Update on the latest sports
APNFL NEWS
Patriots’ Gilmore absent as team opens mandatory minicamp
UNDATED (AP) — Patriots starting quarterback Cam Newton has returned to the field.
He participated in the team’s first mandatory minicamp workout without restriction after missing the final three voluntary workouts last week with a hand injury. But Stephon Gilmore, the team’s top cornerback and the 2019 NFL defensive player of the year, was one of several players absent. Gilmore skipped the team’s 10 voluntary workouts. He’s entering the final season of the five-year, $65 million deal he signed in 2017. The $7.5 million he could earn this season would rank him 25th among NFL cornerbacks in 2021.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— A person with direct knowledge of the decision says New York Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder agreed to a renegotiated deal that will keep him with the team through this season. Crowder was due to make $10 million this year. Financial details of the renegotiated deal were not immediately available but the Jets had been trying to get the 28-year-old receiver to take a pay cut.
— The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with quarterback Nick Mullens. The 26-year-old Mullens spent his first four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, going 5-11 in 16 starts. Mullens joins Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco on Philadelphia’s roster. Mullens signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 after breaking Brett Favre’s single-season record for yards passing and TDs as a junior at Southern Mississippi in 2015.
—Las Vegas defensive line coach Rod Marinelli and San Francisco running backs coach Bobby Turner have been given the Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award by the Professional Football Writers of America for lifetime achievement as assistants. Marinelli is entering his 26th season as an NFL coach and his second with the Raiders. The 71-year-old was head coach in Detroit from 2006 through 2008 and also served on staffs in Tampa Bay, Dallas and Chicago. Turner also is set for his 26th season and fifth with the 49ers. The 72-year-old was an assistant in Denver, Washington and Atlanta.
NHL NEWS
AP source: New York Rangers hire Gerard Gallant as coach
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Rangers have reached an agreement to hire Gerard Gallant as their next coach. That’s what a person with knowledge of the move tells The Associated Press.
Gallant was a highly sought-after coaching candidate three years after leading Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season. He is fresh off coaching Canada from an 0-3 start to the gold medal at the world hockey championship. This will be Gallant’s fourth NHL head coaching job after stints with the Blue Jackets, Panthers and Golden Knights. He was fired by Vegas midway through the 2019-20 season and replaced by Peter DeBoer. Gallant replaces fired Rangers coach David Quinn.
MLB NEWS
Indians ace Bieber shut down 2 weeks with shoulder strain
UNDATED (AP) — Indians ace Shane Bieber, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has a strained right shoulder and will not pitch for at least two weeks.
Manager Terry Francona said Bieber complained of tightness in his shoulder after pitching Sunday and underwent an MRI. The tests should the muscle strain and Bieber will be temporarily shut down. The Indians placed the right-hander on the injured list and recalled reliever Kyle Nelson from Triple-A Columbus. Bieber’s loss is a major blow to Cleveland, which has managed to stay in contention in the first 2 1/2 months of the season despite a rash of key injuries. The Indians will now have to survive without one of baseball’s best pitchers.
In other news from the majors.
—The upcoming weekend series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants will be streamed nationally on the Peacock service. Coverage of the three-game series from San Francisco begins Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern, and on Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern with pregame shows. The NBC Sports regional networks are the local rightsholder for both teams, but fans in Philadelphia and the Bay Area will also have to tune in on Peacock. The series is part of MLB’s commitment to present games on different platforms. MLB has had 12 games streamed on YouTube since the start of last season.
TENNIS-WIMBLEDON
Full crowd will attend Wimbledon finals
LONDON (AP) — The British government says Wimbledon will be allowed to have a full crowd at Centre Court for the men’s and women’s finals next month.
The announcement comes as the government eases restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Wimbledon begins on June 28. The tournament will allow 50% capacity at the start but increase to 100% on Centre Court for the finals.
The decision to ease restrictions on crowds will also increase attendances at soccer’s European Championship and other sporting events. The capacity at Wembley Stadium will increase to about 40,000 as the European Championship progresses.
TENNIS-BIRMINGHAM
Coco Vandeweghe is back
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Former top 10 player CoCo Vandeweghe has earned her first tour-level main-draw victory in nearly two years. Vandeweghe beat Kristyna Pliskova 6-4, 7-6 (1) with the help of 13 aces at the Birmingham grass-court tournament.
Vandeweghe is a 29-year-old American who reached two Grand Slam semifinals in 2017 and twice has been a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon. She also won the 2018 U.S. Open doubles title with Ash Barty. But injuries slowed her progress and forced her off tour.
OLYMPICS-US SWIM TRIALS
Lochte fails to advance in first event
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Olympic champion Ryan Lochte has failed to advance from the preliminaries of the 200-meter freestyle in his first event of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
The 36-year-old Lochte is attempting to make his fifth Olympic team. He posted a time of 1 minute, 49.23 seconds. That was only good enough for 25th place overall.
The top 16 advanced to the evening semifinals and are led by Kieran Smith and Caeleb Dressel. Smith won the 400 free on Sunday to earn his first trip to the Olympics.
Lochte was also entered Monday in the 100 backstroke, but he scratched that event.
OLYMPICS-BOXING CORRUPTION
Investigation to probe corruption in 2016 Olympic boxing
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The International Boxing Association has commissioned an investigation into possible corruption and match-fixing at the 2016 Olympic tournament. The announcement comes just over a month before the next Olympics in Tokyo.
The investigation will be led by Richard McLaren. The Canadian law professor detailed Russian doping and cover-ups before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The IOC has previously barred the AIBA from organizing the Tokyo tournament and has ruled that none of the referees or judges from 2016 will be eligible to have any role.
