Saints’ sack leader out

The New Orleans Saints have ruled out sack leader Trey Hendrickson and offensive guard Nick Easton for Sunday’s playoff game against Chicago. Hendrickson had a career-high 13½ sacks this season, which tied for second in the NFL. But he missed practice late this week because of a nagging neck injury that also sidelined him from New Orleans’ penultimate regular-season game. The Saints have depth at defensive end with Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport, along with second-year reserve

Carl Granderson, whose five sacks ranked fourth on the team. Easton has concussion symptoms. He has started nine games this season. First-round draft choice Cesar Ruiz is likely to start in his place at right guard.

Harbaugh gets 5-year deal

Michigan has decided to stick with Coach Jim Harbaugh, finalizing a new five-year deal that cuts

his guaranteed compensation but gives him an opportunity to make up for the financial loss if he can start winning championships. The school will pay him $4 million in 2021 with a chance to make nearly $8 million in the fifth year of his contract, according to the memorandum of understanding signed by Harbaugh and Athletic Director Warde Manuel on Friday. Harbaugh can make $1 million for winning the Big Ten title and another $1 million for winning the national championship along with other bonuses he will earn if he can improve the team’s success on the field. The deal ends months of speculation about Harbaugh’s future. He could have potentially returned to the NFL or the school could have cut loose a coach with one year left on the seven-year contract paying him about $7 million per season that he signed after leaving the NFL.