Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. became a free agent Tuesday after the wide receiver's acrimonious split with the Browns, and the Chiefs are among the destinations that he's rumored to be considering. Chiefs coach Andy Reid wouldn't confirm whether the sides have been in touch, but Kansas City makes sense as a landing spot. Beckham would have an opportunity to finish the season with a playoff contender while Patrick Mahomes would have another playmaker to help jumpstart a sluggish offense.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Scott Frost says he was willing to make sacrifices to continue as coach at Nebraska. Frost's comment came two days after he took a pay cut and fired four offensive assistants. The Cornhuskers are 15-27 in four years under Frost and 3-7 this season. Offense and special teams have been major problems this season. Frost said he was uncertain exactly how he would structure his staff. He hopes to become a CEO-type head coach rather than overseeing every aspect of the offense.
UNDATED (AP) — Top-ranked Georgia and No. 3 Alabama appear headed for a showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game. But before the powerhouse programs actually clash on Dec. 4 in Atlanta they still have a few remaining hurdles they have to clear in the season's final weeks. The Bulldogs close conference play on Saturday at Tennessee looking to slow down the Vols' up-tempo offense. The Crimson Tide take a break from the league grind when they host New Mexico State this weekend before resuming SEC play against improved Arkansas and at archrival and No. 16 Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Nijel Pack scored 18 points, making four 3-pointers, Mark Smith added 12 points and Kansas State beat Florida A&M 67-57 in a season opener for both teams. The Wildcats led by just three points at the break but held the Rattlers to 27 points in the second half. FAMU took a 43-42 lead, its last of the game, with 13:28 remaining. But Selton Miguel scored all 10 of his points during a 12-2 run for Kansas State. MJ Randolph scored 12 straight FAMU points, but he didn't get much help as Kansas State held a double-digit lead for the final six minutes.
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — The annual Race World Offshore Key West Championships in the Florida Keys started Wednesday. Offshore powerboat racing team M-Con leads the Super Cat class after the first of three race days. Driver Myrick Coil of Osage Beach, Missouri, and throttleman Tyler Miller of Wathena, Kansas, took a first-lap lead and maintained it throughout Wednesday's first event. Leading the Extreme class is Huski-Alegra Motorsports. Headquartered in Stuart, Florida, the boat is driven by Carlos De Quesada and throttled by Steve Curtis. The Super Stock race included a dramatic flip when CMR, based in Fort Myers, Florida, overturned after the second lap. Race officials said driver Eric Belisle and throttleman Shaun Torrente were uninjured.
NFL-NEWS
Darnold to miss at least 4 weeks with shoulder fracture
UNDATED (AP) — Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule says quarterback Sam Darnold will miss at least four weeks with a right shoulder injury.
Darnold, who is 4-5 as the team's starter, suffered an incomplete fracture of the shoulder blade and will go on injured reserve. Rhule said P.J. Walker will start for the Panthers on Sunday against the NFC-leading Arizona Cardinals.
The Panthers have signed quarterback Matt Barkley off the Tennessee Titans practice squad and he's expected to serve as Carolina's No. 2 quarterback on Sunday.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— Mike White will start at quarterback for the New York Jets on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Coach Robert Saleh announced the decision Wednesday and said rookie starter Zach Wilson is still recovering from a sprained knee ligament and won't be ready to play this weekend. Saleh adds that the long-term decision at quarterback will be made day to day.
— Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. has returned to practice. His return opens the possibility he might come off injured reserve and play Sunday at Dallas. Fowler was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22 with a knee injury.
— The Dallas Cowboys are adding kicker Lirim Hajrullahu. The former CFL player is in line to make his NFL debut if Greg Zuerlein doesn't clear COVID-19 protocols before Sunday's game against Atlanta. The 31-year-old native of Europe was with the Cowboys late in training camp.
— The Minnesota Vikings have been operating this week under the NFL's intensive virus protocols. Five players remain on the COVID-19 reserve list. One had to be hospitalized with breathing trouble. He was stable after initially being admitted to the emergency room. Coach Mike Zimmer declined to identify the player. A person with knowledge of the situation says the player is backup guard Dakota Dozier.
— Browns coach Kevin Stefanski would not disclose whether star running back Nick Chubb is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, leaving his status for Sunday's game against New England uncertain. Chubb tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday along with rookie running back/wide receiver Demetric Felton. Both were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will need to be symptom free and have two negative tests 24 hours apart to be eligible to face the Patriots. The Browns are dealing with a minor virus outbreak. On Wednesday, they had their fifth positive test in three days.
— The Browns have made another huge investment into their offensive line, signing three-time Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio to a three-year, $48 million contract extension. The 30-year-old was under contract through 2022, but the Browns wanted to secure one of their leaders and best players and have him finish his career with Cleveland. His deal, which runs through the 2025 season, comes a day after right guard Wyatt Teller signed a four-year, $56.8 million extension.
— Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson returned to practice after coming off injured reserve, but with no guarantee he'll play against Green Bay on Sunday. Coach Pete Carroll says he remains hopeful Carson will be able to play as he recovers from a neck issue.
— The Green Bay Packers have activated offensive tackle David Bakhtiari from the physically unable to perform list. The Packers needed to activate Bakhtiari by Wednesday for him to play this season. Bakhtiari hasn't played since tearing his left ACL on Dec. 31. He is eligible to play as soon as Sunday when the Packers host the Seattle Seahawks.
— Cincinnati Bengals executive Katie Blackburn has become the first woman appointed to the NFL's powerful competition committee, which plays a major role in rules changes. Blackburn, the executive vice president of the Bengals, is the franchise's fourth member of the committee. Team founder Paul Brown, his son and current owner Mike Brown, and former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis also have served in that group.
— Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook maintains he was the victim in a fight last year with a former girlfriend suing him for personal injury. The NFL says the civil lawsuit will be reviewed under the league's personal conduct policy. Cook will continue to practice and play with the team. Cook's attorney, David Valentini, says his client had the right to defend himself.
MLB-RELIEVER AWARDS
Hendriks, Hader honored as top relievers
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Chicago's Liam Hendriks earned his second straight Mariano Rivera Award as the American League Reliever of the Year and Milwaukee's Josh Hader won his third Trevor Hoffman Award as the National League Reliever of the Year.
Hendriks had an 8-3 record and 38 saves in 44 chances with a 2.54 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 71 innings during his first season with the White Sox. Hader was 4-2 with a career-best 1.23 ERA and 34 saves in 35 chances. He also won in 2018 and '19.
MLB-ASTROS-MEYERS
Meyers has surgery, could delay his 2022 season
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury that could delay his 2022 season.
The 25-year-old was hurt on Oct. 12 in Game 4 of the AL Division Series at the Chicago White Sox when he tried to make a leaping catch at the wall on Gavin Sheets' second-inning home run. Meyers had hoped to return later in the postseason but did not play again. He was 3 for 8 with two RBIs against the White Sox.
Meyers is not expected to be ready for game competition before opening day.
MLB-DODGERS-HEANY
Heaney, Dodgers finalize $8.5 million, 1-year deal
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with free agent left-hander Andrew Heaney with an $8.5 million, one-year deal. The contract includes $250,000 each for 100, 125, 150 and 175 innings.
Heaney split last season between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees. He had a 5.83 ERA, but recorded 150 strikeouts and 41 walks over 129 2/3 innings.
Heaney refused an outright minor league assignment from the Yankees last month and became a free agent. He made $6.75 million last season.
MLB-GM MEETINGS-BORAS
Boras: MLB cancer of trading veterans helped Braves win
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Baseball's most influential agent says the sport was the victim of a "competitive cancer" caused by teams unloading veterans to accumulate draft picks.
And Scott Boras says the Atlanta Braves' World Series title was a direct result of tanking. Atlanta made a series of July acquisitions and went on to its first World Series title since 1995.
In an outdoor news conference Wednesday in front of a steakhouse at the general managers' meetings in California, Boras backed the demands of the players' association for changes in the collective bargaining agreement that expires Dec. 1.
The sport is braced for a lockout that would be baseball's ninth work stoppage but first since 1995.
NHL-DUCKS-MURRAY RESIGNS
Ducks GM Murray resigns, plans to enter treatment program
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray has resigned, one day after he was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into his workplace conduct. In a statement, Murray said he plans to enter a treatment program for alcohol abuse.
The 66-year-old Murray has been with the organization since 2005 and has run the Ducks' hockey operations since November 2008, the third-longest active tenure for a GM in the NHL. Jeff Solomon, who joined the Ducks' front office in May, will be Anaheim's general manager while the club seeks a permanent replacement.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NHL
Ottawa Senators place 6th player in NHL's COVID-19 protocol
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Defenseman Josh Brown became the sixth Ottawa Senators player in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol Wednesday, with the team canceling practice for precautionary reasons.
Forwards Austin Watson, Dylan Gambrell and Connor Brown and defensemen Victor Mete and Nick Holden also are in the protocol, along with associate coach Jack Capuano. Mete was added to the list Tuesday, hours before the Senators' 3-2 loss at Boston.
Ottawa canceled practice Monday after Holden and Capuano were placed in the protocol Sunday. Later Monday, the team said Connor Brown and Gambrell had entered the protocol and would not travel to Boston. Watson entered the protocol Friday.
The Senators will host Los Angeles on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins may be nearing the end of a COVID-19 outbreak that's sent eight players and head coach Mike Sullivan into the NHL's protocol. Defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson have returned to practice and could play when the Penguins host Florida. Both players went into the protocol on Oct. 31.
Sullivan, captain Sidney Crosby and defenseman Brian Dumoulin remain in the protocol. Assistant coach Todd Reirden says all three are improving.
NHL-BLACKHAWKS-HAGEL
Hagel to miss 2 weeks with shoulder injury
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Hagel is expected to miss two weeks with a left shoulder injury.
Hagel got hurt in the third period of Sunday night's 2-1 overtime victory against Nashville. The 23-year-old has four goals and two assists in 13 games this season.
The Blackhawks also assigned defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk to Rockford of the AHL after being sidelined by a right ankle sprain.
Forward Tyler Johnson and defenseman Isaak Phillips were removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol. Phillips was then assigned to Rockford.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT
MAC says no to expansion
UNDATED (AP) — The Mid-American Conference announced it will stand pat with its membership, just hours after Middle Tennessee State made known it was sticking with Conference USA.
Middle Tennessee and fellow C-USA member Western Kentucky had explored the possibility of joining the MAC as Conference USA had been poached of nine members over the last month.
MTSU and WKU would have extended the Midwest-based MAC farther south. But after C-USA announced last week the addition of four new members starting in 2023, Middle Tennessee State decided it was best to stay put in a conference that will now had nine members, stretching from Virginia to New Mexico..
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