Sports briefs
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) at NFL training camp Saturday in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/David Banks)
In this image provided by USA Football, Maci Joncich, who will play flag football in the fall and spring at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., warms up before a USA Football's Rivalry Series game against Canada on June 19 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Kelli Tolar/USA Football via AP)
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Darnell Wright (58) at NFL training camp Saturday in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/David Banks)
In this image provided by USA Football, Maci Joncich, who will play flag football in the fall and spring at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., warms up before a USA Football's Rivalry Series game against Canada on June 19 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (Kelli Tolar/USA Football via AP)
Trending
Wright lands
4-year deal
CHICAGO (AP) -- Standout right tackle Darnell Wright has agreed to lucrative contract extension with the Chicago Bears. A person familiar with negotiations says Wright has agreed to a four-year, $116 million contract.
The deal includes $93 million guaranteed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details had not been announced by Wright or the team.
Wright was the 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Tennessee. He anchored an offensive line that helped the Bears rank third in the NFL in rushing last season and win the NFC North.
Flag football
gains momentum
(AP) -- The NCAA has women’s flag football on the fast track to becoming a championship sport. There could be a national title game as early as spring 2028, before the LA Games, where flag football will make its Olympic debut. More than 120 schools are slated to field a team this academic year.
A vote in January by Division I, II, and III officials could cement the sport’s inclusion. Schools are already recruiting and game-planning to build championship rosters.
The NFL has thrown its weight behind the sport, sponsoring teams and tournaments, and USA Football is developing players to bring home an Olympic medal.
Clowney back
with Texans
HOUSTON (AP) -- Jadeveon Clowney never imagined he’d play for the Texans again when he was traded to Seattle amid a contract dispute before the 2019 season.
But after seven years and six teams the defensive end is back where his career began after re-signing Sunday with the team that picked him first overall in 2014. Clowney has changed a lot since he arrived in Houston as a 21-year-old. I’m a veteran in the locker room, a lot older, a lot smarter than I was before,” he said.
WNBA’s Sirens
unveiled
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Sirens introduced their name and branding during an event at Rocket Arena on Tuesday. The WNBA’s 16th team will begin play in 2028.
Cleveland was home to one of the league’s original franchises when the WNBA started in 1997, but the Rockers folded in 2003 when owner Gordon Gund could not find a new buyer. Dan Gilbert’s Rock Entertainment Group, which has owned the Cavaliers since 2005, paid a $250 million expansion fee for Cleveland’s return to the WNBA.
Parity reigns
in PGA Tour
(AP) -- Billy Horschel was full of optimism at the start of the year. He comes to the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup and with no guarantees of keeping his full card. The tour preaches balance and meritocracy and that much is evident.
Chris Gotterup has more wins than Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy combined. Three of the majors champions were ranked outside the top 30. That hasn’t happened in 17 years.
And it’s been three months since anyone inside the top 10 in the world won on the PGA Tour.
Rockies
keep Moniak
(AP) -- Rockies lock up outfielder Mickey Moniak with a $16.25 million, 2-year contract for 2027 and ’28
On the surface, Colorado Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak appeared to be available at the trade deadline and was drawing attention.
Behind the scenes, though, the Rockies were already negotiating a deal to keep him in town. Moniak agreed Tuesday to a $16.25 million, two-year contract that covers 2027 and ’28. He gets $7.25 million next season, which would have been his final year of arbitration eligibility, and $9 million in 2028, when he would have been eligible for free agency under the current labor contract.
Moniak has thrived at hitter friendly Coors Field since signing with Colorado on March 27 last year. He’s hitting .277 with 18 homers and 49 RBIs across 75 games this season.
Guardians
push ahead
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Outfielder Jo Adell, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and pitcher Foster Griffin were in the Cleveland Guardians clubhouse before Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets introducing themselves to their new teammates and getting up to speed before the start of a three-game series.
Adell batted second and played right field while Lowe was available off the bench. Griffin will pitch the final game of the series on Thursday, keeping him on his usual amount of rest.
Cleveland is 6-10 since the All-Star break, but has a one-game lead over Minnesota for the American League’s final wild-card spot. The Guardians are three games behind the first-place White Sox in the AL Central.