Sports business
FILE - In this Jan. 24, 2015, file photo, NHL Player's Association executive director Donald Fehr, left, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman attend a news conference at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Given the gravity of the pandemic and the abrupt decision to place the NHL season on pause in March, it did not take Bettman and Fehr long to realize they were going to have to work together if play was to resume any time soon. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
NHL, players take collaborative approach in bid to resume

By John Wawrow 9 hrs ago

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 file photo, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, exchanges jerseys with San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif. NFL teams will be prohibited from postgame interactions within 6 feet of each other, so players won’t be allowed to exchange jerseys after games as part of the guidelines to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.The restrictions are outlined in the game-day protocols finalized by the league and NFL Players Association on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
NFL players are banned from exchanging jerseys after games

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 09, 2020 02:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 13, 2019, file photo, Toronto FC soccer player Justin Morrow speaks to the media during an end of season availability in Toronto. A group of African American Major League Soccer players have formed a coalition to address systematic racism in their communities and bring about change within the league. The coalition is the result of an Instagram group formed after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which spawned a wave of nationwide protests against racism and policy brutality. Started by Toronto FC defender Justin Morrow, the group grew to some 70 MLS players, who decided to act and the Black Players Coalition of MLS was born. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Black Players for Change lead protest at MLS is Back tourney

By Anne M. Peterson Jul. 09, 2020 02:25 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 file photo, San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) runs against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of the NFL NFC Championship football game in Santa Clara, Calif. San Francisco 49ers postseason breakout star Raheem Mostert requested a trade from the team after not being able to renegotiate his contract. Agent Brett Tessler made the request public on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.(AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
Agent: RB Raheem Mostert requests trade from 49ers

By Josh Dubow Jul. 08, 2020 09:27 PM EDT

Bills hire Sinnarajah as VP of business administration

By John Wawrow Jul. 08, 2020 03:59 PM EDT
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have hired Jason Sinnarajah as senior vice president of business administration. From Toronto,...

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2020, file photo, Alabama offensive lineman Jedrick Wills runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. The Cleveland Browns have signed rookie tackle Wills, their first-round draft pick who will try to slide over to the left side in the NFL. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Browns sign 'Bama tackle Wills, team's first-round pick

By Tom Withers Jul. 07, 2020 09:35 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs made sure they will have Super Bowl MVP Mahomes around as long as possible. Mahomes agreed to a 10-year extension worth $503 million, according to his agency, Steinberg Sports. The deal is worth $477 million in guarantee mechanisms and includes a no-trade clause and opt-out clauses if guarantee mechanisms are not met. It is the richest contract in professional sports history, surpassing Mike Trout’s $426.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Mahomes' big bet on football pays off with $503 million deal

By Michael Marot Jul. 07, 2020 05:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon fights past a block by New England Patriots offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, rear, in the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. The Browns have reconstructed defensive end Olivier Vernon's contract for next season, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Vernon's future with the Browns seemed uncertain as he was set to make $15.25 million in 2020. But the club reworked his deal and he'll earn $11 million, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not publicly disclosing the agreement.(AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
AP source: Browns restructure DE Olivier Vernon's contract

By Tom Withers Jul. 07, 2020 11:42 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, former NBA player and players union deputy Roger Mason, left, listens as entertainer Ice Cube, right, announces the launch of the BIG3, a new 3-on-3 professional basketball league, in New York. Hundreds of sports-related businesses got in line for the government-funded Payroll Protection Plan designed to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the four North American major sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball — applied, but both Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League were represented. Rapper Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league says it returned almost half of the $1.6 million it received, but givebacks were rare. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Sports jumps on PPP bandwagon, but big leagues take a pass

By The Associated Press Jul. 06, 2020 10:07 PM EDT

49ers sign cornerback Jamar Taylor to one-year contract

Jul. 06, 2020 07:27 PM EDT
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers signed cornerback Jamar Taylor to a one-year contract. San Francisco announced the deal...

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Chiefs have agreed to a 10-year contract extension with Super Bowl MVP Mahomes keeping him around through 2031. The Chiefs had Mahomes under contract for the next two seasons but wanted a long-term deal in place with the quarterback who led them to their first championship in 50 years. ESPN.com reported the deal is worth $450 million with an injury guarantee of $140 million. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Chiefs, Mahomes agree to 10-year, $503 million extension

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 06, 2020 05:50 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2019, file photo, Native American leaders protest against the Redskins team name outside U.S. Bank Stadium before an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins in Minneapolis. Several Native American leaders and organizations have sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calling for the league to force Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder to change the team name immediately. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)
Native American groups ask NFL to force Redskins name change

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 06, 2020 04:17 PM EDT

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo watches players during team baseball practice at Chase Field, Friday, July 3, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Latest: Diamondbacks OF Kole Calhoun tests positive

By The Associated Press Jul. 06, 2020 11:57 AM EDT

FILE - In a Sunday, July 28, 2019 file photo, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona, left, has words with pitcherTrevor Bauer, right, as Bauer is taken out in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Francona said Sunday, July 5, 2020 that he believes the Indians need to change their name. “I think it's time to move forward,” Francona said Sunday. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)
Indians manager Francona favors nickname change for club

By Tom Withers Jul. 05, 2020 01:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) greets Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) after an NFL preseason football game in Denver. The NFL will cut its preseason in half and push back the start of exhibition play so teams have more time to train following an all virtual offseason made necessary by the coronavirus pandemic, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t announced that the preseason will be cut from four games to two. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
AP source: NFL to discuss union's desire to cancel preseason

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 03, 2020 11:17 PM EDT

FILE - Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku celebrates after the Browns defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 27-19 in an NFL football game, Dec. 8, 2019 in Cleveland. Agent Drew Rosenhaus has asked the Browns to trade tight end and former first-round draft pick David Njoku, a person familiar with the request told the Associated Press on Friday, July 3, 2020. (AP Photo/David Richard, file)
AP Source: Agent asks Browns to trade tight end David Njoku

By Tom Withers Jul. 03, 2020 04:29 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2020, file photo, Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera holds up a helmet during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility in Ashburn, Va. The Washington Redskins are undergoing what the team calls a “thorough review” of the nickname. In a statement released Friday, July 3, 2020, the team says it has been talking to the NFL for weeks about the subject. Owner Dan Snyder says the process will include input from alumni, sponsors, the league, community and members of the organization. FedEx on Thursday called for the team to change its name, and Nike appeared to remove all Redskins gear from its online store. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Redskins to have 'thorough review' of name amid race debate

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 03, 2020 11:45 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2018, file photo, FedEx Field is less than full during the second half of an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants in Landover, Md. The title sponsor of the Redskins’ stadium wants them to change their name. FedEx said in a statement Thursday, July 2, 2020, “We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name.“ (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)
Sponsor FedEx asks Redskins to change their name

Jul. 02, 2020 07:46 PM EDT

Fewer preseason games is another challenge for NFL coaches

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 02, 2020 07:18 PM EDT
Fewer preseason games following an offseason without on-field workouts creates more challenges for new coaches, players who changed teams and rookies. ...

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2019, file photo, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) leaps over Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the first half of a NFL football preseason game, in Baltimore. Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman is tweaking and refining a record-setting unit led by NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, who is expected to again be the key component of an attack with several newcomers in the mix. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
AP Source: NFL to play Black anthem before national anthem

By Rob Maaddi Jul. 02, 2020 06:04 PM EDT