6:54 PM ET LAS VEGAS — The Atlanta Falcons hired Ryan Nielsen as defensive coordinator Friday, taking him from their biggest rival after he spent last season as the co-defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. The 43-year-old Nielsen spent the past six seasons with the Saints, where he was the defensive line coach all
11:42 AM ET Associated Press FIFA banned Uruguay players Fernando Muslera and Jose Maria Gimenez for four games each on Friday for aggressively confronting match officials when the team was eliminated from the World Cup last month. Veterans Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin must also serve one-game bans when Uruguay next plays, FIFA said in
2:06 PM ET Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier has taken responsibility for the confusion that ensued after Kylian Mbappe was named as captain for the team’s Coupe de France match against Pay de Cassel on Monday. In the absence of regular captain Marquinhos, Mbappe took the captain’s armband for the first time in his career.
2:23 PM ET Chelsea and Lyon have agreed a fee for the transfer of France Under-21 international defender Malo Gusto, sources have told ESPN. The 19-year old right-back will stay on loan at the Ligue 1 club until the end of the season. The transfer fee could reach €40 million, with €30m guaranteed and a
5:30 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Erik ten Hag has urged Manchester United to “strike” in the transfer market if an opportunity arises before Tuesday’s deadline. United have so far added only loan striker Wout Weghorst in January with sources telling ESPN the club are instead focused on strengthening the squad in the summer. – Stream
7:09 PM ET CARSON, Calif. — U.S. men’s national team interim manager Anthony Hudson said he’s going to continue to do all he can to move the team forward, now that it looks like he’ll be in charge possibly through the summer. The U.S. is set to play the second of two friendlies on Saturday
4:56 PM ET Manchester City got the better of Premier League title rivals Arsenal, thanks to Nathan Ake‘s second-half goal that secured a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium in Friday’s blockbuster FA Cup fourth round tie. In a game of few clear-cut chances, Ake’s second goal of the season broke the deadlock in the
5:24 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN As part of a wide-ranging interview with New York City radio station WFAN Friday afternoon, New York Knicks owner James Dolan said he believes in the job team president Leon Rose is doing, and that he “fully expects” the Knicks to make the playoffs this season. “Yes, absolutely,” Dolan said
6:12 PM ET Israel Adesanya will attempt to get his title back in a fourth fight against rival Alex Pereira this spring. Pereira will defend the middleweight championship against Adesanya in the co-main event of UFC 287 on April 8, UFC president Dana White announced Friday. Jorge Masvidal will return against Gilbert Burns in the
3:30 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” Reliever Pete Fairbanks has signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Rays that includes a club option for a fourth season, it was announced Friday. Fairbanks, 29, was