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Liam McNeeley, a top-10 recruit and the best available high school prospect in 2024, has committed to UConn, he told ESPN. "It felt like a perfect fit," McNeeley said. "Coach Hurley is a hard-nosed coach. That's the kind of coach I thrive under. The offensive system they run is perfect for my game. The culture of the team. The sets they run. They are going to help me get better on both sides of the ball. The whole coaching staff are good people." McNeeley, a 6-foot-7 wing from Richardson, Texas, picked the Huskies over Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Michigan and others. He was previously committed to Indiana, but requested his release last month. McNeeley, ESPN's No. 9 prospect in the class of 2024, was named a McDonald's All-American after helping Montverde Academy to a perfect 33-0 season that culminated in a win in the championship game of the Chipotle High School Nationals earlier this month. He was Montverde's third-leading scorer this season behind fellow...

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims shrugged off criticism from someone who was once on the verge of coaching him. When the Bengals selected Mims on Thursday with the 18th overall pick in the NFL draft, former Alabama coach Nick Saban questioned Mims' consistency throughout his playing career at Georgia. As a high school prospect, Mims had once been committed to play for Saban before he ultimately signed with Georgia, where he made eight starts in 29 games over three seasons. During his introductory media session in Cincinnati, Mims wasn't fazed by Saban's comments. "Everybody has their own opinions of me," Mims said Friday. "I don't really care about what he said or what he had to say, honestly. I'm just glad to be a Cincinnati Bengal." The 6-foot-8 offensive tackle joins a team that features two other 6-8 players who anchor the Bengals' offensive line -- left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and right tackle Trent Brown. As a...

Juwan Howard has agreed to a deal to become an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets, sources told ESPN on Friday. Howard -- fired by Michigan in March after five seasons as coach -- joins new Nets coach Jordi Fernandez's staff. Howard spent six seasons as an assistant under Erik Spoelstra with the Miami Heat upon his retirement from an NBA career that included 19 seasons, two championships and All-Star and All-NBA selections. After his initial success as Wolverines coach, Howard was approached for some NBA head-coaching openings -- including with the Los Angeles Lakers -- but remained at Michigan, where he eventually coached his sons  Jett and Jace. Howard led the Wolverines to a Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight in his time at his alma mater but struggled in the past two seasons, culminating with an 8-24 record that led to his dismissal. Howard joins assistant Steve Hetzel, who left the Portland Trail Blazers after three...

Leicester City have been promoted back to the Premier League from the Championship after second-placed Leeds United lost 4-0 to Queens Park Rangers on Friday. Leeds' defeat means that they are four points behind Leicester with only one match left to play, thereby ensuring that they can no longer overtake the midlands club for one of the two automatic promotion places. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Third-placed Ipswich Town could still catch Leicester, but even if they were to win their three remaining matches, Leicester would need just four points from their two remaining games to win the title. Leicester, whose nine-year Premier League stay was ended by relegation last season, had seemed almost certain of a return to the top flight when they opened up a 14-point gap between themselves and third place in February. But they saw that lead quickly shrink after a poor run of form that left them needing to pick up...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --  Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. spoke on the phone Thursday night after the  Atlanta Falcons stunningly took Penix with the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft. Penix, who led the  Washington Huskies to the national championship game last season, said that Cousins reached out to him and that the two quarterbacks had a "very good conversation," although he did not disclose specifics about what they spoke about. "I'm going to keep it just between me and him right now," Penix said Friday at a news conference at the Falcons' facility. "But it was definitely a good conversation, and I'm super excited to work with him, and he said he's the same with me." The Falcons signed Cousins last month to a four-year, $180 million contract that includes $100 million of guaranteed money. Atlanta's decision to draft a quarterback with its top-10 pick drew surprise, including from Cousins himself. Cousins was not informed that the Falcons would...

University of Southern California women's basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb -- responsible for rapidly restoring the Trojans into a national powerhouse -- has signed a contract extension that'll take her through 2030, athletic director Jen Cohen announced Friday. Gottlieb's new deal comes with the Trojans on the cusp of competing for national championships with first-team All-American freshman JuJu Watkins -- the nation's best returning player -- and ESPN's No. 1-rated recruiting class arriving in the fall. "We couldn't be more excited to extend Lindsay and keep her as a part of the Trojan Family for years to come," Cohen said in a statement. "She has built a program we are extremely proud of and one that has had an incredible impact on our University and entire community. "Lindsay has led us back to national prominence at a time when the sport is as popular as it's ever been. The future of USC Women's Basketball is extremely bright and we can't wait to support her and see...

Liverpool have moved a step closer to appointing Arne Slot as manager at Anfield after reaching an agreement with Dutch club Feyenoord for the highly rated coach, sources confirmed to ESPN. Slot, 45, confirmed on Thursday that he was keen to move to Liverpool after being identified as the Premier League team's preferred candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, who is stepping down at the end of the season after 8½ years in charge. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) And sources have said that the two clubs have now sealed a compensation deal for Slot, who has two years left to run on his contract with the Eredivisie side. Feyenoord had been holding out for a £9 million ($11.25m) deal for Slot and, although a figure has yet to be confirmed publicly, a settlement has been reached, leaving Liverpool free to negotiate a contract with Slot. Liverpool opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday for Slot, who signed...

All-America center Hunter Dickinson announced Friday he plans to return to Kansas for his final year of eligibility, likely solidifying the Jayhawks as the preseason No. 1 team in men's college basketball. Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior, has been one of the most dominant and productive big men in the country during his college career. This past season, he averaged 17.9 points and a career-high 10.9 rebounds, which ranked eighth nationally -- en route to earning second-team All-America and first-team All-Big 12 honors. He produced huge single-game performances, going for 27 points and 21 rebounds against Kentucky; 17 points and 20 rebounds against Tennessee; and 30 points and 11 rebounds against TCU. Dickinson also finished with 19 points, 20 boards, five assists and four blocks in Kansas' first-round NCAA tournament win over Samford. He had 17 double-doubles on the season. Dickinson spent three seasons at Michigan before transferring last spring and joining Bill...

The NFL has adjusted its rules to allow players the option of using Guardian Caps in regular-season games to enhance their protection against head injuries, the league confirmed Friday. The padded headgear was mandated for players at certain positions during training camp in 2022 and 2023. Speaking earlier this year, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said that Guardian Caps have contributed to a nearly 50% reduction in concussions for the position groups that wore them during those time periods. In a statement provided Friday to ESPN, Miller said: "We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps during practice, so players will be permitted to wear the cap during games this upcoming season. Additionally, there are new helmets this year that provide as much -- if not more -- protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap. These developments represent substantial progress in our efforts to make...

University of Southern California women's basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb -- responsible for rapidly restoring the Trojans into a national powerhouse -- has agreed on a contract extension that'll take her through 2030, sources told ESPN on Friday. Gottlieb's new deal comes with the Trojans on the cusp of competing for national championships with first-team All-American freshman JuJu Watkins -- the nation's best returning player -- and ESPN's No. 1-rated recruiting class arriving in the fall. Gottlieb's recruitment and deployment of Watkins has been met with sold-out Galen Center crowds, national television ratings and an electric environment around the program in the Greater Los Angeles area. Watkins -- a prep icon at nearby Sierra Canyon -- has starred in national advertising campaigns with LeBron James and Joel Embiid and has become a magnet to recruit the best high school and portal players to USC. In Gottlieb's third season after arriving to a program...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is mulling a future with 18 regular-season games, a Presidents Day weekend Super Bowl and a significant increase in international games. Goodell, during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday, shared his long-term vision, one that involves numerous changes to the season's current format. Specifically, Goodell said he would embrace a schedule featuring 18 regular-season games and two preseason contests, a significant shift from the current 17 regular-season and three preseason games that was implemented in 2021. "I think we're good at 17 now," Goodell said. "But, listen, we're looking at how we continue. I'm not a fan of the preseason." Then, gesturing toward a group of fans assembled nearby, Goodell said, "And I don't think these guys like it either." He continued: "The reality is, I'd rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day. That's just picking quality. If we get to 18 and 2, that's not an unreasonable...

BALTIMORE - Highly touted prospect Jackson Holliday has been optioned to the minor leagues by the Baltimore Orioles after starting his big league career with a disappointing thud. Holliday was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk on April 10 amid plenty of fanfare, but the 20-year-old second baseman managed only two hits -- both singles -- and two walks in 36 plate appearances. He struck out 18 times and was batting just .059 with one RBI and a .111 on-base percentage. The Orioles tried to rest him periodically, but Holliday, the top pick in the 2022 MLB draft, never busted out of his funk at the plate. So, Baltimore sent him back to Norfolk on Friday before opening a three-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics. Holliday will seek to regain his form at the plate with Norfolk, where he batted .333 with five doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in 10 games this season before being summoned by the Orioles. "He's ultimately going to be better off for it,"...

No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is breaking records before setting foot in Chicago. The Bears selected the quarterback first in the NFL draft on Thursday night, and his merchandise on Fanatics, including jerseys and other apparel, set the record for draft night sales value in any sport. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, had broken the existing record 10 days earlier when her No. 22 jersey sold out in a matter of hours. The alternate orange jersey was the only version of Williams' new duds that was still available Friday morning, and exclusively in size 2XL. His navy jersey was available only in youth sizes. Williams switched from his jersey number at USC (13) to No. 18 with the Bears, the team announced Thursday night. Newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen, traded to the Bears by the Los Angeles Chargers, is expected to wear No. 13. Quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Kyle Orton previously wore No. 18 for the...

No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is breaking records before setting foot in Chicago. The Bears selected the quarterback first in the NFL draft on Thursday night and his merchandise on Fanatics, including jerseys and other apparel, set the record for draft night sales in any sport. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, had broken the existing record 10 days earlier when her No. 22 jersey sold out in a matter of hours. The alternate orange jersey was the only version of Williams' new duds that was still available on Friday morning, and exclusively in size 2XL. His navy jersey was available only in youth sizes. Williams switched from his jersey number at USC (13) to No. 18 with the Bears, the team announced Thursday night. Newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen, traded to the Bears by the Los Angeles Chargers, is expected to wear No. 13. Quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Kyle Orton previously wore No. 18 for the Bears, as...

Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden blinked back tears Friday as he accepted blame for using a manipulated push-to-pass system in his season-opening IndyCar win that has since been stripped, calling it an embarrassment. Newgarden insisted he is "not a liar" and said he didn't know he had broken the rules until Monday, the day after the manipulated systems were discovered during morning warmups at Long Beach. The two-time series champion choked back tears several times, including when asked what he has to do to regain the trust of his competitors, some of whom have been outspoken in their skepticism that his and his team's actions were unintentional. "I don't know how you do that," Newgarden said. "I don't know that anybody's going to believe what I've told you here today. And that's OK. It's a crazy set of circumstances to try to wrestle with. It's certainly not going to come with words. I'll just try and earn it through action." Newgarden's 25-minute news...

The Milwaukee Bucks have ruled two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo out of Friday night's Game 3 of the series against the Indiana Pacers with a left calf strain. The Bucks already played the first two games of this series without Antetokounmpo. The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. Antetokounmpo hasn't played since straining his left calf in an April 9 victory over the Boston Celtics. He missed the Bucks' final three regular-season games. The Bucks face the possibility of continuing the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series without two of their top three players. Khris Middleton has a sprained right ankle that kept him from practicing Thursday and puts his status in question for Game 3 in Indianapolis. The NBA's injury report Thursday afternoon listed Antetokounmpo as doubtful and Middleton as questionable for Friday's game. Middleton was limping in the first quarter of the Bucks' 125-108 Game 2 loss...

More than two dozen athletes who were based in Iowa filed a federal lawsuit Friday alleging that state criminal investigators violated their constitutional rights by using geolocation software to track activity on their cellphones as part of a widespread sports wagering inquiry that resulted in criminal charges and the loss of NCAA eligibility. At issue in the 47-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa is whether the state's criminal investigators needed a search warrant before using a program from third-party company GeoComply to find athletes -- including many who were under 21, the legal betting age in Iowa -- and conduct searches to examine their online wagering activity. The plaintiffs are 26 current and former athletes: 16 from the University of Iowa, nine from Iowa State and one from a community college in central Iowa. Thirteen played football, six wrestled and the other seven played baseball or basketball. "The lives of these young...

More than two dozen athletes who were based in Iowa filed a federal lawsuit Friday alleging that state criminal investigators violated their constitutional rights by using geolocation software to track activity on their cellphones as part of a widespread sports wagering inquiry that resulted in criminal charges and the loss of NCAA eligibility. At issue in the 47-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa is whether the state's criminal investigators needed a search warrant before using a program from third-party company GeoComply to find athletes -- including many who were under 21, the legal betting age in Iowa -- and conduct searches to examine their online wagering activity. The plaintiffs are 26 current and former athletes: 16 from the University of Iowa, nine from Iowa State and one from a community college in central Iowa. Thirteen played football, six wrestled, and the other seven played baseball or basketball. "The lives of these young...

The Miami Marlins scratched left-hander Jesus Luzardo from Friday's scheduled start because of elbow discomfort. The team said Luzardo, 26, will undergo further testing. In his place, right-hander Anthony Maldonado is scheduled to make his major league debut when the Marlins open a four-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday night. Maldonado, 26, was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville, where he has gone 11-3 with a 1.84 ERA across 78⅓ innings pitched over three seasons. Luzardo has struggled through five starts this season, going 0-2 with a 6.58 ERA. He has struck out 27 batters, walked 13 and allowed five home runs in 26 innings of work. He owns a career record of 23-30 with a 4.32 ERA in 98 games (82 starts) with the Oakland A's (2019-21) and Marlins. Luzardo is the latest Marlins starting pitcher to be slowed by injury. Left-hander A.J. Puk went on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left shoulder...

Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino shut down artificial turf doubts when confirming the availability of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez for selection vs. the New England Revolution on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. "The players are all available, and those who are healthy will travel. We will see the formation to face the New England Revolution a little later," Martino said during a Friday news conference. "We previously played on artificial turf at Charlotte last year and had no problem."  - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Messi formed part of the Inter Miami side that took on Charlotte FC on Bank of America Stadium's turf. Messi played the entirety of the game in the 1-0 loss. The Argentine striker had reaffirmed his disposition to play on any field during his introductory news conference last summer. "The truth is my youth was spent on artificial turf, my whole...

Alabama basketball transfer Rylan Griffen, one of the best shooters in the portal, has committed to Kansas, he told ESPN. The Jayhawks quickly emerged as the favorite to land Griffen, conducting an in-home visit and then welcoming him on campus last week. "I chose Kansas because Coach [Bill] Self and the coaching staff are going to push me to be the best player I can be," Griffen said. "I think I fit in because they said they needed shooting. I think I can help them in that area. I think I can help them with perimeter defense and help get stops and help carry on the same winning culture they've always had." A 6-foot-6 shooting guard, Griffen made significant strides during his sophomore season in Tuscaloosa. He went from averaging 5.9 points as a freshman to 11.2 points as a sophomore, starting 33 games and shooting 39.2% from behind the arc. Griffen was at his best during the middle part of the season, averaging nearly 14 points during a 17-game stretch from late...

Brazil's all-time top scorer in both men's and women's football, Marta, will retire from internationals this year, the 38-year-old striker said on Thursday. Marta, who has been playing in the United States with Orlando Pride since 2017, hopes to make her sixth appearance at the Olympics at this year's Games in Paris. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because, regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team," Marta told CNN in an interview on Thursday. "There will be no more Marta from 2025 in the national team as an athlete. "I am very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes." Marta, affectionately known as "Queen Marta," is the all-time highest scorer for Brazil with 116 goals in 175 matches. Regarded as one of the best footballers of...

Nico Hulkenberg will leave Haas for Sauber in 2025, the two teams confirmed on Friday. Hulkenberg joined Haas in 2023 after three seasons without a full-time ride and has been one of the grid's in-form drivers this season. - Unlapped: How to listen or watch ESPN's F1 show The German driver will join Sauber on a multi-season deal one year before it becomes the Audi team in 2026. "I'd like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team in the time that he's been here with us - he's been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with, " team principal Ayao Komatsu said in a statement put out by Haas on Friday.  "His experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terns of improving our overall performance - a fact that's clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season. "There's a lot more racing to go this year so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs...

LOS ANGELES -- Having just logged the 285th playoff game of his career -- clearing the entire Denver Nuggets starting five's combined 275 -- Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke from plenty of experience when he detailed what it takes to thrive in the postseason after Thursday night's 112-105 Game 3 loss. "You're supposed to have anxiety and pressure -- or feel the pressure," James said after Denver went up 3-0 in their first-round series, one win away from sweeping L.A. into its summer for a second straight year. "That's what it's about. This is what the postseason is about." With  Anthony Davis to his right, James endorsed his and the Lakers center's ability to perform when the games matter most. The pair combined for 59 points. James finished with 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting, six rebounds and nine assists, while Davis led L.A. with 33 points on 14-for-23 shooting and 15 boards. He didn't say the same for the rest of the Lakers, who were...

LOS ANGELES -- Having just logged the 285th playoff game of his career -- clearing the entire Denver Nuggets starting five's combined 275 -- Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke from plenty of experience when he detailed what it takes to thrive in the postseason after Thursday night's 112-105 Game 3 loss. "You're supposed to have anxiety and pressure -- or feel the pressure," James said after Denver went up 3-0 in their first-round series, one win away from sweeping L.A. into its summer for a second straight year. "That's what it's about. This is what the postseason is about." With  Anthony Davis to his right, James endorsed his and the Lakers center's ability to perform when the games matter most. The pair combined for 59 of L.A.'s 105 points, with James finishing with 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting, six rebounds and nine assists and Davis leading L.A. with 33 points on 14-for-23 and 15 boards. He didn't say the same for the rest of the...

Before the Baltimore Ravens selected Nate Wiggins in the NFL draft's first round Thursday night, team officials were getting constant reminders from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney that the Tigers cornerback was still on the board. "We were getting texts from the head coach," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. "Dabo was texting us during the first round [saying], 'Please take this guy.'" Swinney, who attended Wiggins' draft party, gave him a hug after he was drafted by the Ravens. "Nate is as talented as we've ever had come through here at his position from a skill set standpoint," Swinney said in a press release Thursday night. One of the top cornerbacks in the draft, Wiggins unexpectedly fell to No. 30. He said he was unaware that Swinney had contacted Baltimore, but he was certain that the Ravens were targeting him. "They always told me if I was there, and I was available, they were going to take me," Wiggins said. "So, it was just, 'Will I be...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan made their way to the auditorium Thursday night, a text popped up on each of their phones. The sender was Brandon Aiyuk, the subject of plenty of trade speculation amid the Niners' latest attempts to consummate a big-money contract extension with the star wide receiver. Lynch and Shanahan had just spent the No. 31 pick in the NFL draft Thursday on Florida receiver  Ricky Pearsall, a selection that didn't do much to quiet the Aiyuk rumors. But Aiyuk's message wasn't one of anger. It was far simpler. "Fire pick, I can't lie," Aiyuk's message said, according to Lynch. Aiyuk and Pearsall played together at Arizona State in 2019 and remain friendly. In fact, Pearsall spoke to Aiyuk on the phone before he spoke with Bay Area media Thursday night. That all took place against the backdrop of the seemingly endless speculation about Aiyuk's future. Despite San...

The Kansas City Chiefs didn't want to just rebuild at wide receiver. They wanted to rebuild with speed. That effort got a big boost in the first round of the draft when the Chiefs traded up four spots with the Buffalo Bills to select Texas wide receiver  Xavier Worthy, who set a scouting combine record when he ran a 4.21 in the 40-yard dash. This comes after the Chiefs signed veteran wideout Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, who ran a 4.27 40 when he came out for the draft in 2019. General manager Brett Veach said the addition of the two players will "make life easier'' for the Chiefs' top two returning receivers, Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. "It's a speed game and the more speed you have on the field, the harder it is for defenses to take away different elements of the game,'' general manager Brett Veach said. "Anytime you can add speed and add a guy with that type of versatility, I think you're going to be interested. Just our ability...

PHILADELPHIA -- The New York Knicks took exception to the flagrant foul Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid committed on Knicks center Mitchell Robinson in the first quarter of Philadelphia's 125-114 Game 3 victory, calling it "dirty" and saying Robinson was fortunate to avoid serious injury on the play. "It was dirty," Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo said. "It was dirty." "I mean, we're just happy Mitch didn't get a serious injury on that," Knicks forward Josh Hart added. "I'm all for tough fouls, tough playoff fouls, but that's something that can put a guy out for a significant amount of time. So we're lucky he didn't get seriously hurt during that time." The play came with 4:34 in the first quarter, when Embiid fell to the ground trying to draw an offensive foul -- which wasn't called -- and then he grabbed at Robinson's right leg as he landed on the ground nearby. Robinson, who was questionable coming into the game with left ankle...

PHILADELPHIA -- Not only did Joel Embiid set a playoff career high with 50 points to carry the Philadelphia 76ers back into their first-round series against the New York Knicks with a 125-114 victory in Game 3, but he did it while playing through Bell's palsy, a condition that has affected the left side of his face. "I think it started a day or two before the Miami game [in the play-in tournament], and I had bad migraines and thought it was nothing," Embiid said after Thursday's win. "It's pretty annoying, you know, with the left side of my face, my mouth and my eye. So yeah, it's been tough. "But I'm not a quitter, so gotta keep fighting. But yeah, it's unfortunate. That's the way I look at it. But it's not an excuse. Gotta keep pushing." Embiid said the condition has affected his vision at times, causing it to be blurry, and said he constantly has to put drops in his eye to keep it from getting too dry. He also said it's unclear how long the condition...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants declined an invite to the quarterback party at the top of the 2024 NFL draft when they passed on Michigan's  J.J. McCarthy, among others, before selecting LSU wide receiver  Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick. Quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr., McCarthy and  Bo Nix were available when the Giants were on the clock Thursday night in the first round of the draft. They were all eventually taken within the first 12 picks -- Penix at No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons, McCarthy at No. 10 to the Minnesota Vikings and Nix at No. 12 to the Denver Broncos. Caleb Williams,  Jayden Daniels and  Drake Maye were selected Nos. 1-3 to the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, respectively, tying a record for the most first-round quarterbacks since the legendary 1983 draft. Giants general manager Joe Schoen confirmed that there were conversations with teams in...

The Atlanta Falcons pulled off the biggest shocker of the NFL draft Thursday night, taking Washington quarterback  Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. And that stunned feeling extended to incumbent quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Falcons made the pick despite signing veteran quarterback Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract last month in free agency. Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN's Pete Thamel that the Falcons did not tell the quarterback they would pick Penix until the team was on the clock. McCartney said there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins' camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024. Instead, the Falcons used their selection on Cousins' apparent successor before he even played for the team. McCartney said Cousins understands the business of football and is ready to move on, but there was indeed surprise about the Falcons' decision. Falcons general manager Terry...

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have their new quarterback. Six weeks after bidding farewell to veteran Kirk Cousins, the Vikings moved up one spot in the 2024 NFL draft and selected Michigan quarterback  J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 on Thursday night. McCarthy provided an attractive consolation prize after the team tried and failed to acquire the No. 3 pick, where they hoped to draft North Carolina's  Drake Maye, and were rebuffed by the Los Angeles Chargers in a long shot attempt to trade for veteran Justin Herbert. McCarthy was one of at least five quarterbacks the Vikings conducted private workouts and meetings with over the past month, a list that also included  Jayden Daniels,  Michael Penix Jr.,  Bo Nix and Maye. All but Nix were off the board by the eighth selection of the draft, leaving the Vikings to sweat out a few picks before they swapped spots with the New York Jets. The Vikings gave...

The Denver Broncos' decision-makers said over and over again in the weeks leading up to Thursday's first round of the NFL draft they would not "force'' a decision at quarterback. Whether or not the Broncos indeed forced the issue remains to be seen, but what the Broncos did do is make history when they made Oregon's  Bo Nix the sixth quarterback off the board Thursday night. Nix's selection tied the record of six quarterbacks selected in the first round, set in 1983 when Broncos Hall of Famer John Elway was the No. 1 pick of the draft (by the Baltimore Colts). In all, a record 23 offensive players -- including the first 14 picks off the board -- were selected in the first round, breaking the previous mark of 19. Nix's selection with the No. 12 pick was the highest the Broncos have taken a quarterback since they drafted Jay Cutler at No. 11 in 2006. General manager George Paton wouldn't say Thursday whether the Broncos had six quarterbacks among...

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- In the weeks leading up to the NFL draft, the Los Angeles Chargers received trade inquiries for star quarterback Justin Herbert from the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings but quickly turned down both requests, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz confirmed Thursday that he fielded inquiries about Herbert but did not specify which teams contacted him. "Justin who?" Hortiz said with a smile. "No. No, at the combine I had some people ask me would we consider it, and they were quickly shot down. No, that is never an option." The potential blockbuster trade would have been a costly one for the Chargers, who would have had to take on a $63.5 million salary cap charge for the 2024 season if they traded Herbert. The Chargers signed Herbert in July to a five-year, $262.5 million extension that included $133.7 million in full guarantees and $193.7 million in injury guarantees. The Patriots...

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have their new quarterback. Six weeks after bidding farewell to veteran Kirk Cousins, they Vikings moved up one spot in the 2024 NFL draft and selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall on Thursday night. McCarthy provided an attractive consolation prize after the team tried and failed to acquire the No. 3 overall pick, where they hoped to draft North Carolina's Drake Maye, and were rebuffed by the Los Angeles Chargers in a long-shot attempt to trade for veteran Justin Herbert. McCarthy was one of at least five quarterbacks the Vikings conducted private workouts and meetings with over the past month, a list that also included Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix and Maye. All but Nix were off the board by the eighth pick of the draft, leaving the Vikings to sweat out a few picks before they swapped spots with the New York Jets. The Vikings gave up the No. 11 pick, a fourth-round...

The Atlanta Falcons selected quarterback  Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday. The Falcons made the pick despite signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency. Penix went through the draft process as one of the players with the most medical questions. In his four seasons at Indiana, before his transfer to Washington, Penix tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) twice and suffered injuries to each shoulder, including his left (throwing) shoulder. He missed 25 of his possible 51 games at Indiana and did not play more than six games in any of his four seasons with the Hoosiers. However, he played the last two seasons at Washington with 4,641 yards and 4,903 yards passing, respectively, to go with 67 passing touchdowns combined. At the Senior Bowl, Penix told ESPN his knee had been evaluated by noted orthopedist Neal S. ElAttrache from the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los...

Despite the speculation that the Arizona Cardinals could trade the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, Arizona stood pat Thursday night and selected former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, the younger Harrison became just the third receiver taken by the Cardinals in the first round in the past 20 years, joining Larry Fitzgerald, who went third in 2004, and Michael Floyd, the 13th pick in 2012. Harrison was widely considered the best receiver prospect in this year's draft after an accomplished college career that saw him finish fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was a two-time unanimous All-American for the Buckeyes and finished his career with 155 catches for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns. Harrison raised eyebrows earlier this year when he opted to not work out at the NFL scouting combine but met with teams, and then again when he didn't work out at Ohio State's pro day. Cardinals general manager Monti...

The New England Patriots, who previously were "open for business" to trade out of the third pick in the NFL draft, stayed put and selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. Patriots owner Robert Kraft had referred to this year's draft as the most anticipated in his 31-year tenure, and in Maye, the Patriots believe they've landed the "top-rate, young quarterback" he desired. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Maye will initially compete with veteran free agent signing Jacoby Brissett for the starting job. The Patriots also have 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe and second-year player Nathan Rourke on the quarterback depth chart. Maye is the third quarterback the Patriots have drafted in the top 10 in the common draft era, joining Drew Bledsoe (1993) and Jim Plunkett (1971), who both went No. 1 overall. The process that led the Patriots to Maye -- just the seventh player from North Carolina who New England has drafted in its 64-year history --...

The Washington Commanders once again have turned to a dual-threat quarterback coming off a Heisman Trophy to help revitalize their franchise. The Commanders selected LSU's Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft Thursday, ending months of speculation -- and intense privacy by the organization. It is the highest Washington has drafted a quarterback since Robert Griffin III was picked with the second selection in 2012. Like Griffin, Daniels also won the Heisman Trophy and will enter the NFL as a threat to hurt teams with his arm and legs. Washington also considered North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and Michigan signal-caller J.J. McCarthy. As the draft drew closer, it became clear that Daniels was Washington's favorite; multiple league sources expected him to go at No. 2, and team sources anticipated it as well. But Daniels wasn't sure what to expect. "They did a pretty good job of not showing their hand too much," Daniels said...

The Chicago Bears hope their decades-long search for a franchise quarterback ended Thursday night when they selected USC's Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. Williams, 22, won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 when he threw for 4,537 yards, 42 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions in 500 pass attempts. He is the second Trojans quarterback to be selected with the first pick during the common draft era (Carson Palmer in 2003) and the sixth USC player to be taken at the top of the draft. Williams has been labeled a generational talent and has widely been considered the top quarterback prospect in the 2024 draft class, which includes LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye. "I didn't know how I was going to react in the moment," Williams said. "I was trying to think through it in my head throughout the process, but nothing feels better than actually being in the moment, actually getting that call. You know, I don't feel...

Five-star guard Boogie Fland, who decommitted from Kentucky earlier this month, is following coach John Calipari and committing to Arkansas. While Fland originally chose Kentucky over Indiana and Alabama, it was the Razorbacks who had emerged as the favorite immediately after Fland announced his decommitment. "Boogie has a high level of confidence in Coach Cal that he developed over the last two years. Coach Cal also had a great relationship with his mom and dad," said Fland's high school coach, Archbishop Stepinac's Pat Massaroni. "Coach Cal pushes and demands the best from his players. John Calipari's former players speak and think so highly of him. Tyrese Maxey showed up to Boogie's announcement at Stepinac back in the fall. That meant a lot to Boogie." Fland is on a visit to the Razorbacks' campus, his first trip since reopening his recruitment. "He told me his visit was amazing," Massaroni said. "Arkansas is a great college town, and their...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles and A.J. Brown have agreed on a three-year, $96 million extension that includes $84 million guaranteed, the star wide receiver's agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The $84 million is the most guaranteed money in NFL history for a wide receiver, surpassing the $77 million guaranteed that Amon-Ra St. Brown recently received from the Detroit Lions. The $32 million average annual value of the three-year extension also is the highest for any receiver in the NFL. The Eagles announced the deal Thursday night but did not disclose financial terms. Philadelphia now has its two star receivers under contract for the foreseeable future. Earlier this month, the Eagles signed DeVonta Smith to a three-year extension worth $75 million with $51 million guaranteed. Smith's deal runs through 2028 and Brown's through 2029. Brown's deal comes nearly two years after the Eagles acquired the three-time Pro Bowler from the Tennessee...

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was named the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year on Thursday night, finishing ahead of Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Curry, 36, finished with the most clutch points scored (189) in the league this season, while Golden State played in more clutch games (48) than any other team. The NBA defines "clutch" time as the final five minutes of games played within a five-point margin. "You've got to be able to deal with failure," Curry said. "You have to be OK with the shot you miss, and have a short memory with it. I don't know if anything clicked other than you know how much time you've put into the game and with that comes deserved confidence of, 'OK, I'm ready for whatever moment you find yourself in, or whatever shot you need to take.' "Everybody remembers the highlights and whatnot, but there's plenty of shots that you miss where...

Seton Hall star Kadary Richmond entered the transfer portal Thursday afternoon, potentially becoming the best player available in the portal. Richmond had long been rumored to be considering a transfer, with Big East and area rival St. John's a potential landing spot for the Brooklyn native. A 6-foot-6 guard, Richmond earned first-team All-Big East honors after averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists and leading Seton Hall to an NIT championship. He had 20-plus points nine times in Big East play, including a triple-double against  Creighton, when he finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Richmond was terrific in the postseason, posting 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the NIT title game against Indiana State. He averaged 13.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in five NIT games. After spending one season at Syracuse in 2020-21, Richmond transferred to Seton Hall. He started 85 games over three years, but his...

MILWAUKEE --  Milwaukee Bucks forward  Khris Middleton's is questionable for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers after he hurt his ankle in the last game and didn't practice Thursday. Middleton was limping in the first quarter of the Bucks' 125-108 Game 2 loss on Tuesday and briefly went into the locker room, but he returned after getting his right ankle re-taped and ended up playing 36 minutes. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Middleton didn't practice at all on Thursday and was unsure of the three-time All-Star's availability for Friday's game in Indianapolis. "It's another holding-our-breath situation," Rivers said. "Honestly, I don't know." The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. Middleton has averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists through the first two games. Milwaukee already played the first two games of this series without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also...

Miami freshman Kyshawn George, a projected first-round pick, told ESPN he is forgoing his remaining college eligibility, hiring an agent and submitting paperwork to become eligible for the 2024 NBA draft. "I decided to follow my basketball dream and make it a reality," George said. "I did not expect anything from this season besides working on my game and getting better every day." George, born in Switzerland, arrived in Florida as an unheralded recruit from the French second division but became one of the most heavily scouted prospects in the ACC, posting 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 41% for 3. He is the No. 24 prospect in ESPN's draft projections. At 6-foot-9, George was often tasked with playing point guard for Miami, showing dynamic perimeter-shooting ability and polished basketball instincts on both ends of the floor. A late bloomer who grew 10 inches in the past five years, George has significant potential to tap into with the development...

MILWAUKEE --  Milwaukee Bucks forward  Khris Middleton's status for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers is uncertain after he hurt his ankle in the last game and didn't practice Thursday. Middleton was limping in the first quarter of the Bucks' 125-108 Game 2 loss on Tuesday and briefly went into the locker room, but he returned after getting his right ankle re-taped and ended up playing 36 minutes. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Middleton didn't practice at all on Thursday and was unsure of the three-time All-Star's availability for Friday's game in Indianapolis. "It's another holding-our-breath situation," Rivers said. "Honestly, I don't know." The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. Middleton has averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5 assists through the first two games. Milwaukee already played the first two games of this series without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who...

TORONTO -- Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery thinks goaltender Jeremy Swayman's dominance against the Toronto Maple Leafs -- before and during their current first-round Stanley Cup playoff series -- has started to rattle some players. Montgomery made that suggestion in reference to an incident late in Boston's 4-2 victory over the Leafs in Game 3 on Wednesday, when Toronto forward Max Domi appeared to seek out Swayman -- owner of a 5-0-0 record versus the Leafs this season -- during a TV timeout. "Normally, I don't think that [a goalie has one team's number]," Montgomery said Thursday. "But when Domi goes off the bench and bumps [Swayman] on purpose, makes me think that maybe he's in their head a little bit." Boston forward Trent Frederic -- who got the Bruins on the board with a first-period goal in Game 3 -- saw the interaction between Domi and Swayman, too. He agreed with Montgomery it might have revealed some mounting exasperation from...

Arne Slot has said he wants to leave Feyenoord to take on the job of succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager and expects a resolution to negotiations between the two clubs in "the coming days." Liverpool opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday after identifying Slot, 45, as their No. 1 choice to replace Klopp, who will stand down from his position at the end of the season after almost nine years in charge at Anfield. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Slot signed a three-year contract with Feyenoord last year after guiding the Rotterdam-based club to the Eredivisie title. The former AZ Alkmaar coach rejected offers from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur to commit his future to Feyenoord. But speaking to ESPN Netherlands ahead of Thursday's Eredivisie game against Go Ahead Eagles, Slot said he wants to take the opportunity to move to the Premier League with Liverpool. "The only thing...