AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:13 a.m. EST

Steelers Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris dies at 72

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris has died. He was 72. Harris’ heads-up thinking authored “The Immaculate Reception.” It is considered the most iconic play in NFL history. Harris ran for 12,120 yards and won four Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s. The team’s dynasty began in earnest when Harris decided to keep running during a last-second heave by Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw in a playoff game against Oakland in 1972. His catch and run off a deflected pass gave the Steelers their first-ever playoff win and is forever immortalized as the “Immaculate Reception.”

AP source: Mets swoop, snatch Correa for $315M, 12-year deal

Carlos Correa has agreed to a $315 million, 12-year contract with the free-spending New York Mets after his pending deal with the San Francisco Giants came apart over an issue with his physical. The agreement was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Details were first reported by the New York Post. Correa is an All-Star shortstop but would play third base for the Mets. Correa’s addition would increase the Mets’ luxury tax payroll next year to the $385 million range. That would put them on track to pay a record tax of about $110 million.

Mat Ishbia agrees to buy Suns, Mercury for $4 billion

Mortgage executive Mat Ishbia has agreed in principle to buy the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury from embattled owner Robert Sarver for $4 billion. The sale is expected to take several weeks to complete. Ishbia is chairman, president and chief executive of United Wholesale Mortgage. He also is a former Michigan State basketball player and a member of the Spartans’ NCAA championship team in 2000. Sarver was suspended by the NBA in September over workplace misconduct that included racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees.

Judge appointed Yankees captain after reaching longterm deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge has been appointed captain of the New York Yankees after agreeing to a $360 million, nine-year contract to remain in pinstripes. Judge became the Yankees’ first captain since Derek Jeter retired at the end of the 2014 season. New York had six previous captains in the Steinbrenner family era: Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly and Jeter. Judge homered in his first big league at-bat for the Yankees in 2016, and the 6-foot-7 outfielder has become a larger-than-life figure in the Bronx.

Verlander: Cohen persuaded him Mets are building a winner

NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Verlander says owner Steve Cohen and his willingness to spend his hedge-fund fortune on building a World Series-contender is the reason he joined the New York Mets. The team introduced Verlander at a news conference on Tuesday. Verlander agreed to a $86.7 million, two-year contract on Dec. 5. It’s part of an offseason spending spree in which the Mets have committed $476.7 million on seven free agents and added starting pitchers Kodei Senga and José Quintana. Verlander turns 40 in February and will take Jacob deGrom’s spot in the rotation.

Jalen hurts: Eagles QB Hurts has ‘chance’ to play at Dallas

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts still has a chance he could play Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. Hurts sprained his right shoulder in Sunday’s win against Chicago. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni did not rule out Hurts on Tuesday. Sirianni said there’s a chance Hurts could play this week. The Eagles need one more win to clinch the NFC East and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They would turn to backup QB Gardner Minshew to start Saturday’s game against the Cowboys if Hurts isn’t ready to play.

Chiefs’ Mahomes making MVP bid with more balanced approach

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is making another run at the MVP award, but he’s doing it in a different manner than in 2018, when he won his first trophy. Back then, he was airing the ball out in an offense predicated on big plays, even if it often led to interceptions and other mistakes. Mahomes still has that aggressiveness in his game, and he said Tuesday that he probably always will. But he’s also learned to take his game to the limit without going over the proverbial line, and that’s a big reason why he’s on pace to break Peyton Manning’s NFL single-season yardage record.

Column: Tiger has shots and a limp to keep everyone guessing

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It took just two days at the PNC Championship for Tiger Woods to show he can still hit all the shots. He just can’t walk to them at the moment. A few shots stood out to him. One was a 3-iron into the 18th green on Saturday. Another was the drive he hit some 15 yards past Justin Thomas. That prompted Woods to leave a note for Thomas in the fairway to remind him the old guy can still play. It was enough to raise the possibility of Woods doing something special after he recovers from plantar fasciitis.

Masters to keep criteria, invite all eligible players in ’23

The Masters is keeping its criteria the same for next year. That means 16 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf will be at Augusta National to compete for a green jacket. Club chairman Fred Ridley says he’s disappointed in the fractured nature of golf. But he says the focus of the Masters is to bring the top players together from around the world. The 16 players from LIV Golf include six former champions and six who qualify by being in the top 50 in the world ranking. Ridley said the club still reserves the right to alter its criteria for 2024.