Off the wire

Compiled from Democrat-Gazette Press Services

FOOTBALL All-Pro Team announced

Patrick Mahomes and three other Kansas City Chiefs player have made The Associated Press 2018 NFL All-Pro Team. They are joined by the first rookie teammates since 1965 — Colts guard left Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was the only unanimous choice Friday in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. Kansas City’s second-year sensation drew 45 votes at quarterback and is joined on the team by teammates Travis Kelce at tight end, Tyreek Hill as the flex player and Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle. Nelson and Leonard are among four rookies on the squad, a first for the AP team. Seahawks punter Michael Dickson and Chargers safety Derwin James also made it. Chicago also had four All-Pros: edge rusher Khalil Mack, Kyle cornerback Fuller, safety Eddie Jackson and punt returner Tarik Cohen. Two players made All-Pro for the fifth time: Houston edge rusher J.J. Watt and Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly. The team had a split of 14 AFC and 14 NFC members. There were 16 newcomers.

TV viewership up

All of the NFL television partners have reason to be happy at the end of the regular season — all five packages showed increases following years of declines. The league showed a 5 percent increase this season as an average of 15.8 million viewers tuned into non-London games. It was a year largely devoid of off-field controversy after ratings decreased 9.7 percent last season and 8 percent in 2016. Neal Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports who now runs his own sports television consulting company, said the increases are due to a number of factors which include better prime-time matchups and most of the big-market teams doing well. The biggest improvement belonged to ESPN’s Monday Night Football, which was up 8 percent over last season. The most-watched game was the Nov. 17 matchup between Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams, which attracted 16.7 million viewers. The game was originally scheduled for Mexico City, but it was moved to Los Angeles due to poor field conditions at Azteca Stadium. The Rams won 54-51 in the highest-scoring game in the series’ 49-season history. Pilson said the league’s ratings momentum should carry into the playoffs, which begin today. As far as a Super Bowl matchup that could deliver the best rating, Pilson favored Dallas-New England or Dallas-Kansas City.

Troy’s Brown leaving?

Two people familiar with the situation said West Virginia and Troy’s Neal Brown are completing a deal to make him the next coach of the Mountaineers. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract was not yet final. Brown would replace Dana Holgorsen, who this week left West Virginia to become Houston’s coach. Yahoo Sports first reported West Virginia and Brown were close to a deal. Brown, 38, has coached Troy since 2015 and is 35-16 at the Sun Belt school. His teams have produced impressive performances against Power 5 competition, winning at Nebraska this season and at LSU in 2017. The Trojans also lost 30-24 at Clemson in 2016, the season the Tigers won the national title.

Ex-Virginia coach dies

George Welsh, who coached football at Virginia for 19 years and retired as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s career victories leader, has died. The school made the announcement in a release Friday, saying Welsh’s family said he died peacefully in Charlottesville on Wednesday. He was 85. Welsh compiled a 134-86-3 record at Virginia from 1982-2000. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. A former quarterback at Navy, Welsh took over a Cavaliers program that had had just two winning seasons in 29 years. He guided Virginia to an 8-2-2 record in his third season, which ended with the school’s first appearance in a bowl game. Virginia went to bowl games 11 more times during his tenure. Welsh also coached at Navy from 1973-81, compiling a 5546-1 record.

Ga. backup transferring

Georgia quarterback Justin Fields confirmed Friday night that he is transferring to Ohio State following one season as the Bulldogs’ backup. Fields’ much-anticipated announcement gives new Ohio State Coach Ryan Day a sublimely talented dual-threat passer to run his offense if Dwayne Haskins Jr. makes his expected jump to the NFL. Fields decided to transfer from Georgia after he was unable to beat out starter Jake Fromm. Fields announced the transfer after he was expected to visit the Ohio State campus earlier Friday. Fields’ arrival at Ohio State is huge for Day, who took over as coach Wednesday after Urban Meyer’s retirement. Fields was the overall No. 2 national prospect in the 2018 recruiting class and was highly sought after he announced his intention to transfer last month.

BASKETBALL LeBron out four more games

LeBron James will miss at least four more games with the Los Angeles Lakers while he recovers from a left groin strain. The Lakers on Friday said James’ injury will be re-evaluated in one week. The fourtime NBA MVP already has missed four games after getting hurt during the Lakers’ victory at Golden State on Christmas. His recovery schedule will keep him out of the Lakers’ upcoming two-game road trip and a home game against Detroit next week. The Lakers are 1-3 without James in their lineup. He is averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists during his first season with the Lakers.

Penn St. suspends coach

Penn State has suspended Coach Patrick Chambers for one game for shoving a player during a timeout Thursday night in a loss at No. 2 Michigan. Midway through the first half in the 68-55 loss, the ESPN broadcast showed footage of a fired-up Chambers in a huddle, reaching out with one arm and pushing freshman guard Myles Dread in the chest. Penn State Athletic Director Sandy Barbour announced the suspension Friday. Chambers will miss the Nittany Lions’ home game Sunday against Wisconsin.

TENNIS Teen beats Venus

Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu knocked off another former No. 1 on Friday, beating seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams 6-7 (1) 6-1, 6-3 to reach the semifinals at the ASB Classic at Auckland, New Zealand. Andreescu, 18, who is ranked 152nd in the world and had to go through qualifying to make the tournament, defeated top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the second round. After being broken in the opening game of the second set, Andreescu reeled off 11 consecutive games to take control of the match. Also, defending champion Julia Goerges saved a match point in the third set before beating Eugenie Bouchard 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6). Viktoria Kuzmova reached the semifinals by beating American teen Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. At 17, Anisimova is the youngest player in the top 100.