Georgia star Carter charged with racing in fatal wreck
ATLANTA >> Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, projected as one of the top players in next month's NFL draft, has been charged with reckless driving and racing in conjunction with the crash that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and a recruiting staff member.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has issued an arrest warrant, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, that alleges Carter was racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against the 2021 Ford Expedition driven by the recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy, which led to the Jan. 15 wreck.
Carter had been due in Indianapolis on Wednesday for the NFL's scouting combine, and he is expected to address the arrest warrant when he returns to Athens, according to Lt. Shaun Barnett of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department.
“It is my understanding that Mr. Carter is making arrangements to turn himself in,” Barnett said in an e-mail to the AP.
Carter, one of six players who was not present Wednesday for scheduled media interviews at the combine, issued a statement on his Twitter account saying he expects to be “fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.” HALL OF FAMER AULT AMONG 3 JOINING CFP SELECTION COMMITTEE >> Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault of Nevada, Washington athletic director Jennifer Cohen and Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler
are joining the College Football Playoff's 13-member selection committee next season.
The CFP announced the three new members that would be replacing Wyoming AD Tim Burman, Colorado AD Rick George and former Penn State and NFL player John Urschel on the panel that chooses the four teams that play for the national championship.
CFP executive director Bill Hancock also said North Carolina State AD Boo Corrigan will serve as the chairman of the committee for another season.
NFL
RODGERS SAYS DECISION ON FUTURE WILL COME `SOON ENOUGH' >> Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers.
Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast.”
VIKINGS EARN TOP MARK IN PLAYER TREATMENT SURVEY >>
The Minnesota Vikings treat their players best, according to a new NFL Players Association survey. The Washington Commanders have a long way to go.
The report, released during the league's annual scouting combine, rated teams in eight categories — everything from meals and nutrition to training and travel — based on anonymous responses from about 1,300 players. The teams were ranked from 1 to 32.
Golf PGA TOUR MOVES TOWARD ELITE FIELD WITH NO CUTS >>
The PGA Tour is moving toward an elite schedule in 2024 with 16 designated events — half of them with no more than 80-man fields and no cuts — along with a chance for players on the outside to play their way in.
Still to be finalized are which events get the $20 million prize funds and details for how players can earn a spot in the field.
Players were apprised of the changes in a memo from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the memo, which indicated the Player Impact Program bonus pool will be cut in half to $50 million to 10 players (instead of 20 players), with the other $50 million going to bonus pools for the FedEx Cup and the Comcast Business Tour Top 10 for leading players in the regular season.
Tennis DJOKOVIC ADVANCES, RUBLEV SAVES 5 MATCH POINTS >>
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic eased into the quarterfinals at the Dubai Championships by beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-2, 6-3.
Djokovic extended his winning streak to 19 matches in tidy fashion a day after being pushed to a third-set tiebreaker by 130th-ranked Tomas Machac.
Djokovic will next face Hubert Hurkacz, who beat Pavel Kotov 7-5, 6-1.
NADAL VS. ALCARAZ EXHIBITION MATCH CANCELED >>
An exhibition tennis match that originally was supposed to pit Rafael Nadal against Carlos Alcaraz and was scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas has been canceled and ticket purchases can be refunded.
Organizers announced that the event is being scrapped because Alcaraz hurt his right hamstring. He pulled out of this week's tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, because of the injury.