Steelers’ Polamalu, Colts’ Wayne finalists for HOF
Reggie Wayne and Troy Polamalu are among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s modern-day 2020 class.
The former Colts receiver and Steelers safety are joined by five others who have never been finalists: Packers safety LeRoy Butler; Rams receiver Torry Holt; Panthers linebacker Sam Mills; Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas; and 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young.
They are joined by past finalists Broncos/Jets safety Steve Atwater; Jaguars tackle Tony Boselli; Rams/49ers receiver Isaac Bruce; Steelers/Jets/Cardinals guard Alan Faneca; Seahawks/Vikings/Titans guard Steve Hutchinson; Colts/Cardinals/Seahawks running back Edgerrin James; Buccaneers/Broncos safety John Lynch; and Patriots/Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour.
These 15 will be considered for selection on Feb. 1 in Miami. A player must receiver 80% of votes from the selection committee. A maximum of five modernday players can be chosen.
Lynch, now the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, is a finalist for the seventh time.
Baseball
YANKEES’ GERMAN SUSPENDED 81 GAMES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE >> Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán will miss the first 63 games of the 2020 season as part of an 81-game ban for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Germán has agreed not to appeal.
Germán was put on administrative leave on Sept. 19 while MLB investigated an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend, with whom he has at least one child. He missed the final nine games of the 2019 regular season and all nine of New York’s postseason games. Those missed games will count toward his ban. WHITE SOX, ROBERT AGREE TO CONTRACT >> The Chicago White Sox and Luis Robert agreed to a $50
Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu pressures Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the first quarter on Nov. 30, 2014, in Pittsburgh. Polamalu is among 15finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s modern-day 2020class.
million, six-year contract, clearing the way for the prized outfielder to open the season in the majors.
The White Sox can add the 22-year-old Cuban to their opening day roster if they think he is ready rather than hold him in the minors because of service time issues.
Robert combined to hit .328 with 32 home runs, 92 RBIs, 108 runs and 36 stolen bases last season at Class A, Double-A and Triple-A.
Pro basketball
WILLIAMSON RETURNS TO PRACTICE >> Zion Williamson returned to practice with the New Orleans Pelicans for the first time since he had arthroscopic knee surgery shortly before the season. But the NBA’s top overall draft choice out of Duke cannot yet say when he’ll make his regular-season debut.
Williamson, 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, said he first must pass “assessments” by team medical staff before the decision can rest solely with him. Coach Alvin Gentry said the club needs to “see what kind of progress he makes, see what happens after he goes through practices.” DONCIC THE EARLY ALLSTAR VOTE LEADERS >> Dallas’ Luka Doncic received more fan votes than any other player in the opening week of balloting for the NBA All-Star Game.
The NBA released the first voting totals and Doncic has received 1,073,957 — 599 more than Milwaukee’s
Giannis Antetokounmpo.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is the only other player to top the million-vote mark so far, putting him well on his way to what would be a 16th consecutive All-Star appearance.
James, Lakers teammate Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard are the runaway leaders in the Western Conference frontcourt. Doncic and Houston’s James Harden also are off to enormous leads in the West guards race.
In the East, Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Toronto’s Pascal Siakam are the leaders for the three starting frontcourt spots. Atlanta’s Trae Young has gotten the most votes so far in the East guard race, about 11,000 ahead of Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving. Boston’s Kemba Walker is 450 votes back of Irving. KINGS’ DEDMON FINED $50,000 >> Sacramento Kings center Dewayne Dedmon has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for public comments about wanting a trade.
The league made the announcement, calling the comments detrimental to the NBA and its teams. He made the request in a recent interview with The Sacramento Bee.
Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, players cannot make public demands for a trade. The 30-year-old Dedmon signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Kings in the offseason.
NFC champion vs. AFC champion, 3:30 p.m. (Fox)
Baltimore Kansas City L.A. Chargers Oakland Tennessee Houston
New England Jacksonville Cleveland Buffalo Indianapolis Cincinnati Miami
Denver Pittsburgh N.Y. Jets
New England Buffalo Baltimore Pittsburgh L.A. Chargers N.Y. Jets Denver Indianapolis Kansas City Oakland Tennessee Cleveland Jacksonville Houston Cincinnati Miami
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
Dallas
Tampa Bay San Francisco Atlanta
L.A. Rams Seattle
New Orleans Philadelphia Minnesota Detroit
Green Bay Carolina Arizona
N.Y. Giants Chicago Washington
San Francisco Chicago Dallas Philadelphia New Orleans L.A. Rams Minnesota Tampa Bay Green Bay Atlanta Carolina
N.Y. Giants Seattle Washington Detroit Arizona
Denver
Utah Oklahoma City Portland Minnesota 23 21 14 13 11 23 21 18 14 12 23 23 23 16 10 24 15 13 10 7 11 12 18 21 23 10 12 15 21 21 8 11 13 16 24
9 19 23 23 27 .676 .636 .438 .382 .324 .697 .636 .545 .400 .364 .742 .676 .639 .500 .294 .727 .441 .361 .303 .206
— 11⁄2 8 10 12
— 2 5 10 11
— 11⁄2 21⁄2 71⁄2 141⁄2
— 91⁄2 121⁄2
14 171⁄2
Washington 41 27 9 5 59 146 122 N.Y. Islanders 38 25 10 3 53 114 100 Pittsburgh 39 24 11 4 52 136 104 Carolina 40 24 14 2 50 136 112 Philadelphia 40 22 13 5 49 127 118 Columbus 40 18 14 8 44 105 112 N.Y. Rangers 39 19 16 4 42 129 132 New Jersey 39 14 19 6 34 102 138 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.
Wednesday's games
Dallas 4, Nashville 2
Thursday's games
Columbus at Boston, (n) Edmonton at Buffalo, (n)
Tampa Bay at Montreal, (n)
New Jersey at N.Y. Islanders, (n) Sharks at Pittsburgh, (n)
Florida at Ottawa, (n)
Toronto at Winnipeg, (n) Anaheim at Arizona, (n)
N.Y. Rangers at Calgary, (n)
St. Louis at Colorado, (n) Chicago at Vancouver, (n) Philadelphia at Vegas, (n)
Friday's games
Washington at Carolina, 4:30 p.m. Detroit at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
College football