MVP finalists

selected

NEW YORK (AP) — Christian McCaffrey is only the second player to be a finalist for three AP NFL awards, joining Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford in the running for The Associated Press 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player award.

McCaffrey and Maye are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. McCaffrey and Lawrence are among the finalists for Comeback Player of the Year. The winners will be announced at “NFL Honors” on Feb. 5.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.

Ravens hire

Jesse Minter

(AP) — Jesse Minter is the new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. The team has hired the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator to replace John Harbaugh, who was fired earlier this month after 18 years when the Ravens missed the playoffs. Minter was a sought-after candidate and interviewed with several teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent two seasons with the Chargers and previously worked at the University of Michigan. Minter’s task will include helping two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson get back on track after an injury-filled 2025 season.

Scheffler opens

with a 63

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler began his new season on the PGA Tour with a 63 that looked easy. He had nine birdies and never came close to a bogey at La Quinta in the first round of The American Express. But with ideal weather, low scores were to be expected.

Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody each shot 62 on the Nicklaus Tournament course at PGA West.

That’s the easiest of the three courses in the rotation. Jason Day had a 63 on the Stadium Course, which plays four shots harder than the Nicklaus course.

Gore traded

to Rangers

WASHINGTON (AP) — All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore is headed to the Texas Rangers in a trade that sends five prospects back to the Washington Nationals. Thursday’s deal is the biggest move of new Washington president of baseball operations Paul Toboni’s roster rebuilding Gore gives Texas a starter who should be able to help the front end of their rotation alongside Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. Gore is under team control for the next two seasons and can’t become a free agent until after the 2027 World Series. He is scheduled to make $5.6 million in 2026 after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Nationals that avoided arbitration.

Moore’s lawyer

disputes evidence

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A lawyer for fired University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore says a criminal case against him should be dismissed based on false information given to police.

Ellen Michaels claims the allegations against Moore are part of an effort to get a big windfall from the school for a woman who was in a relationship with Moore. He was fired in December for a relationship with a staff member.

Moore was then charged with home invasion and other crimes after authorities said she appeared at the woman’s apartment and blamed her for his firing.