KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes deserved the game ball from the AFC title game. Travis Kelce probably did, too. But behind the scenes were Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder and his staff. They had to get their star QB ready for the Bengals and help their star tight end when back spasms nearly kept him from playing, too. Their work is just beginning. The Chiefs lost cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and wide receivers Kadarius Toney, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman to injuries in their 23-20 win Sunday night. They have two weeks to get healthy for the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles can win their second Super Bowl in franchise history if they beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles will face their former coach in Andy Reid. The Eagles are the fourth team to reach three Super Bowls since 2004. They also are the fourth franchise to appear in multiple Super Bowls since 2017. Hurts and Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes will be the first Black QBs to face off in a Super Bowl. The Eagles are in their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tore a ligament in his throwing elbow, putting his status for the start of next season in question. A person familiar with the injury confirmed the diagnosis of the injury Purdy sustained in the NFC title game. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has not released details on the injury. NFL Network first reported that Purdy tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and said he will seek a second opinion on whether he needs a repair or a reconstruction.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Royals and Zach Greinke have agreed to a contract for the coming season. That makes it nine seasons over two stints in Kansas City for the six-time All-Star pitcher. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the 39-year-old Greinke still needs to pass a physical. The financial terms of the deal first reported by Kansas City sports radio host Bob Fescoe weren't immediately available. Greinke was paid $13 million last season by the Royals. He spent the first seven seasons with them before returning last year and going 3-9 with a 3.68 ERA.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sir’Jabari Rice scored 21 points and Timmy Allen added 18 to send No. 10 Texas to a 76-71 win over No. 11 Baylor. Texas ended Baylor's six-game win streak, and the Longhorns kept a share of first place in the Big 12. Rice made four 3-pointers in the second half and his two free throws with 16 seconds left put Texas ahead by five with the final points. LJ Cryer scored 19 points to lead four Baylor players in double figures.
UNDATED (AP) — Purdue is this season's first unanimous No. 1 team in the AP men’s college basketball poll. The Boilermakers have won eight straight games since a one-point loss to Rutgers on Jan. 2. They were followed in the AP Top 25 by Tennessee, Houston, Alabama and Arizona in the top five. No. 11 Baylor and No. 17 Providence made the biggest jumps, each climbing six spots. Auburn had the biggest drop, falling 10 spots to No. 25. No. 21 Indiana and No. 22 San Diego State rejoined the poll at the expense of Charleston and New Mexico.
UNDATED (AP) — South Carolina, Stanford and LSU are the top teams in the latest women's AP Top 25 college basketball rankings. South Carolina is No. 1 for the 32nd consecutive week. Only UConn (51 and 34 weeks) and Louisiana Tech (36) have had longer runs at No. 1. Indiana and UConn round out top five. Ohio State lost all three of its games last week and dropped from No. 2 to No. 10.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU leading scorer Mike Miles Jr. will miss Tuesday night’s home game against West Virginia because of a hyperextended right knee. Miles got hurt less than four minutes into 15th ranked TCU’s overtime loss at Mississippi State on Saturday in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. A subsequent MRI showed no serious issues for the Big 12′s second-leading scorer. The timetable for his return is still uncertain, but coach Jamie Dixon says Miles didn’t have an ACL or MCL injury. Miles is still second in the Big 12 averaging 18.1 points a game even after not scoring Saturday.
UNDATED (AP) — Using name, image and likeness compensation to recruit college athletes is still very much against NCAA rules. The recent de-commitment from Florida by blue chip quarterback Jaden Rashada shows that NIL is definitely a factor in decisions. Booster-funded collectives are taking on a big role in compensating athletes. Schools can only hope they are acting within the rules and in their best interest. Inserting a third-party in the recruiting process between coaches and recruits has only complicated things. Experts say the collectives should focus on athletes who are already on campus.
CHICAGO (AP) — Hall of Fame forward Bobby Hull, who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final, has died. Hull was 84. The two-time MVP was one of the most prolific scorers in NHL history, leading the league in goals seven times. Nicknamed “The Golden Jet” for his speed and blond hair, he posted 13 consecutive seasons with 30 goals or more from 1959-72. Hull and Stan Mikita powered Chicago to the NHL title in 1961. Hull remains the Blackhawks’ career leader with 62 playoff goals. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and his No. 9 sweater was retired by Chicago that same year.
MONDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (6)Virginia 67 Syracuse 62
Final (10)Texas 76 (11)Baylor 71
Final Texas Tech 80 (13)Iowa St. 77
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Orlando 119 Philadelphia 109
Final Brooklyn 121 L.A. Lakers 104
Final Golden State 128 Oklahoma City 120
Final Washington 127 San Antonio 106
Final OT Sacramento 118 Minnesota 111
Final Dallas 111 Detroit 105
Final Phoenix 114 Toronto 106
Final Portland 129 Atlanta 125
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Winnipeg 4 St. Louis 2