Sports

Jets place franchise tag on running back Breece Hall before the deadline

The New York Jets placed the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall, while several other teams decide whether to use the tag on potential free agents before Tuesday’s deadline. The non-exclusive franchise tag guarantees Hall a one-year contract worth about $14.3 million if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal. Hall is the third player to get the tag this offseason with Dallas receiver George Pickens and Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts getting them well before the deadline.

Braves’ Jurickson Profar faces 162-game suspension for second positive drug test, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta outfielder Jurickson Profar faces a possible 162-game MLB suspension after a second failed performance-enhancing drug test. A person familiar with the case tells The Associated Press the process is ongoing. Profar plans to ask the players’ union to file a grievance, though any appeal could come after MLB announces discipline. He already served an 80-game ban last year after a positive test for a hormone that helps production of testosterone. A full-season suspension would block Profar from the postseason and cost him his $15 million salary.

Jack Hughes returns to his day job in the NHL after TV tour as the US Olympic hockey hero

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Olympic golden goal-scorer Jack Hughes was back on the ice in the morning after he and brother Quinn appeared with women’s captain Hilary Knight on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The whirlwind tour over — for now — Hughes is ready to get back to work at his day job in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. Next up in the return to normalcy is a matchup against U.S. teammate and close friend Matthew Tkachuk with the two-time defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers in town for each team’s 62nd game of the regular season.

A long-shot American dream hits the F1 grid as Cadillac debuts at the Australian GP

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Cadillac brings a new American team to the Formula 1 grid as the season opens in Australia. The team makes its racing debut this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The project started with Michael Andretti’s bid, but it now belongs to TWG Motorsports and General Motors. The group kept building the car and engine even after F1 first said no. Cadillac signed Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to lead the effort. The team leases Ferrari engines until its General Motors engines are ready. Many expect early struggles, but Cadillac says it has come to win.

Scherzer calls daughter’s letter to Blue Jays ‘the cutest thing you can possibly imagine’

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Max Scherzer says the note his daughter composed that asked the Toronto Blue Jays to re-sign the three-time Cy Young Award winner arose as his kids were writing letters to Santa Claus in December. Scherzer’s wife posted the handwritten note on Instagram after the three-time Cy Young Award winner signed a one-year, $3 million contract to stay in Toronto. Scherzer told reporters that “it’s the cutest thing you can possibly imagine when you read that.”

Figure skaters with disabilities seek a place in the Paralympic spotlight

The Paralympics do not include figure skating but there’s a movement to change that. Social media is helping figure skaters with disabilities to build a community around the world and grow their competitions. Former Paralympic long jumper Stef Reid took up skating as part of a TV show and had to develop her own skating style and prosthetic leg to compete. Margarita Sweeney-Baird has set up her own Inclusive Skating events to give skaters, including her own daughter, the chance to compete. She says joining the Paralympics would unlock much-needed funding and recognition.

San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start WBC opener for Team USA against Brazil

PHOENIX (AP) — San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start on the mound for Team USA in its first World Baseball Classic game Friday night against Brazil, manager Mark DeRosa said Monday. DeRosa added that two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes versus Mexico on Monday. New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, though he’s dealing with an illness and wasn’t with the U.S. team for Monday’s practice.

Rahm says European tour is ‘extorting’ LIV players by making them play more events to rejoin tour

Jon Rahm is claiming the European tour is extorting players from LIV Golf by making them play extra tournaments if they want to regain membership. Rahm is in Hong Kong for the next LIV event. The European tour says eight players have accepted a deal in which they pay previous fines and play extra tournaments to regain their membership. Rahm refuses to accept the deal. He says he shouldn’t be required to play extra tournaments. Rahm says if the deal was just play four tournaments outside the majors, he would sign the deal. He says he won’t play six events.

Shane Lowry has no choice but to pick himself up and move on after PGA National collapse

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It’s OK to feel sad for Shane Lowry. He had one hand on the trophy at the Cognizant Classic only to throw it away with two double bogeys. But there’s no need to feel sorry for him. This is what happens to pro golfers. They can be on top of their games and see it disappear in the same round. It was only five months ago when Lowry felt the highest of highs when he made the cup-clinching putt for Europe in the Ryder Cup. His only option now is to tee it up again with no promises of payback.

Kevin Durant says a wide-open NBA playoff race is fun. It’s hard to argue with that

MIAMI (AP) — Kevin Durant says the NBA’s new salary “aprons” help create real parity, and this season’s title race feels wide open. Durant says fans and teams enjoy not knowing who stands out. He says most teams still tweak lineups and adjust after trades. The West looks especially tight. Houston sits near the top, but a short skid can drop a team fast. On Monday, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said nobody can afford off nights. Betting markets still favor Oklahoma City. Recent history supports chaos. Seven franchises have won the last seven titles.