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Michigan fires LB coach
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — No. 2 Michigan fired linebackers coach Chris Partridge a day before the Wolverines play at Maryland.
Athletic director Warde Manuel says Rick Minter was promoted to lead the linebackers. He did not say why Partridge was let go. Earlier this week, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh agreed to serve the remainder of a three-game suspension.
In exchange, the Big Ten will drop its investigation into a sign-stealing scandal that is under NCAA investigation. The Wolverines close the regular season at home next week against rival Ohio State. After that, Harbaugh is eligible to return to the sideline.
Partridge rejoined the program in February after serving as Mississippi’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for three seasons. He previously worked for Harbaugh from 2016 through the 2019 season. He was hired to be the team’s director of player personnel before being promoted to assistant coach for four years during his first stint with the Wolverines.
Browns looking at Joe Flacco
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco used to beat the Browns regularly. He might be joining them.
The former Super Bowl MVP is working out Friday for Cleveland, which is still sorting through its quarterback situation after losing Deshaun Watson with a season-ending shoulder injury, a person familiar with the visit told The Associated Press.
The 38-year-old Flacco could be an option for the Browns, who lost Watson for the remainder of this season when he fractured his right shoulder in the first half of last week’s win at Baltimore.
Watson played the second half and went 14 of 14 passing despite the injury while rallying the Browns to a 33-31 win.
Flacco, who played 11 seasons for the Ravens, is the only QB being worked out Friday at the team’s facility, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the club never publicly discloses any player workouts.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski would not confirm Flacco’s workout following practice, saying only “we bring a lot of guys in.”
Alcarez gets star matchup
TURIN, Italy — Carlos Alcaraz set up a semifinal match against top-ranked Novak Djokovic at the ATP Finals after beating Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4.
The second-ranked Alcaraz beat Djokovic in the Wimbledon final. He is making his debut at the season-ending event for the year’s top eight players after missing last year’s tournament because of an abdominal injury. Alcaraz leaned back and yelled in celebration after Medvedev hit a backhand long on match point.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz is the youngest ATP Finals semifinalist since Rafael Nadal in 2006.
Medvedev has also qualified for the semifinals and will next play Jannik Sinner. Two-time champion Alexander Zverev beat Andrey Rublev in a late match. Neither player could advance.
Lee has share of CME lead
NAPLES, Fla. — Alison Lee birdied four of her last five holes Friday to extend a hot streak that stretches from Saudi Arabia to South Korea to Florida. Her 8-under 64 gave her a share of the lead with Nasa Hataoka in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
Hataoka atoned for missing a short par putt by closing with a pair of birdies, finishing with a 25-footer on the last hole for a 67 in a wide-open chase for the $2 million prize.
Elsewhere in sports:
n The Pirates signed pitcher Ryan Borucki for the 2024 season. The southpaw went 4-0 with an ERA of 2.45. He worked 38 games with two starts and in 40-plus innings of work,he struck out 33 with a WHIP of 0.74.
The Associated Press