AP Sports

Titans fire GM Ran Carthon after two seasons despite big spending spree

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans fired general manager Ran Carthon after just two seasons on the job and a 9-25 record. The Titans introduced Carthon as the franchise’s first Black general manager in January 2023, and he helped the franchise hire a new coach in Brian Callahan a year later. Tennessee controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk will have yet another new GM helping the franchise decide what to do with its fourth overall No. 1 pick in the NFL draft after going 3-14 in 2024. Strunk said in a statement that it was impossible to ignore that the Titans didn’t improve over the last two years.

NFL coaching moves: Mayo, Pederson are out of a job while Giants elect to keep Daboll

New England’s Jerod Mayo and Jacksonville’s Doug Pederson are two NFL coaches out of a job while New York Giants coach Brian Daboll is among those who look like they will be back next fall. It’s the day after the NFL’s regular season, which usually means a tough day for coaches as underachieving teams move quickly to make changes. Mayo was fired on Sunday after the team’s win over the Buffalo Bills, ending his tenure after just one season and a 4-13 record. The move means the Patriots will embark on another rebuild as the team tries to build an identity following the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era. Pederson is out as Jacksonville’s head coach after the franchise won just four games.

NFL coaching searches have complicated rules about timing and interviews

The overlap of the NFL playoffs and coaching search season will have many of the league’s top assistants pulling double duty this month. While 14 teams are deep into playoff preparations with hopes of winning a Super Bowl, there are five teams that had disappointing campaigns that have led to coaching changes. The search to fill those spots has already begun with the New York Jets, Chicago, New Orleans, Jacksonville and New England already identifying candidates to interview, including several who are on the staffs of the playoff teams. The NFL has strict rules on when those coaches can talk to other teams while their seasons are still alive.

Week 18 settles playoff field and draft order but also served as the last chance to reach bonuses

DENVER (AP) — In addition to settling the playoff field and the order for the April draft, Week 18 provided incentive for several players to earn bonuses by reaching certain milestones in their contracts. The big winner was Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans who earned $3 million extra Sunday in the Buccaneers’ win over the New Orleans Saints. Evans needed five catches for 85 yards to trigger the bonus and he caught nine passes for 89 yards, including a 9-yarder on the game’s final play that pushed him over the threshhold and also pushed him over 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season.

North Dakota State wins 10th FCS title as Miller accounts for 4 TDs in 35-32 win over Montana State

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Cam Miller ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more to lead North Dakota State to its record 10th Football Championship Subdivision title. The Bison beat top-seeded and previously undefeated Montana State 35-32 on Monday night. Miller was making his 54th consecutive start for North Dakota State. The Bison played in the title game for the 11th time in 14 seasons, and have lost only one in Frisco, Texas. They last won the championship three years ago, in a game that also had Miller and Montana State’s Tommy Mellott as the starting quarterbacks. Montana State’s last title came 40 years ago.

Tough, old school defense a calling card for all four teams left in the national championship hunt

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Smothering defenses have carried the last four teams still in the hunt for the national championship. If you want offense, look elsewhere this weekend. The defenses, with All-Americans spread throughout the lineups, are the story of the semifinals. Ohio State, Texas Penn State and Notre Dame all rank in top eight nationally in total defense. The Buckeyes and Longhorns meet in the Cotton Bowl on Friday. The Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish play in the Orange Bowl on Saturday.

Scottie Scheffler withdraws from another tournament, hopes to play at Pebble Beach

DALLAS (AP) — Scottie Scheffler will be skipping another tournament to let his injured right hand heal. Scheffler punctured his hand with broken glass while preparing Christmas dinner. That forced the world’s No. 1 player to sit out the season opener at Kapalua in The Sentry. Now he says he has withdrawn from The American Express in the California desert that starts next week. Scheffler says his hand needs more time to heal from minor surgery. He says he hopes to be able to start his season at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am that starts on Jan. 30.

Australian Open 2025: How to watch on TV, betting odds and more to know

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Play in the year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament is scheduled to begin at the Australian Open on Sunday. The draw to set the brackets for the singles fields will be held on Thursday in Melbourne and the hard-court tournament at Melbourne Park lasts 15 days. The defending champions are Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner. They are both ranked No. 1 and are the betting favorites at Melbourne Park this year. The 2025 women’s and men’s singles champions each will earn about $2.15 million. This is the first Grand Slam tournament to be held since Rafael Nadal’s retirement.

Chargers plan to sign Ezekiel Elliott to practice squad after his release by Cowboys

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers are planning to sign running back Ezekiel Elliott to their practice squad pending a physical. That’s according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had not been completed. The Chargers are the No. 5 seed in the AFC and open the playoffs at Houston on Saturday in a wild-card round game. Elliott was released by the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 31 so that he could possibly sign with a playoff team seeking a veteran running back.

Antetokounmpo needs 3 stitches in finger and returns to post a triple-double in win over Raptors

TORONTO (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo needed three stitches to close a cut near the base of his right pinkie against Toronto on Monday night, and returned to the game to finish his fourth triple-double of the season. Antetokounmpo banged his finger on the rim while trying to chase down RJ Barrett’s fast-break dunk late in the second quarter. He finished with 11 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in a 128-104 road win over the struggling Raptors. Antetokounmpo said his finged was “kind of numb,’ but insisted he was fine.