NFL:
In the NFL playoffs this weekend, on Saturday Kansas City is in New England at 4:35 then Green Bay takes on Arizona at 8:15. On Sunday, Seattle will see Carolina at 1:05 then Pittsburgh will go head to head with Denver 4:40.
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that Kansas City offensive coordinator Doug Pederson has accepted the Philadelphia Eagles' offer to become their head coach. The San Francisco 49ers have hired Chip Kelly as their new head coach, ending a search that began when the team fired Jim Tomsula after this season.
And the New York Giants have confirmed that Ben McAdoo has been hired to replace head coach Tom Coughlin, who stepped down a little more than a week ago after 12 seasons.
The Minnesota Vikings have hired former Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano to supervise their offensive line. The Vikings made the move two days after coach Mike Zimmer revealed his decision to fire offensive line coach Jeff Davidson. Sparano and Zimmer coached together with the Dallas Cowboys under coach Bill Parcells from 2003-06.
New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he will retain all of his usual duties with the football team in 2016. Loomis also said that Drew Brees will be back next season whether the star quarterback's contract changes or not. Loomis is confident the Saints will figure out whether they need to change Brees' contract, which expires after next season and currently counts about $30 million against the team's salary cap.
Patriots defensive lineman Chandler Jones is apologizing to his teammates and the New England fans for "a pretty stupid mistake" that led him, shirtless and disoriented, to a local police station. Police who went to his house last Sunday say it smelled like burning marijuana.
Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski sat out Thursday's practice, the team's last workout before its playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Gronkowski also missed Tuesday's practice with a knee injury he sustained against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 29. He practiced on Wednesday, but was listed on the injury report as a "limited" participant.
A lawsuit filed by four Rams fans from St. Louis claims owner Stan Kroenke and others lied about their desire to keep the team in St. Louis, violating Missouri law. The suit alleges that Kroenke and chief operating officer Kevin Demoff made false and misleading statements indicating the team had no intention to move. The suit also claims the Rams violated the law in connection with ticket and merchandise sales.
NBA:
In the NBA, Chicago beat Philadelphia in overtime 115-111, Toronto bested Orlando in overtime 106-103, San Antonio topped Cleveland 99-95, Memphis won against Detroit 103-101, Sacramento defeated Utah 103-101, and it was Golden State over the Lakers 116-98.
NHL:
In the NHL, the Islanders topped the Rangers 3-1, Colorado blanked New Jersey 3-0, Washington bested Vancouver 4-1, Chicago edged Montreal 2-1, Carolina beat St. Louis 4-1, Winnipeg won against Nashville in overtime 5-4, Detroit skated by Arizona in overtime 3-2, and it was San Jose over Edmonton in a shootout 2-1.
NCAA:
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has been named the 2015 Manning Award winner as the nation's top college quarterback. Watson passed for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,105 yards and 12 TDs in leading the Tigers to the national championship game where they lost to Alabama. The award is named after former college and NFL star Archie Manning, as well as his quarterback playing sons, Peyton and Eli. Watson is the 12th winner.
In college men's basketball, Tulsa beat Connecticut 60-51 last night. Sterling Gibbs scored 20 points, and Shonn Miller contributed 14 points and eight rebounds for UConn, which has lost two of its last three following a five-game winning streak.
James Madison held off Northeastern 75-63 last night. Ron Curry scored 22 points for James Madison — including a deep, step-back 3-pointer to shake his defender and shut the door on a rally. Jeremy Miller led Northeastern with 19 points before fouling out, and David Walker added 13 points.
Bryant beat St. Francis Brooklyn 61-59 last night. Shane McLaughlin made the game-winning jump shot with four seconds left. Marcel Pettway had 12 points with 12 rebounds for Bryant, which has won five of its last six games. Hunter Ware scored 14 points, and Nisre Zouzoua and Dan Garvin added 10. McLaughlin chipped in four points with seven assists.
Sacred Heart beat Central Connecticut State 80-78 last night. Sacred Heart's Quincy McKnight scored six of his 17 points in overtime, including a layup at the buzzer. Jahlil Nails scored 18 points, and Austin Nehls added 16 to lead Central Connecticut, which has lost seven straight.
MLB:
A former Rhode Island lawmaker now working as a Vermont official has returned to his home state to testify about its failed $75 million deal with ex-Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's now-bankrupt videogame company. Democrat Steven Costantino was chairman of Rhode Island's House Finance Committee at the time of the 2010 deal with 38 Studios.
Anthony Bosch's four-year sentence in a Major League drug scandal has been reduced by 16 months for cooperation with federal prosecutors. He was the owner of the South Florida clinic that was at the center of a steroids scandal that swept up New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles granted prosecutors' request to cut the sentence. Bosch revealed key evidence against at least four other people, including a self-styled chemist who supplied drugs made in his suburban garage and a sports agent who recruited players.
Golf:
Vijay Singh birdied his last two holes for a 7-under 63 and a share of the lead with four others in first-round play at the Sony Open in Honolulu. It was Singh's best score in the tournament by two shots, and his lowest opening round in more than three years. It left him tied with Ricky Barnes, Morgan Hoffman, Kevin Kisner and Brandt Snedeker. Zach Johnson, Charles Howell III and Si Woo Kim are another shot back.
Tennis:
Defending champion Serena Williams and No. 5-ranked Maria Sharapova were drawn into the same section for the Australian Open. This means last year's finalists could meet in the quarterfinals. Williams has a tough draw starting in the opening round against Italy's Camila Giorgi, who finished 2015 at No. 34 and is the highest-ranked unseeded player in the season's first major. Men's champion Novak Djokovic (JOH'-koh-vihch) will open against Chung Hyeon of South Korea. Djokovic could meet No. 7 Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Roger Federer in the semis.
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