IN BRIEF
Maxwell won’t kneel for anthem
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce
Maxwell said in a statement released to reporters Tuesday that he will not kneel during the national anthem like he did in late 2017.
“Taking a knee during the national anthem last season was not a decision I made lightly,” said Maxwell. “As a member of a military family, I respect the sac- rifices of the men and women who served and continue to serve our country. The purpose of the gesture was to raise awareness about social issues affecting our country, and while I’m looking forward to a society that is inclusive, empathetic and a welcoming place, I will not continue the symbolic gesture of taking a knee during our national anthem this season.”
Maxwell became the first MLB player to protest during the national anthem when he took a knee Sept. 23, shortly after President Trump used an expletive to describe NFL players who had similarly kneeled. — Tom Schad
Manziel, Mayfield have friendship
Former NFL quarterback Johnny
Manziel has heard the comparisons to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback
Baker Mayfield, and he thinks they’re bogus. But Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner, thinks Mayfield can “learn from what I did wrong” and said the two share a “really cool friendship.”
Manziel, who became the first freshman to win the Heisman while at Texas A&M, acknowledged in a Good Morning
America interview Monday that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, saying, “I can’t help that my wires are a little bit differently crossed.” He said he was determined to get back to the NFL — where he was cut by the Cleveland Browns in 2016 — and restore his image after several run-ins with the law and ongoing alcohol abuse.
Mayfield, the former Oklahoma QB who is expected to be one of the first four quarterbacks selected in April’s NFL draft, has downplayed comparisons to Manziel and the idea that he’s a “bad boy.” — Scott Gleeson
Chiefs Johnson a free agent
The Kansas City Chiefs are planning to move ahead without one of their defensive mainstays. Linebacker Derrick
Johnson becomes a free agent on March 14, as the team announced Tuesday its plans to move on from the 13-year veteran.
“I’ve been blessed to be a part of the Kansas City Chiefs organization my entire career,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’d like to thank the Hunt family, my coaches, teammates and the staff for the tremendous amount of support I received over the years. I love Kansas City and this fan base, they’ve always had my back. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to spend 13 years in a place I love. I plan on playing for several more years because I love this game so much, but I look forward to retiring as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs when my career is over. I’ll miss my Chiefs teammates – we made a lot of big plays together over the years – and I wish them the best in bringing a championship home to the best and loudest fans in the NFL.” — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Lost Cowboys player found
Former Dallas Cowboys fullback Lin
coln Coleman was found safe Tuesday after being reported missing over the weekend, the Dallas Police Department confirmed in a statement.
Coleman went missing Friday afternoon in Dallas, where he was last seen driving a Ford SUV with Florida license plates. Police said in a statement that Coleman has “diminished mental capacity” and “may be in need of medical assistance.” — Tom Schad