Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams (81) before an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Chargers release wide receiver Mike Williams in step to become salary-cap compliant

Jeff Miller

March 13, 2024

Facing significant salary-cap issues, the Chargers released wide receiver Mike Williams late Wednesday morning.

The move was not unexpected as the team faced a 1 p.m. deadline to become cap compliant.

Including the

recent signings of safety Alohi Gilman, running back Gus Edwards and tight end Will Dissly, the Chargers began the day about $25 million over the NFL-mandated threshold of $255.4 million.

Releasing Williams saved the team $20 million while taking on $12.46 million in dead money.

Willams, 29, was one of four Chargers with cap hits in excess of $32 million, leaving the teams new leadership of general manager Joe Horitz and coach Jim Harbaugh no choice but to make

tough decision

Edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa and wide receiver Keenan Allen also have cap hits that go beyond $32 million.

The Chargers are believed to have interest in re-signing Williams at a lower price, but he figures to draw considerable attention now as a free agent.

The Chargers drafted Williams in the first round No. 7 overall in 2017 following four years at Clemson, where the Tigers won the national title in his final season.

His rookie year was derailed by repeated injuries, including a herniated disk, tight hamstrings and a knee issue. Williams caught only 11 passes for 95 yards and no touchdowns in the Chargers first season in Los Angeles.

But he rebounded in Year 2 with a team-high 10 touchdown receptions, and Williams was on his way to a productive five-year stretch.

He topped 1,000 yards in 2019 and 2021, while earning a reputation as one of the leagues best receivers at winning 50/50 balls against defensive backs.

In March

2022, Williams signed a three-year deal that guaranteed him $40 million and was worth up to $60 million.

His contract was restructured a year ago as Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley the Chargers former general manager and head coach, respectively attempted to keep the top end of the roster intact to make a run at the playoffs.

That plan fell apart as Williams was one of the key Chargers who was hurt as the team crumbled to a 5-12 finish that cost Telesco and Staley their jobs.

Williams appeared in only three games before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in late September. That ended his season and, ultimately, his time with the Chargers.

His final numbers

seven years

: 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. When the virus risk wanes enough to allow the games to begin again, the very essence of these events will be missing for at least awhile. The soundtrack for the pregame buildup and the game-changing play could simply be a recording. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)

(Tony Avelar /Associated Press)

Falcons go all in on Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley gets the 'dead to me' treatment

Sam Farmer

March 11, 2024

The NFLs legal-tampering period opened Monday, meaning teams and free agents could start striking deals that can be inked Wednesday at the start of the new league year.

Its early to start picking winners and losers, but the strategy of the individual clubs is coming into focus, whether they have started acquiring new talent or not.

This early, theres a lot of tea-leaf reading.

Clearly, the Atlanta Falcons are in win-now mode. Theyre going to sign quarterback Kirk Cousins, luring him away from the Minnesota Vikings for a whopping $45 million per season.

Atlanta has good skill-position players, is in a winnable division

and has an 81-year-old owner in Arthur Blank who is ready to do what he can to bring that city its first Lombardi Trophy.

Another intriguing move is the Las Vegas Raiders striking a deal with former Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. Pairing Wilkins with Maxx Crosby gives the Raiders a formidable front in a division featuring elite quarterbacks in Kansas City and with the Chargers.

Thats a bit of the Seattle Seahawks model, gearing up on defense partly to counter the offensive prowess of the San Francisco 49ers and Rams.

A position to watch in free agency is guard, with the best of those players being paid as much as top offensive tackles. Thats a shift, and were already starting to see teams investing more in the interior of their offensive lines.

The Rams, for instance, re-signed guard Kevin Dotson at $16 million per season and are adding former Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson.

The Carolina Panthers are signing former Miami Dolphins guard Robert Hunt to a five-year deal worth $100 million.

Generally speaking, its

for teams to find game-ready offensive and defensive linemen in the draft than high-caliber receivers and defensive backs. So teams are going to look for those big men in free agency.

A franchise to watch in the coming days is Buffalo. The Bills have dumped a lot of talented players among them Jordan Poyer, Nyheim Hines and TreDavious White clearing salary-cap space, potentially setting the stage for some type of high-dollar move.

At the other end of the spectrum is the bargain-basement deal the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting on quarterback Russell Wilson, whose one-year contract will pay him $1.21 million for the 2024 season. Thats cheap even for a backup.

But Wilson wont be hurting. The Denver Broncos are on the hook to pay him the rest of his $39-million deal.

Wilson is joining a team that made playoffs last season, and he has a chance to win the starting job. He was a flop in his two seasons in Denver, but quarterbacks have reinvented themselves for the better late in their careers.

Consider Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. He looked finished when he played for the New York Giants, but got his second wind in Phoenix and wound up leading the Arizona Cardinals to their only Super Bowl appearance.

In other early quarterback moves, Baker Mayfield re-signed with Tampa Bay, Gardner Minshew is heading to the Raiders, and Jacoby Brissett is going back to where his NFL career started, New England.

Theres a truckload of talented and seasoned safeties available, and inside linebacker is a position thats trending down in terms of value.

Running back was a position to watch Monday, with Green Bay adding former Raiders standout Josh Jacobs and cutting loose Aaron Jones. The Chargers Austin Ekeler is heading to the Washington Commanders with Baltimores Gus Edwards joining the Chargers Dallas Tony Pollard is bound for the Tennessee Titans, and the Chicago Bears landed Philadelphias DAndre Swift.

Most entertaining was the dustup between Saquon Barkley, who is going from the Giants to the rival Philadelphia Eagles, and former Giants star running back Tiki Barber.

On his WFAN radio show, Barber said: Hes dead to us now. Youre dead to us, Saquon. Good luck, youre dead to me.

Barkley shot back on social media, telling Barber, you been a hater since I got to New York and all the Dead to me talk dont smile in my face when you see me.

Thats just Day 1. Certainly more to come.

Inglewood, CA, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 - Los Angeles Chargers safety Alohi Gilman (32) yells to fans before a game against the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Chargers' starting safeties intact after giving Alohi Gilman new deal

Jeff Miller

March 11, 2024

The Chargers retained one of their

free agents Monday by agreeing to terms with safety Alohi Gilman.

Agent Kenny Zuckerman broke the news on social media.

Gilman, 26, took over the starting spot next to Derwin James Jr. in 2023 and finished with 77 tackles in 14 games.

New Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has spoken about the need to find playmakers for the teams secondary. Gilman had three forced fumbles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season.

Listed at 5-foot-10, 201 pounds, Gilman has proven himself to be a willing tackler and courageous hitter during his four NFL seasons.

The Chargers drafted Gilman in the sixth round in 2020 out of Notre Dame. Playing almost exclusively on special teams as a rookie, he developed into a dependable option in the back end of the teams defense.

Gilmans deal is for $11 million over two years, according to multiple reports.

Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards runs with the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Chargers make deal with Gus Edwards as Austin Ekeler and Kenneth Murray Jr. leave

Jeff Miller

March 11, 2024

After remaining quiet for the first 4 hours of free agency Monday, the Chargers agreed to terms with former Baltimore running back Gus Edwards.

The deal will reunite the veteran with Greg Roman, who is the Chargers new offensive coordinator after serving in the same role with the Ravens from 2019-22.

NFL Media reported

General manager Joe Hortiz, who also came from Baltimore, and coach Jim Harbaugh both have spoken of a desire to build a stronger, more forceful running game in 2024.

The Chargers hired the pair in January to replace Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley. The first free-agent move of the Hortiz/Harbaugh era did, in fact, address the ground attack.

In leaving Baltimore, Edwards will go from being coached by John Harbaugh to being coached by Johns younger brother.

all free-agent agreements league-wide, nothing can be official until after the new league year begins at 1 p.m.

Wednesday.

Along with Ekeler, the Chargers No. 2 running back from last season, Joshua Kelley, also is a free agent.

Isaiah Spiller, a fourth-round pick in 2022, is the only other back

on the teams active roster. Elijah Dotson and Jaret Patterson signed futures deals in January.

The Chargers could look to add another running back in the draft next month. Blake Corum, who played for Harbaugh at Michigan, has been the subject of early speculation.

Ekeler, who also turns 29 this offseason, had a difficult year in 2023 while dealing with a high-ankle sprain suffered in the Chargers opener.

He never looked quite comfortable in the system of former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, finishing with 628 rushing yards and another 436 though the air.

Of note, Edwards is nowhere near the receiving threat that Ekeler is. He had a career-high of only 12 catches last season. Edwards never has caught a touchdown pass.

Scoring was Ekelers signature for a stretch. He led the NFL with 38 total touchdowns in 2021-22.

Ekeler originally signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Western State in Colorado in 2017.

During his rookie training camp, he gained attention first on special teams and eventually earned a roster spot based on his performance in the Chargers preseason finale that year.

Ekeler backed up Melvin Gordon his first two seasons and proved himself capable of starting when Gordon held out in a contract dispute to start 2019.

The Chargers then allowed Gordon to depart in free agency and turned the starting job over to Ekeler. He led the Chargers in rushing in each of the

four

and become a fan favorite who celebrated his touchdowns by strumming an imaginary guitar.

Ekeler also has established himself as the one of the NFLs most popular players among fantasy football owners because of his on-field production.

Inglewood, CA - December 10: Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Eric Kendricks (6) celebrates after a sack during the first half against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Chargers start to adjust for salary cap by releasing captain Eric Kendricks

Jeff Miller

March 5, 2024

The Chargers continued moving toward salary cap compliance Tuesday by releasing veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks.

The decision opened $6.5 million in cap space, leaving the team $19.1 million over the

threshold of $255.4 million, according to overthecap.com.

The deadline for being at or under the cap is March 13, the first day of the new league year.

Kendricks, who turned 32 less than a week ago, was a team captain last season, during which he started 14 games and finished second among the Chargers with 117 tackles.

Last March he signed a two-year deal that guaranteed him $6.75 million. Kendricks,

was due to pick up a $1.25-million roster bonus next week.

The Chargers will have to make

more financially motivated moves in the coming days.

Most notably, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa each have a cap hit in excess of $32 million.

Among that group, Williams appears to be the most likely to be released. There also has been ongoing trade speculation involving Mack and Bosa.

San Diego Chargers cornerback Shareece Wright (29) returns an interception in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

(Al Behrman / Associated Press)

Ex-NFL player alleges sexual abuse by Colton High trainer who was coach's daughter

Homepage News

Chuck Schilken

Feb. 29, 2024

Shareece Wright says he has mainly fond memories from his four years at Colton High School, except for whenever he was alone with a female athletic trainer who happened to be the head football coach's daughter.

Wright alleges in a lawsuit that she began to groom him in 2002, when Wright was a 15-year-old freshman on the team and the trainer was 21,

and eventually

sexually abused him

at school and at his coach's home.

Wright, a former USC and NFL cornerback, is one of nine plaintiffs who have alleged that they were sexually abused by athletic trainer Tiffany Strauss-Gordon while they were minors playing for her father Harold Strauss' Colton High football team during the 2000s. The allegations have been made in two lawsuits filed in San Bernardino

Superior Court.

Wright was one of six plaintiffs in the first such lawsuit, which was filed in September 2022. Although he and the other plaintiffs in both were listed as John Does, Wright recently became the first of them to publicly

reveal his identity.

"I was reading about how often this happens to kids and how much is so swept under the rug and how much people dont come out and talk about it," said Wright, 36, who's the father of two boys, ages 10 and 2. "And I was just going through these different emotions and I just felt like I wanted to do more to help. ... And I feel like I was in a position to be able to and I have a platform to be able to do that, to shine a light on it. And I just felt like if I didnt say this and I didnt come out then Im kind of doing the same thing that everybody else is doing and Im not helping the cause.

The lawsuits, which name

Strauss-Gordon and the Colton Joint Unified School District as co-defendants, allege that Strauss-Gordon "took advantage of her position of influence, authority, and power given to her by CJUSD to develop the players trust and then to sexually assault, harass, and molest them."

"These were male football players, they were recruited, they were largely African American and they were from vulnerable households," said attorney Morgan Stewart, who represents Wright and six other plaintiffs in the lawsuits. "So youve got that mixture of basically a school district using these kids for their own benefit and acting like theyre not responsible for anything that occurred to them.

Strauss-Gordon has denied all the allegations against her in multiple court filings and during a 2022 police interview, as seen in a video published by ESPN. Strauss-Gordon's attorney, Daniel Kolodziej, also maintained his client's innocence in an email to The Times.

"Ms. Gordon denies these old allegations, already investigated and presumably rejected by law enforcement personnel, and will continue to vigorously defend the joined lawsuits to achieve a favorable disposition," Kolodziej wrote. "The court of public opinion will not decide that outcome, but she appreciates the ongoing support from those who recognize her dedication to and substantial positive contributions to the Colton High School community."

The San Bernardino County district attorney's office told ESPN it lacked sufficient evidence to file charges against Strauss-Gordon. The D.A.'s office and the Police Department did not immediately respond to messages from The Times.

I can surmise and guess there were statute problems by the time most of this came out," Stewart said.

The Colton Joint Unified School District has filed a cross-complaint against Strauss-Gordon and three companies that provided athletic trainers for the school district during the years mentioned in the lawsuits.

Although the current administrative team members were not in leadership roles with the district 20 years ago, the district leadership team is extremely concerned about the allegations being made," the school district said

. "Our commitment is always to the safety and well-being of our students, families and staff, and we will work with local law enforcement to protect our community and lend our support to any victims in this case.

Wright, a 5-foot-11, 184-pounder, was a third-round draft pick for the Chargers in 2011. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before his NFL career ended after the 2018 season.

Before all that, though, Wright was a standout running back and defensive back at Colton High. He said he started receiving what seemed like special treatment from Strauss-Gordon during his freshman season in 2002. The trainer gave him the nickname "Sherry," Wright said, and displayed a protective attitude toward him.

Wright said that he had heard rumors of inappropriate behavior between Strauss-Gordon and football players before he entered Colton as a freshman. "I didnt believe it until it happened to me," he said.

"The attention she showed me was different from everyone else at the time," Wright said. "Im a freshman. Im not really understanding whats going on, you know the grooming process and all those things. These are things that Im unaware of at the time, of how predators work."

According to the lawsuit, the relationship gradually became more physical, with Strauss-Gordon allegedly

performing oral sex on Wright for the first time the summer after his sophomore year. While Wright was a junior, the lawsuit alleges, Strauss-Gordon performed oral sex on him at least 20 times and the two sneaked off to have vaginal intercourse at least 15 times during weekly captain meetings at the coach's house.

She would "sneak me into her room and, you know, it would happen there," Wright said.

Wright said that Harold Strauss gave no indication he was aware of the alleged relationship between his daughter and Wright.

"I dont know how he couldnt have known," Wright said of his old coach, who died in 2019. "I just feel like he just kind of like ignored it."

Wright said he also had a sexual encounter with

Strauss-Gordon at the house of an assistant coach while she

was housesitting. Afterward, Wright said, he told that coach and his wife about what had happened while they weren't home.

"They kind of like, you know, laughed about it," Wright said. "We had a little conversation about it, but it wasnt like, 'Oh my God!' "

At the time, Wright said, he didn't realize how inappropriate the alleged relationship was

.

"I didnt think of it like, 'Hey this is, like, absolutely damaging to me and its gonna affect me in the future,' " Wright said. "Im not thinking in the future. Im thinking of like right now, of how good it felt every time it happened, every time were having these interactions.

Wright said his alleged sexual relationship with Strauss-Gordon ended when he got a girlfriend his senior year, but that experience ended up affecting him for years to come.

"Im in therapy now," he said, "trying to help myself realize and understand what happened and how to cope with it and not run from it and not try to ignore the fact that this actually happened to me."

Its just the way Ive been feeling about women in general and the respect that I have and my overall outlook on sexual interaction, and just me looking back at it, you know?" Wright added. "And me chasing that sexual sensation that I was feeling as a kid when that was happening and me trying to find a woman that can make me feel this way. And Im chasing this in different women and just not really being willing to, like, settle with one woman and just having thoughts about what was happening to me.

It wasn't until his NFL career was over, Wright said, that he told his mother about the inappropriate sexual relationship he allegedly had with an adult while in high school. Telling her, he said, was a turning point for him.

"I had told adults in the past and it was like a joke to them," Wright said. "When I told my mom it was, like, serious. She didnt laugh about it, she didnt joke about it. She was hurt and sad and she was disappointed and she was upset. ... And the way she felt, it made me look at it differently and just feel differently about it. She just made me think about it a little bit differently. So that happening and me having kids and being a father now, that kind of led up to me feeling like I wanted to do something about it."

Now, Wright said, his focus is on helping others in similar situations.

I just hope that I can encourage young kids that this is happening to speak up about it, to understand that its not OK for you to be having any sexual interaction with an adult," he said, "Whether its someone in your household or someone at your school or someone at work or whatever situation youre at, to understand that its not OK. As much as it feels good or as much as you think its cool, its not. And its not healthy. I just want to encourage kids, to give them the strength to be able to talk about it and to tell someone that can help them.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

New Chargers GM Joe Hortiz says production, not age or money, will decide who goes

Jeff Miller

Feb. 27, 2024

The Chargers have 20 unrestricted free agents, including eight who started or played key reserve roles last year.

Center Corey Linsley is expected to retire because of a heart-related ailment.

They have four other accomplished veterans receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and edge rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack whose futures with the team are clouded by salary

cap issues.

General manager Joe Hortiz, speaking at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday, was asked repeated questions about a roster that could be facing some robust rebuilding.

He insisted he likes all the players who ended the season with the Chargers, a sentiment echoed

by coach Jim Harbaugh.

Hortizs background in scouting lends itself to working with whats available.

I think you find a role for them, he said. Thats what we do in scouting. We find the things they can do for the team. We do it in coaching. What can they do well for us? I dont think you eliminate any player. Its more how they fit the team.

The Chargers already have undergone significant alteration since their last game. Hortiz and Harbaugh were hired and the coaching staff was overhauled and expanded.

The new leadership is looking to bolster an ineffective running game and construct a tougher, more physical team. Harbaugh has talked about identifying players who will

play hard and as one.

Having spent more than a quarter-century with Baltimore, Hortiz said finding the pieces will be a wide-net proposition for the Chargers front office, bringing an approach similar to the one employed by the Ravens.

You can find success everywhere with players waiver claims, signing them off of a practice squad, the eight-year pro who's coming in to give you the last couple of years he's got, Hortiz said. I think you find that fit and find the player with the right mentality and you go from there.

As an example, Baltimore signed guard John Simpson in December

2022, nine days after he was released by Las Vegas. Last year Simpson emerged to start all 17 games for the Ravens.

Finding such low-profile options certainly would benefit the Chargers

this offseason as Hortiz attempts to negotiate a financial situation that finds the team $25 million beyond the salary cap, according to overthecap.com.

The Chargers have until March 13 to be compliant after the league last week set the new ceiling at $255.4 million, an unexpectedly bold bump. The extra space will help but hardly solve the Chargers problems.

Saying the swelled cap offers certainly some flexibility, Hortiz provided no insight into the Chargers plans regarding Allen, Williams, Bosa and Mack, each of who

has a cap hit in excess of $32 million.

We'll kind of continue to talk through that over the next couple of weeks, he said, and have a plan of attack shortly.

Perhaps notably, Hortiz was asked specifically about making decisions on players who are 30 or older, something that applies to Allen and Mack. Both are coming off stellar seasons despite advancing to the latter stages of their careers.

You also have to look at the production that they've had and that you expect them to continue to have, Hortiz said. I think those are the things you have to weigh.

The Chargers bottom line received some relief recently when Linsley agreed to have his 2024 salary reduced to the

veteran's minimum, a

move that opened cap space.

He certainly understood where he was in his current situation, that he was able to help the team still by even not playing, Hortiz said. I'm very appreciative of that when we approached him with it.

A first-year general manager, Hortiz explained that in his previous front-office jobs with Baltimore, he learned the importance of patience. Then he outlined a project that will stretch well into this year.

Certainly, were going to be taking a draft-centric approach, Hortiz said. I believe in that. But free agency, June free agency, signings right before August, tuning the roster during the season

The roster should never be where you want it. Youre always trying to move ahead. Were going to continue to work to add pieces, but we're going to do it throughout the year.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/John Locher)

(John Locher / Associated Press)

Chiefs coach Andy Reid on Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes: 'He never flinches'

Super Bowl

Sam Farmer

Feb. 12, 2024

The hottest show in Sin City?

Not U2, but

You Too.

, San Francisco? It happened again Sunday evening, another team clawed its way to a 10-point lead over the Kansas City Chiefs only to be systematically dismantled by the play-calling of coach Andy Reid and sleight-of-hand brilliance of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

This time, the Chiefs dug their way out of that familiar hole to win in overtime, 25-22, with Mahomes not only winning his third

Lombardi Trophy, but his third Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award.

If that sounds familiar, its because the Chiefs trailed by 10 against the 49ers four years ago, and against the Philadelphia Eagles last season, and won both of those games.

Never a doubt, said Reids wife, Tammy, standing outside Kansas Citys locker room after the game and wearing a pair of glittering championship rings that looked as big as donuts. She wasnt ruffled when the Chiefs fell behind

10-0.

I told everybody [in the suite] to calm down, we got this

. "Im sick of that. I want us to be ahead by five touchdowns at all times. Ive told the players, Ive told him and nobody listens.

On the other side of the locker room doors, nobody could hear anyway. The air was filled with cigar smoke, champagne spray, thumping music and team chants.

Mahomes and Reid are the new Brady and Belichick, only Tom and Bill never seemed to have this much fun.

The game wasnt a pristine masterpiece for Mahomes, who had an interception and two fumbles, both of which were recovered by Kansas City. At halftime, the Chiefs had

three points and seven first downs. They could not jump-start their offense.

But dismiss Mahomes at your peril.

He comes to work every day humble, wanting to be great, challenges the guys around him to be great every play, Reid said. He never flinches. 'You dropped the ball? Well get the next one,' or, 'I need you in this spot, right here.' Its not like chewing them out or any of that. Thats the way he operates.

Just about every coach in the Pro Football Hall of Fame had at least one quarterback who was likewise enshrined. One day, that will be the case for Reid and Mahomes.

Certainly there have been a lot of great quarterbacks in the history

National Football League, and a pretty good one who won a bunch of Super Bowls over the last 20 years, said Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, referring to Brady and his seven rings.

But at 28 years old, Patricks already put together a very impressive resume and I know hes going to build on it.

A cornerstone of Mahomes success has been All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, who wasnt a big factor in the first two quarters but made eight of his nine receptions after halftime.

The enduring image of Kelce from this Super Bowl wasnt when he was on the field, but when he angrily confronted Reid about not being in the game at a crucial moment. In his frustration, he bumped the 65-year-old coach, nearly knocking him over.

Reid might have been hit hard, but he had no hard feelings.

Theyre passionate players, man, and I love that, the coach said. Even if they chest-bump me to the other side of the 50, I appreciate it. I just love that the guy wants to play, and he wants to be in there playing. It makes me feel young.

Kelce, as millions of newly minted NFL fans know, is the beau of pop superstar Taylor Swift, who jetted

from Japan after wrapping up a Saturday night concert in Tokyo. She cheered from a Kelce family suite, the brightest in a constellation of stars at the game. The Kardashians, Lady Gaga,

even LeBron James were B-listers by comparison. 

Likewise, Kansas City reduced the 49ers to afterthoughts, searing for an organization that has five rings yet won its

29 years ago.

San Francisco was oh-so-close until the game came down to Mahomes, who directed a 69-yard drive to force overtime, then a winning, 75-yard march in the extra period.

It was the second overtime game in Super Bowl history, and both involved 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. He was Atlantas offensive coordinator when the Falcons melted down to New England in Super Bowl LI.

The Chiefs became the first franchise to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Patriots did so 19 years earlier.

I am going to celebrate tonight, celebrate at the parade and then work my way to get back in this game next year, Mahomes said. I am going to do whatever I can to be back in this game next year. Three-peat.

That would be quite a trick. Of course, he was able to work his magic Sunday night on the 49ers.

Now you see the trophy. Now you dont.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, is defend by Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif, Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

(Jed Jacobsohn / Associated Press)

Anthony Davis and Lakers bullied, beaten by Sacramento Kings, again

Dan Woike

March 13, 2024

Either its a hurdle or a wall. The Lakers couldnt be sure.

Now they are.

The Sacramento Kings fully have the Lakers number, one team completely dominating the other in a series thats been badly tilted

away from Los Angeles over the last two seasons.

The Lakers 120-107 loss at Sacramento

exposed so many of the

problems that have haunted them against the Kings,

too much shooting. Too much speed. Too much toughness.

too many questions without answers.

It didnt matter that the Kings played

Tuesday night

that they were missing starting guard Kevin Huerter and key reserve

Trey Lyles.

Anthony Davis, one of the NBAs best

players

and maybe the most important Laker, lost again to

Domantas Sabonis, a player Davis has never beaten in 10 tries. Sabonis bullied Davis into the block, spun, elbowed him in the jaw and scored, the Kings center running back

while Davis stayed on the court.

It wouldnt be the only time he knocked Davis down.

LeBron James, the benefactor of two days of rest, came out of the huddle on the next play and turned the ball over for the third time in the third quarter leading to an easy Kings fast break.

DAngelo Russell, the Lakers red-hot guard, went cold as ice in Sacramento, who graciously didnt play that song this time, as he missed his first seven shots before hitting a fourth-quarter three.

The Lakers cut the Kings lead to nine in the fourth, a glimmer of momentum. But Sacramento, like it has all season, easily broke the Lakers down and hit back-to-back threes, including one from Malik Monk off an offensive rebound. Harrison Barnes

hit another second-chance three after Sabonis grabbed a rebound over Davis.

Only Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura gave the Lakers any offensive lift, Reaves scoring 28

and Hachimura finishing with 20 on

nine-for-11 shooting.

James and Davis combined for 40 points, but they took 16 and 18 shots, respectively.

The Lakers

play another key game in their playoff race Saturday against the Golden State Warriors back in L.A.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 13: Dylan Andrews #2 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over Jordan Pope #0 of the Oregon State Beavers during the first half of a first round game in the Pac-12 Conference basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bruins defeated the Beavers 67-57. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)

(David Becker / Getty Images)

Dylan Andrews' hot shooting lifts UCLA to a Pac-12 tournament win over Oregon State

Ben Bolch

March 13, 2024

For half a season, he was disparaged as not being a true point guard.

Find somebody else to run UCLAs offense, the criticism went. Get busy in the transfer portal.

Dylan Andrews offered his rebuttal with feathery jumpers and precise passes, even if it wasnt enough to satisfy some observers. Left off the Pac-12s first and second teams, Andrews continued to make his case for being perhaps the conferences most overlooked player Wednesday afternoon.

The sophomore was a sight to behold every time the fifth-seeded Bruins needed him during a 67-57 victory over 12th-seeded Oregon State at T-Mobile Arena.

Burying one big shot after another, Andrews finished with a career-high 31 points while adding to his late-season haul of highlights. He made 11 of 15 shots, including seven of nine three-pointers, every one of them needed on a day that fellow starters Lazar Stefanovic and Sebastian Mack combined for only six points.

UCLA (16-16) advanced to face fourth-seeded Oregon in a quarterfinal on Thursday afternoon. The teams split their two meetings in the regular season, each winning on its home court.

The Bruins would be headed home were it not for Andrews.

With UCLA teetering midway through the second half, a onetime 15-point lead down to seven, Oregon State had the ball and a chance to make things even tighter. Thats when Andrews came up with a steal that he followed with a three-pointer that restored the Bruins advantage to double figures.

Later, after the Beavers had pulled to within 46-42 on back-to-back three-pointers, Andrews countered with one of his own.

Center Adem Bona added 17 points and six rebounds for the Bruins while also freeing Andrews for open jumpers as the focus of an Oregon State defense that fouled him 10 times.

in the final Pac-12 game for Oregon State (13-19), which is bound for the West Coast Conference alongside Washington State next season.

UCLA is trying to fashion a different ending on the court where not much has gone right. About the only highlight here was a victory over Ohio State during the Lonzo Ball season, the rest of the memories not bound for any scrapbook. The Bruins have not won a Pac-12 tournament title here while also logging losses to North Carolina, Illinois and Baylor.

There was also a dreary blowout against Gonzaga in November 2021 before the heartbreaker against the Bulldogs during the Sweet 16 last year.

The first half was a study in contrasts for Bona, who committed five turnovers while struggling against the Beavers 2-3 zone. Bona was so frustrated after dribbling off his body for his fifth turnover that he placed both hands on his head before doubling over in anguish. Stefanovic came over to console him with a pat on the back going into a timeout.

But Bona also flashed dual dominance by driving past Oregon State counterpart Michael Rataj for a dunk and forcing a five-second violation with relentless defense on Dexter Akanno.

Andrews also continued to be a two-way force, making five of seven shots on the way to 13 points by halftime while also holding Pope to five points on two-for-seven shooting.

His best was yet to come for a team that needed every bit of it.

Chicago Bears offensive line coach Juan Castillo signals as he walks on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

(Kamil Krzaczynski / Associated Press)

DeShaun Foster assembles UCLA coaching staff heavy on NFL experience

Ben Bolch

March 13, 2024

DeShaun Fosters first UCLA coaching staff that was announced Wednesday is heavy on NFL experience, giving those assistants immediate cachet with players while also requiring an adjustment to the new realities of college football.

Juan Castillo, who has spent nearly 30 years in the NFL in a variety of roles, was hired to replace Tim Drevno as offensive line coach.

Erik Frazier, who spent two seasons with the Tennessee Titans, will be the wide receivers coach in a move that involves predecessor Jerry Neuheisel taking over responsibilities for the tight ends.

Ted White, whose last stop was with the Houston Texans, will take over as quarterbacks coach while predecessor Billy Fessler moves to a role as an offensive analyst.

The outlier is Marcus Thomas, who is returning to UCLA as the running backs coach after having worked exclusively in the college game. Thomas spent the last two seasons at Navy, first as director of player personnel before a promotion in 2023 to coach the slot backs.

Thomas had been an offensive analyst in 2020 and 2021 with the Bruins, working with future NFL running backs Zach Charbonnet, Demetric Felton Jr. and Brittain Brown.

We are building a staff of teachers, Foster said in a statement. These coaches have picked up a diverse skill set from working on every level of football and they are hungry to share that knowledge with the players of our program. Their passion for the game and coaching reflects what we are actively instilling in our players approaching everything they do with discipline, respect and enthusiasm and I am excited to watch them work together.

Castillo is familiar to new UCLA offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after working under Bieniemy last season as run game coordinator with the NFLs Washington Commanders. Castillo, who turns 65 in October, also worked for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. His only college stop since 1994 came as an offensive analyst at Michigan in 2019.

Frazier spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons as an offensive skill assistant with the Titans, helping them win the AFC South in 2021. Before that, he had made college stops at Montana State, Western Illinois, Northwestern, Dayton and Delaware Valley.

As an offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach for the Texans in 2022, White worked with Davis Mills, Kyle Allen and Jeff Driskel. White previously coached at Maryland, Prairie View A&M, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Howard, Southern and Texas Southern while mentoring Taulia Tagovailoa and Jalen Morton, among others.

Foster also retained Ikaika Malloe as defensive coordinator

; Brian Norwood as passing game coordinator and safeties coach; Tony Washington Jr. as defensive line and outside linebackers coach; and Kodi Whitfield as cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator.

Fosters staff has already set an aggressive tone in recruiting, with numerous scholarship offers extended to prospects in the 2025 and 2026 high school classes. In a nod to his and Bieniemys success as NFL running backs, Foster tweeted out a photo of himself with the Carolina Panthers and Bieniemy with the Cincinnati Bengals along with the caption, Who wouldnt want to be a running back in this offense?

UCLAs recruiting success will largely be tied to how it navigates the new world of name, image and likeness deals coveted by almost every high school prospect and transfer. Foster has made some early efforts in these endeavors by meeting with officials from the Men of Westwood collective and passing out T-shirts bearing the collectives name before a UCLA basketball game.

His assistants ability to match his energy in raising the money needed to secure a talent-rich roster will go a long way toward determining the Bruins success as they move into the Big Ten era.

Sophomore Easton Hawk will be a key relief pitcher for No. 1-seeded Granada Hills.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Prep sports roundup: Alex Schmidt hits grand slam in Granada Hills victory

Eric Sondheimer

March 13, 2024

Alex Schmidt hit a grand slam and Easton Hawk struck out six in 4-1/3 innings as Granada Hills picked up a West Valley League baseball win with a 13-2 mercy-rule victory over Cleveland on Wednesday.

St. John Bosco 9, Santa Margarita 2: Micah Taguiam had three hits and Anthony Cosme pitched a complete game in St. John Bosco's Trinity League win. Carlos Barajas had three RBIs.

Orange Lutheran 8, JSerra 0: The Lancers improved to 10-0. Brady Murrietta had two hits and two RBIs. Three pitchers combined on a three-hitter.

Servite 2, Mater Dei 1: The Friars got the walk-off win in the eighth inning. Wylan Moss of Mater Dei and Miles Scott of Servite

in a pitching duel for six innings.

Chaminade 5, Loyola 0: Homers by Carter Bennett and Matt Churchill during a four-run first got the Eagles going. Three pitchers combined for the Mission League shutout. Bennett, Churchill, Greg Rangel and Ryan Silver all had two hits.

Crespi 17, Bishop Alemany 5: Diego Velazquez hit a three-run home run

had three singles and five RBIs for the Celts. Christian Fregoso threw five scoreless innings, giving up one hit. Troy Miller also had four hits for Crespi.

Sierra Canyon 6, St. Francis 3: Andrew Nelson contributed three hits and two RBIs as the leadoff batter for Sierra Canyon.

Harvard-Westlake 8, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 5: The Wolverines scored four runs off Levi Sterling in the first inning and never turned back. Bryce Rainer finished with three hits and Cade Goldstein had two hits and two RBIs. Duncan Marsten struck out six with no walks in four innings. Kai Gonzaga had three hits for Notre Dame and Sterling had three RBIs. Jack Laffitte hit a two-run home run for Harvard-Westlake.

Vista Murrieta 13, Etiwanda 0: Vaughn Neckar had four hits and three RBIs for Vista Murrieta. He also struck out four in three shutout innings.

Corona Centennial 4, Corona Santiago 3: Adam Magday delivered a clutch, two-run double to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, and the Huskies won it on a walk-off hit by Michael Malki.

Corona 4, Norco 2: Sam Burgess hit a two-run double for Corona in the top of the 10th inning to break a 2-2 tie.

King 8, Roosevelt 7: King got the walk-off hit in the seventh.

Tustin 4, Cypress 3: Tustin scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth on an error.

Huntington Beach 3, Newport Harbor 1: Linkin Garcia led the Oilers

with three hits. Garcia and Cole Clark each hit home runs.

Edison 10, Laguna Beach 6: Gavin Johnson had three RBIs for the Chargers.

Santa Monica 2, Banning 1: The Vikings picked up the nonleague win.

San Juan Hills 1, Aliso Niguel 0: Dane Grant threw five scoreless innings for San Juan Hills.

San Clemente 1, El Toro 0: Mike Erspamer threw a two-hit shutout.

San Fernando 12, Marshall 5: The Tigers picked up the nonleague win.

Quartz Hill 3, Palmdale 2: Chris Lozano threw five scoreless innings for Quartz Hill.

Carson 11, Los Angeles Roosevelt 1: Joshua Montes finished with three RBIs for Carson.

Viewpoint 4, Brentwood 2: Brandon Warner threw

one-hitter. Austin Basch went four for four with three RBIs.

Foothill 3, Dana Hills 2: Ezekiel Vargas had a walk-off double for Foothill in the ninth inning.

Camarillo 4, Royal 0: Boston Bateman struck out 15 and allowed no hits in six innings with five walks.

West Ranch 11, Canyon 0: Jackson Banuelos struck out eight in six innings.

Orange Lutheran 8, Cajon 0: Brianne Weiss threw a perfect game with 16 strikeouts for the Lancers.

Kobe Bryant and attorney Hal Haddon leave the Eagle County Justice Center after the third day of jury selection for the trial on sexual assault charges.

(Stephen Chernin / Getty Images)

What happened with Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case

Steve Henson

Jan. 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant's on-court accomplishments for the Lakers speak for themselves. Just as clear was his devotion to his wife, Vanessa, and four daughters.

off-the-court

Bryants reputation took place June 30, 2003, in a hotel room at the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in the Rocky Mountains town of Edwards, Colo. A 19-year-old woman working as the front-desk clerk accompanied Bryant on a tour of the property. She later went to Bryants hotel room, where she said he raped her.

Bryant, 24 at the time, was charged with one count of felony assault. It took 14 months for the criminal case to be resolved. The accuser decided she would not testify, and prosecutors dropped the case Sept. 1, 2004. A civil suit brought by the accuser in August 2004 was settled out of court

March 2, 2005, marking the end of an often-graphic legal saga that drew worldwide attention but never resulted in a trial.

Two weeks after the civil suit was settled, Bryant, who died Sunday along with eight other people in a helicopter crash at the age of 41, was asked by Times columnist J.A. Adande whether he was concerned about his image.

"Um, no," Bryant said. "No and yes. It's important that the image that's out there is the real image of who I am as a person, not something that's fabricated, not something that's gossip, you know what I'm saying? From that standpoint, I care about it.

"It's just about you doing what is right. I think it'll all come out sooner or later. There's a lot of [charitable] stuff I've done in the past that I will continue to do that I don't want credit for. I don't want any. Because I don't feel like that's something that should be publicized.

"I hope, one day, people will look back on my career and see everything that I've been through, everything that my fans have been through . . . and I just stayed steady. I didn't wig out. I just stayed steady, I stayed professional.

"At the end of the day, when it's my last year, people can look back and say, 'You know what? He had a hell of a career, he was a hell of a person.'"

At first, events in Colorado unfolded quickly for Bryant. The day after the alleged rape, he underwent knee surgery in nearby Vail. Bryants accuser reported the incident to the Eagle County Sheriffs Department, and investigators searched his hotel room for evidence.

The accuser had a medical examination that eventually became problematic for her because DNA evidence suggested she had sex with someone else in the 15 hours after the alleged rape and before the exam a claim denied by prosecutors.

Bryant was charged with one count of felony sexual assault July 18. Bryant, with his wife, Vanessa, by his side, held a news conference at Staples Center, where he admitted committing adultery but said Im innocent of assault.

Nearly a year of discovery and pretrial hearings took place before Bryant entered a plea of not guilty May 11, 2004. As the case slowly moved toward a trial, the accusers resolve began to weaken after she added libel attorney Lin Wood to her legal team. Wood

believed a criminal trial would not end well for her. The accuser also appeared unprepared during a mock trial a week before jury selection was to begin, according to several

close to the prosecution.

Another factor in the womans decision to ask prosecutors to drop the case was mistakes by the tiny court in Eagle, Colo., that her attorneys said caused her to lose faith in the judicial system. Her name was mistakenly released to the media three times

, and a sealed transcript of a closed hearing on DNA evidence was emailed to seven media outlets, including The Times.

In the transcripts, a DNA expert detailed evidence bolstering

defense's contention that Bryants accuser had sex with someone else soon after the alleged rape, which the defense said could have caused the accuser's vaginal bruising and lacerations.

Meanwhile, Bryant continued his career with the Lakers. He played in 65 games during the 2003-2004 season, averaging 24 points per game. On several occasions, he played in games and then took a private jet to the

airport in Eagle a few blocks from the courthouse.

Bryant never spoke publicly about the case after the July 2003 news conference, although he did issue the following statement on the day the criminal case was dismissed:

"First, I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year. Although this year has been incredibly difficult for me personally, I can only imagine the pain she has had to endure.

"I also want to apologize to her parents and family members, and to my family and friends and supporters, and to the citizens of Eagle, Colorado. I also want to make it clear that I do not question the motives of this young woman. No money has been paid to this woman. She has agreed that this statement will not be used against me in the civil case.

"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.

"I issue this statement today fully aware that while one part of this ends today, another remains. I understand that the civil case against me will go forward. That part of this case will be decided by and between the parties directly involved in the incident and will no longer be a financial or emotional drain on the citizens of the state of Colorado."

Over time, Bryant's reputation rebounded because he gave every appearance of being a loving husband and father to Vanessa and their daughters.

Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also aboard the helicopter that crashed Sunday near Calabasas and killed all nine passengers. He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and daughters Natalia, Capri and Bianka.