National Sports

Fifth-year options are a good measure of NFL draft classes

By ARNIE STAPLETON - AP Pro Football Writer

NFL teams are getting their first real look at their new players during rookie minicamps this weekend. Fans want quick verdicts especially on first-round picks. But the strength of this class won’t really be known for three years. After the 2023 season teams can exercise fifth-year options on their first-round picks from 2021. Since 2011 all players selected in the NFL draft get four-year contracts with a club option for a fifth year on first-rounders. History shows a dozen of the 32 players taken in this year’s first round can expect to see their team decline that fifth season. 

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NFL-CONCUSSION SETTLEMENT Retired Black players say NFL brain-injury payouts show bias PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Thousands of retired Black professional football players, their families and supporters are demanding an end to the controversial use of “race-norming” to determine which players are eligible for payouts in the NFL’s $1 billion settlement of brain injury claims. Former Washington running back Ken Jenkins and…

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MLB-SCHEDULE Royals try again to end skid UNDATED (AP) — The reeling Royals get two chances to halt their long losing streak when they play a doubleheader in Chicago against the White Sox. Kansas City has dropped 11 straight, its longest skid since a 12-game slide in 2012. The Royals just got done playing Detroit, which had the worst record…

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NBA-SCHEDULE Heat top 76ers to keep No. 5 seed UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers were unable to clinch the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat held onto the fifth seed as Jimmy Butler scored 21 points, Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY’-oh) had a double-double in a 106-94 victory over the Sixers. Adebayo delivered 18 points and…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NBA-SCHEDULE Heat top 76ers to keep No. 5 seed UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers were unable to clinch the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat held onto the fifth seed as Jimmy Butler scored 21 points, Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY’-oh) had a double-double in a 106-94 victory over the Sixers. Adebayo delivered 18 points and…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NBA-SCHEDULE Heat top 76ers to keep No. 5 seed UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers were unable to clinch the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat held onto the fifth seed as Jimmy Butler scored 21 points, Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY’-oh) had a double-double in a 106-94 victory over the Sixers. Adebayo delivered 18 points and…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NBA-SCHEDULE Heat top 76ers to keep No. 5 seed UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers were unable to clinch the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat held onto the fifth seed as Jimmy Butler scored 21 points, Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY’-oh) had a double-double in a 106-94 victory over the Sixers. Adebayo delivered 18 points and…

Update on the latest sports

AP

NBA-SCHEDULE Heat top 76ers to keep No. 5 seed UNDATED (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers were unable to clinch the top seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs. The Miami Heat held onto the fifth seed as Jimmy Butler scored 21 points, Bam Adebayo (ad-eh-BY’-oh) had a double-double in a 106-94 victory over the Sixers. Adebayo delivered 18 points and…

The Latest: Bears coach Nagy going remote for minicamp

By The Associated Press

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