Ravens place 5 more players on reserve/COVID-19 list, leaving defense even more short-handed  —  The Ravens placed five more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, further destabilizing their defense ahead of Sunday's crucial game against the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals.

‘Much too young’: Brain tumor leads to death of Tigers first base coach Kimera Bartee, 49  —  Detroit — Too soon.  Too sudden.  —  Kimera Bartee, 49, died at his father's home in Omaha, Nebraska, on Monday.  The death came less than two months after he had been essentially rehired …

Report: MLB payrolls drop 4% to 2015 levels  —  MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball payrolls dropped 4% in 2021 compared …

Robert Saleh tests positive as Jets hit hard by COVID  —  The wave of COVID-19 continues to hit the Jets as head coach Robert Saleh tested positive Wednesday morning.  —  Saleh showed symptoms and is currently going through protocols.  Tight ends coach Ron Middleton will run practices.

Dolphins' Jevon Holland remains sidelined Wednesday due to COVID; receiver away for personal reasons  —  The Miami Dolphins remained without standout rookie safety Jevon Holland for Wednesday's practice ahead of their Monday Night Football game at the New Orleans Saints due to COVID-19 protocols, Dolphins coach Brian Flores said.

NHL not going to Olympics because of COVID-19 surge  —  The NHL and NHL Players' Association have come to an agreement to not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympic men's hockey tournament in Beijing.  —  “The National Hockey League respects and admires the desire of NHL Players to represent …

Sources: Cubs have serious interest in Carlos Correa but don't want to go 10 years in contract length  —  (670 The Score) While contact between MLB teams and players is prohibited amid the ongoing lockout, there remains mutual interest between the Cubs and free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa, according to multiple sources.

Week 15 recap: Chicago Bears fall 17-9 to the Minnesota Vikings, committing 3 turnovers and failing in the red zone 4 times  —  The Chicago Bears played Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings without 14 players who were on the reserve/COVID-19 list and a handful of others who were out with injuries.

Transfer notebook: Newcastle leading race to sign Spurs centre-back Joe Rodon on loan  —  Eddie Howe wants to strengthen his defence as a priority and has the Wales international in his sights, along with full-back Kieran Trippier  —  Newcastle United are leading among the clubs looking …

2022 ZiPS Projections: St. Louis Cardinals  —  After having typically appeared in the hallowed pages of Baseball Think Factory, Dan Szymborski's ZiPS projections have now been released at FanGraphs for a decade.  The exercise continues this offseason.  Below are the projections for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dear USC  —  If you would've told me back in high school that I would be the starting quarterback for USC, I wouldn't have believed you.  —  I wasn't a five-star recruit or anything, so I didn't exactly have a ton of big-time offers pouring in.  But then one day during my junior year …

Next season's four most intriguing bounce-back candidates  —  The 2021 season was better than 2020, so in some sense, we all bounced back.  But there's still room for more bounce, and that's the best part of the New Year cycle.  Out with the old, in with the new.