Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New Orleans SaintsMETAIRIE, La. -- Although the first big wave of free-agent spending has passed in the NFL, the ' biggest financial decision of the offseason is still looming.Running back is heading into the final year of his rookie contract at the bargain rate of $2.133 million. So it seems inevitable that he will push for a long-term contract extension this summer.• |• |• |•Receiver was in the same boat last year before he signed a record-breaking deal worth nearly $20 million per year. However, the math was a bit more predictable with...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>New Orleans SaintsMETAIRIE, La. -- Although the first big wave of free-agent spending has passed in the NFL, the ' biggest financial decision of the offseason is still looming.Running back is heading into the final year of his rookie contract at the bargain rate of $2.133 million. So it seems inevitable that he will push for a long-term contract extension this summer.• |• |• |•Receiver was in the same boat last year before he signed a record-breaking deal worth nearly $20 million per year. However, the math was a bit more predictable with...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>INDIANAPOLIS -- New starting quarterback knew about the criticism from his struggles at times during the 2019 season while with the . He didn't go seek out everything that was said about him because he knows negativity comes with the job at times.But as he points out, "at the same time, we're all human.""At times what may have aggravated me a little bit last year was [critics saying] that I couldn't play anymore," Rivers said Wednesday. "When you heard that, it bothered me because I wanted to go, 'Shoot, let's go turn on the tape and watch all...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>INDIANAPOLIS -- New starting quarterback knew about the criticism from his struggles at times during the 2019 season while with the . He didn't go seek out everything that was said about him because he knows negativity comes with the job at times.But as he points out, "at the same time, we're all human.""At times what may have aggravated me a little bit last year was [critics saying] that I couldn't play anymore," Rivers said Wednesday. "When you heard that, it bothered me because I wanted to go, 'Shoot, let's go turn on the tape and watch all...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Roger Penske has reversed course and decided not to allow fans at the Indianapolis 500 later this month.The 104th running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will be the first without spectators, who showed up at Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year, even during the Great Depression.It was a flip for Penske, who purchased the iconic speedway in January and has spent every day since upgrading his new showplace to prepare for his favorite race. The pandemic forced the race to change dates for the first time, from Memorial Day weekend to Aug....…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Roger Penske has reversed course and decided not to allow fans at the Indianapolis 500 later this month.The 104th running of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" will be the first without spectators, who showed up at Indianapolis Motor Speedway every year, even during the Great Depression.It was a flip for Penske, who purchased the iconic speedway in January and has spent every day since upgrading his new showplace to prepare for his favorite race. The pandemic forced the race to change dates for the first time, from Memorial Day weekend to Aug....WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>After 13 seasons, Ted Ginn has no plans on calling it quits.The free-agent wide receiver told ESPN he wants to play in 2020 and beyond."I've still got a few more years left in me," said Ginn, 35, who spent the last three years with the .Ginn, the ninth overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft, has 409 career catches for 5,702 yards and 33 touchdowns. He started 22 games for New Orleans, but the Saints' signing of in March made Ginn expendable.Ginn said he's open-minded about potential landing spots and will evaluate the NFL landscape after the...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>After 13 seasons, Ted Ginn has no plans on calling it quits.The free-agent wide receiver told ESPN he wants to play in 2020 and beyond."I've still got a few more years left in me," said Ginn, 35, who spent the last three years with the .Ginn, the ninth overall selection in the 2007 NFL draft, has 409 career catches for 5,702 yards and 33 touchdowns. He started 22 games for New Orleans, but the Saints' signing of in March made Ginn expendable.Ginn said he's open-minded about potential landing spots and will evaluate the NFL landscape after the...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday that star big man is good to go for Friday's potential closeout Game 5 against the .Spoelstra said Adebayo didn't undergo additional testing, just put a lot of ice on it."It's a little bit of everything," the coach said when asked if the injury was to his wrist/shoulder/arm. "This is a physical series. He'll be ready to go tomorrow."Adebayo got tangled up with Celtics guard in the second half of Wednesday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. His left wrist appeared to get turned in the wrong direction,...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday that star big man is good to go for Friday's potential closeout Game 5 against the .Spoelstra said Adebayo didn't undergo additional testing, just put a lot of ice on it."It's a little bit of everything," the coach said when asked if the injury was to his wrist/shoulder/arm. "This is a physical series. He'll be ready to go tomorrow."Adebayo got tangled up with Celtics guard in the second half of Wednesday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. His left wrist appeared to get turned in the wrong direction,...WW…

Skip to navigation<>coach Mike D'Antoni would have no reservations about being on the sideline if the NBA season resumes, despite his age increasing the risk of severe illness or death from , sources told ESPN.D'Antoni, who turns 69 on Friday, is the league's second-oldest head coach behind San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, who is 71.Two NBA general managers that they had major concerns about older coaches and staffers being present at games due to the factors that place them at a higher risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that adults over age 65 are at higher...…Skip to navigation<>coach Mike D'Antoni would have no reservations about being on the sideline if the NBA season resumes, despite his age increasing the risk of severe illness or death from , sources told ESPN.D'Antoni, who turns 69 on Friday, is the league's second-oldest head coach behind San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, who is 71.Two NBA general managers that they had major concerns about older coaches and staffers being present at games due to the factors that place them at a higher risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that adults over age 65 are at higher...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball on Wednesday suspended video replay system operator J.T. Watkins without pay through the 2020 postseason and stripped the team of its second-round draft pick this year after completing an investigation into allegations that Boston stole signs during the 2018 season.Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who mutually parted ways with the team in January as part of the fallout from the , is suspended through the 2020 postseason as well -- but only for his conduct as Houston's bench coach, the league said in its announcement. Cora...…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>Major League Baseball on Wednesday suspended video replay system operator J.T. Watkins without pay through the 2020 postseason and stripped the team of its second-round draft pick this year after completing an investigation into allegations that Boston stole signs during the 2018 season.Former Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who mutually parted ways with the team in January as part of the fallout from the , is suspended through the 2020 postseason as well -- but only for his conduct as Houston's bench coach, the league said in its announcement. Cora...WW…

 |This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's Analytics issue on newsstands Feb. 22.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Five weeks before his 50th birthday, Michael Jordan sits behind his desk, overlooking a parking garage in downtown Charlotte. The cell phone in front of him buzzes with potential trades and league proposals about placing ads on jerseys. A rival wants his best players and wants to give him nothing in return. Jordan bristles. He holds a Cuban cigar in his hand. Smoking is allowed."Well, s---, being as I own the building," he says, laughing.As Michael Jordan turns 50 on Sunday, Feb. 17,...… |This story appears in ESPN The Magazine's Analytics issue on newsstands Feb. 22.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Five weeks before his 50th birthday, Michael Jordan sits behind his desk, overlooking a parking garage in downtown Charlotte. The cell phone in front of him buzzes with potential trades and league proposals about placing ads on jerseys. A rival wants his best players and wants to give him nothing in return. Jordan bristles. He holds a Cuban cigar in his hand. Smoking is allowed."Well, s---, being as I own the building," he says, laughing.As Michael Jordan turns 50 on Sunday, Feb. 17,...WW…

Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>An unlikely candidate emerged in the midst of the ' coaching search, and the revamped front office didn't want to drop the ball on this opportunity.Once coach Billy Donovan and the mutually agreed to part ways after five seasons, Chicago's Arturas Karnisovas immediately reached out."Once he became available, we were relentless in terms of trying to find ways to continue communication and kind of to prove to Billy that we are the spot for him, a landing spot next," said Karnisovas, the Bulls' executive vice president of basketball operations....…Skip to main contentSkip to navigation<>An unlikely candidate emerged in the midst of the ' coaching search, and the revamped front office didn't want to drop the ball on this opportunity.Once coach Billy Donovan and the mutually agreed to part ways after five seasons, Chicago's Arturas Karnisovas immediately reached out."Once he became available, we were relentless in terms of trying to find ways to continue communication and kind of to prove to Billy that we are the spot for him, a landing spot next," said Karnisovas, the Bulls' executive vice president of basketball operations....WW…

Skip to navigation<>Augusta National Golf Club is donating $2 million to two local entities to help with the coronavirus pandemic.The Georgia club is currently closed in the wake of the crisis, and the Masters, originally scheduled for next week, has been postponed."It is our hope these gifts will help address the many challenges brought about by the coronavirus throughout the city of Augusta and the greater region," Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said in a release. "We believe Augusta National has an important responsibility to support and protect the community who has so...…Skip to navigation<>Augusta National Golf Club is donating $2 million to two local entities to help with the coronavirus pandemic.The Georgia club is currently closed in the wake of the crisis, and the Masters, originally scheduled for next week, has been postponed."It is our hope these gifts will help address the many challenges brought about by the coronavirus throughout the city of Augusta and the greater region," Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said in a release. "We believe Augusta National has an important responsibility to support and protect the community who has so...WW…