COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLL
Tennessee remains No. 1 in AP poll
UNDATED (AP) — Tennessee remains No. 1 in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll despite Duke earning the top overall seed in the NCAA's initial rankings for March Madness.
The Blue Devils received the top seed in the NCAA Division I Basketball Committee, but the Vols received 40 of 64 first-place votes from a media panel in the AP Top 25 released on Monday.
No. 2 Duke had the remaining 24 first-place votes.
No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 Virginia were the other top seeds in the selection committee's rankings released on Saturday, with Kentucky rounding out the fifth spot in the AP poll.
Tennessee was selected No. 1 in the South Region by the selection committee in rankings that will change before Selection Sunday on March 17. The Vols beat Missouri and Florida last week.
NBA-RAPTORS-LIN
Jeremy Lin getting bought out, plans to sign with Raptors
MIAMI (AP) — Jeremy Lin is about to be on the move again, with the veteran guard in the process of getting bought out by the Atlanta Hawks so he can sign with the playoff-contending Toronto Raptors.
Jim Tanner, one of Lin's agents, confirmed the pending move to The Associated Press.
Toronto will become Lin's eighth NBA franchise, after stints with Golden State, New York, Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte, Brooklyn and this season Atlanta. He appeared in 51 games for the Hawks, all but one of those as a reserve, averaging 10.7 points this season on nearly 47 percent shooting.
In other NBA news:
— The NBA is going to investigate whether league rules were broken when Philadelphia's Ben Simmons inquired about meeting with Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson for playing tips. League spokesman Mike Bass said Monday that the league will look at the matter.
NFL-PANTHERS-REID
Panthers re-sign safety Eric Reid to 3-year deal
UNDATED (AP) — The Panthers have re-signed safety Eric Reid to a three-year contract that runs through the 2021 season.
Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
Reid joined the Panthers in Week 4 of last season after spending five seasons with the 49ers. He started all 13 games played and had 73 tackles, five pass breakups, one interception and a sack.
The Panthers made news when they signed Reid to a one-year deal last October. He was an unrestricted free agent and didn't attend training camp last summer — something Reid believes was a direct response by NFL owners to his decision to kneel for the national anthem alongside former teammate Colin Kaepernick in protest of social and racial injustice.
Reid has an ongoing lawsuit against the NFL owners, who he says colluded to keep him out of the league.
In other NFL news:
— The Cleveland Browns have signed Kareem Hunt, the running back cut by Kansas City in November after a video showed him pushing and kicking a woman the previous February. Hunt was placed on the NFL's commissioner's exempt list hours before the Chiefs released him. He was in his second season with Kansas City and was one of the team's most productive players as it won the AFC West the last two years.
— Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray says he will pursue a career in the NFL over playing baseball for the Oakland Athletics. Murray was the ninth overall pick in last June's baseball amateur draft, and the outfielder agreed to a minor league contract with Oakland for a $4.66 million signing bonus. He is a football quarterback is eligible for this year's NFL draft, which starts April; 25.
— NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has told Louisiana's governor there was an error in the officiating that helped the Los Angeles Rams go to the Super Bowl instead of the New Orleans Saints, but there's nothing he can do about it. Goodell wrote to Gov. John Bel Edwards saying a penalty should have been called. But Goodell said he's not authorized to overturn game results because of an officiating error, and clubs haven't supported replays to review penalty calls or non-calls.
— The Bengals hired Jemal Singleton from the Raiders to be their running backs coach, part of their latest moves to fill out Zac Taylor's staff. They added Joey Boese as strength and conditioning coach, and hired high school coach Doug Rosfeld as director of coaching operations.
—The Atlanta Falcons have signed linebacker Bruce Carter to a one-year contract extension. Carter is a seven-year veteran who played in 11 games for Atlanta last season. He was credited with 21 tackles (16 solo) and seven special teams tackles.
MLB-NEWS
Cubs finalize deal with reliever Brach
UNDATED (AP) — Brad Brach and the Chicago Cubs have finalized a one-year contract that guarantees the reliever $3 million and could be worth $8 million over two seasons. Brach gets a $1.65 million salary this year and could earn $1.35 million in bonuses for days on the active major league roster. The right-hander had 12 saves and a 3.59 ERA in 69 games for Baltimore and Atlanta last season. He posted a 1.52 ERA over 27 appearances following a trade to the Braves.
In other signing developments ahead of spring training:
— Free agent catcher Stephen Vogt is returning to the Bay Area, agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. The team's new president of baseball operations says he's seeking depth at the catcher position behind Buster Posey, who is recovering from season-ending right hip surgery. A career .251 hitter with 57 homers and 218 RBIs through parts of six major league seasons, Vogt played for Oakland from 2013 through part of '17.
— The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced a minor league contract with outfielder Melky Cabrera, who will report to major league spring training. If added to the 40-man roster, the 34-year-old would get a one-year contract that would pay a $1.15 million salary while in the major leagues. He would have the chance to earn an additional $850,000 in performance bonuses. Cabrera has a .286 average in 14 seasons with seven big league teams.
— Zach Duke has signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds, who wanted a left-hander for the bullpen. Duke agreed to the deal last week. It was completed after he passed a physical as the Reds got ready to open camp in Arizona.
— Pitcher Gerrit Cole has gone to arbitration with the Houston Astros. He is asking to be given $13.5 million rather than the team's offer of $11,425,000. Cole made $6.75 million last year, when he earned his second All-Star selection and went 15-5 with a 2.88 ERA.
NHL-KINGS-CANADIENS TRADE
Kings trade Thompson to Canadiens
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings have traded forward Nate Thompson and a fifth-round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for a fourth-round pick.
Each pick is in the 2019 draft. The teams announced the trade Monday before the Kings faced the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.
Thompson has four goals and two assists in 53 games for Los Angeles this season. He has won 53.3 percent of his faceoffs and ranks 34th in the NHL. The 34-year-old is a pending free agent who carries a $1.65 million salary-cap hit for the rest of the season.
GOLF-PEBBLE BEACH
Mickelson finishes off a 5th win at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — With plenty of sunlight and no drama, Phil Mickelson finished off a 7-under 65 to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Monday and match the tournament record with his fifth victory.
Mickelson had a three-shot lead over Paul Casey with two holes to play when it was too dark too finish Sunday night because of delays from rain and a hail storm. Casey's only hope was for Mickelson to make a mistake, and there was little chance of that.
Mickelson hit 7-iron to 8 feet on the par-3 17th and played it safe down the par-5 18th, making a 6-foot birdie for a three-shot victory.
Casey birdied the 18th for a 71 to finish alone in second, and he won the pro-am portion of the tournament.
