TALKING POINTS

LA Chargers hire Greg Roman as offensive coordinator

Jim Harbaugh is bringing in another familiar face to direct the Los Angeles Chargers’ offense.

The Chargers announced on Thursday that Greg Roman has been hired as offensive coordinator. Roman was Harbaugh’s coordinator during his four-year tenure with the San Francisco 49ers and was associate head coach under Harbaugh at Stanford in 2009 and ‘10.

Los Angeles also announced that Marcus Brady will be the passing game coordinator.

Roman was offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens under Jim’s brother, John, from 2019-22. He was out of the league this season.

While the Chargers have one of the league’s best quarterbacks in Justin Herbert, Roman’s calling card has been strong rushing offenses. The 49ers averaged 139.3 rushing yards per game in the four seasons under Roman and Harbaugh, which ranked second in the league during that period.

Roman was honored as NFL Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2019 season after the Ravens led the league in scoring (33.2 points per game) and rushing (206.0 yards) while ranking second in total offense (407.6 yards). Lamar Jackson was named MVP that season; he was among the favorites to win that award for a second time Thursday night.

Roman was Buffalo’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and ‘16.

Harbaugh said during his introductory news conference last week that protecting Herbert, beefing up the running game and honing the play-action pass game would be early priorities.

“I think that we can be extraordinary there with the receivers we have and the quarterback. Also, the running game, work just as hard at that and get to be a balanced type of a football team. Always protect the football. That’s where it starts,” Harbaugh said.

Brady comes to the Bolts after spending this past season as a senior offensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to that, Brady had a five-year stint in Indianapolis, including the 2021 and ‘22 seasons as offensive coordinator.

Roman and Brady join defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert on Harbaugh’s staff.

Mystics star Elena Delle Donne taking break from basketball, AP source says

Washington Mystics star Elena Delle Donne is stepping away from basketball, potentially for the entire season, a person familiar with the decision said Thursday.

The person spoke to

The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.

The two-time MVP was designated as a core player by the Mystics before free agency began last week. She has been at an impasse with Washington regarding her contract. The core designation guaranteed Delle Donne the WNBA’s maximum salary of $241,984.

ESPN first reported Delle Donne’s decision.

The 34-year-old star had a few options once the Mystics used the core designation. She could sign the one-year deal and play for Washington; sit out the season; or agree to a sign-and-trade and play elsewhere.

The Mystics were looking for high draft picks for Delle Donne if they were going to trade her, and there have been limited options. She’s only played in 51 games since Washington won the franchise’s only league title in 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and injury issues.

Manfred would be disappointed if A’s Las Vegas ballpark not open by 2028, skeptical of Olympics

ORLANDO, Fla. — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said he would be disappointed if the Oakland Athletics don’t open their proposed Las Vegas ballpark at the start of the 2028 season and expressed skepticism about big leaguers appearing in that year’s Olympics.

The A’s announced an agreement on May 15 to build a ballpark on the Tropicana hotel site along the Las Vegas Strip, obtained $380 million in Nevada government financing on June 15 and received approval to move from Major League Baseball on Nov. 16 but have yet to release design plans for the stadium. The team has said it hopes to move into a new stadium in 2028.

Manfred said that if a stadium doesn’t open by then, he would be “disappointed just in the sense I think it’s the best for the A’s and the best for the game.”

The proposed ballpark site is just outside Las Vegas. Mayor Carolyn Goodman said this week on the podcast “Front Office Sports Today” that the A’s planned move to the city “doesn’t make sense.”

“The governor, the Clark County officials have all been wildly supportive of the A’s moving to Las Vegas,” Manfred said.

The team’s lease at the Oakland Coliseum extends through the 2024 season. It’s unclear whether the A’s will play 2025 home games in Oakland, Sacramento or a minor league stadium in Las Vegas.

“I’m comfortable with where they are in the process,” Manfred said. “They have options and you know, I think they’re doing a good job of exploring them and making sure we find the best possible opportunity.”

Manfred said a location does need to be known in the next few months.

Southeastern Conference distributes average of $51.3 million to 14 member schools for 2022-23

BIRMINGHAM, Ala — The Southeastern Conference announced Thursday it distributed an average of $51.3 million — up $1.4 million from last year — to its 14 member schools for the fiscal year that ended last August.

The SEC said it divided $741 million of total revenue among its members. That included $718 million distributed by the league office and $23 million retained by schools for travel and other bowl-related expenses. Those amounts were from the 2022-23 fiscal year.

In the previous fiscal year, the SEC distributed $721.8 million of total revenue.

The total distribution amount includes revenue generated from television agreements, bowl games, the College Football Playoff, the SEC football championship game, the SEC men’s basketball tournament, NCAA championships and a supplemental surplus distribution.

It doesn’t include $8.1 million in grants from the NCAA and SEC divided among the 14 schools.

ALCS MVP Adolis García reaches $14M, 2-year deal with Rangers to avoid arbitration

Adolis García and the Texas Rangers agreed Thursday to a $14 million, twoyear contract that could be worth as much as $20.25 million, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing between the AL Championship Series MVP and the World Series champions.

“He has been a very important part of our team the past few years and we are thrilled to have this resolved as we prepare for the start of spring training,” general manager Chris Young said.

García will have a base salary of $4.75 million this season, and his $9.25 million salary in 2025 could increase a maximum of $6.25 million to $15.5 million, depending on several salary escalators.

His 2025 salary would increase by $250,000 for 400 plate appearances this year, by $1 million for 500 and by $1.25 million for 600. If picked for the All-MLB team, he would get $750,000 for being on the second team or $1 million on the first team. There are different levels if he ranks in top 20 in MVP voting — from $1.75 million for 16th-20th, to $2.5 million for 11th-15th, $3 million for sixth-10th, $3.75 million for fourth or fifth, $4.75 million if third, $5.5 million if second and $6.25 million if first. If he triggers more than one escalator, only the highest value earned would be applied.