Steelers place unrestricted free-agent tender on Aaron Rodgers

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are giving themselves a little cover if quarterback Aaron Rodgers plays elsewhere in 2026. The club has the unrestricted free-agent tender on the four-time MVP. The move means they would receive a compensatory draft pick if Rodgers signs elsewhere during the 2026 season. General manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike McCarthy remain optimistic about Rodgers’ return after he led the Steelers to an AFC North title last winter. The tender doesn’t prevent Rodgers from signing with another team before training camp begins in July. Once camp begins, however, the Steelers would have exclusive negotiating rights. As part of the tender, Rodgers would be eligible for a 10% raise over his 2025 salary.

NCAA remains on track to expand to a 76-team March Madness bracket for next season

The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men’s and women’s sides to 76 teams for next season. The much-expected development has been in the works for years. The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources saying a decision to add eight teams to the bracket is a mere formality that’s expected in May. The statement says “no final recommendations or decisions have been made.” The tournaments have been at 68 teams since 2011, when four play-in games were added to the beginning of the first week of play. The new format would add eight more play-in games.

NCAA bans 2 former Fordham basketball players for their roles in point-shaving scheme

Two former Fordham basketball players have been permanently banned by the NCAA for their roles in a point-shaving scheme that was the subject of a sprawling federal indictment unsealed in January. According to the NCAA, Elijah Gray and Will Richardson each agreed with a bettor to throw a game against Duquesne on Feb. 23, 2024, in exchange for $10,000 to $15,000. Gray was one of more than two dozen people accused by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania conspiring to fix games. He has agreed to plead guilty in that case. The NCAA says Gray told investigators that he ultimately reneged on his agreement to underperform during the game and was not paid.

Former NFL defensive lineman Josh Mauro dies at 35

TEMPE, Ariz. — Former NFL defensive lineman Josh Mauro, who played eight seasons for three different teams, has died. He was 35. The Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders and Mauro’s family confirmed on social media that he died last week. A cause of death was not given. The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder played six seasons with the Cardinals and one each with the New York Giants and then-Oakland Raiders. His most productive season came in 2016 with the Cardinals when he played in 15 games, starting 13, and finished with 32 tackles. He last played in the NFL for the Cardinals in 2021. Mauro played in 80 total games, starting 40, and had five career sacks.

Goals galore as PSG beats Bayern Munich 5-4 in record-setting Champions League semifinal 1st leg

PARIS — Titleholder Paris Saint-Germain held on for a pulsating 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in a roller-coaster Champions League semifinal first leg. The highest scoring semifinal in Champions League history saw PSG leading 5-2 early in the second half thanks to two goals each from flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé at Parc des Princes. Bayern fought back brilliantly. Defender Dayot Upamecano’s header midway through the second half from Joshua Kimmich’s free kick gave Bayern hope and Luis Díaz’s stinging strike made it 5-4. Harry Kane and Michael Olise got Bayern’s other goals while João Neves scored for PSG.

Red cards can be given to players who cover their mouths while confronting opponents

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The International Football Association Board approved a new rule that would penalize players with a red card if they cover their mouths when verbally confronting another player. The rule was unanimously approved by IFAB at a special meeting Tuesday in Vancouver, British Columbia. The measure will be in place at this summer’s World Cup, starting on June 11. FIFA proposed the rule after Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of making a racially charged insult while covering his mouth during a Champions League match in February.

LIV Golf and Louisiana officials postpone the tour’s New Orleans event

NEW ORLEANS — LIV Golf says it is working with Louisiana state officials to move its inaugural June tournament in New Orleans to the fall, but fell short of guaranteeing that the event would take place at all. LIV officials say they’ve made a “strategic decision to explore moving LIV Golf Louisiana to a new window” that avoids peak summer heat and a crowded global sports calendar that includes soccer’s World Cup. LIV says it’s grateful for Louisiana’s flexibility and looks forward to “sharing finalized dates in the near future.” Gov. Jeff Landry says $2 million already has been spent on golf course upgrades but that Louisiana will be reimbursed the $1 million in incentives the state had paid LIV.

American Hailey Baptiste saves 6 match points to stun world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at Madrid Open

MADRID — American Hailey Baptiste has earned the biggest win of her career by saving six match points and beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open. The 32nd-ranked Baptiste rallied to a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory that is her first over a top 5 opponent. She will play in a WTA 1000 semifinal for the first time. The result ended a 15-match winning streak for Sabalenka who was the defending champion in Madrid. The 24-year-old Baptiste is the first player to beat Sabalenka from match points down since Iga Swiatek did it in the 2024 final in Madrid.

FIFA proposes new World Cup rule on yellow cards to help avoid player bans in knockout rounds

FIFA is preparing to tweak World Cup rules on yellow cards to ensure fewer players are suspended for key elimination games in North America. An extra amnesty for yellow cards that will clear player disciplinary records twice during the expanded tournament 48-team is being proposed Tuesday to FIFA’s ruling council. World Cup players serve a one-game ban for getting a yellow card in two different games. At previous tournaments they were canceled after the quarterfinals stage. The new format with an extra round-of-32 knockout stage should see a yellow-card amnesty after the group stage and the quarterfinals.

Boxers from Russia, Belarus to be allowed to fight as neutral athletes in World Boxing competitions

Boxers from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete by the new governing body recently put in charge of Olympic boxing competitions. World Boxing will treat Russian and Belarussian boxers as neutral athletes, emulating the approach frequently taken by the International Olympic Committee since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Fighters and support personnel from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to participate with flags, uniforms or national anthems, and they must be approved in a vetting process to ensure they have not supported the war in Ukraine or have any links to the Russian army.