NFL:
The New York Jets snapped a three-game skid by making big plays on defense and harassing Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor all night in a 34-21 win over Buffalo. They also held on to a fourth-quarter lead after blowing them in their previous two games. New York came in second-to-last in the NFL with just 11 sacks through the first eight games but had seven in this one. The Jets also ran for 194 yards in a big bounceback for New York's ground game.
The trade of Jimmy Garoppolo has shined even more of a spotlight on 40-year-old Tom Brady as the Patriots enter the second half of the 2017 season. So far Brady is defying his age with passing numbers that are similar to ones he put up during his MVP seasons in 2007 and 2010. He's also on track to become the second quarterback to win at least 10 games in a season after celebrating his 40th birthday.
Lawyers for the NFL contend Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has no chance of success with his latest attempt to delay a six-game suspension. The lawyers made the argument Thursday in papers submitted to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court is considering whether to weigh in on Elliott's suspension for domestic violence allegations. His union's lawyers argued that he will be damaged irreparably if his suspension begins with Sunday's game against Kansas City.
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams will take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 1 p.m. The New England Patriots have a bye week.
In other NFL news:
— Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck will be placed on injured reserve. Luck was "shut down" three weeks ago after complaining of soreness in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.
— The San Francisco 49ers are placing leading receiver Pierre Garcon on injured reserve for the remainder of the season with a neck injury. The team says Garcon has a non-displaced fracture of the C5 pedicle. Garcon led the team with 40 catches for 500 yards before getting hurt last weekend in Philadelphia.
— Lawyers for the NFL say Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has no chance of success with his latest attempt to delay a six-game suspension. The lawyers made the argument Thursday in papers submitted to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court is considering whether to weigh in on Elliott's suspension for domestic violence allegations.
— Two people familiar with the situation tell The Associated Press that Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson sustained a season-ending knee injury in practice on Thursday. The people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, say the rookie suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees and will go on the injured reserve.
— Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali returned to practice for the first time since the end of last season, though it's unclear when he will be activated from the physically unable to perform list. Hali's return Thursday begins a three-week window in which the Chiefs must decide whether to activate Hali or shut him down for the season.
NHL:
J.T. Miller scored 1:19 into overtime and the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Miller skated around defenseman Anton Stralman and beat Andrei Vasilevskiy. Miller skated around defenseman Anton Stralman and beat Andrei Vasilevskiy. New York also got a goal from Chris Kreider, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 27 shots.
Lars Eller scored two goals, including the winner, and had an assist to help the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-3. Eller was arguably the best player on the ice, drawing two penalties and committing one as part of an eventful outing.
Benoit Pouliut had two goals and an assist, and the Buffalo Sabres held off Arizona's furious late charge to beat the Coyotes 5-4 Thursday night. Kyle Okposo had a goal and an assist to help the Sabres build a 5-1 lead in the third period in a battle of the worst teams from each conference.
Sean Kuraly scored his first career goal to snap a tie midway through the third period, sending the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Kuraly got to a rebound during a scrum in front of the Vegas net after a shot by Torey Krug with 10:07 left, restoring Boston's lead and helping the Bruins to avoid being swept by the expansion Golden Knights in their inaugural season.
In the AHL, the Springfield Thunderbirds will honor hockey legend Willie O’Ree tonight. O’Ree was the AHL’s and NHL’s first black player who debuted with the Springfield Indians in 1957.
NBA:
Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward is working his way back from a horrific leg injury. The star forward has no timetable for his return, although he'll likely miss the season. He's just happy to be in the gym less than three weeks after breaking his left leg in the season opener. For now, he's limited to "chair-shooting," but he says holding a basketball again is an "incredible feeling."
News from around the NBA:
— Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson could be out for a month because of a strained left calf. He was injured in the second quarter of Wednesday night's loss to Indiana and left Quicken Loans Arena on crutches. The team said he had an MRI on Thursday and is projected to return in three to four weeks.
— The NBA says it will hold its draft lottery in Chicago next spring. The league announced Thursday the event will be held outside of New York or New Jersey for the first time on May 15. It will be followed by the draft combine May 16-20 in Chicago, where it has been conducted for years.
MLB:
Houston began welcoming the World Series champion Astros as heroes immediately after their charter flight landed at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. Water cannons on airport firetrucks sprayed a victory arch of water over the team plane after it landed about 6:15 p.m. Thursday. Fans and media were kept at a distance from the jet as it taxied to a cargo tarmac, where the Astros boarded buses headed to Minute Maid Park. The celebration continues Friday with a 2 p.m. victory parade through downtown Houston that will end with a rally on the City Hall steps, where Mayor Sylvester Turner will pay tribute to the team. All classes in the Houston school district school have been canceled for the day.
The Washington Nationals have agreed to hire Kevin Long as hitting coach. Long replaces Rick Schu in the job. Long has been the hitting coach for the New York Mets over the past three seasons. Before that, he held that job with the New York Yankees from 2007-14.
The Boston Red Sox have hired Tony La Russa to serve as a vice president and special assistant on its baseball operations staff. The former manager will assist in all areas of baseball operations, including player development and consultation with the major and minor league staffs. The 73-year-old La Russa won three World Series title in his 33-year career with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland and St. Louis.
Police say the home of Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig was burglarized while his team was losing the World Series. Police say officers answered a burglary alarm at the Encino, California, home Wednesday evening and found a smashed window with several items taken. There's no word on the value of the items. Puig was at Dodger Stadium, where the team lost Game 7 to Houston 5-1. Puig bought the home about a month ago. Earlier this year, burglars hit Puig's Sherman Oaks, California, home and stole about $170,000 in jewelry and other items while he was at spring training in Arizona.
NCAA:
Geno Auriemma thinks Rick Pitino should get another chance to coach and that he's already suffered enough by losing his job at Louisville. "There are people running for office and winning that have been accused of a lot worse who are given another chance," Auriemma said on Thursday at ESPN during women's basketball national media day.
UConn is No. 1 in The Associated Press women's basketball preseason poll for the 12th time in the school's history. The Huskies, who saw their 111-game winning streak come to an end in the Final Four last season, return four starters from that team and add a stellar freshman class to go along with two solid transfers.
Officials at a Massachusetts college are investigating after students said a female soccer player attended an on-campus Halloween party with darkened skin to portray a character from the movie "White Chicks." The Sun Chronicle reports a photo taken Friday shows the woman with her skin darkened by makeup, a drawn-on goatee and a bald cap. A Wheaton College spokesman called the costume "offensive and racist."
NYC Marathon:
He'll wear the familiar "MEB" bib one final time at the New York City Marathon. Meb Keflezighi, the face of American long-distance running, wraps up his marathon career where it began in 2002 on the streets of New York on Sunday. He left war-torn Eritrea at age 12 and became a U.S. citizen. He's the only person to win an Olympic medal and New York and Boston titles.
PGA:
Kim Meen-Whee birdied two of his final three holes for a 6-under 65 and a one-stroke lead Friday in the PGA Tour's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The 25-year-old South Korean player birdied all three par-5 holes at TPC Summerlin, Nos. 13 and 16 on his first nine and No. 9 on his second nine. Kim was fourth two weeks ago in South Korea in the PGA Tour's CJ Cup. John Huh was at 66 with J.J. Spaun, Ryan Blaum and Alex Cejka. Jimmy Stanger also was 5 under with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness.
In other PGA news:
— The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Olympic Club has agreed to host the PGA Championship in 2028 and the Ryder Cup matches in 2032. The Olympic Club had been in line to host the 2027 U.S. Open until it went to Pebble Beach. Olympic has hosted the U.S. Open five times, most recently in 2012.
Oscar Pistorius:
The Oscar Pistorius case was back in court Friday, with prosecutors seeking a longer prison sentence for the double-amputee athlete after he was found guilty of murder for shooting his girlfriend. Prosecutors are asking South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal to give them permission to challenge Pistorius' six-year sentence, calling it "shockingly" lenient. The prosecution wants Pistorius to be sentenced to at least 15 years for killing Reeva Steenkamp, the prescribed minimum sentence for murders that are not premeditated. There is no death penalty in South Africa.
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