BRIEFS
Manziel joins University of San Diego pro day
Johnny Manziel took part in the University of San Diego’s pro day on Thursday in what is believed to be his first appearance in front of NFL talent evaluators since the Heisman Trophy winner left the NFL in 2015. Ben Brunnschweiler, USD’s director of football operations, told USA TODAY that Manziel has been working out recently with a couple of players looking to showcase their talent at pro day. He was throwing and running as part of the event — and doing so in front of the team that drafted him in the first round and eventually cut him after off-the-field issues — the Browns.
❚ The longest-tenured defensive player on the Giants has been traded. Jason Pierre-Paul, whose return to the NFL after a 2015 fireworks accident was called miraculous by former New York general manager Jerry Reese, is being shipped out of town by new GM Dave Gettleman in a deal with the Buccaneers. A team source confirmed to The Record and NorthJersey.com on Thursday that the Giants will send Pierre-Paul to Tampa Bay for a 2018 third-round pick. The teams will also swap fourth-round picks in next month’s draft. ESPN first reported the deal.
❚ Frank Gore is coming home. The soon-to-be-35year-old running back has agreed to terms with Miami. Gore, who was born in South Florida, played at Coral Gables High before joining the University of Mi- ami. He is signing a one-year deal, according to ESPN. Gore, who spent most of his career with the 49ers, ranks fifth in NFL history with 14,026 rushing yards.
❚ Hall of Fame defensive back and former Raiders assistant Rod Woodson raised some doubts about the team’s offseason moves and the decision to give new coach Jon Gruden a $100 million contract. Woodson, promoted to cornerbacks coach last season but not retained by Gruden, said on Fox Sports 1 he didn’t want to sound like a “scorned lover” but questioned the Raiders’ choice to let Michael Crabtree go in free agency and sign former Packers player Jordy Nelson. He said Crabtree “gave them a backbone” and said neither Nelson nor quarterback Derek Carr can replace that toughness. Then, Woodson turned his attention to Gruden: “I’m hoping Mark Davis had some outs, because my question would be, how many Super Bowls do you have to win for $100 million? You give that deal to a Bill Belichick. But to a Jon Gruden?”
Louisville to meet with Xavier’s Mack
Louisville officials are scheduled to meet with Xavier coach Chris Mack for the first time this weekend to discuss the school’s opening for a men’s basketball coach, a source with knowledge of the interview process told The (Louisville) Courier-Journal. Mack has long been considered the top coach on Louisville’s list, and the scheduled meeting is the first sign the coaching search is taking shape.
❚ After an apparent bidding war among at least three schools, Dan Hurley agreed to become the men’s coach at Connecticut, the school confirmed Thursday. Hurley and the Huskies agreed to a six-year contract that will pay the former Rhode Island coach $2.75 million in his first season, according to a news release.
❚ Niko Medved, a popular assistant under Tim Miles at Colorado State, has been hired as the Rams’ new coach, a source close to the situation confirmed Thursday. He replaces Larry Eustachy, who resigned under pressure Feb. 26. Medved, 44, just completed his first season at Drake, where he led the Bulldogs to a
17-17 record overall and 10-8 record and tie for third place in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Chen leads World Championships
American skaters Nathan Chen and Vincent Zhou finished in the top three in the men’s short program in the world figure skating championships Thursday in Assago, Italy. Chen neatly vanquished ghosts of the Olympic short program to finish first going into the final free, while Zhou was one of the few skaters to outdo his Olympic performance to place third in the technically loaded short program.