NFL insists on indefinite suspension for Watson
The NFL insisted on an indefinite suspension while Deshaun Watson’s legal team argued there’s no basis for that punishment as both sides presented their cases in front of a retired judge in Delaware on Tuesday, two people in attendance told The Associated Press.
The hearing will continue on Wednesday and Watson is scheduled to be there for the duration, according to one person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the hearing isn’t public.
Former U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson, who was jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players’ Association, will determine whether Watson violated the NFL’s personal conduct policy and whether to impose discipline.
Watson agreed to settle 20 of 24 civil lawsuits for sexual misconduct, but the league is seeking at least a one-year suspension, one of the people told the AP. Watson’s side, led by renowned attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and Rusty Hardin, wants the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to play this season for the Cleveland Browns.
Two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints stemming from the allegations.
SOURCES: COMMANDERS, MCLAURIN AGREE ON 3-YEAR EXTENSION »
Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders hammered out a new contract for the star receiver, ending the team’s biggest football-related saga of a tumultuous offseason a month before training camp begins.
McLaurin agreed to terms on a three-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the move who spoke to The Associated Press.
One person confirmed the new deal is worth up to $71 million with roughly $53 million guaranteed, including a $28 million signing bonus. According to Spotrac, a website that tracks contracts, it’s the highest signing bonus for a receiver, slightly more than the $27.5 million DeAndre Hopkins got from the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.
A third-round pick in 2019, McLaurin has become Washington’s best player since breaking into the NFL three years ago. The Ohio State product has 222 catches for 3,090 yards and 16 touchdowns in 46 regular-season games — all while playing with eight different quarterbacks. MAYFIELD ‘READY TO MOVE ON’ FROM BROWNS » Baker Mayfield said the Cleveland Browns have work ahead if they want him to help them through their situation with Deshaun Watson.
Mayfield, speaking at his football camp near the University of Oklahoma’s campus, didn’t entirely close the door on stepping in if needed.
“No, I think for that to happen, there would have to be some reaching out,” Mayfield said. “But we’re ready to move on, I think, on both sides.”
The Browns made a major trade for Watson in March and then signed him to a record-setting $230 million contract.
Pro basketball SOURCE: HARDY ACCEPTS OFFER TO BECOME JAZZ COACH »
Boston Celtics assistant Will Hardy has accepted an offer to become the coach of the Utah Jazz, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said.
Hardy will become an NBA head coach for the first time. He will replace Quin Snyder, who decided to leave the Jazz earlier this month after eight seasons.
Hardy spent one season
in Boston, helping the Celtics reach the NBA Finals. His previous 11 seasons were spent with the San Antonio Spurs, starting as a basketball operations intern, moving into the video room and eventually becoming an assistant under Gregg Popovich.
SOURCE: WESTBROOK EXERCISES $47M OPTION WITH LAKERS »
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook is exercising his option to play for $47.1 million next season, a person with direct knowledge of the decision said.
Westbrook had until Wednesday to make up his mind on the option, which will make this the fifth and final season of a $207 million contract he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The nine-time All-Star averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 78 games with the Lakers. CLIPPERS’ ZUBAC AGREES TO THREE-YEAR, $33 MILLION DEAL » The Clippers and center Ivica Zubac have agreed to terms on a threeyear, $33 million deal that has no options, according to people familiar with the negotiations but not authorized to speak publicly.
Zubac, who is 25 and entering his seventh NBA
season, has career-best averages of 10.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 blocks in 76 games. CAVALIERS EXTEND QUALIFYING OFFER TO GUARD SEXTON » The Cleveland Cavaliers made the expected move and extended a qualifying offer to guard Collin Sexton, who missed most of last season with a knee injury.
Sexton is now a restricted free agent and the high-energy scorer could draw interest from other teams. If Sexton receives an offer sheet, the Cavs can match it.
A first-round pick in 2018, Sexton played in just 11 games last season before tearing meniscus in his right knee and undergoing surgery.
Baseball SENATORS ASK MINOR LEAGUERS FOR INFORMATION ON MLB ANTITRUST »
The chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to an advocacy group for minor leaguers asking questions about baseball’s antitrust exemption.
Sen. Richard Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who chairs the committee, and
Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, sent the letter to Harry Marino, executive director of Advocates for Minor Leaguers. The letter, first reported by The Washington Post, also was signed by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.
The senators asked for information on “the impact of the antitrust exemption on the negotiation of minor league players’ length of contract, wages, housing or other working conditions.”
The U.S. Justice Department filed a statement of interest this month in a lawsuit filed by four minor league teams urging that “lower courts should limit the ‘baseball exemption’ to conduct that is central to the business of offering professional baseball games to the public.” The lawsuit, by teams that lost their big league affiliations when MLB cut the minors before the 2021 season, is pending in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. ANGELS’ BRADLEY OUT, BROKE ELBOW IN DUGOUT FALL DURING BRAWL » Angels reliever Archie Bradley broke a bone in his elbow while climbing over the dugout railing during Los Angeles’ massive brawl with the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Bradley will be out for at least one month, Angels athletic trainer Mike Frostad said. Bradley won’t start a throwing program for four weeks while his elbow heals.
HARPER SET FOR THUMB SURGERY » Phillies slugger Bryce Harper will have surgery Wednesday to repair his broken left thumb and the team hopes the 2021 NL MVP can play again this season.
Manager Rob Thomson did not offer a timetable for Harper’s return, only saying he hoped Philadelphia’s franchise player would return down the stretch.
Harper’s thumb was broken when he was hit by a 97 mph pitch from San Diego Padres left-hander Blake Snell on Saturday night. BRAVES PUT CLOSER JANSEN ON IL DUE TO IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT » Atlanta Braves closer Kenley Jansen was put on the 15-day injured list because of an irregular heartbeat, the latest heart-related issue in the veteran right-hander’s career.
The move was made retroactive to Monday when Jansen felt discomfort, manager Brian Snitker said.
In November 2018, Jansen underwent a cardiac ablation, a procedure to restore normal heart rhythm. He was first diagnosed with irregular heartbeat issues in 2011 and had an ablation the next year.
Golf NEW ALLIANCE GIVES 10 EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYERS PGA TOUR CARDS »
The PGA Tour is awarding cards to the leading 10 players from the European tour and bringing back a direct path to the PGA Tour through Qschool.
The changes were outlined as part of an extended partnership between the PGA Tour and European tour through 2035. As part of the joint venture, the PGA Tour has increased its share in European Tour Productions from 15% to 40%.
The recent changes give European tour players immediate access to the PGA Tour. The leading 10 players — excluding those already on the PGA Tour, such as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm — will have full cards for the following year. Starting in 2023, the top 30 players from the Korn Ferry Tour will move on to the PGA Tour. The qualifying tournament will offer PGA Tour cards to the top five and ties, while everyone else gets some variety of Korn Ferry Tour access.