AP Sports SummaryBrief at 11:29 a.m. EST

Bears hire Big Ten Commissioner Warren as team president

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have hired Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren as their president, bringing him back to the NFL to help lead a founding franchise after three years running one of college athletics’ marquee conferences. Warren replaces the retiring Ted Phillips and becomes the Bears’ fifth president. His biggest task is helping the Bears finalize the purchase of a 326-acre tract of land in suburban Arlington Heights that could become the site of a new stadium. Warren became the first Black commissioner of a Power Five conference when the Big Ten hired him in June 2019 out of the Minnesota Vikings’ front office to replace the retiring Jim Delany. Now, the conference is searching for a new leader again.

Djokovic, Nadal can only meet in final at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rivals Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have been placed on opposite halves of the Australian Open bracket in the draw, meaning the owners of a combined 43 Grand Slam singles titles could only meet in the final at Melbourne Park. Djokovic is a nine-time champion in Australia. He returns to the hard-court tournament after missing it last year when his visa was revoked and he was deported from the country because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19. Fourth-seeded Djokovic will open his bid for a 10th Australian Open title against Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena in the tournament which begins Monday. Iga Swiatek, the women’s No. 1-ranked player, takes on Jule Niemeier in the opening round.   Swiatek won last year’s French and U.S. Open titles.

Going home: Bills’ Hamlin released from Buffalo hospital

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been released from a hospital in Buffalo nine days after he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated during a game at Cincinnati. Hamlin went home home after spending two days undergoing tests at Buffalo General Medical Center. He was transferred to Buffalo after spending last week at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where the 24-year-old experienced what doctors called “a remarkable recovery.” Neither doctors nor the Bills disclosed the results of the tests Hamlin had. Doctors said he will continue his rehabilitation with the Bills.

Ja Morant gifts gear to young fan who had signed ball stolen

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — After a young Memphis Grizzlies fan had her prized basketball stolen, Ja Morant jumped in to ease the anguish. Ellie Hughes, an 11-year-old Grizzlies fan, was trying to get Morant’s attention for an autograph at Monday’s game against San Antonio when two people swiped her special ball. Hughes, of Forrest City, Arkansas, had collected players’ signatures on the ball for the past six years. Hearing of her plight through social media, Morant reached out to her family, invited her to Wednesday night’s rematch against the Spurs and then gave her his game-worn jersey and Ja 1 Nike shoes, which haven’t been released to the public yet.

Citing Taliban, Australia nixes Afghanistan cricket series

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia has pulled out of an upcoming men’s one-day international cricket series against Afghanistan. Cricket Australia cites more restrictions on women’s rights imposed by the Taliban government. Australia was set to meet Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates for three matches in March. But following consultation with the Australian government and other groups, Cricket Australia says it canceled the series. When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, women were banned from playing sports on the grounds that doing so would contravene Islamic laws.

Harvick: ‘It’s just time,’ racer says of 2023 final season

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Harvick tells The Associated Press that 2023 will be his final season racing in NASCAR. He was thrust onto the global stage days after Dale Earnhardt’s fatal accident in 2001 when Harvick was named Earnhardt’s replacement. Harvick is now entering his 23rd full season. He is tied for ninth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list and has won almost all of NASCAR’s crown jewel races. He plans to spend his time on the budding racing careers of his children. His 10-year-old son is go-karting on the international level.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2023: AP quiz on the year’s 1st tennis Slam

The Australian Open is the year’s first Grand Slam tennis tournament. Play is scheduled to start at Melbourne Park on Monday. Try the AP’s quiz to see how much you know about the sport and the event. Do you know the name of the the last player to beat Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open? Or what about the last season in which neither Serena Williams nor Roger Federer participated in any Grand Slam tournament? Do you know how many women and men won the past 15 singles championships at Melbourne Park?

49ers rookie QB Brock Purdy set for 1st playoff test

Brock Purdy has passed every test he’s faced so far in his remarkable rookie season. Coming off the bench with no reps after Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt. Matching up against an all-time great like Tom Brady. His first road start in an intimidating stadium in Seattle. Coming from behind against the Raiders. Next up for Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers is his first playoff game on Saturday against the Seahawks.

Late-season surge has Jaguars’ Allen looking dominant again

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville’s Josh Allen has 23 quarterback pressures in his last five games. He also returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown in the closing minutes to beat Tennessee 20-16 last Saturday and secure the franchise’s second AFC South championship. It was the latest game-altering play for Allen, who has half his six sacks during Jacksonville’s five-game winning streak and was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday. He’s essentially been the dominant force the Jaguars thought they had when they drafted him with the seventh overall pick four years ago and watched him make the Pro Bowl as a rookie.

Wild-card weekend features 6 rematches, 3 division games

Wild-card weekend is all about familiarity. All six games feature teams that already faced off this season, including three matchups between division rivals going head-to-head for the third time and two clubs playing each other in back-to-back weeks. Bust out the popcorn. It should be a wild weekend. The action kicks off Saturday with the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are the hottest team in the NFL, entering the postseason on a 10-game winning streak that gave them the NFC’s No. 2 seed. The Seahawks walked off the field last week uncertain about their playoff berth and got in when the Detroit Lions upset Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.