Jones, other Alabama stars declare for draft
Four stars from Alabama’s national championship team, including Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Mac Jones, are leaving early to enter the NFL draft.
Jones, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, cornerback Patrick Surtain II and defensive lineman Christian Barmore announced their intentions to leave on Thursday — all are considered potential first-round picks.
There also are several Alabama seniors considered first-round picks, including Heisman Trophywinning wide receiver DeVonta Smith, All-America tailback Najee Harris and Outland Trophy winner left tackle Alex Leatherwood.
Jones put together the most prolific season of any Tide quarterback in his only full season as starter. He was college football’s most efficient passer and also led the nation with 4,500 passing yards and a 77.4% completion rate.
Waddle returned in a limited capacity in the title game after missing much of the season with an ankle injury that required surgery. Waddle had 28 catches for 592 yards and four touchdowns in six games.
Golf
PGA TOUR TO MOVE WGCMEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP >> The PGA Tour will not hold the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship in Mexico City this year due to concerns related to COVID-19, according to multiple media outlets.
Scheduled for Feb. 2528, the event will be relocated to The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., Golfweek reported Thursday.
The WGC-Mexico dates back to 1999, when it was known as the WGC-American Express Championship. It moved to Mexico City in 2017 after sponsor issues forced a relocation from Trump Doral in Miami following the 2016 edition.
Tennis
KEYS OUT OF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, MURRAY DOUBTFUL >>
Madison Keys announced she tested positive for COVID-19, weeks ahead of the Australian Open.
The No. 16-ranked woman in the world, Keys implied in her statement she would miss the Australian Open, which opens Feb. 8. She was scheduled to fly to Australia and quarantine there for 14 days in advance of the season’s first Grand Slam tournament.
On the men’s side, former World No. 1 Andy Murray also tested positive, and his appearance in the Australian Open is in doubt.
“I’m very disappointed to not be able to play in the coming weeks after training hard in the off-season and knowing Tennis Australia and the tours did so much to make these events happen,” Keys, 25, said in a statement posted to Twitter.
“I am self-isolating at home and will continue to follow all the necessary health precautions. I look forward to being back on tour next month.”
Murray’s status for the Australian Open was put in doubt after he tested positive for the coronavirus only days before his planned charter flight to Melbourne.
Baseball
EPSTEIN HIRED AS MLB CONSULTANT TO EVALUATE RULES CHANGES >> Former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox executive Theo Epstein has been hired by MLB as a consultant for onfield matters and will evaluate possible rule changes.
Epstein will work with commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners’ competition committee and analytics experts, MLB said Thursday.
“As the game evolves, we all have an interest in ensuring the changes we see on the field make the game as entertaining and action-packed as possible for the fans, while preserving all that makes baseball so special,” Epstein said in a statement. PHILLIES AGREE DEAL TO WITH RELIEVER BRADLEY >> The Philadelphia Phillies and reliever Archie Bradley have agreed on a $6 million, one-year contract.
Track and field
OLYMPIC CHAMPION ROLLINS-MCNEAL SUSPENDED >> Olympic hurdles champion Brianna Rollins-McNeal has been provisionally suspended for a doping rules violation, the Athletics Integrity Unit said Thursday.
Rollins-McNeal won gold in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The 29-year-old American was also world champion in 2013.
The AIU said it charged Rollins-McNeal with “tampering within the results management process,” but did not specify details of the case.
WNBA
RAIDERS OWNER MARK DAVIS BUYING LAS VEGAS ACES >> Mark Davis is expanding his sports empire in Las Vegas, buying the Aces from MGM Resorts International.
The Raiders owner purchased the WNBA team pending approval from the league’s board of governors.
The Aces moved to Las Vegas from San Antonio in 2017 and have been successful on the court. Las Vegas had the league’s best record last season losing to Seattle in the WNBA Finals.
Las Vegas has a solid young core of players, including league MVP A’ja Wilson and sixth-woman of the year Dearica Hamby.
Davis has immersed himself in the Las Vegas sports scene and regularly attends Aces games, as well as NHL contests for the Vegas Golden Knights. Davis and the Raiders have been strong supporters of the Aces during their brief time in Las Vegas. The Raiders purchased 1,600 tickets to Aces games in 2019.
Soccer
CONCACAF RESETS MEN’S OLYMPIC QUALIFYING >> Men’s Olympic soccer qualifying in North and Central America and the Caribbean was rescheduled for March 18-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico, where the tournament originally was set to be played last spring.
The U.S., which failed to qualify for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, is in Group A of CONCACAF with Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
Honduras, Canada, El Salvador and and Haiti are in Group B.
Each nation will play the other three teams in its group, with the exact schedule still to be announced. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals, and the semifinal winners qualify for the Tokyo Games.