Sports briefs
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Browns restructure Nick Chubb’s contract as he rehabs from injury
CLEVELAND | The Cleveland Browns have restructured star running back Nick Chubb’s contract as he continues to rehab after a season-ending knee injury in 2023, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Chubb was entering his final year under contract after signing a three-year, $36.6 million deal in 2021.
The 28-year-old Chubb agreed to take a salary cut — he was scheduled to make $11.75 million this season — but can earn back money through incentives, the person said.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team does not make salary figures public.
NFL Network was first to report Chubb’s agreement with the Browns.
Chubb, the Browns’ most popular player and a four-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 1,525 yards in 2022, tore ligaments in his left knee in Week 2 when he was hit from the side by Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick near the goal line.
Chubb had to undergo two surgeries to get it repaired. It’s the same knee he injured while at Georgia. The Browns dedicated their season to Chubb and went on to make the playoffs for just the second time since 2002.
Because it’s Chubb, who has an extraordinary work ethic and commitment, the Browns believe he could be back at some point this season. The team has not provided any specific timeline for his return.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry recently said Chubb had been rehabbing at the team’s headquarters and was close to ramping up his workouts.
“Right now he’s strengthening his quad, he’s doing the rehab and everything, but it’s not like he’s going out and doing sprints, agility drills, stuff like that,” Berry said at the owners meetings. “But this month we expect that he will.”
Chubb has been essentially the backbone of the Browns since they drafted him in the second round in 2018.
He’s rushed for 6,511 yards and 48 touchdowns, and whenever the team is driving and needs yardage, Browns fans break into chants of “Chubb … Chubb” at home games.
To protect their depth, the Browns signed running backs Nyheim Hines and D’Onta Foreman during free agency. They’ve also got backs Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong Jr. and John Kelly Jr. under contract.
Scott Drew staying as Baylor’s coach after being mentioned as John Calipari’s successor
WACO, Texas | Scott Drew will remain as Baylor’s men’s basketball coach, stating his desire to “bring more championships” to the program on social media after being linked to the Kentucky coaching vacancy following John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas.
Drew mentioned his Christian faith in a post on X and stated that he believed “God has called my family and I to continue our work here at Baylor, surrounded by the best people and community anyone could be blessed to have.” He expressed gratitude for support from athletic director Mack Rhoades and Baylor President Linda Livingstone and added, “We look forward to working together to bring more championships to Waco (Texas).”
The 53-year-old Drew, who guided the Bears to the NCAA championship during the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season, quickly emerged as Kentucky’s top target to follow Calipari after the Hall of Famer and 2012 title winner stepped down on Tuesday. Calipari, who said the Wildcats program he guided for 15 years ‘ needed to hear another voice, ‘ was introduced as Arkansas’ coach on Wednesday. Louisville had also considered Drew to replace the fired Kenny Payne.
Drew’s announcement that he was staying follows one by Alabama’s Nate Oats, who reiterated his commitment to the Crimson Tide on Monday amid speculation of Kentucky’s possible interest. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan said he was “flattered” to be mentioned for the job he once worked as an assistant but expressed his commitment to the NBA club.
UConn coach Dan Hurley was also in the discussion, an unlikely scenario considering he just led the Huskies to their second consecutive national title on Monday night.
Drew is 446-244 in 21 seasons at the Big 12 Conference school and has led Baylor to 10 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg to retire at season’s end
ANAHEIM, Calif. | Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg says he will retire at the end of the regular season.
The 33-year-old Silfverberg announced the decision on social media Thursday. After starting his NHL career in Ottawa, he has been with the Ducks since 2013, serving as an alternate captain for the past five years.
Silfverberg has 158 goals and 196 assists in his tenure with the Ducks, scoring more goals than anyone on the team since his arrival 11 years ago. He is fifth in franchise history in goals, games played (769) and shots, while ranking third in short-handed goals.
“To spend 11 years in Orange County playing for the Ducks is something I will cherish every day,” Silfverberg said in a statement.
Silfverberg was considered one of the NHL’s top defensive forwards during his prime, and he was a key contributor to Anaheim teams that made the Western Conference finals in 2015 and 2017.
He was selected to play in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, although he sat out to attend the birth of his second child. He also made a strong comeback in 2022 after missing the final 23 games of the 2021-22 season because of a blood clot in his right leg.
“He was the ultimate character player for the Ducks, Senators and his native Sweden, leading by example and always putting the team first,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “His contributions on the ice and in the Orange County community will have a lasting impact.”
Silfverberg has seven goals and 12 assists in 78 games this season for the Ducks, who will miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Anaheim has three games left, with its home finale Friday against Calgary.
Silfverberg was a second-round pick by Ottawa in 2009, but he spent three more seasons with Brynäs IF in his native Sweden’s top league before making his NHL debut during the Senators’ playoff run in 2012.
Ottawa traded Silfverberg to Anaheim in July 2013 as part of a package for Bobby Ryan.
Silfverberg also won an Olympic silver medal for Sweden at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
Breakaway body World Boxing in talks with up to 30 new members
RENENS, Switzerland | Breakaway governing body World Boxing says it is holding talks with 25 to 30 prospective new member nations as it seeks to be the International Olympic Committee’s preferred partner to run boxing tournaments at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
World Boxing is seeking to supplant the International Boxing Association, which was expelled from the Olympic movement last year after a long-running dispute with the IOC over IBA finances, ties to Russia and concerns about poor or unfair judging of bouts.
“We’re in excess of 25, 30 countries asking us quickly if they can apply. And I think there’s another 25, 30 countries behind them that are starting to assess the implications and how they can join,” World Boxing secretary-general Simon Toulson said Thursday.
Toulson added that there was a “massive increase” in interest since the decision to end IBA’s Olympic affiliation was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on April 2.
Formed last year, World Boxing currently lists 27 full members including the United States, England, Germany and the Philippines. But only one of those — Nigeria — is from Africa and two are from Asia. That lack of geographical diversity could be a drawback to any agreement with the IOC, which wants a new boxing partner in place early next year.
Toulson added World Boxing membership from Africa and Asia would likely be “almost at double figures” for each continent when prospective members are included.
The IOC is organizing the Paris Olympic boxing events this year on its own but has warned it can’t keep doing so. Boxing might be off the Olympic program for 2028 without a new partner governing body, the IOC has said.
New York officials approve $780M soccer stadium for NYCFC
NEW YORK | New York City officials approved a plan Thursday to build a 25,000-seat stadium for Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club next to the New York Mets’ stadium, Citi Field.
The $780 million soccer stadium, expected to open in 2027, will anchor a 23-acre redevelopment project in the Willets Point neighborhood that will also include housing, a new public school, retail stores and a hotel.
The new stadium will be New York City’s first venue dedicated to professional soccer. NYCFC, which won the MLS championship in 2021, currently plays home games at Citi Field or at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
In addition to Citi Field, the soccer venue’s neighbors will include the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the U.S. Open is played.
The City Council approved the new stadium after decades of failed efforts to transform Willets Point, long a gritty cluster of auto body shops.
City officials have said that the stadium will be privately financed by NYCFC’s owners, who include the Yankees and United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the owner the Manchester City Football Club.
But the city’s Independent Budget Office concluded that the actual cost to taxpayers for the stadium could be $516 million spread over the 49-year term of NYCFC’s lease.
The analysis is based on what the city would have received in property taxes had it sold the land to the stadium’s developers instead of leasing it.
The development team includes Related Companies and Sterling Equities, which is partly controlled by the Wilpon family, who used to own the Mets.
—From AP reports
