MORNING ROUNDUP
Mayfield a no-show at Browns camp
Deshaun Watson walked through snow on the way to his first day of work with the Browns. Baker Mayfield was nowhere in sight.
Watson reported to Cleveland's offseason program Tuesday to restart his career with the Browns, who mortgaged their short-term future by acquiring the controversial quarterback accused of sexual misconduct in a trade last month with the Houston Texans.
Watson also faces discipline from the NFL, which is investigating whether he violated the league's personal-conduct policy. It's possible he'll be suspended for part of the 2022 season.
The Browns did their own background check on Watson, and owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam felt so confident in the research — and after personally meeting with Watson — that they signed him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract after he waived his notrade clause to come to Cleveland.
The move for Watson effectively ended Mayfield's four-run year run with the Browns, who are looking to trade the former No. 1 overall pick out of Oklahoma but are finding a limited market, partly due to his $18.8 million contract for next season.
PANTHERS: Carolina Panthers linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested in Frisco, Texas, and faces an assault charge after allegedly threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, a police spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.
Wilson's ex-girlfriend, Ryan Sokolosky, told the Dallas Morning News that she ended her relationship with Wilson and he showed up at her residence intoxicated and threatened to kill her with a tire iron.
In 2017, Wilson was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he backed his truck into a woman and brandished a rifle. A grand jury declined to indict him.
Iowa State star enters transfer portal
Big 12 Freshman of the Year Tyrese Hunter of Iowa State has entered the transfer portal. Hunter announced his decision on Twitter about three weeks after he finished helping the Cyclones complete the biggest turnaround in Big 12 history. The native of Racine, Wisconsin, averaged 11 points per game and set school freshman records with 172 assists and 71 steals. The Cyclones reached the NCAA Sweet 16 after winning just two games in 2020-21.
OKLAHOMA: Akol Mawein is leaving the Oklahoma men's basketball program for Sacramento State. The 6foot-8 junior power forward averaged 1.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in part-time duty this past season.
Curry leads Warriors past Nuggets
Stephen Curry came off the bench for a second straight game and showed he's healthy at last, scoring 34 points to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Denver Nuggets 126-106 for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Nikola Jokic had 26 points and 11 rebounds before being ejected with 7 minutes left following a second technical and was held back from a referee.
MAVERICKS 110, JAZZ 104: Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 41 points, Maxi Kleber had 25 with eight of Dallas' playoff-record 22 made 3-pointers and the Mavericks won Game 2 against Utah to even the first-round series. The Mavericks won despite playing without injured superstar Luca Doncic.
76ERS 112, RAPTORS 97: Joel Embiid had 31 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a win over the Toronto Raptors in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Tyrese Maxey added 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
ETC. Nets guard Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 for making obscene gestures and directing profane language toward the crowd during Brooklyn's Game 1 playoff loss at Boston.
Extra points
MLB: Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning with a strained left hamstring. Altuve legged out an infield single with one out in the eighth and then fell to the ground past first base. He sat on the ground and threw his batting helmet into the ground as he winced in pain. Manager Dusty Baker said they would know more about his condition late Tuesday. ...
Jake Arrieta, a key pitcher on the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series championship team, has decided to retire. Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award with Chicago in 2015 and helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series for their first championship since 1908. ...
Major League Baseball is moving toward the trend set by soccer for advertising on uniforms. The San Diego Padres became the first team to announce a deal, saying patches with a Motorola logo will be worn on their jerseys starting next season.