Ohio State’s Young has plan to copy Niners’ Nick Bosa
Chase Young wants to follow in fellow Ohio State star Nick Bosa’s NFL footsteps, and he probably won’t have to wait all that long to start.
The freakishly athletic defensive end who’s widely viewed as the best player coming out of college — just as Bosa was — figures to start off his pro career just as the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year did: as the second selection in the draft behind a hotshot, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
Bosa helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl after he watched Arizona make Kyler Murray of Oklahoma the top overall pick in last year’s draft.
“Nick, he’s always setting the standard. That’s just motivation for me to achieve a lot of real good things,” Young said Thursday during his media session at the NFL scouting combine. in Indianapolis. “It’s definitely been a blessing to watch him grow into the player that he is. He’s definitely helped me along this passage.”
Like Bosa 11 months ago, Young is the consensus cream of this year’s crop, an All-Pro in waiting, said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
“I definitely think I’m the best player in the draft,” Young declared. “I definitely think I’ll put my best foot forward this year. I grinded hard. Two of my biggest things are my hard work and dedication and I’m going to bring those two to the NFL with me.”
Young is considered a generational talent, but Joe Burrow, who led LSU to the national title, is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in April.
NFLPA’S SMITH EXPECTS CBA TO PASS » Executive director DeMaurice Smith expects the NFL Players Association to accept the proposal from league owners to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement in a union-wide vote expected soon.
Smith and NFLPA president Eric Winston have said they believe the new labor agreement will be approved by the union with all active players eligible to vote via email to ratify a deal Winston said he has spent “300 days” negotiating with owners. Major changes — including 17 games in the regular season starting in 2021 and big raises for players earning the minimum — are part of the proposal, which was amended during a four-hour meeting between the NFL and NFLPA executive committee on Tuesday night. FRANCHISE TAG WINDOW OPENS, CHIEFS DT JONES REPORTEDLY FIRST » The window is open for NFL teams to use the franchise designation to retain impending free agents.
Atop the list of potential tag candidates are Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A. J. Green and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was reportedly informed Thursday he’ll get the tag.
Teams have until March 12 to apply the player-restrictive tag, which brings the team refusal rights to the free agency process.
Golf
LEWIS, ENGLISH GRAB HONDA CLASSIC LEAD » Tom Lewis and Harris English, both in the field on sponsor exemptions, each shot 4-under 66 at PGA National, sharing the lead after the opening round of the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Lee Westwood — also in the field thanks to a sponsor exemption — was a shot back with Zach Johnson, J.T. Poston, Brian Stuard and Cameron Tringale.
Third-ranked Brooks Koepka, in his hometown tournament, made a triple bogey and a double bogey in a four-hole span on the front side on his way to a 74.
“Didn’t feel like I played that bad,” Koepka said.
Defending champ Keith Mitchell finished birdie-birdie and still shot 75. Rickie Fowler, who won the Honda in 2017 and tied for second with Koepka last year, made one birdie all day and shot 76.
Cycling
RACE CANCELED WITH 2 VIRUS CASES, FROOME QUARANTINED » A major cycling race in the United Arab Emirates was canceled after two Italians tested positive for the new coronavirus, setting off a quarantine that also ensnared four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome of Britain.
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s decision to cancel the race comes as the virus rapidly spreads across the wider Middle East, with over 370 confirmed cases. Many link back to Iran, which has the highest death toll outside of China.
In Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, its sports council said two Italians involved in the race tested positive for the coronavirus.
Horse racing
CHURCHILL DOWNS, KEENELAND TRACKS ANNOUNCE SAFETY REFORMS » Keeneland and Churchill Downs will enact safety reforms that include the race- day ban of Lasix for 2-year- olds along with mandatory veterinary inspections before workouts and race entry.
The measures announced include enhanced reporting of horses’ fitness for trainers and vets. They will take effect for spring meets at Keeneland and Churchill that begin in April and apply to horses stabled at both tracks’ training centers.
Abuse
FORMER MICHIGAN WRESTLERS URGE MORE VICTIMS TO ‘SPEAK UP’ » The whistleblower whose letter to University of Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel alleging sexual assault sparked an investigation into a former school doctor says he was inspired by the women who testified against convicted Michigan State physician Larry Nassar.
An attorney for Tad DeLuca said that his client complained to his wrestling coach in 1975 that Dr. Robert E. Anderson molested him during medical exams. In response, then- coach Bill Johannesen humiliated DeLuca, kicked him off the team and effectively removed his financial assistance, the attorney said.
“I spoke up again by letter in 2018 after hearing an NPR story about the MSU gymnasts, women who I am in awe of,” DeLuca said at a news conference in suburban Detroit. “Once again, the University of Michigan ignored me.
“I’m here today to speak up again, to let the University of Michigan know that I will not be ignored.”
DeLuca’s 2018 letter of complaint about Anderson, now deceased, led to a university police investigation that became public last week. Two other former Michigan wrestlers who allege they were abused by Anderson also spoke to reporters Thursday: Tom Evashevski and Andy Hrovat, the first athlete to publicly say Anderson molested him.
College football
FORMER ARIZONA LINEBACKER DIES FROM VALLEY FEVER » Former Arizona linebacker Sterling Lewis died after being hospitalized for valley fever. He was 32.
Arizona announced Lewis’ death.
“The Arizona Football Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Sterling Lewis,” Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin said. “The entire football program would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Sterling’s family and friends, His contagious passion, energy and enthusiasm will be missed.”
Lewis played from 2008- 09.