Following is a abstract of present sports activities information briefs.

NFL-Patriots rent Mayo to interchange Belichick as head coach

Less than a day after parting methods with Bill Belichick the New England Patriots on Friday employed 37-year-old Jerod Mayo as their head coach. Belichick, one of the vital profitable coaches in NFL historical past, and crew proprietor Robert Kraft introduced on Thursday that they had agreed the coach would go away after 24 seasons by which New England received six Super Bowls.

NFC-best 49ers place 5 on AP All-Pro first crew

Running again Christian McCaffrey and center linebacker Fred Warner prime the record of 5 San Francisco 49ers gamers chosen for The Associated Press 2023 NFL All-Pro Team. McCaffrey and Warner had been two of three unanimous picks for the primary crew among the many panel of fifty media members, with Miami Dolphins extensive receiver Tyreek Hill rounding out the trio.

Braves prolong GM Alex Anthopoulos by 2031

The Atlanta Braves prolonged the contract of president of baseball operations and common supervisor Alex Anthopoulos by the 2031 season on Friday. He was promoted to his present position in February 2020 after becoming a member of the Braves as govt vp and GM in November 2017.

Washington WR Rome Odunze, projected first-rounder, enters draft

Washington extensive receiver Rome Odunze entered the 2024 NFL Draft and is projected to be a first-round decide. Odunze is rated the No. 2 receiver and No. 6 prospect within the draft by Field Level Media, which graded Odunze as a first-round decide in 2023 when he opted to return to chase a nationwide championship.

NFL Playoff capsules: Saturday wild-card video games

Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans: Rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans and No. 2 decide C.J. Stroud led the Texans to the AFC South title as Houston returns to the postseason for the primary time since 2019. They are on residence turf for a rematch of their 36-22 Christmas Eve loss to the Browns, who rode a December surge on the arm of revived QB Joe Flacco to an 11-win season and wild-card berth. Stroud did not play within the first assembly and makes his postseason debut in opposition to Flacco. Flacco is not simply seasoned. He’s tied with Tom Brady as probably the most profitable quarterback in playoff highway video games with seven wins, a mark he can break Saturday. Flacco is beginning within the playoffs for the seventeenth time and would be the identical age as Ryans when he turns 39 subsequent week. Cleveland will get important juice from its protection beneath first-year coordinator Jim Schwartz. An important matchup on the sting pits Browns DE Myles Garrett in opposition to Texans LT Laremy Tunsil, one in all three gamers remaining on the roster from the 2019 postseason. A matchup Ryans is fretting is Browns WR Amari Cooper in opposition to Houston’s hyperaggressive secondary. Cooper caught 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns and was subbed out halfway by the fourth quarter within the groups’ December assembly. Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs: Frigid temps await the Dolphins in Kansas City with the potential for a harmful a real-feel mercury studying close to 30-below, in keeping with the Weather Channel. That’s a stark distinction to the 75-degree temperatures the Dolphins skilled for his or her outside observe to start out the week. But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid warns to not assume climate is a bonus for anybody, quipping “we aren’t having a snowball fight.” The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21-14 of their International Series recreation in Germany on Nov. 5 and have the No. 2 protection within the NFL. Miami is No. 1 in complete offense, however throwing the ball in gusting winds and wintry situations would possibly require modification from head coach Mike McDaniel. Including the Miami win, the Chiefs surrendered 20 factors or fewer in 13 of 17 video games this season. The Dolphins aren’t sure what they’re going to get from RB Raheem Mostert, who shared the NFL lead with Christian McCaffrey with 21 complete touchdowns this season. Mostert has an ankle damage, and WR Tyreek Hill can be hobbled in his first recreation in Kansas City since he was traded to the Dolphins previous to the 2022 season. Miami beat Kansas City in three earlier playoff matchups in 1994, 1991 and 1971. The win in ’71 has held up because the longest recreation in NFL historical past, a double-overtime recreation within the divisional spherical.

Report: Washington’s Kalen DeBoer in talks with Alabama for HC job

Washington’s Kalen DeBoer is negotiating a contract with Alabama to interchange the retired Nick Saban as the varsity’s subsequent head coach, ESPN reported on Friday. DeBoer guided the Huskies to a 12-0 file in the course of the common season, a Pac-12 championship and a spot within the CFP nationwide championship recreation. DeBoer, 49, was voted the Associated Press Coach of the Year final month.

NBA roundup: Bobby Portis, Bucks blast Celtics

Bobby Portis got here off the bench to attain a game-high 28 factors and seize 12 rebounds because the Milwaukee Bucks prevented a 3rd consecutive loss by routing the visiting Boston Celtics 135-102 on Thursday. Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo added 24 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in 26 minutes. He made 10 of 13 photographs. The Bucks additionally acquired a 21-point efficiency from Damian Lillard.

Report: Hornets G LaMelo Ball set to return Friday

Charlotte Hornets level guard LaMelo Ball is anticipated to return Friday evening in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN reported. Ball has been out since Nov. 26 with a proper ankle sprain however participated in shootaround on Friday morning in San Antonio. The Hornets (8-27) are simply 3-17 since his damage.

Ravens TE Mark Andrews (ankle) returns to observe

Baltimore Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews has been designated to return from injured reserve on Friday. Andrews, who stepped again on the observe area Friday, had been sidelined since sustaining an ankle damage in Baltimore’s 34-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 16.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell agrees to ‘enhanced’ deal

Florida State head soccer coach Mike Norvell agreed to phrases on an “enhanced” contract, the college introduced Friday. Norvell was rumored to be a candidate for the Alabama teaching job, which opened this week following the retirement of Nick Saban.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)