A&M’s Johnny Football is AP’s Player of the Year
Chalk up another major award for Johnny Manziel.
The Texas A&M quarterback became the first freshman to be voted The Associated Press Player of the Year in college football on Tuesday. He also won the Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award.
Manziel collected 31 votes to 15 for Manti Te’o, Notre Dame’s star linebacker, who finished second.
The 6-foot-1 Manziel threw for 3,419 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 1,181 yards and 19 more scores to help the Aggies to 10 wins for the first time since 1998.
What’s even more impressive? Manziel and his teammates did it in their first year in the SEC. Those wins included an upset of Alabama that showcased Manziel’s ability for a national TV audience.
Warriors return home after taming the East
UNDATED (AP) — The Golden State Warriors are back home following a sensational 6-1 road trip that included wins at Brooklyn, Miami and Atlanta. It was the team’s best trip of at least six games since winning four of seven during the 1970-71 season.
The East Coast trek has the Warriors sitting fifth in the NBA’s Western Conference heading into tonight’s game against the New Orleans Hornets, who own the worst record in the West at 5-18. The Hornets will be hard-pressed to end their seven-game losing streak.
The NBA slate begins with Cleveland hosting Toronto and Atlanta at Washington. The Hawks are third in the East at 14-7, one game behind the Southeast Division-leading Miami Heat.
The Heat entertain Minnesota while Utah visits Brooklyn. The Timberwolves enter tonight’s action riding a four-game winning streak that leaves them 12-9.
Boston is at Chicago, Indiana visits Milwaukee and Dallas hosts Philadelphia before the Los Angeles Lakers entertain Charlotte. The Bobcats have lost 11 straight since a surprising 7-5 start.
Yanks’ luxury tax increases $400k to $19.3 million
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees’ luxury tax bill for this year has gone up by nearly $400,000.
Major League Baseball sent a revised accounting to the team today, raising New York’s payment to more than $19.3 million. The change reflected how one player’s salary was accounted for.
New York is the only team to pay the luxury tax this year. The Yankees’ final payroll for luxury tax purposes climbed to $223.4 million.
The Yankees pay at a 42.5 percent rate on the amount over the $178 million threshold. The luxury tax uses average annual values of contracts and includes benefits.
AP source: Red Sox agree to deal with Stephen Drew
BOSTON (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that shortstop Stephen Drew and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract.
Drew will take a physical before the deal can be finalized, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not complete.
Drew hit .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 games for the Oakland Athletics last season after being traded by Arizona on Aug. 20. In 40 games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .193 with two homers and 12 RBIs. Drew, brother of former Boston outfielder J.D. Drew, had been with Arizona for his entire big career until the trade.
NDSU coach honored as national coach of the year
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State University football coach Craig Bohl has been honored as the national coach of the year in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision.
Bohl was awarded the Eddie Robinson Award last night in Philadelphia.
Bohl has led the Bison to a repeat appearance in the FCS title game. He says the honor is recognition of the entire NDSU football program.
The Bison take on Sam Houston State, the team they beat for the title last year, Jan. 5.