AP Sports Summary for December 10th, 2024:
Burrow, Chase lift Bengals after botched blocked punt by Cowboys in 27-20 Cincinnati victory
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joe Burrow threw a tiebreaking 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase after Dallas botched a blocked punt to give the ball back to Cincinnati in the final two minutes, and the Bengals beat the Cowboys 27-20. The Cowboys were about to get the ball back with the score tied on the first play after the two-minute warning when Nick Vigil blocked a punt by Ryan Rehkow. Amani Oruwariye tried to field the bouncing ball when leaving it alone would have given Dallas possession. Oruwariye couldn't hold on, and the Bengals' Maema Njongmeta recovered. Three plays later, Burrow threw to Chase for the lead with 1:01 to go.
Micah Parsons aches after botched blocked punt costs Cowboys in loss to Bengals
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Micah Parsons rocked back and forth on the bench in agony after Cincinnati's winning touchdown that followed a botched blocked punt from his Dallas Cowboys. The star pass rusher couldn't bear to watch the end, so he left the field before the clock hit zeros in the Bengals' 27-20 victory. Joe Burrow's tiebreaking 40-yard touchdown pass to Ja'Marr Chase with 1:01 remaining was possible only because the Cowboys touched a blocked punt that would have put them in position for the victory in the final two minutes. Amani Oruwariye tried to field the bouncing ball on Nick Vigil's block when leaving it alone would have given Dallas possession.
Soto's record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets reverberates through Major League Baseball
DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto's record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets, the largest and longest deal in baseball history, has reverberated across the winter meetings. It stung the Yankees, who offered $760 million over 16 years to the All-Star outfielder. Soto's deal sparked even greater expectations in a free agent market that includes pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielder Anthony Santander. Many small-market teams have long sought a salary cap but the consensus since the 1994-95 strike has been not to propose a hard limit.
Is the College Football Playoff bracket fair? Here are some tweaks that would have changed things
The committee that chose the 12 contenders for college football's national title was only worried about ranking the teams. Where those teams landed in the bracket was based on a formula created by conference commissioners. That jumbled up the pairings and made a strong case for tinkering in the future. Some possible tweaks, like reseeding after the first round or not giving conference champions automatic byes, would have resulted in a vastly different tournament this year,
Belichick says he's had 'good conversations' with UNC chancellor amid Tar Heels' coaching search
Former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick says he had "a couple of good conversations" with North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts amid his discussions about the Tar Heels' head-coaching job. Belichick appeared on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday. He said he had spent the 11 months since his departure from the Patriots taking a "longer look" at the college level. He said he had learned a lot and had "a couple of good conversations" with Roberts. UNC fired the program's all-time winningest coach in Mack Brown last month.
Oregon's Gabriel, Colorado's Hunter, Boise State's Jeanty, Miami's Ward are named Heisman finalists
Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Colorado's Travis Hunter, Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and Miami's Cam Ward have been announced as the Heisman Trophy finalists. The Heisman has been given to the nation's most outstanding college football player since 1935. This year's winner will be announced Saturday in New York. The top four top vote-getters determined by more than 900 voters are selected as finalists. The voting panel includes members of the media and former Heisman winners.
Dodgers expect Shohei Ohtani to be ready to hit for opener in Japan, but not be on the mound
DALLAS (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is expected to be ready to hit when the reigning World Series champions open their season in Japan against the Chicago Cubs in March but is doubtful to pitch. Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that it's very unlikely that the two-way star will be on the mound pitching for the Dodgers in his home country. Ohtani had surgery last month on his left, non-throwing shoulder after getting hurt on a stolen base attempt during the World Series. He didn't pitch at all during the first season of his $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers while recovering from the elbow surgery in September 2023.
Tennessee grabs No. 1 in AP Top 25 after shakeup; No. 3 Iowa State has highest ranking since 1950s
Tennessee is the new No. 1 in men's college basketball after a massive shakeup in the AP Top 25. The Vols are No. 1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Auburn remained No. 2 and No. 3 Iowa State has its highest ranking since 1956-57. Kentucky rounds out the top five. Tennessee is off to its best start since opening the 2000-01 season 9-0.
Georgia QB Carson Beck's status for Sugar Bowl uncertain as he considers treatment options on elbow
ATLANTA (AP) — Quarterback Carson Beck's status for No. 2 Georgia's Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal is uncertain after he suffered an elbow injury in Saturday's Southeastern Conference championship game win over Texas. Georgia announced Monday there is no timetable on Beck's return as he and his family explore treatment options. Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Sunday the team was awaiting results of tests. The school did not announce details of the injury. Punter Brett Thorson will need season-ending surgery after injuring his non-kicking leg. Backup Gunner Stockton likely would start in the Sugar Bowl if Beck is unable to play.
$1 million per homer? $27,000 a point? $229 per second? Sports is loaded with money oddities
If Juan Soto replicates his 2024 performance throughout his $765 million, 15-year deal with the Mets, he'll make roughly $1.2 million for every home run he hits. He's hardly the only superstar athlete earning outrageous sums for each of his accomplishments. Some NFL quarterbacks make more than $3 million per game. Stephen Curry could make roughly $161,000 per 3-pointer. This past regular season, Lionel Messi earned $229 for every second he was on the field with Inter Miami.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final New York 113 Toronto 108
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Chicago 2 N-Y Rangers 1
Final SO Detroit 6 Buffalo 5
Final SO Montreal 3 Anaheim 2
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 27 Dallas 20
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Orlando at Milwaukee 7 p.m.
Dallas at Oklahoma City 9:30 p.m.
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NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Colorado at Pittsburgh 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Columbus 7 p.m.
San Jose at Carolina 7 p.m.
Toronto at New Jersey 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at N-Y Islanders 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Winnipeg 8 p.m.
Calgary at Nashville 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Edmonton 9 p.m.
Minnesota at Utah 9:30 p.m.
Florida at Seattle 10 p.m.
St. Louis at Vancouver 10 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Miami at (1)Tennessee 6:30 p.m.
Incarnate Word at (4)Duke 7 p.m.
(14)Michigan at Arkansas 9 p.m.
Troy at (15)Houston 8 p.m.
(20)Wisconsin at Illinois 9 p.m.
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