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In Brief: Jets interview Mike Vrabel

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel for their head coaching vacancy.

Vrabel is the second known coaching candidate to meet with the Jets, who spoke to former Washington and Carolina coach Ron Rivera on Thursday. The 49-year-old Vrabel served in a consultant role with Cleveland this season, but his contract expired earlier this week.

The one-time All-Pro linebacker helped New England win three Super Bowl titles and was 56-48 in six seasons as coach of the Titans, including 2-3 in the postseason. He was fired by Tennessee after a 6-11 finish last season.

MORTON SIGNS WITH THE ORIOLES

BALTIMORE (AP) — Veteran right-hander Charlie Morton and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract. The 41-year-old Morton was the hero of Game 7 of the 2017 World Series with the Houston Astros. He will try to fill a hole in Baltimore’s rotation.

It will be Morton’s 18th major league season. The Orioles also signed 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano of Japan this offseason to a $13 million, one-year deal. Baltimore lost its ace from 2024 in Corbin Burnes, who signed a $210 million contract with Arizona last month. Morton has a career record of 138-123. He pitched 165 1/3 innings for the Braves last year, posting a 4.19 ERA.

MAHER EYES BRISTOL DEBUT

BRISTOL, England (AP) — Ticket sales have broken a record ahead of U.S. rugby star Ilona Maher making her debut for the Bristol Bears women’s team.

The Olympic bronze medalist won’t be in the starting lineup, however, when the Bears face defending champion Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday in a Premiership Women’s Rugby match switched from a smaller venue to Ashton Gate to satisfy demand for seats. Bristol’s matchday lineup announced on Friday includes the 28-year-old Maher on the bench — the American only returned to England on New Year’s Day.

Close to 8,000 fans are expected Sunday, blowing away the previous record for a Bristol women’s home match of 4,101 against Harlequins in 2022.

CFP SEMIFINALS BY THE NUMBERS

By The Associated Press

The College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams to get some new blood.

The final four are decidedly blueblood. The semifinals match Penn State against Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 and Texas against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.

All four teams are among the eight programs with at least 900 all-time victories. Ohio State ranks second with 976 wins, Notre Dame and Texas are tied for fourth with 961 and Penn State is seventh with 943.

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