nfl
Texans reportedly hand reins over to Penn State’s O’Brien
HOUSTON – Bill O’Brien worked closely with Tom Brady when he was a Patriots assistant.
He’s now set to return to the NFL to coach Houston, and he’s a long way from Brady. The Texans have the No. 1 draft pick, and O’Brien might find himself having to groom a rookie quarterback.
Two people familiar with the negotiations, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because an official announcement hadn’t been made, said Tuesday night that O’Brien reached an agreement to coach the Texans. He is expected to be introduced Thursday.
He will inherit a team filled with talent but whose biggest problem is at quarterback. Veteran Matt Schaub, Houston’s starter since 2007, was benched after six games. Case Keenum took over after that, but his lack of success showed he wasn’t the answer either, and the team finished on a 14-game skid.
Buccaneers will turn to Lovie Smith for a turnaround
TAMPA, Fla. – A person familiar with the negotiations says former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has reached an agreement to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaking to The Associated Press on Wednesday night on the condition of anonymity because an official announcement hasn’t been made, the person also says former Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier will be the Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator.
auto Racing
Schumacher remains in stable, yet critical, condition
GRENOBLE, France – Formula One great Michael Schumacher’s condition was stable but still critical overnight as he remained unconscious following a brain injury suffered in a skiing accident, his manager said Wednesday.
Sabine Kehm told reporters that his condition has not changed since doctors said he showed small signs of improvement on Tuesday, following his second operation.
Schumacher, who turns 45 on Friday, suffered critical head injuries when he fell and struck a rock while skiing Sunday morning during a family vacation at Meribel in the French Alps.
The seven-time F1 champion since has undergone two brain operations and remains in a medically induced coma.
olympics
U.S. women’s hockey roster packed with experience
Eleven returning Olympians are on the roster for the women’s hockey team that will represent the United States at Sochi.
The roster was announced during the break between periods of the NHL’s Winter Classic.
Julie Chu is heading to her fourth Olympics. She’ll be looking for a gold medal to go with the two silvers and a bronze she’s already got. Canada has won the last three Olympic titles.
Also making the team was Amanda Kessel, whose brother Phil was playing in the Winter Classic for Toronto.
The U.S. women’s team has seven defensemen, 11 forwards and includes three goaltenders: Jesse Vetter, Molly Schaus and Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle, all of whom have Olympic experience. The other players with Olympic experience include Kacey Bellamy, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight, Jocelyne Lamoureux, Monique Lamoureux, Gigi Marvin and Kelli Stack.
college football
AP photographer dies after collapsing at Chick-fil-A Bowl
ATLANTA – Known as a master of his craft, longtime Associated Press photographer Dave Martin collapsed on the field of the Georgia Dome after taking one of his signature photos: the coach getting doused by his players.
The 59-year-old Martin suffered an apparent heart attack and died early Wednesday morning after working the sidelines at Texas A&M’s 52-48 win over Duke in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Friends and colleagues remembered Martin as a larger-than-life character who was always happy to share advice with fellow photographers who he often outshot.
Associated Press
