NOTEWORTHY
Capers joins Panthers’ staff
IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS
Shortly after being hired as head coach of the Carolina Panthers 28 years ago, Dom Capers was asked what he planned to do once he reached retirement age.
Capers smiled and replied, “I want to still be coaching.”
And he still is, coincidentally enough, with the Panthers.
The 72-year-old Capers is back for his second stint in Carolina, this time as a senior defensive assistant where he’ll be scouting upcoming opponents’ tendencies and helping defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero formulate a weekly game plan.
He returns to a franchise he helped usher into the league in 1995 as an expansion team and took to the NFC championship game in just its second season. He spent four seasons in Carolina, compiling a 3034 record before being fired – a decision that thenowner Jerry Richardson would later say he regretted.
And he’s eager to getting started working for head coach Frank Reich, the Panthers starting quarterback to open their inaugural season.
Evero first met Capers in 2016 in Green Bay when he was a defensive quality control coach working directly under Capers, the Packers defensive coordinator at the time. Evero would later move on, but left an impression on Capers because of his work ethic.
When Evero joined the Panthers earlier this month, Capers agreed to join him.
NFL
Linebacker Bobby Wagner is parting ways with the Los Angeles Rams after just one season, a person familiar with the decision said Thursday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Wagner’s release won’t be official until after the start of the new league year next month.
Wagner started all 17 games at middle linebacker and made 140 tackles with a career-high six sacks and even two interceptions for the Rams, who went 5-12 in the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history.
Broncos find new DC: A person with knowledge of the hiring told AP that new head coach Sean Payton is bringing back ex-Broncos head coach Vance Joseph to Denver to serve as defensive coordinator.
Joseph coached the Broncos from 2017-18, compiling an 11-21 record before being replaced by Vic Fangio. He spent the past four seasons as the Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator.
MLB
Bryce Harper’s arrival at spring training camp remains a couple of weeks away as the Philadelphia Phillies slugger recovers from elbow surgery.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Harper is taking swings with a bat at home in Las Vegas and will report March 8 or 9.
Harper had surgery on his right elbow in November after leading the Phillies to the NL pennant. The Phillies said then that Harper was expected to return in a designated hitter role by the all-star break.
NBA
Nine-time all-star Russell Westbrook signed with the Clippers on Wednesday after he cleared waivers, then hit the practice court as the team gathered for the first time since the all-star break.
Coach Tyronn Lue said Westbrook will play on Friday when the Clippers host the Sacramento Kings. When asked how he views what role Westbrook will play and if he would be a starter, Lue said, “I view him as what you will see on Friday.”
Westbrook is from the Los Angeles area, was a standout at UCLA and played less than two seasons for the Lakers before being traded to the Jazz on Feb. 10 as part of a three-team deal.
The Jazz waived him on Monday. Westbrook cleared waivers because no team had the salary-cap space to take on the remaining $47 million he was owed on his expiring contract.
NHL
Nashville Predators center Ryan Johansen will miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on his lower right leg.
The Predators announced Thursday that Johansen will miss an “estimated 12 weeks” after surgery Wednesday afternoon.
Nashville would have to make the playoffs for Johansen to have a chance to return this season. The Predators wrap up the regular season April 14 in hosting Colorado, and they go into Thursday night’s game at San Jose seven points out of the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference.