KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have brought back the majority of their free agents that helped deliver them their first Super Bowl title in 50 years. That means they have few holes to fill heading into the three-day NFL draft, giving them the luxury of doing just about anything they want. They could trade away the No. 32 overall selection and accumulate more picks, or they could use it on a position such as defensive back or running back where they are comparatively thin. Regardless, the Chiefs need to find cost-controlled depth from their rookie class with a big contract coming soon for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a petition from the Los Angeles Rams to send a lawsuit regarding their relocation from St. Louis into arbitration. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in St. Louis late next year, or it could be settled out of court. The city and county of St. Louis and the regional sports complex authority sued the Rams 15 months after owner Stan Kroenke returned his franchise to Los Angeles in early 2016. The Rams had spent 21 years in St. Louis before returning to their hometown for the previous 49 years. The St. Louis parties allege the Rams and the NFL committed fraud and breach of contract while moving the franchise.
UNDATED (AP) — College sports programs are already being cut and more are likely on the chopping block. The coronavirus pandemic has triggered fears of an economic meltdown on campuses around the country. In tough times, athletic administrators often drop sports programs to save money. Some observers see the coming crisis as a chance for schools to consider radical changes to how athletic departments are run. There also could be new development paths that emerge for young athletes.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Baylor's top two scorers are entering their names in the NBA draft while keeping open their options to return to the Bears. All-Big 12 sophomore guard Jared Butler announced his intentions Monday on Twitter. Junior guard MaCio Teague said last month that he was exploring the NBA draft. Butler was third in the Big 12 with 16 points a game, while Teague scored 13.9 points a game. The Bears finished No. 5 in the final AP Top 25 poll. They were 26-4 and set a Big 12 record with a 23-game winning streak.
UNDATED (AP) — The Baylor Lady Bears have added a transfer point guard who can play multiple seasons for them. Jaden Owens is transferring from UCLA and has signed a letter of intent with the Big 12 champion Lady Bears. The Texas native just completed her freshman season at UCLA and will have three seasons of eligibility at Baylor. The Lady Bears have had graduate transfers at point guard each of the past two seasons, Chloe Jackson for the 2019 national championship and T'ea Cooper this season. Owens was a McDonald's All-American at Plano West High School before going to UCLA.
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has made a move that allows teams to lay off or cut the pay of major and minor league managers, coaches, trainers and full-time scouts starting May 1. Manfred has suspended uniform employee contracts that cover about 9,000 people, including general managers on some teams. Manfred cited the inability to play games due to the national emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Novak Djokovic says he won’t take any anti-coronavirus vaccination if it becomes compulsory for tennis players to return to the world tours. The world’s top-ranked men’s tennis player says in a live Facebook chat he wouldn’t “be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.” Djokovic and his wife have two children and have spoken previously against vaccinations. Djokovic won the Australian Open in January for his 17th grand slam singles title.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars have waived oft-injured receiver Marqise Lee to create nearly $5 million in salary cap space, parting with a player who had just three receptions the last two years combined. The Jaguars were waiting for Lee to get fully healthy before letting him go, giving him the best chance to pass a physical with another team. He missed the entire 2018 season following a major knee injury and injured his shoulder last October, causing him to miss the final eight games.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis says it has added guard-forward Landers Nolley II as a transfer from Virginia Tech. Nolley was on the Atlantic Coast Conference all-freshman team this past season after averaging a team-high 15.5 points and 5.8 rebounds with the Hokies. He started 29 of 32 games with Virginia Tech and ranked 12th nationally among freshmen in scoring.
UNDATED (AP) — Former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame through the contributor category. Finchem expanded the PGA Tour’s footprint around the world and negotiated TV contracts that more than tripled prize money during his two decades as commissioner. He joins the induction class of 2021 with Tiger Woods.