Sports briefs
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Brown to take
plea deal
(AP) -- An attorney for former NFL star wide receiver Antonio Brown says he plans to accept a plea deal on an attempted murder charge in Miami that avoids prison. Brown is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday to make the deal final.
He could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the current attempted murder charge.
Brown is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer after a celebrity boxing match in Miami in May 2025 and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier, according to an arrest warrant.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu told investigators that one of the bullets grazed his neck.
Kane mulls
double duty
LONDON (AP) -- England soccer great Harry Kane’s long-held hope of being a kicker in the NFL took clearer shape Wednesday. He floated the idea of combining the goal with also joining a Major League Soccer club.
The 33-year-old Kane is currently happy at Bayern Munich. His standout 73-goal season has him in contention to win the Ballon d’Or next month. Still, the England captain looked toward a U.S. future ahead of his team hosting World Cup winner Spain on Saturday.
Kane says if he joins the MLS then the NFL “might be a thing where you could connect the two maybe with the seasons.”
Giants lose
Jaxon Dart
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is expected to have season-ending surgery on his left knee, according to a person familiar with the injury.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team hadn’t announced Dart’s status. Dart was injured on the first drive Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams when his left leg bent awkwardly as he was hit by two defenders.
Losing the 23-year-old face of the franchise to a long-term injury would be a significant blow in coach John Harbaugh’s first season in charge. Jameis Winston takes over the starting role beginning Sunday against Tennessee.
Bailey moves
past fumble
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey says he’s “waking up on the right side of the bed every morning, feeling good” while moving past a last-second fumble in a loss to Vanderbilt.
Bailey’s fumble was recovered in the end zone to give the Commodores a shocking win as the Wolfpack appeared on the verge of closing the game out. Bailey said Wednesday he was holding the ball trying to burn the clock.
The third-year starter says the team has showed him support to help him move forward for Saturday’s visit from Appalachian State.
AL West may
make history
(AP) -- With just a few days left in the regular season, the AL West might make a particularly mediocre kind of history. After Tuesday night’s games, the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were tied for first place at 78-79. No full-season division champion has ever had a losing record.
The 2005 Padres won the NL West at 82-80, and the 1973 Mets won the NL East at 82-79. Plus, the 1987 Twins had a minus-20 run differential and won the World Series. So don’t count out the Rangers or Astros just yet.
Alvarez eyes
Triple Crown
SEATTLE (AP) -- Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez gained some ground Tuesday night in his chase for a Triple Crown. He still has plenty of work to do with five games left this season.
The AL MVP front-runner went 2 for 4 with his 41st home run and three RBIs in the Astros’ 7-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. Alvarez hit an RBI single in the first inning, was intentionally walked in the second and then belted a 386-foot homer in the eighth. His two-run shot tied him with Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League lead with 41 homers.
Alvarez is first in batting average at .314 and he has 102 RBIs, six behind Baltimore slugger Pete Alonso for most in the AL.
RB Brooks
sidelined
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Carolina Panthers have placed backup running back Jonathon Brooks on injured reserve with a groin injury. According to a person familiar with the situation, Brooks is having surgery to repair a core muscle injury Wednesday that will result in him missing at least six weeks.
Brooks is expected to return this season, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team has yet to provide any details on how long he will be out. The Panthers have signed safety Isaiah Simmons from the practice squad to take his spot on the 53-man roster.
Coach Dave Canales said Monday that Brooks had injured his groin late in Carolina’s 34-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. He said at the time the team was awaiting the results of an MRI.