World Briefs, Jan. 14

FOOTBALL Meyer near deal with Jags

Urban Meyer and the Jacksonville Jaguars are working toward completion of a deal to make him the team’s next coach, according to a person with knowledge of negotiations.

Meyer, 56, would be leaving the Fox broadcast booth and returning to the sidelines after a two-year absence that followed a second health scare. Meyer was team owner Shad Khan’s top target — the franchise has lost 105 of 144 games since Khan took over in 2012.

Meyer went 187-32 — a staggering winning percentage of 85.3 — in stops at Bowling Green (2001-02), Utah (2003-04), Florida (2005-10) and Ohio State (2012-18). He ranks seventh all time in collegiate winning percentage, trailing only Notre Dame legends Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy among coaches at major programs.

The Jaguars have 11 picks in the 2021 draft, including five in the top 65, and are nearly $100 million under the projected salary cap.

Meyer would replace Doug Marrone, who went 25-44 in four-plus seasons with the Jaguars.

Lions hire Holmes for GM

The Detroit Lions have hired Brad Holmes as their general manager. He led the Los Angeles Rams’ college scouting department for eight years and started his 18-year career with them as a public relations intern in 2003.

Holmes will now join Detroit’s search for a new coach.

Detroit hasn’t won a playoff game since beating Dallas on Jan. 5, 1992, and that victory was its only one in the postseason since winning the 1957 NFL title.

BASKETBALL Michigan State-IU ppd.

Michigan State is postponing a second straight men’s basketball game due to a COVID-19 outbreak within its basketball program.

The school says it will not host Indiana on Sunday as scheduled.

The Spartans previously postponed a game at No. 5 Iowa on Thursday night because three players tested positive for the coronavirus. The players include center Mady Sissoko and guard Steven Izzo, son of coach Tom Izzo.

BASEBALL Mantle card sells for a record $5.2 million

Entrepreneur Rob Gough purchased a rare Mickey Mantle rookie baseball card for a record $5.2 million in November.

The previous record price for a sports card was for a signed Mike Trout rookie card from the 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Superfractor series, which sold for $3.9 million in August.

Gough, CEO of Dope apparel and an investor with an estimated net worth of $75 million, has owned a 1952 Topps #311 Mantle rookie card twice before, but those were graded Mint 5 and 6, on a scale of 1 to 10, by Professional Sports Authenticator.

The one he recently purchased is one of only six Mint 9 versions of the card known to exist. (There are three known Mint 10 versions of the card, but the owners are said to have no interest in selling.)