Browns' Watson to meet with NFL
NFL officials will meet this week with Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson as the league continues to investigate whether he violated its personal conduct policy, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press on Monday.
Watson, who is facing 22 civil lawsuits from massage therapists accusing him of sexual misconduct, is scheduled to speak with the league's representatives in Texas, said the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Watson is facing potential discipline by the league, which is independently investigating his actions while he was with the Houston Texans. Commissioner Roger Goodell said as recently as April 28 at the NFL draft that there was no timeframe on any possible ruling on Watson.
“We have no update and will decline comment on that tweet,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email to the AP. “There's no timetable as the review is active and ongoing.”
Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, told the AP he will leave it to the NFL to discuss its schedule of interviews, but he assumes that “Watson will be interviewed at great length soon.”
The meeting with league officials is a significant development for Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract in March with the Browns after initially turning down a trade to Cleveland.
The Browns, who sent three firstround draft picks and six total selections to the Texans for Watson, are eager to find out if they'll be without him for any portion of this season after making such a major investment in the three-time Pro Bowler.
In March, two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on criminal complaints from 10 women. He has denied all wrongdoing and said during a news conference with the Browns in April that he “never assaulted or disrespected or harassed any woman in my life.”
It's not clear with whom Watson will be meeting this week.
VIKINGS ADD ANALYTICS EXPERT FROM 49ERS >>
The Minnesota Vikings hired Demitrius Washington as vice president of football operations, a new position under new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah that's designed to take the front office deeper into data-based decision-making.
Washington was the manager of football research and development
for the past two years with the San Francisco 49ers, focusing on process improvement and statistical analysis. PACKERS' ALEXANDER AGREES TO CONTRACT EXTENSION >> Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has agreed to terms on a four-year, $84 million contract extension with a $30 million signing bonus, a person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press.
Alexander, 25, was a second-team selection in All-Pro voting in 2020 but played just four games last season before getting sidelined by an injured right shoulder. Alexander returned to play in the Packers' 13-10 NFC divisional playoff loss to the 49ers.
Horse racing
EPICENTER IS 6-5 FAVORITE FOR PREAKNESS >> Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter was set as the 6-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness Stakes, which will be run without Rich Strike.
The surprise Derby winner at 80-1 is not in the field of nine for Saturday's $1.65 million race. Rich Strike's owner felt the two-week turnaround did not give the colt enough rest and plans to enter him in the Belmont.
Kicking off the Preakness draw at a Baltimore-area restaurant, emcee Britney Eurton talked about Rich Strike pulling off “one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Though we might not have the Kentucky Derby winner, there is no shortage of talented runners,” she said.
Rich Strike's absence clouds the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown and makes this the second Preakness in four years without the Derby winner.
Last year, Medina Spirit ran and finished third at Pimlico after testing positive at Churchill Downs for a substance that was not allowed on race day and was eventually disqualified. In 2020, the the races were run out of order because of the pandemic. And in 2019, neither DQ'ed Derby champion Maximum Security nor elevated winner Country House went to the Preakness.
This time, Steve Asmussen-trained Epicenter, who drew the No. 8 post, and fourth-place finisher Simplification, are the only horses back for the Preakness from the Derby.
Simplification is 6-1 and drew the rail spot with the No. 1 post position and jockey John Velazquez set to ride.
Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath is the third betting choice on the morning line at 9-2 after Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas opted to enter the filly in the Preakness. She drew post position No. 4.
Early Voting is the 7-2 second choice after skipping the Derby.
Golf NICKLAUS CLAIMS HE WAS OFFERED $100M BY LIV >>
Greg Norman was not atop the leaderboard of the LIV Golf Invitational Series organizers, who pursued and preferred Jack Nicklaus, according to the 73-time PGA Tour winner.
“I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg is doing,” Nicklaus said in a story with Fire Pit Collective. “I turned it down. Once verbally, once in writing. I said, `Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.' ”
Saudi Arabian organizers launched the new circuit and plan to hold the inaugural event at Centurion Club outside London from June 9-11. Five tournaments will be played in the U.S. and a team match play finale at Trump Doral in Miami (Oct. 28-30).
The PGA Tour denied requests from players, including Phil Mickelson, who asked to participate in London.
Tennis THIEM'S WINLESS RUN CONTINUES AT GENEVA OPEN >>
Two-time French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem is still without a win in an injury-affected season after another firstround exit in his last tournament before Roland Garros.
Thiem, ranked No. 194, was beaten by No. 134 Marco Cecchinato 6-3, 6-4 at the Geneva Open.
Earlier, Richard Gasquet beat John Millman 6-3, 6-1 to earn a secondround match against top-seeded Daniil Medvedev today.