Pats deal Cooks for 1st- round pick
The Patriots traded deep- threat receiver Brandin Cooks to the Rams on Tuesday for their first- round pick ( 23rd overall) in the NFL Draft this month. The Patriots also sent a fourth- round draft choice to the Rams and received a sixth- rounder.
Cooks, 24, was a first- round draft pick in 2014 and spent his first three seasons with the Saints. The Patriots acquired Cooks for a first- round draft choice and other picks last spring, and he caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone season with them.
Cooks is entering the fifth year of his rookie contract and can become a free agent after the upcoming season.
Nose tackle Phil Taylor Sr. re- signed with the Redskins after missing the last three seasons with various injuries. Taylor, who will turn 30 on Saturday, hasn’t played a down in a regular- season game since 2014.
The Eagles agreed to terms on a oneyear contract with linebacker Paul Worrilow, who spent his first four seasons with the Falcons and last season with the Lions.
NBA Noel, Sefolosha hit with drug bans
The NBA suspended Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha five games for violating its anti- drug policy.
Noel’s ban will cover the Mavericks’ last five games of the season. Sefolosha had surgery on the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in January and hasn’t returned. His suspension will begin in the next regularseason or playoff game in which he is physically able to play.
Hours before winning their 11th consecutive game, the 76ers paid tribute to Hall of Famer Julius Erving by unveiling a sculpture of him soaring at their practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. The 76ers retired Erving’s No. 6 jersey in 1988, and he was honored as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.
The NBA fined Nets forward Quincy Acy $ 25,000 and Pistons center Andre Drummond $ 15,000 for a shoving match Sunday that resulted in their ejections.
BOXING Alvarez- Golovkin rematch canceled
The much- hyped middleweight rematch between Saul ‘‘ Canelo’’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin scheduled for May 5 was canceled after Alvarez withdrew from the fight. Alvarez twice tested positive for a banned substance in February.
HOCKEY Wolves beaten in shootout
Trevor Smith was the only player to score in the shootout, and the Admirals prevented the Wolves ( 38- 21- 7- 4) from clinching a playoff berth with a 4- 3 victory in American Hockey League action at Allstate Arena. Each team scored three times in the first period.