Rams acquire Cooks

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 sent a fourth-round choice to the Rams, who gave 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.

BIATHLON

Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, the most decorated male Winter Olympian in history with 13 medals, has retired from the sport.

Nicknamed “The King of Biathlon,” the 44-yearold Bjoerndalen competed at six Olympics. Of his 13 medals, eight were gold. He also won 45 world championship medals.

Bjoerndalen failed to qualify for the Pyeongchang Games and revealed Tuesday he struggled with heart murmurs during the season.

HOCKEY

The Nashville Predators signed goaltender Niclas Westerholm to a three-year, entry-level contract that begins in 2018.

The 20-year-old Westerholm made his pro debut with SaiPa of the Finnish Elite League this season, posting a 3.23 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in four games.

The 6-foot-4 Westerholm spent most of the 2017’18 season with SaiPa’s under-20 team. He had a 2.42 goals-against average in 28 games.

BOXING

Canelo Alvarez has withdrawn from next month’s middleweight title fight with Gennady Golovkin, two months after Alvarez twice tested for a banned substance.

The May 5 fight in Las Vegas was to have been a rematch of the draw they fought last September. But on March 5, Alvarez’s promoters, Golden Boy Promotions, announced he twice tested positive for the steroid clenbuterol in February. They blamed contaminated meat, and Alvarez agreed to random drug testing.

It was unlikely the Nevada State Athletic Commission would approve the fight after it temporarily suspended Alvarez.