AP Sports SummaryBrief at 2:38 p.m. EST

Atlanta will be site if Bills, Chiefs meet for AFC title

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be the neutral site if Buffalo and Kansas City meet in the AFC championship game. The NFL decided to put that potential matchup in a neutral city after the Bills’ Week 17 game against Cincinnati was canceled when Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. The Chiefs are the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but played one more game than the second-seeded Bills. The league brokered the neutral site deal because Buffalo could have been the top seed with a victory over the Bengals.

Bills’ McDermott hailed for leading through emotional week

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott is drawing praise for the vulnerability and poise he showed in helping guide his team through an emotionally draining week. McDermott became the face and voice of the franchise in the aftermath of safety Damar Hamlin going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati. Those who know McDermott are not surprised. Former William & Mary coach Jimmye Laycock knew the Bills were in good hands under his former player.

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 He returns to the hard-court tournament after missing it last year when his visa was revoked and he was deported from the country because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19.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.

Bauer released by Los Angeles Dodgers after suspension cut

NEW YORK (AP) — Trevor Bauer was released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who cut ties after the pitcher’s unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced by an arbitrator. Los Angeles designated Bauer for assignment on Jan. 6, the last day to restore him to the roster, after arbitrator Martin Scheinman cut the suspension imposed by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to 194 games. The Dodgers placed the pitcher on waivers Thursday and any team can claim Bauer by Friday. Bauer is owed about $22.5 million from the remainder of his $102 million, three-year contract, making a waiver claim unlikely.

Bears hire Big Ten Commissioner Warren as team president

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have hired Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren as their president and CEO, 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.

NBA updates All-Star vote numbers; LeBron, Durant still lead

NEW YORK (AP) — LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers is well on his way to catching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on more than the NBA’s career scoring list. James is still on pace to be an All-Star for the 19th time. The NBA says he remains the overall leading vote-getter for the Feb. 19 game in Salt Lake City. Abdul-Jabbar is the only 19-time All-Star in NBA history. Kevin Durant has the second-most votes and is on pace to be a captain against James for the third year in a row. James and Kobe Bryant are 18-time All-Star selections, and James entered Thursday 423 points away from passing Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader.

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.

Kyle Larson to try Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double in 2024

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Larson will attempt to race the Indianapolis 500 in 2024 with McLaren Racing in a joint effort with NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick. Larson has long said he wants to race in the Indy 500 but there were no viable opportunties this year. His entry with McLaren will be co-owned by Hendrick and sponsored by HendrickCars.com. Larson will also plan to run the Coca-Cola 600 — NASCAR’s longest race of the season — at Charlotte Motor Speedway hours after the Indy 500.

Jets’ Woody Johnson would ‘absolutely’ spend for a vet QB

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets have missed the playoffs for a franchise-record 12 years. Owner Woody Johnson says he’s frustrated and wants that to change now. Speaking on a broad range of topics on the 54th anniversary of the team’s only Super Bowl win, Johnson says there’s no playoff mandate for coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas but the Jets need to find “the missing piece” at quarterback. Johnson says Zach Wilson had a tough second season but sees kernels of talent. He also says he “absolutely” will be willing to potentially pay big bucks for a veteran quarterback who could come in and help improve the offense.

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.