Sports shorts NFL changes concussion protocol after Savage incident

The NFL and the players’ union have announced a series of changes to the way possible concussions are handled during games.

The move follows an ugly incident in which Texans quarterback Tom Savage was allowed to return to the field after a hit left him on the ground, arms shaking.

Among the changes is using a centralized neurotrauma consultant at the league office to monitor feeds of all games. That person will be able to contact team medical staff on the sidelines if they see anything that deserves further evaluation. Players show signs of a seizure or fencing responses, like Savage did, will be removed from the game and cannot return. New England coach Bill Belichick’s five Super Bowl titles make him the runaway winner in The Associated Press’ top 10 rankings of NFL coaches.

Belichick received 10 of the 11 first-place votes and 105 of a possible 110 points. The voting released Friday was done by a panel that includes Hall of Fame receiver James Lofton and 10 AP football writers.

Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin was the only other coach named on all 11 ballots and finished second with 81 points, followed by Seattle’s Pete Carroll and Baltimore’s John Harbaugh.

The only coach besides Belichick to receive a firstplace vote was Sean McVay of the Rams, who was picked by Lofton based on an impressive one-year turnaround in Los Angeles. McVay finished 10th overall.

All-Star reliever Wade Davis and the Rockies have agreed on a three-year, $52 million contract. The deal was officially announced Friday afternoon.

Davis, a 32-year-old right-hander, becomes a significant addition a formidable and high-priced bullpen. A few weeks ago, the Rockies finalized $27 million, three-year contracts with right-hander Bryan Shaw and lefty Jake McGee.

Davis had a 2.30 ERA and 32 saves last season for the Cubs. In 2015, Davis helped the Royals to a World Series title.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came off the bench to score a careerhigh 24 points, PJ Washington added 16 and No. 16 Kentucky used several runs to blow out rival Louisville, 90-61, on Friday.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished 9-of-16 from the field. Washington helped with 10 points in the first half for a 41-27 lead as Kentucky (10-2) earned its biggest series win since a 76-46 rout in the 1999-2000 season.