Rob Gronkowski is taking on an ownership role, but it’s not with the NFL. The Patriots tight end announced Wednesday that he has purchased a minority stake in a thoroughbred that was named after him. The 3-year-old colt Gronkowski is set to run at Churchill Downs on May 5 in the Kentucky Derby. I did…

Last month, former UCLA coach Jim Mora raised eyebrows by calling USC quarterback Sam Darnold a better fit for the Browns at No. 1 than UCLA’s Josh Rosen. In a subsequent effort to put the ketchup in the bottle, Mora squirted it everywhere by seemingly hinging Rosen’s chances of success to having appropriate mental stimulation….

NFL mock draft: Mel Kiper, Todd McShay have QBs flying off the board More The depth of this year’s quarterback class has been well documented, and the latest 2018 NFL mock draft from ESPN’s resident gurus projects and early run on this year’s top passers. Mel Kiper and Todd McShay teamed up for a back-and-forth…

It’s time for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to take over the team’s offense. He started during the weeks preceding the launch of the offseason program by gathering teammates for informal workouts. There are great high schools around and I talked to some of the coaches and they let us use their fields so we got…

Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated and Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland have been feuding about Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield this offseason, with Klemko closely monitoring Mayfield and generally reporting favorably about him, and Grossi arguing that Mayfield is going to be a Johnny Manziel-like bust if he goes to the Browns. Those interested in that…

Flyers fans booed the goal — and the ones that stuck around for the end belted a familiar refrain: Fire Hakstol! Fire Hakstol! Crosby scored his fifth goal of the series and became the Penguins’ career postseason points leader in a 5-0 win over the Flyers on Wednesday night. The Penguins lead the first-round playoff…

And James isn’t backing down, either. On Monday, a representative for James sent a letter on his behalf to Alabama, claiming the Crimson Tide’s “Shop Talk” trailer uses “ideas, concepts and format” from a program on the digital media platform the Cavaliers’ superstar co-founded. Last year, James’ “Uninterrupted” aired “The Shop,” where the three-time NBA…

If they get a whole bunch more right than wrong, they get to stay around. If not, they are sent packing. It is the reality and fate of general managers in the NFL and it is the assignment soon to be accepted by Dave Gettleman, who understands the higher the draft pick, the more critical…

The NFL’s owners had no issue with the new rule that prohibits players from lowering their helmets to initiate contact. The NFL’s coaches didn’t, either. As a source with knowledge of the situation explained it to PFT, there was no pushback or outcry from coaches when the new rule was discussed and eventually passed, 32-0….

Baker Mayfield won’t be at the draft. Twenty-two other players will be. Four of the top quarterbacks will be there, along with running back Saquon Barkley and defensive end Bradley Chubb. Guard Quenton Nelson, regarded by many as a top-10 pick, doesn’t appear on the list. The Jets also re-signed versatile offensive lineman Dakota Dozier…