Hopkins handed $54.5M extension
Former Texans All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins landed the huge payday he was seeking.
Traded to the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, Hopkins received a twoyear, $54.5 million contract extension Tuesday, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
The deal includes a $27.25 million new money average, $42.75 million fully guaranteed and a $27.5 million signing bonus. Hopkins is now under contract through the 2024 season for a total of five years and $94 million.
The Texans traded Hopkins due primarily to a disconnect over his contract. He negotiated his deal without an agent. In other football news:
• According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller suffered a serious ankle injury practice that puts his 2020 season in jeopardy. Rapoport posted from his verified Twitter account: “(Miller’s) undergoing an MRI and more will be known tomorrow. But based on the initial read, it’s not good.”
Miller, a former Texas A&M star, was expected to be a focal point of a unit looking to improve in the second year of coach Vic Fangio’s defense. Miller tore his ACL in 2013.
• Baylor is the third Big 12 team that has had to postpone its scheduled season opener this week because of the coronavirus.
The Bears were supposed to open at home Saturday against Louisiana Tech, but the visiting school announced it would not be able to play because of a number of recent positive COVID-19 tests. No makeup date was announced.
• Suspended last season for two physical off-field altercations, Kareem Hunt signed a two-year, $13.25 million contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, who took a chance on the running back and now are committing to him long term with $8.5 million guaranteed.
PRO BASKETBALL Thunder moving on from Donovan
Billy Donovan won’t return as coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder after five seasons, the team announced.
Donovan, who was at the end of his contract, took the Thunder to the playoffs every year and was a finalist for NBA Coach of the Year this season after his squad outperformed expectations and pushed the Rockets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
Donovan went 243-157 with Oklahoma City. The Thunder and Donovan described his departure as a mutual decision.
In other news:
• Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Riquna Williams also scored 20 points and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the New York Liberty 96-70 at the WNBA bubble in Bradenton, Fla.
• Myisha Hines-Allen had 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists, Tianna Hawkins made four straight free throws in the final eight seconds and the defending WNBA champion Washington Mystics knocked off the Minnesota Lynx 89-86 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
• A’ja Wilson had 22 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, Jackie Young added 17 points and seven assists as the Las Vegas Aces held off the Indiana Fever 92-86.
PRO BASEBALL Ex-AL president Budig dies at 81
Gene Budig, the selfeffacing educator and baseball fan from smalltown Nebraska who became the head of three major universities and the last president of the American League, died at age 81.
Budig succeeded Bobby Brown as AL president in 1994 and augmented his staff with Larry Doby, the AL’s first Black player.
CYCLING Bennett captures Stage 10 at Tour
Sprinter Sam Bennett prevailed ahead of Caleb Ewan to post his first Tour de France stage win, while Primoz Roglic avoided the many crashes that punctuated Stage 10 to keep the race leader’s yellow jersey.
After the 105-mile ride from Ile d’Oleron to Ile de Re, Roglic maintained a 21-second lead over defending champ Egan Bernal.