIAN COLBERT RosterWatch Some prominent players have fallen by the wayside in fantasy thus far, but we still have some fantasy stars who are more than likely to reach the end zone this week. These are my best bets at the running back and wide receiver positions to score in Week 7.