FOOTBALL
Saints' Armstead out
The New Orleans Saints have ruled out left tackle Terron Armstead for Monday night's game at Carolina because of a chest injury. Armstead is the Saints' second-highest paid offensive player after Drew Brees but has missed the past four games. He has yet to play since returning to practice on a limited basis nearly two weeks ago. The Saints already have clinched the NFC South title and now are vying for the NFC's top seed. New Orleans has won three of the four games Armstead has missed, with veteran Jermon Bushrod filling in. The lone loss in that span was a 13-10 defeat at Dallas two games ago.
Elliott fined for helmet hit
Dallas Cowboys star running Ezekiel Elliott has been fined $26,739 for unnecessary roughness for leading with his helmet and making contact with the Eagles' Corey Graham in a Week 14 game. The fine, announced by the NFL on Saturday, makes Elliott the first offensive player docked money under the league's new helmet rule. Elliott's act came in the fourth quarter and was replayed several times on TV. It was the second time in four games Elliott was fined, though hardly for a similar offense the last time. He was docked $13,369 for unsportsmanlike conduct when he put money into the Salvation Army kettle behind the end zone after scoring a touchdown against Washington. Saints linebacker Demario Davis drew the same $26,739 fine for a similar hit, as did Falcons safety Damontae Kazee and two Colts defensive backs, Malik Hooker and Mike Adams.
GOLF
Two Dalys lead in Orlando
John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) and his son, Little John, birdied the final six-holes for a 13-under 59 and a one-stroke lead Saturday in the PNC Father-Son Challenge in Orlando, Fla. The Dalys played the back nine in 8-under 28 in occasional rain at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Grande Lakes. Little John is 15. "It was just one of those days," John Daly said. "We hit pretty much every fairway. We didn't get ourselves in any trouble. After the third hole, Little John was putting good and he said, 'I should go first to give him the line.' I just made everything. It was a lot of fun." They tied the tournament course record with the 59. David and Carter Toms were second in the scramble event, and Jack and grandson GT Nicklaus matched Stewart and Connor Cink at 61. Davis and Dru Love shot 62.
Jamieson out front
Scott Jamieson will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship after a 68 on Saturday moved him to 11 under overall and ahead of overnight leader David Lipsky. Jamieson made five birdies and an eagle in his third round at Leopard Creek Country Club in Malelane, South Africa. His eagle came when he put his tee shot on the par-4 11th to within tap-in range. The Scot did make a double-bogey six on the 14th but recovered from that with two consecutive birdies. Lipsky is also looking for just a second European Tour victory and the American is in the hunt one shot back after his 2-under 70, which also included an eagle on the par-5 15th. South Africans Zander Lombard (68) and defending champion Brandon Stone (69) are tied for third at 8 under and three behind Jamieson.
BASEBALL
Adams back with Nats
Free agent first baseman Matt Adams has an agreement to return to the Washington Nationals, pending a successful physical exam. A person familiar with the deal confirmed to The Associated Press that Adams and the Nationals agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with a mutual option for 2020. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the club had not made an announcement. Adams was traded by Washington to St. Louis in August for $50,000. He hit .158 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 27 games with the Cardinals. Adams, 30, is expected to split time at first base again with Ryan Zimmerman. The agreement was first reported by the Athletic. Getting Adams is the latest move this offseason for Washington, which signed left-handed starter Patrick Corbin and catcher Kurt Suzuki, traded for catcher Yan Gomes and is waiting to see what happens with star outfielder Bryce Harper.
Indians trade Alonso
The Cleveland Indians have made another offseason move, trading first baseman Yonder Alonso to the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, Cleveland gets outfielder Alex Call, 24, who has yet to make his major league debut. The Indians also got rid of Alonso's entire $8 million salary for 2019. It's been a busy week for the three-time AL Central champions, who traded slugger Edwin Encarnacion and infielder Yandy Diaz and re-acquired first baseman Carlos Santana in a three-team trade on the final day of the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Cleveland may not be done. The club has considered trading either ace Corey Kluber or All-Star Trevor Bauer. The Indians have outfield needs and are looking to rebuild their bullpen. Alonso batted .250 with 23 home runs and 83 RBI in his only season with the Indians, who signed him as a free agent last December.
Red Sox have biggest payroll
The World Series champion Boston Red Sox owe $11.95 million in luxury tax for having baseball's top payroll. That's according to final calculations by the commissioner's office obtained by The Associated Press. The only other team that owes is the Washington Nationals, who must pay $2.39 million. Because Boston was more than $40 million over the tax threshold, it became the first team to incur a new penalty put in place for the 2018 season: the top Red Sox selection in next June's amateur draft will be dropped 10 places. Boston's top pick had been projected to be No. 33 overall before the penalty. The New York Yankees dropped under the threshold for the first time, and the Los Angeles Dodgers fell below for the first time since 2012.
BASKETBALL
LaVine out with bad ankle
The Bulls' Zach LaVine returned to Chicago on Saturday morning to have his left ankle injury further examined and will miss the game Monday at Oklahoma City. Coach Jim Boylen said LaVine is limping and in a walking boot after spraining his deltoid ligament. There's no official timeline yet, but there's some belief in the Bulls organization that LaVine could miss time beyond Monday. LaVine suffered the injury late in Thursday's loss to the Magic in Mexico City. The Bulls' leading scorer said he felt "something pop" and underwent an MRI exam on Friday. Early indications are that LaVine may need to rest the injury for at least a week and that surgery won't be required. The Bulls didn't leave Mexico City until Friday afternoon and waited to get to San Antonio to perform the MRI. They now want their own specialists to read the results, which is why LaVine returned to Chicago.
SKIING
Swiss skier hospitalized
Swiss skier Marc Gisin was hospitalized Saturday following a nasty crash in a World Cup downhill at Selva Di Val Gardena, Italy. Gisin, 30, lost control before a jump midway down the Saslong course, flew into the air and landed awkwardly on his side and back. He was then bumped into the air again and the back of his head hit the snow in a second impact. He was lying motionless on the course before doctors and trainers arrived for assistance. A rescue helicopter landed on the snow and took off for the hospital in nearby Bolzano with Gisin onboard after he had received treatment for almost a half-hour. There were no immediate injury details. Gisin's sisters are both highly successful skiers. Dominique Gisin won gold in downhill at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and Michelle Gisin won combined at the Pyeongchang Games in February. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway won Saturday's race.
Sports on 12/16/2018