TE Olsen, Panthers part ways after 9 seasons.
Veteran tight end Greg Olsen and the Panthers mutually agreed to part ways after nine seasons.
Olsen, 34, who has made the Pro Bowl three times in 13 seasons, said he still wants to play in the NFL.
The Bears’ first-round pick in 2007 (No. 31 overall), Olsen became the first tight end in NFL history to have 1,000 yards receiving in three consecutive seasons from 2014 to ’16.
♦ Former Ravens safety Ed Reed is going back to his roots and rejoining the Miami Hurricanes as the new chief of staff for their football program.
AUTO RACING Versatile race-car driver John Andretti dies at 56
Former NASCAR and Indy driver John Andretti, a member of one of auto racing’s most famous families and the first driver to attempt the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s 600-mile race in North Carolina on the same day, died at the age of 56 after battling colon cancer.
Andretti made 49 consecutive IndyCar starts from 1990 to ’92 before moving to NASCAR, where he started at least 29 races every season from 1994 to 2003. He won three times.
NBA Three suspended, two fined in altercation
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marko Guduric of the Grizzlies and Knicks guard Elfrid Payton were suspended one game without pay by the NBA for their roles in an altercation between the teams Wednesday. The Knicks’ Marcus Morris was fined $35,000 and the Grizzlies’ Jae Crowder $25,000 in the skirmish.
♦ The NBA informed teams of the 2020-2021 salary-cap and luxury-tax estimates, including a $2 million drop in the tax threshold that brings a costly impact to teams facing that penalty, ESPN reported.
Djokovic tops Federer to reach 8th Aussie final
Second-seeded Novak Djokovic stretched his Grand Slam winning streak against third-seeded Roger Federer to six in a row with a 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-3 victory that earned the defending champion a record eighth trip to the Australian Open final in Melbourne.
♦ The Red Sox are engaged in trade talks with the Dodgers and Padres about All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts, according to reports.
♦ Pablo Sandoval agreed to a minor-league deal to return to the Giants. He would get a one-year, $2 million deal if he’s added to the 40-man roster.
♦ Sharks forward Tomas Hertl will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL and MCL.