Sports

Chiefs land Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker on a 3-year deal worth up to $45M, AP source says

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs and Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker have agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because deals cannot become official until the new league year begins Wednesday. Walker fills perhaps the biggest need for the Chiefs with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco both free agents. He ran for 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns over four seasons with the Seahawks. He also had 135 yards in a 29-13 win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl to earn MVP honors.

Dolphins releasing QB Tua Tagovailoa, resulting in a $99 million dead cap hit. Malik Willis to sign

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are moving on from Tua Tagovailoa and starting over at quarterback with Malik Willis. Tagovailoa has been the team’s primary starter for the last 5 1/2 seasons but the Dolphins said Monday he will be released. The move comes less than two years after he signed a $212 million extension with the club. It will result in a $99 million dead cap hit, the largest in NFL history, yet the Dolphins evidently saw that as the best path forward. Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan says “I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position.”

Cowboys get edge rusher Rashan Gary in trade with Packers as free agency opens, AP source says

A person with knowledge of the deal says the Dallas Cowboys are acquiring edge rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers in a trade just as NFL free agency opens. Dallas will send a 2027 late-round pick to the Packers. The Cowboys and Packers reached the deal just as free agents were being allowed to talk to teams and reach agreements on contracts that can’t be signed until the league year begins Wednesday. The Miami Dolphins announced they are releasing Tua Tagovailoa. That’s another big name at quarterback in free agency. Kyler Murray is being let go by Arizona.

Chiefs and tight end Travis Kelce nearing a deal for his 14th season, AP source says

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Travis Kelce is close to a new deal that keeps him with the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th season, a person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because no contract has been signed. Kelce has been weighing retirement and said he wanted to provide some clarity to the Chiefs by early March. Kansas City faces the start of free agency this week and the NFL draft in April. One reason Kelce is likely returning is to help the Chiefs bounce back from a tough 6-11 season, their worst since 2012. Another is to play again with Patrick Mahomes, who tore his ACL late last season.

Trump urges Australia to grant asylum to Iranian women’s soccer team after tournament exit

President Donald Trump says Australia’s prime minister is working to help Iran’s women’s national soccer team. His comments on Monday came after Trump urged the U.S. ally to grant the players asylum rather than send them back to Iran. The Iranian team arrived in Australia for the Women’s Asian Cup last month, before the Iran war began. Trump later said he spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and said that some of the players were being helped. It was unclear what steps Australia’s government was taking or how many players want to stay.

Russian anthem rings out at Paralympics for first time in 12 years after Voronchikhina takes gold

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Russia’s national anthem rings out at the Paralympics for the first time in more than a decade after Para alpine skier Varvara Voronchikhina won gold. Russian athletes are back competing under their own flag in the Winter Paralympics at Milan Cortina after years of having to do so as neutral athletes because of the country’s doping violations and military conflicts. Voronchikhina finished first in the women’s super-G standing competition on Monday and the medal ceremony took take place shortly afterward. It is the first time Russia’s anthem has been played at a major global sporting event since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the first time it is heard at the Paralympics since the 2014 Games in Sochi.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold urges FIFA to postpone his team’s World Cup playoff because of Iran war

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq coach Graham Arnold has urged soccer’s international governing body to postpone his team’s intercontinental World Cup qualifier later this month because of disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East. Arnold says many players and staff cannot leave the country because Iraq has closed its airspace until April 1. That has already forced Iraq to postpone a training camp in Houston. Iraq is due to play a winner-takes-all playoff on March 31 in Monterrey against either Suriname or Bolivia. Arnold is asking FIFA to delay the match so his squad has adequate time to prepare.

Man who helped recruit players into a sprawling NCAA basketball point-shaving scheme pleads guilty

One of the so-called fixers in a sprawling betting scheme to cash in on big bets on rigged NCAA basketball games has pleaded guilty. The federal prosecutors’ office in Philadelphia says Jalen Smith appeared Monday in federal court and pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery charges. Prosecutors say the Charlotte, North Carolina, man trained local basketball players and used those connections to recruit players in the scheme. Charges against Smith were unsealed in January along with 25 others. Prosecutors say Smith helped fix games in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. They say he placed bets and recruited players with the promise of a big payment in exchange for purposefully underperforming during a game.

Duke marks its record 150th No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25, Wisconsin, Louisville back in poll

Duke was picked No. 1 in the AP men’s basketball poll for a record 150th time on Monday. The Blue Devils grabbed 56 of 61 first-place votes after beating NC State and North Carolina last week. It is their third consecutive week at No. 1. Arizona stayed second with four first-place votes, and Michigan also got a first-place vote after beating Michigan State. Wisconsin and Louisville returned to the poll, while Miami and Saint Louis dropped out.

No. 2 UCLA ends UConn run as unanimous No. 1 in women’s AP Top 25, Texas moves up to No. 3

No. 2 UCLA has closed the gap on top-ranked UConn in the latest AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll. The Bruins grabbed three first-place votes after crushing Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament championship game. UConn got the other 28 first-place votes. Texas jumped South Carolina to No. 3 after winning their head-to-head showdown in the SEC tournament final. The SEC leads the country with eight ranked teams.