Sports

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints hired Joe Woods as defensive coordinator and Todd Grantham as defensive line coach Wednesday. Saints coach Dennis Allen also added secondary coach Marcus Robertson, tight ends coach Clancy Barone and assistant offensive line coach Kevin Carberry. Woods spent the past three seasons as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — The state commission that regulates slap fighting — in which opponents take turns striking each other in the face — attempted Wednesday to address a critical question for the budding sport: What constitutes a legal slap? Competitors in the Power Slap League must deliver only

BRUGGE, Belgium (AP) — João Mário scored from the penalty spot and substitute David Neres added a second goal with three minutes left as Benfica took a step toward the Champions League quarterfinals with a 2-0 at Club Brugge in the first leg of their last 16 tie. Benfica players’ superior technical skills were on

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer Canada women’s national soccer team coach Bev Priestman says the dispute between her players and the Canadian federation is weighing on the team as it prepares for its opening match of the SheBelieves Cup against the United States. The Canadian players say there have been drastic cuts to

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. couldn’t wait to get started on his 2023 season. Feeling fully recovered from his 2021 knee injury, Acuña already is taking swings at the Braves’ spring training site in Florida. He is preparing to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have purchased the property that they’ve been sizing up for a new stadium in suburban Arlington Heights. WFLD-TV reported that the Bears announced Wednesday afternoon that they bought the 326-acre property for $197.2 million. The Bears cautioned, however, that the purchase doesn’t mean their plans for a

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Karim Adeyemi sprinted the length of the field to score the only goal as Borussia Dortmund beat Chelsea 1-0 to leave its big-spending British opponent’s Champions League campaign in jeopardy after the first leg of their last-16 meeting. Chelsea created many of the best chances before a lightning counterattack broke the

By MATTIAS KAREN Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Manchester City has seized the momentum in the Premier League title race after Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland helped secure a 3-1 win at Arsenal in a top-of-the-table match. Grealish and Haaland both scored in the second half as the defending champions extended their recent dominance over

By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — IndyCar regular Conor Daly, seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and action sports star Travis Pastrana are among the drivers vying for six open spots in the Daytona 500 this weekend. Thirty-six drivers already are locked into the 40-car field based on NASCAR’s charter system.

By JOHN WAWROW AP Sports Writer BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said Wednesday he never intended to offend anyone for attending the Super Bowl wearing a jacket that critics deemed to feature an offensive depiction of Jesus. “After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Police records show NBA free agent Bryn Forbes has been arrested on a family violence charge. A police report shows that Forbes, who was released last week by the Minnesota Timberwolves, was arrested on one count of suspicion of assault with bodily injury after a verbal argument with a female companion

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach John Mitchell has retired after nearly three decades with the club. The 71-year-old Mitchell won two Super Bowl rings in 29 seasons with the Steelers after first joining Bill Cowher’s staff in 1994 as a defensive line coach. Mike Tomlin retained Mitchell when he replaced Cowher in

PARIS (AP) — A government audit says Noël Le Graët no longer has legitimacy to remain as French soccer federation president because his management style and behavior toward women are “incompatible with the exercise of his functions.” The 81-year-old Le Graët is currently under judicial investigation for alleged sexual and “moral” harassment as part of

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Mike Clevinger has reported to the Chicago White Sox for spring training, joining his new team amid an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball into allegations of domestic violence. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn tells reporters the team’s “only option” is to allow Clevinger to report while awaiting results of

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Infielder Gio Urshela went to salary arbitration with the Los Angeles Angels, asking for $10 million rather than the team’s $8.4 million offer. The 31-year-old hit .285 with 13 homers and 64 RBIs last season for Minnesota, which traded him to the Angels on Nov. 18 for minor league right-hander

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Defenseman Mikey Anderson has signed an eight-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings. The extension lasts through the 2030-31 season and has an average annual value of $4.125 million. Anderson has appeared in all 55 games for the Kings this season and has career highs in 11 assists (11) and

By JOHN RABY Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia lawmakers have given final passage to a bill that will set aside a day each year to remember the worst sports disaster in U.S. history. Seventy-five people were killed in a plane crash carrying Marshall University’s football team back from a game on Nov.

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press TAMPA, Fla, (AP) — Frankie Montas needs shoulder surgery and will miss most or all of the New York Yankees’ season. As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the 29-year-old right-hander will have right shoulder surgery on Feb. 21. Boone said Montas could possibly

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — Sweden emerging as the front-runner in a troubled search for a 2030 Olympics host is a surprise in Stockholm. The year started with Sweden not on the radar of the race. Longtime favorite Sapporo faded during a bribery investigation linked to the recent Tokyo Olympics. Salt