NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints again invested their top available draft pick in offensive line talent, selecting Michigan center Cesar Ruiz with the 24th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. The 6-foot-3, 307-pound Ruiz joins a unit that has all five starters ...
ANN ARBOR (AP) — Michigan guard Franz Wagner says he is returning for his sophomore season. Wagner started 27 games last season, averaging 11.6 points and leading the team in steals. The 6-foot-9 German missed the first four games because of a fractured wrist. Isaiah Livers is testing the ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer ANN ARBOR — The first former University of Michigan football player to publicly say that a team doctor abused him believes he would have sought medical help sooner for what has become late-stage cancer if he hadn’t been victimized in college. Chuck ...
ALLEN PARK (AP) — The Detroit Lions re-signed cornerbacks Mike Ford and Dee Virgin. The team announced the moves Tuesday. Ford and Virgin were exclusive rights free agents. Ford has played 22 games for the Lions and made six starts in two seasons. Virgin also has played two seasons for ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer BEST FIRST-ROUND DRAFT PICK: RB Barry Sanders. Detroit took the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma State after Dallas drafted Troy Aikman and Green Bay selected Tony Mandarich. Sanders averaged 99.8 yards rushing per game — trailing only Jim Brown in NFL ...
By TOM CANAVAN AP Sports Writer To trade or not to trade? An especially difficult question in this year’s NFL draft? The coronavirus pandemic has forced the NFL to conduct its annual draft remotely, which might reduce the number of times Commissioner Roger Goodell or anyone else announces ...
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer The NFL will hold a practice remote draft Monday, three days before the real thing is done in the same way. Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn on Friday did not provide details on the proceedings — except what his team has planned. “We’re ...
NEW YORK (AP) — Isaiah Todd has become the second player to jump from high school to the G League this week, signing with the league with the intent of joining its new elite program. The signing of Todd, who had been a University of Michigan recruit, was announced Friday, one day after Jalen ...
By Journal Sports Staff HOUGHTON — Former Michigan Tech goaltender Tony Esposito is on the 2020 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame ballot as one of 10 finalists in the amateur category. The ballot was unveiled Monday and allows for online fan voting through April 30. The 2020 induction is ...
By The Associated Press 3rd pick — DETROIT (3-12-1) LAST SEASON: Lions lost last nine games and 12 of 13 to finish with their worst record in decade. Ownership gave general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia chance to come back, telling them contending for playoffs in 2020 is ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer The Detroit Lions should have an opportunity to turn a weakness into a strength in the NFL draft. If Detroit chooses to keep the No. 3 pick overall, cornerback Jeff Okudah is expected to be available. The Ohio State star appears worth being the highest-drafted ...
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota has added two accomplished frontcourt players to its roster, bringing in Liam Robbins from Drake and Brandon Johnson from Western Michigan. The Gophers announced the signings of both big men on Wednesday. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound Johnson is a graduate transfer ...
By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen says he tested positive for COVID-19 three weeks ago. Allen is the first active NFL player to acknowledge testing positive during the coronavirus pandemic. The third-year pro is not hospitalized and is ...
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer On March 11, Western Michigan announced it was changing coaches in men’s basketball. The following day, the NCAA Tournament was canceled, and the enormity of the coronavirus crisis started to hit home throughout college sports. Before long, WMU athletic ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer Emoni Bates of Michigan was awakened with good news on Tuesday. Bates was named Gatorade’s national player of the year in high school basketball, becoming the first sophomore to win the award, and was informed during a FaceTime call with Boston Celtics ...
ALLEN PARK (AP) — The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins. The Lions did not release terms of the contract Tuesday. Wiggins joined Detroit as a free agent in 2018. He started 13 games over the past two seasons for the Lions. Before that, Wiggins played ...
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Tom Webster, the former NHL and WHA forward who went on to coach the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, died Friday. He was 71. The Carolina Hurricanes announced Webster’s death. Webster scored 53 goals and helped the franchise — then the New England Whalers ...
ANN ARBOR (AP) — Ivy League scoring leader Mike Smith said Friday he’s transferring to Michigan. The 5-foot-11 Smith averaged 22.8 points a game last season at Columbia. He’s ranked 11th by ESPN.com among grad transfers with immediate eligibility. Smith missed most of the 2018-19 season ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer Emoni Bates does not appear to be interested in reclassifying to make next season his last at Ypsilanti Lincoln High School, a move that would put him on the path to play college basketball early and guarantee his eligibility for the 2022 NBA Draft. Bates and ...
By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer As disappointing as it’s been to have the college baseball season shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Michigan coach Erik Bakich sees a silver lining. “I do think the coming years will be the deepest college baseball has ever been,” he ...