NFL set to begin hiring and training replacement officials, AP sources say
PHOENIX (AP) — The NFL is moving forward with plans to begin hiring and training replacement officials in the next several weeks because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the conversations are private. The league and the NFL Referees Association have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024. The current CBA expires on May 31. The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labor deal, but the NFLRA wants 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the people said.
Options vary for veteran QBs Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson
PHOENIX (AP) — Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are still unsigned for the 2026 season. Options vary for the four accomplished veteran quarterbacks. The 42-year-old Rodgers can return to Pittsburgh and play for new coach Mike McCarthy if he doesn’t choose to retire. Cousins will likely have to settle for a backup role somewhere unless Rodgers retires or another starter gets hurt in the offseason. Garoppolo has an opportunity to go back to the Rams for a third season to play behind NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.
Falcons GM Ian Cunningham says ‘work to be done’ in NFL minority hiring, despite Florida AG pushback
PHOENIX (AP) — First-year Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham said he’ll continue to push for more diversity in the NFL’s leadership positions, even after Florida’s attorney general wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law. Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying the league’s 23-year-old Rooney Rule amounts to “blatant race and sex discrimination.” Cunningham said there’s still “work to be done” in the realm of minority hiring. The NFL will have only three Black head coaches next season. There were 10 head coach openings this season and none of them were filled by a Black coach.
Edwards, Makeer power South Carolina past TCU 78-52 to reach the Final Four
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Joyce Edwards scored 24 points and Agot Makeer added 18 to help South Carolina beat TCU 78-52 to advance to the Final Four. The top-seeded Gamecocks will face UConn in the Final Four in Phoenix on Friday night in a rematch of last season’s national championship game. South Carolina (34-3) has now reached the Final Four in six straight years and won two national championships during that stretch. Staley has been at the helm for all of them, including the undefeated 2023-24 season.
Eyes of Texas on women’s Final Four again after Longhorns beat Michigan in regional final
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Madison Booker had 19 points and seven rebounds, fifth-year senior guard Rori Harmon has 13 assists and Texas is going to the women’s Final Four for the second year in a row. Justice Carlton added 15 points in the Longhorns’ 77-41 rout over Michigan in the Fort Worth Regional 3 championship game Monday night. The Longhorns led by as many as 40 points in the only regional final matching the top two seeds. Top-seeded Texas is 35-3 and going to its fifth Final Four overall. The Horns play 35-1 UCLA on Friday in Phoenix. Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway had 11 points for 28-7 Michigan.
Through MLB’s first weekend, Salvador Perez and the Royals are ABS winners
Salvador Perez and the Kansas City Royals have been baseball’s best at utilizing their robot challenges through the first weekend of the Automated Ball-Strike System. Perez topped all catchers by going 4-0 on challenges, while San Francisco’s Heliot Ramos and Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suárez were the only batters who went 2-0 — Suárez won his appeals on consecutive pitches. Three-time MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels is 3-1 on challenges. Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. was the only batter who went 0-2. Kansas City and Arizona were the only perfect teams, with the Royals 4-0 and Arizona 3-0. Houston was 0-6 and St. Louis was 0-3.
Mullins’ Miracle: How does his shot for UConn measure up to other famous ones in March Madness?
WASHINGTON (AP) — A couple of days ago, Braylon Mullins was a UConn freshman whose name carried weight mostly among the true diehards. Now he’s a part of NCAA Tournament lore. That’s what can happen at this time of year. Mullins’ 35-footer with 0.4 seconds remaining lifted UConn over Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight on Sunday. Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to evaluate just how legendary this shot was. The factors to consider are time and score, the importance of the game, the degree of difficulty and the shot’s long-term legacy.
The NBA’s stretch run has arrived. Here’s a look at what’s happening
The NBA stretch run has arrived. Entering Monday, only 9% of the regular season remains to be played. The five teams in each conference that won’t be going to the play-in or the playoffs are already known, so the focus shifts to seeding for the 20 teams still alive. Monday’s slate includes games with tiebreaker and play-in implications, plus a Lakers game without Luka Doncic because of a suspension. Detroit, Boston, Oklahoma City and San Antonio have playoff spots secured.
Tapping, twirling and “T” signs: Sports replays have a language all their own
Every moment of any major sporting event can be dissected in high-definition these days, meaning officials and umpires sometimes seem to be staring at a TV screen to review close calls as much as they’re watching the game. It’s also led to a type of sign language unique to the sports world. There’s the twirling motion with a finger that’s ubiquitous during NBA games when anyone believes their team has been wronged. In the NFL, it’s a red challenge flag thrown by coaches that’s often mimicked by fans. Now Major League Baseball has a new entry to the lexicon: A couple pats on the head for the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System that debuted in regular season games last week.