Deion Sanders has added another Hall of Famer to his coaching staff at Colorado.

The Buffaloes announced Thursday night that former NFL great Marshall Faulk has joined the team as its new running backs coach.

Faulk knows a little about the position. He ranks 12th all time in rushing yards in the NFL with 12,279, accumulating the total across 12 seasons that saw him win one MVP (2000) and make six All-Pro and seven Pro Bowl teams.

Faulk, who turns 52 later this month, played five seasons for the Indianapolis Colts and then seven for the Rams, his last coming in 2005.

Faulk is the third Pro Football Hall of Fame member on the Buffs staff, joining Sanders and Warren Sapp, a senior quality assistant for the defense. Faulk and Sanders were part of the 2011 class.

This will be Faulk's first coaching job. He was asked about potentially taking the job in an interview with Front Office Sports this week in New Orleans ahead of the Super Bowl.

"Deion is an elevator," he said. "He's going to elevate you as a person, and he's going to force you to elevate your life. That's what he does. He lifts people up. A lot of the times the light may look like it's shining on him, but really he's shining the light on somebody.

"We're good friends. And whatever I can do to help him out I'm going to do."

Faulk replaces Gary Harrell, who was Colorado's running backs coach for two seasons.

Canelo Alvarez was slated to meet Jake Paul on May 3 in Las Vegas, with sources telling ESPN that a deal was being finalized and a formal announcement imminent. But in a stunning development, Alvarez changed course and instead completed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season.

Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, on Thursday evening announced the deal with Alvarez, boxing's top star, effectively killing the novelty fight with Paul that was expected to land on Netflix. Now, Canelo will fight in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, for the first time.

Alvarez replied to Alalshikh's announcement on social media: "Let's go brother."

Alalshikh told Alvarez that if he proceeded with the planned fight with Paul, his lucrative, previously agreed-upon three-fight deal with Riyadh Season was off the table, sources said. Alvarez expressed that he didn't want to fight a YouTuber but that he needed a fight in May, according to sources.

Alvarez and Alalshikh quickly closed the deal and added a fourth fight, shocking the boxing world.

"Canelo only fights real fighters," Alalshikh told ESPN.

The first fight of the deal, sources said, will be staged on Sunday morning, May 4, to accommodate a prime-time U.S. broadcast Saturday night, May 3, on Cinco De Mayo weekend for Alvarez. Two opponents being considered are Jermall Charlo and Bruno Surace, sources said.

Charlo's twin brother, Jermell, was knocked down in a lopsided decision loss to Alvarez in September 2023. Surace scored a seventh-round KO of former champion Jaime Munguia in December in ESPN's Upset of the Year.

The May bout will serve as a tune-up for Alvarez's Sept. 13 mega-fight with Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. ESPN previously reported a deal was in place for Alvarez's 168-pound title defense against Crawford, the undefeated American who will move up two weight classes from 154 pounds.

Crawford, 37, is ESPN's No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer.

"I'm waiting on Canelo in September and going to shock the world in Riyadh Season" Crawford posted on X in response to Alalshikh's announcement of Alvarez's deal.

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), the former undisputed welterweight champion, scored a ninth-round TKO of Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023 in a career-best performance. He fought only once at 154 pounds, a title victory over Israil Madrimov in August in a Riyadh Season event in Los Angeles.

Alvarez, 34, is ESPN's No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer. A four-division champion, he defeated Munguia and Edgar Berlanga in 2024. Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) has never competed outside North America.

It appeared he would fight yet again in Las Vegas as he closed in on a deal to meet Paul, an 11-1 boxer who gained fame as a social-media-star-turned-boxer. Paul, 28, is one of boxing's top attractions despite his novice skill level. His November fight with the 58-year-old Mike Tyson, which Paul won via eight-round decision, peaked at a staggering 64 million concurrent streams on Netflix.

Netflix was slated to stream a second mega event involving Paul, this time against not just a legitimate boxer in his prime but one at the highest level of the sport. The Alvarez-Paul fight was set to be contested at 200 pounds and take place at T-Mobile Arena.

Earlier in the day, Alvarez's former promoter, Eddie Hearn, said there was a deal in place for Canelo to fight Paul. Paul cryptically posted on X that he is the "A-side in every fight I've been in and that's not changing for this one," alluding to the fight with Alvarez, the face of boxing.

Alvarez is the unified champion at 168 pounds and is a former 175-pound champion. He has surpassed one million pay-per-view buys several times, including twice during his legendary trilogy with Gennadiy Golovkin.

Tight end Antonio Gates, cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe are the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will be inducted Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.

It's the smallest class since 2005, also a four-member class. That's the year Dan Marino, Steve Young, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman were enshrined.

Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, all in their first year of eligibility, were not selected.

The class was chosen by the Hall's board of selectors in a virtual meeting in January.

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Gates entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the San Diego Chargers in 2003. He played basketball at Kent State and helped it to an Elite Eight appearance in 2002. Gates finished his career with 955 receptions, fourth in league history for a tight end, and 116 receiving touchdowns, the most for a tight end.

"The opportunity I got speaks volumes of how [the Chargers] believed in me," Gates said. "I'm happy it all paid off."

Eric Allen's 54 career interceptions are 21st all time, and 14 of the 20 players in front of him are in the Hall of Fame. Allen, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders, returned four of his six interceptions for touchdowns in 1993, one of his six Pro Bowl seasons.

"Rarely does life play out like you want it to," said Allen, who was elected on his 19th year of eligibility. "There's always some curves and bends. But time always reveals the truth. ... It took maybe time for people to see the complexity of my situation."

Jared Allen played 12 seasons, most notably with the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings. His 136 career sacks are 12th all time since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. He also has an NFL-record four safeties. Ten of the 11 players in front of him are in the Hall of Fame. The one who isn't, Terrell Suggs, was a finalist this year.

"You almost appreciate it more," Allen said about being one of four chosen for enshrinement. "Nothing comes easy. When I found out it was only four, it became more special. There's a true emphasis on what it means to be a Hall of Famer. Clearly we fit that. For me, it was kind of a sigh of relief."

Sharpe, whose brother Shannon is a Hall of Famer, had his career cut short by a neck condition. But in his seven seasons, only Jerry Rice caught more passes and had more touchdown receptions than Sharpe, who played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers from 1988 to 1994. He led the league in receptions three times in his career, including his final two seasons. He also led the NFL in receiving yards once and touchdowns twice.

"I don't think that has really set in yet," Sterling Sharpe said. "It's one of those situations where the closer it gets to having the same color jacket he has and standing in same place he stood and being able to have a conv about the journey to get there I think it will set in. But right now it hasn't hit home yet."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LOS ANGELES -- Luka Doncic is targeting Monday for his Los Angeles Lakers debut when L.A. hosts the Utah Jazz, a source familiar with Doncic's plans confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Doncic, who was sidelined for the Dallas Mavericks since Christmas Day with a left calf strain, participated in a 5-on-5 scrimmage after Lakers practice Wednesday with L.A.'s "stay ready" group comprised of end-of-the-bench players and coaches.

"It went well," Lakers coach JJ Redick said of the scrimmage before they hosted the Golden State Warriors. "I think [his first game will be] probably, more likely, Monday. Again, no commitment made or anything, but probably trending more towards Monday."

Doncic's plans were earlier reported by veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein.

Prior to the scrimmage, sources told ESPN that Doncic was "trending towards" a Saturday debut against the Indiana Pacers, but those plans have been adjusted.

Redick added there were "no setbacks" during Doncic's on-court session Wednesday, and the 25-year-old star also worked out and lifted weights Thursday.

"All is well, all is positive," Redick said. "And hopefully we get the word at some point in the new few days that he is going to play. We all want to see him in a Laker uniform."

Los Angeles won its first game after the trade that sent Anthony Davis and Max Christie to Dallas 122-97 over the LA Clippers on Tuesday, with Doncic watching from the bench in a black Lakers track suit.

Redick also was asked what Doncic and the team are considering to clear him for a return.

"In terms of an evaluation, we want him to feel confident, we want our medical staff to feel confident," Redick said. "We're not going to rush anything here and we're all anticipating that -- I know the fans are anticipating that, and certainly our coaching staff and our players are anticipating that. And I think the one thing that we all have in the back in of our mind as we've shifted and had to recalibrate in the last week is, we're not going to be able to snap our fingers and it's all going to work right away.

"There's work to be done once he's back and healthy and in the lineup and that's going to be fun. It's going to be fun to figure it all out together."

BOSTON -- As the Dallas Mavericks return home for the first time since making the seismic decision to trade superstar guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas is fully preparing for there to be an emotional scene at American Airlines Center for Saturday afternoon's game against the Houston Rockets.

"Probably a lot of heartbreak amongst the fans," Klay Thompson said after scoring 25 points in a 127-120 victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Thursday. "Probably some boos. But, as a professional, you have to embrace everything, and we're paid to play this game and perform at the highest level.

"I don't know what to expect. I know Luka was so dear to every Mavs fan's heart. We've just got to win, and do it on a consistent basis, and give ourselves a chance to win the whole thing, and I think that will ease all of the fans' pain and anger.

"It's going to be weird, but that's what we sign up for."

Although the trade happened close to a week ago, the wounds it opened in Dallas remain fresh. Protests are expected to be held at the arena Saturday. A Go Fund Me to put up billboards criticizing both general manager Nico Harrison and the Adelson family, which bought the team from Mark Cuban last year, for trading away Doncic has already raised $40,000.

Even around the team, the hurt that's lingered from the trade has gone on far longer than it would for a typical transaction -- or even one where a star player is moved. Kyrie Irving said Tuesday there's still a "grieving" process over the loss of Doncic.

And, earlier Thursday, guard Spencer Dinwiddie said the anger shown toward the franchise is "completely understandable" as the team prepares to return home.

"It shows what Luka meant to the community. It shows how much the fan base loves him. Still loves him," Dinwiddie said. "Also, I think for a fan base that had Dirk for 20 years and seemingly right when Dirk was about to retire, they got Dirk 2.0 in a sense, it's understandable. Nobody is mad at Dallas fans for their reaction. With something that's emotional, you have to give it a chance to process and feel and live in that moment."

It appears that's what is going to happen Saturday, which is why the specter of a return to Dallas, and what awaits the Mavericks there, overshadowed a win over the defending champions in which the Mavs hit 15 3-pointers and Thompson led the way with 25 points -- all while newly acquired Anthony Davis remained out with an abdominal strain he suffered last week, while with the Lakers, against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Davis worked out after shootaround ahead of Tuesday's game in Philadelphia and Thursday ahead of the Celtics game, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said before the game tipped off that the hope is Davis will return Saturday.

What, exactly, the reception for him -- and the rest of the Mavericks -- will be, however, remains to be seen.

But Kidd said he understands the pain the fans are feeling, and said it's his job to help his players prepare for, and overcome, whatever obstacles are put in front of them.

"Things that have taken place ... our sympathy goes to the fans, and understanding they can be upset. But, at the same time, as a coach, the guys that I have, we have to put them in position to be successful against Houston, and that's all I'm focused on.

"That's freedom of speech. That's why they are called fans. But for us it's a matter of getting this to move forward, and that's what we have to do."

LOS ANGELES -- Sporting a huge smile, Jimmy Butler could not have looked any happier to be a Golden State Warrior.

Introduced to the media here with his new team Thursday, Butler said he is thrilled to have a fresh start and to be playing basketball again after a tumultuous ending with the Miami Heat.

"All of that is behind me, moving forward," Butler said when asked about the speculation that surrounded him over the past month. "I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be wanted again."

Asked if regaining his joy was just a matter of putting on a new jersey -- he will wear No. 10 after Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar -- and to play basketball again, Butler couldn't contain his enthusiasm.

"I got a feeling I'm [going to] be back, in a big way, too," he said. "So I'm smiling. I've been going at it, I've been training, I've been doing everything I'm supposed to be doing. I know that I have my joy back now. I'm in a different situation, different group of guys."

Butler said he hopes to make his Golden State debut Saturday against the Bulls in Chicago. The six-time All-Star initially said he didn't have anything negative to say about the Heat, noting how he formed a lot of long-lasting relationships in his five-plus seasons with the franchise.

But when asked what made him want to leave, he also made it clear that his time in South Beach essentially ended when his relationship with team president Pat Riley and the organization soured.

"That's a good question actually," Butler said. "That is a good question. I don't know. Maybe just a lot of talking back and forth. And sooner or later, talking's got to stop."

Miami suspended Butler three times this season, twice for conduct detrimental to the team. He also missed a team flight. His last suspension started on Jan. 27, after he left shootaround when he was told he would be coming off the bench. The Heat announced that suspension would last at least five games, which went up to Thursday's trade deadline. He hasn't played since Jan. 21.

The Warriors said they are ecstatic to land an elite two-way player like Butler to pair with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. They traded Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, Dennis Schroder, Lindy Waters III and a 2025 top-10 protected first-round pick in a multiteam deal for Butler, who sources told ESPN also agreed to a new two-year, $111 million deal that runs through the 2026-27 season.

The Warriors have been desperate to find Curry some help. After a 12-3 start, they've sputtered, and with Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, they're now 25-26.

"He is a big-time pressure player, postseason player," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game. "So that would fit well in our locker room. We've got other guys who have been through the battles, been through the war. So I think when you put a group of guys like that together, there's going to be a belief, there's going to be a confidence that comes with that. And so I'm excited to see what that looks like."

While Curry said he would watch Heat film to see what suits Butler's game best and what can be meshed with Golden State's offensive system, Butler said it will be easy fitting in with his new team.

"We good," Butler said. "Pass the ball to Steph. And get out the way. Easy."

Butler, who has shown the ability to carry a team in the postseason, says he can learn something about winning from Curry, Green and Kerr, who have won four championships with the Warriors.

Green has said that Butler will fit in fine because he has a winning pedigree like the Warriors. Green also said he sees a lot of similarities in how he and Butler play with an edge and aggression.

"I think our personalities are going to be fine," Butler said of playing alongside Green. "I would like to say that I am a winner. I haven't won it. But I would like to call myself a winner. I do want to win it. It being a championship.

"Playing with Steph, I mean everybody knows he's the greatest shooter in the world, greatest shooter in history. Makes my job a lot easier. I probably got a lot more space out there."

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the franchise got what it was seeking -- a star talent to help maximize Curry's and Green's championship window while not having to give up any assets like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski or multiple first-round picks.

"We've picked a path and we're going in a direction, and we have three kind of older generational players," Dunleavy said. "But the beauty of the whole thing to me is we've got a lot of good complementary pieces. We've got assets, we've got young players. So in some ways in terms of our financial stuff, there's a commitment. But on the whole, we'll have a lot of flexibility."

Dunleavy has said that the only way Golden State will mortgage its future is for a franchise-altering type superstar. And he says the Warriors are still positioned to go after such a blockbuster move if the opportunity presents itself in the future.

"Come this draft, I think we will have multiple unprotected picks available, pick swaps and anything else on the roster that people find attractive," he said. "So I think from that standpoint, we can evaluate this roster some more, and if there's other moves that need to be made, we'll be in the game for those just like we've been for everything else."

If Butler has his way, he will be adding another title to the Golden State dynasty. He's happy to be playing "meaningful basketball" again.

"I just want to be able to go out there and do what I've been doing for a very long time," Butler said. "And have fun, smile, rip and run and not feel like I'm just doing cardio majority of the game.

"So I'm very, very, very happy that I'm not getting suspended no more."

Fin Smith's most-recent fly-half cameo came when he was introduced in the 64th minute in Dublin on Saturday.

England were 10 points adrift at the time but tries from Tom Curry and Tommy Freeman helped the visitors close the gap to a 27-22 final scoreline, ensuring a losing bonus point.

Since the start of 2023, England have lost nine of 11 Tests starting with Marcus Smith at 10, with the only wins in that sequence both coming against Japan.

The Harlequins star prefers to play at fly-half but has been used several times by Borthwick as a full-back.

He was deployed at 15 in wins over Chile, Fiji and Argentina during the 2023 Rugby World Cup and played there for almost the entirety of England's narrow 33-31 loss to France last season following a George Furbank injury.

Fin Smith insists that the pair, along with third centrally-contracted fly-half George Ford, have a strong enough relationship to withstand the strains of selection.

He said: "We're competitive as anything on the pitch and then as soon as the whistle goes it will be 'Oh, Marcus, what did you think of this?' or 'Fordy, what could we have done better here?'

"Just really just picking each other's brains about stuff. I think that's really positive.

"We're all we're driving each other to get better and ultimately it's out of any of our hands who who plays in in the 10 shirt at the weekend."

Willis, whose brother Jack plays for Toulouse and is therefore ineligible for selection for England, has been rewarded for his fine Saracens form.

The 26-year-old will make his first Test start after a couple of replacement appearances.

England suffered their record home defeat the last time they hosted France in the Six Nations, losing 53-10 with Marcus Smith starting at fly-half ahead of Owen Farrell.

France, who thrashed Wales 43-0 in their opening match of this year's tournament, named their team earlier on Thursday with fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and wing Damian Penaud coming into their starting XV.

"He's got a real box of tricks," said Fin Smith of Jalibert.

"If we we give him time, space and and opportunities to run with the ball and put other people in space, it could be a long day for us."

Hear more from Fin Smith and Steve Borthwick on Friday's Rugby Union Weekly.

LaLiga President Javier Tebas criticised Real Madrid on Thursday, saying the club had "lost their minds" after lodging an letter of complaint against the Spanish league's referees.

Madrid sent the letter following their 1-0 defeat by Espanyol on Saturday, with controversy surrounding a decision not to award a red card to Espanyol defender Carlos Romero for fouling Kylian Mbappé as he ran up the pitch on a counter-attack.

"They are against everything. That's the reality. Real Madrid want to damage the competition, not just the referees," Tebas told a meeting of LaLiga clubs, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and representatives of the Spanish refereeing committee (CTA), which Madrid did not attend.

"They have constructed a narrative of victimhood that culminated in the statement they released the other day. They have told a story of victimhood that is not true," Tebas added.

The LaLiga champions said the officials' decisions -- including those of the video assistant referees (VAR) -- were biased against them and "completely discredited."

They sent the complaint to the RFEF and the Spanish High Sports Council, requesting VAR audio after Mbappé's foul and Vinícius Júnior's disallowed goal.

"What happened is not an isolated incident or a simple refereeing error. It is the latest and most serious manifestation of a refereeing system whose credibility has been completely undermined," the club said in the letter on Monday.