AP Sports

NFL All-Pro: McCaffrey, Hill, Warner unanimous; 14 first-timers

Christian McCaffrey, Tyreek Hill and Fred Warner are unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2023 NFL All-Pro Team. The 49ers’ McCaffrey and Warner and the Dolphins’ Hill received first-team votes from all 50 members of a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league. Running back McCaffrey and linebacker Warner are joined by three San Francisco teammates, including left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and tight end George Kittle. Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson earned his second All-Pro selection, receiving 45 first-place votes. Dallas’ Dak Prescott and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy each received two first-place votes and Buffalo’s Josh Allen got the other one.

Patriots agree to hire Jerod Mayo as next head coach, Bill Belichick’s successor

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots have agreed to hire Jerod Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick as the team’s first Black head coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. Details were still being worked out, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced the decision. Mayo played eight NFL seasons and won a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots during the 2014 season. Mayo’s hire comes a day after Belichick agreed to part ways with the Patriots after a 24-year run that included six Super Bowl wins.

Analysis: Love him or hate him, Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in sports history

Bill Belichick is on to the next chapter of his life. The six-time Super Bowl champion and second-winningest coach in NFL history exited New England on Thursday after 24 years because his unprecedented, two-decade run of success didn’t continue when Tom Brady left the Patriots. Still, despite a 28-39 record without No. 12 over the past four seasons, Belichick will go down as one of the all-time greatest coaches in sports. He built the Patriot Way, instilled in players the importance of doing their job and presided over a dynasty that withstood changing times, free agency, salary-cap restrictions and much more.

Sign bearing Trump’s name removed from Bronx golf course as new management takes over

New York (AP) — A years-long effort to erase Donald Trump’s surname from a New York City golf course is now complete. On Thursday, a “Bally Links” sign was unveiled at the Bronx golf club where the giant “Trump Links” sign had long greeted motorists passing over the Whitestone Bridge. Late last year, the Trump Organization sold the operating rights of the course to the casino company the Bally Corporation. The lease transfer followed a failed effort by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio to scrap its contract with the Trump Organization following the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Coco Gauff enters the Australian Open as a teenage Grand Slam champion. The pressure is off

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Coco Gauff is entering the Australian Open as a reigning Grand Slam champion. It’s new territory for the 19-year-old American. Had she not fulfilled expectations at the last U.S. Open last September, this would have been her last shot at being a teenage major winner. Now that the pressure is off, she’s happy to discuss ambitions that include 10 or more major titles and also Olympic medals. The first Australian Open to be staged over 15 days starts on Sunday at Melbourne Park.

Olympics brings on its first beer brand as a global sponsor — Budweiser’s AB InBev

LONDON (AP) — The International Olympic Committee has signed the first beer brand in the 40-year history of a sponsorship program that earns billions of dollars for the organization and international sports. The deal was announced Friday by the IOC and Budweiser maker Anheuser-Busch InBev for the next three Summer and Winter Games. The Paris Olympics open on July 26, and the deal also includes the 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy, then the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The IOC and AB InBev say Corona Cero, the zero-alcohol version of the Corona, will be “global beer sponsor of the Olympic Games.”

Australian Open 2024: Here’s how to watch on TV, betting odds and a look at upcoming matches

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Play in the year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament is scheduled to begin at the Australian Open on Sunday (Saturday night EST). Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic and No. 1-ranked woman Iga Swiatek are listed as the favorites by FanDuel Sportsbook. The first of the three major titles Djokovic won in 2023 was in Australia, where he’s a 10-time champion. His 24th Grand Slam singles trophy came at the U.S. Open in September. Swiatek owns four Slam titles but has not been past the semifinals in Australia. Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka is the defending women’s champion after winning her first major championship at Melbourne Park a year ago.

Rory McIlroy recovers from a quadruple bogey to keep 2-shot lead at Dubai Invitational

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy has recovered from a quadruple bogey to shoot a 1-under 70 and maintain the lead at the halfway point of the Dubai Invitational. The No. 2-ranked Northern Irishman sank a 30-foot putt for birdie on the par-3 16th and finished the second round with a two-stroke lead on 10-under 132 overall at Dubai Creek Resort. Jeff Winther bogeyed the 18th and joined Yannik Paul in a tie for second place at the European tour event. McIlroy had surprised himself with a first-round 62 and added back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth holes Friday. His quad came on the par-3 eighth. But he then made three birdies on the back nine.

Former WNBA rookies of the year Howard, Boston part of league’s Player Marketing Agreements

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is using some fresh faces in its Player Marketing Agreement cohort this season. The league’s past two Rookie of the Year winners, Aliyah Boston of Indiana and Rhyne Howard of Atlanta,are two of the six players chosen this offseason to take part in the program. They are joined by Washington’s Shakira Austin, Connecticut’s Brionna Jones, Seattle’s Jewell Loyd and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale. Ogunbowale was the only returning player from last season’s PMA group.

Washington Commanders hiring 49ers executive Adam Peters as general manager, AP source says

The Washington Commanders are hiring San Francisco 49ers executive Adam Peters as their new general manager, a person with knowledge of the move tells The Associated Press. Peters spent seven years with the Niners, first as VP of player personnel and then the past three as assistant GM working under John Lynch. The 49-year-old previously worked for the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots. Owner Josh Harris and his search committee followed through on his pledge for a thorough but rapid process to pinpoint and hire the next head of the front office after firing Ron Rivera.