NFL:
On Monday Night Football, Denver topped Cincinnati in overtime 20-17.
Tom Coughlin is going to approach what might be his final week as the New York Giants coach just as he has went into every other game week since taking over the team in 2004 and leading it to two Super Bowls. This week is about winning, knocking off the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular-season finale and ending on a high note.
Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly says he wants Sam Bradford to be back at quarterback next season. Bradford's original six-year rookie contract expires at the end of the season. Unless he re-signs with the Eagles, he will become an unrestricted free agent in March. He has said he wants to return. The season will officially end for the Eagles on Sunday when they play at the Giants. Bradford is expected to start.
In other NFL news:
— Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece has been suspended four games without pay for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The punishment was announced less than a week Reece was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl. He will miss the season finale Sunday against Kansas City, the Pro Bowl and the first three games in 2016.
— The agent for Eric Weddle says the San Diego Chargers safety has been fined $10,000 by the team for remaining on the sideline at halftime of a Dec. 20 home game. The agent says Weddle did so to watch his daughter dance in a program sponsored by the team's cheerleaders. Weddle plans to file a grievance with the NFL Players Association to fight the fine, according to the agent.
Colts coach Chuck Pagano has confirmed that his team worked out Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman and that the front office was now debating whether to sign him. If they do, Pagano acknowledged Freeman could start the regular-season finale against Tennessee with the Colts beset with injuries to their quarterbacks. Starting quarterback Andrew Luck has missed eight games this season and may sit out this Sunday's game. Backup Matt Hasselbeck has been knocked out of the last four games was wearing a sling at the end of Sunday's victory. Third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst injured his hamstring in yesterday's game.
Doping Scandal:
Green Bay Packers defensive players Clay Matthews, Gary Neal and Julius Peppers are strongly denying any ties to performance-enhancing drugs after they were named in a report by Al Jazeera on doping.
The report that aired Sunday was based on secret recordings of Charles Sly, a former intern at an Indianapolis anti-aging institute who now says he fabricated the allegations. The report named several athletes, including Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning.
Matthews called the allegations "100 percent false," and Peppers said it was "completely erroneous."
Meanwhile, the founder of an Indianapolis medical facility says Sly didn't even work at the clinic until two years after Manning was undergoing treatment there.
NBA:
In the NBA, Brooklyn won against Miami 111-105, Chicago bested Toronto 104-97, San Antonio beat Minnesota 101-95, Golden State defeated Sacramento 122-103, Utah edged Philadelphia 95-91, Cleveland topped Phoenix 101-97, Dallas bested Milwaukee 103-93, Orlando defeated New Orleans 104-89, Charlotte won against the Lakers 108-98, the Clippers trumped Washington 108-91, and it was Indiana over Atlanta 93-87.
The NBA has suspended Memphis Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes for two games without pay for what the league says was a "physical altercation" with Derek Fisher and for "threatening" the New York Knicks coach in October. The league investigated the incident in Redondo Beach, California, between Barnes and Fisher — former teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2010-12.
NHL:
In the NHL, Nashville beat the Rangers 5-3, Washington shut out Buffalo 2-0, Montreal won against Tampa Bay in a shootout 4-3, Los Angeles blanked Vancouver 5-0, Colorado doubled up San Jose 6-3, and it was Minnesota over Detroit 3-1.
Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane says he's done nothing wrong and is looking forward to clearing his name after being the subject of a sex offense investigation. Kane spoke for about 30 seconds in the Sabres locker room Monday morning, the first time he was able to comment since The Buffalo News reported that he was the subject of a sex offense investigation by Buffalo police. A person with direct knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press that Buffalo Police are in the preliminary stages of investigating a sexual offense claim made against Kane. No police report or charges have been filed.
The Montreal Canadiens have traded forward Zack Kassian to the Edmonton Oilers for goaltender Ben Scrivens. The 29-year-old Scrivens has spent the entire season in the minors, going 2-6-1 with a 3.47 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage for Bakersfield. He is 42-56-17 with a 2.90 goals-against average in 129 NHL regular-season games. The Canadiens also sent netminder Dustin Tokarski to the minors.
NCAA:
In top 25 women’s college basketball, No. 1 UConn beat No. 6 Maryland 83-73.
Keenan Reynolds has wrapped up his record-setting college career at Navy by running for three touchdowns and throwing for another to lead a 44-28 win over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl. Reynolds ran for 144 yards on 24 carries, completed 9 of 17 passes for 126 yards and had a reception for 47 yards on a trick play. He leaves school as the NCAA career leader with 88 touchdowns and 530 points, and his 4,559 yards rushing are the most by a quarterback in NCAA history.
Florida authorities say a Dartmouth College swimmer who died at a YMCA pool had been trying to complete four laps underwater without breathing when he went into distress. According to an incident report, 21-year-old Tate Ramsden was pronounced dead at the Sarasota pool after lifeguards and emergency medical personnel could not revive him. Ramsden swam for Dartmouth as a freshman and sophomore.
In college men's basketball, Boston University beat Kean 86-53 yesterday. Nick Havener scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Havener had back-to-back baskets to break an 11-all tie and give BU the lead for good. The Terriers led 39-18 halftime after the Division III Cougars made just 6 of 21 shots, including four 3-pointers. Kean didn't get closer than 20 in the second half.
Rutgers beat UMass Lowell 89-66 last night. Omari Grier's 22 points led four Rutgers players in double figures. Jahad Thomas had 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists for UMass Lowell, who lost their fourth straight. Isaac White scored 13 points, while Matt Harris had 11 and Josh Gantz added 10.
Hofstra came from behind to beat Sacred Heart 80-73 last night. Juan'ya Green scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half for Hofstra. Cane Broome was 11 of 23 from the field, finishing with 25 points and eight rebounds for Sacred Heart.
Bowl Games:
Keenan Reynolds has wrapped up his record-setting college career at Navy by running for three touchdowns and throwing for another to lead a 44-28 win over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl. Reynolds ran for 144 yards on 24 carries, completed 9 of 17 passes for 126 yards and had a reception for 47 yards on a trick play. He leaves school as the NCAA career leader with 88 touchdowns and 530 points, and his 4,559 yards rushing are the most by a quarterback in NCAA history.
In Monday's other bowl game, quarterback Mitch Leidner ran 13 yards for a touchdown with 4:26 remaining to send Minnesota to a 21-14 win over Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl. The Gophers were one of three teams to carry a 5-7 record into a bowl game, and all three teams earned postseason victories.
MLB:
The New York Yankees have bolstered an already dominant bullpen, acquiring hard-throwing All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds for four minor leaguers. Chapman became available after the Reds' deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers fell through when it was learned Florida police investigated an accusation of domestic violence involving the Cuban left-hander.
OBIT:
The Harlem Globetrotters have announced that Meadowlark Lemon has died at 83.
Known as the "clown prince" of the barnstorming basketball team, Lemon used a blend of hook shots and humor to entertain millions of people around the world. The showman was known as much for his confetti-in-the-water-bucket routine as his hook shot and no-look passes.
©2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.