Patriots trade Cooks to Rams for 1st-round pick

The New England Patriots have traded deep threat receiver Brandin Cooks to the Rams for Los Angeles’ first-round draft pick, 23rd overall.

In the deal Tuesday, New England also sends a fourth-round choice to the Rams, who give the Patriots a sixth-rounder.

Cooks, 24, was New Orleans’ first-round selection in 2014 and played three seasons for the Saints. He was acquired 13 months ago by New England for a first-rounder and other picks, and made 65 receptions for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone season with the Patriots.

Cooks is entering the fifth year of his rookie contract and could become a free agent after the 2018 season.

New England also lost wide receiver Danny Amendola to Miami in free agency.

Former Jets and Patriots WR/DB Rademacher dead at 75

Bill Rademacher, a two-way player for the New York Jets in their early years, has died. He was 75. The Jets confirmed Rademacher’s death on Tuesday.

A wide receiver and defensive back for five seasons who played on the franchise’s only Super Bowl champion, Rademacher was an undrafted free agent from Northern Michigan who made the AFL team in 1964 as a receiver. He was a backup and special teams player in the 1968 title season.

Overall, Rademacher played in 58 pro games and had 24 catches for 282 yards and three touchdowns, all of his scores coming with the Patriots.

He also was head coach at North Michigan, going 37-16-1 in five seasons.

Wilder says he’s ready to fight Joshua next in UK

MONTGOMERY, ALA. » Deontay Wilder says he’s ready to fight Anthony Joshua in a heavyweight unification bout, and is willing to travel overseas to make it happen.

Wilder called off a scheduled media conference call Tuesday, instead issuing a statement saying he’s open to fighting Joshua next in the United Kingdom.

“Anthony, I am so glad we finally heard from you on Saturday and that you want to fight me as your next opponent and you want the fight to happen in the UK,” Wilder said. “I accept that challenge and I am ready to come to the UK for my next fight. There is nothing on Team Wilder’s side to prevent me from fighting you next.”

The Alabama native said co-managers Shelly Finkel and Al Haymon are available to begin talks to set up the fight immediately, and “the sooner the better.”

Joshua (21-0, 20 knockouts) is a huge draw in the UK. He won a unanimous decision over Joseph Parker on Saturday before 78,000 fans in Cardiff, Wales. He now holds four title belts, while Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) is the WBC champion.

IFA’s ‘white elephants’ warning after Morocco bid criticism

FIFA issued its second rebuke inside a week to Morocco’s World Cup bid for questioning the fairness of the process while warning it does not want unsuitable “white elephant” stadiums built for the 2026 tournament.

The process has been designed to end the “secret and subjective decisions” of the past, FIFA said after its president, Gianni Infantino, received a letter from Morocco complaining that the governing body had imposed burdensome demands for technical criteria that the bids will be scored on.

The protest is an indication of Morocco’s exasperation ahead of the June vote as it challenges a rival bid from North America, which already has the infrastructure to cope with the first World Cup to be held after the expansion from 32 to 48 finalists. Morocco, by contrast, has to build or renovate all 14 stadiums and up to 150 training grounds as part of a $15.8 billion project to host the nation’s biggest-ever sporting event.

Ronaldo scores stunner as Madrid beats Juventus

TURIN, ITALY » Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning overhead kick for his second goal of the night to help Real Madrid beat 10-man Juventus 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.

Ronaldo’s first goal came in the third minute and was helped by Juve’s defensive lapses, but his second was pure mastery and his overhead kick had the entire stadium on their feet in appreciation.

In the process, Ronaldo became the first player in Champions League history to score in 10 successive matches.

Sevilla also lost at home in the night’s other quarterfinal, as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 2-1.

Jesus Navas’ own goal cancelled out Pablo Sarabia’s opener and Thiago Alcantara headed in the winner for Bayern in the 68th minute.