Cam Newton is re-signing with the Patriots on a one-year deal, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

The contract is worth up to close to $14 million, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. About $6 million of the deal is tied to incentives, a source told ESPN's Mike Reiss.

Newton, who will turn 32 in May, hoped to return to New England after signing a modest one-year deal with the team in 2020. On the "I Am Athlete" podcast in late February, he said he would be open to another one-year deal in New England.

"I'm getting tired of changing [teams]," the quarterback said. "I am at a point in my career where I know way more than I did last year. Yes, I would go back."

In 2020, Newton was 242-of-368 for 2,657 yards passing, with 8 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But while that production didn't meet his personal standard -- in part because the receivers and tight ends around him weren't high-caliber options -- he was effective as a rusher, with 592 yards on 137 attempts (4.3 yards per carry) and 12 touchdowns.

Newton had started hot in 2020 after joining the Patriots in late June, but after testing positive for COVID-19 in early October, he said it was a challenge for him to catch up to the pace of the team's ever-evolving offense. His performance dipped notably, and he said it reinforced how important it is to be with a new team in the offseason.

The Patriots went 7-8 with Newton at the helm and finished 7-9, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2008 season.

Before joining the Patriots, Newton, the No. 1 pick in 2011, was released by the Carolina Panthers after missing 14 games in 2019 with a Lisfranc injury and the final two games of the 2018 season with a shoulder injury that also required surgery.

He spent nine seasons with the Panthers and was named the NFL MVP in 2015, when he accounted for 45 total touchdowns in the regular season and led Carolina to Super Bowl 50, where it lost to the Denver Broncos.

Newton, who holds most of Carolina's career passing records, has thrown for 31,698 yards and 190 touchdowns with 118 interceptions and has rushed for 5,398 yards and 70 touchdowns.

The Boston Globe first reported news of Newton's return to the Patriots.

Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz said Friday that quarterback D'Eriq King is "smashing every benchmark" in his rehab from a torn ACL in his right knee.

Speaking to reporters on Zoom to preview the start of spring practice next week, Diaz gave an update on the Hurricanes' starting quarterback, injured in the Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma State this past December.

Although King won't participate this spring, Diaz expects him to be ready to go for fall camp. Miami opens the season against Alabama on Sept. 4 in Atlanta.

"He's smashing every benchmark and every goal they put in front of him, to the point we almost have to slow him down," Diaz said. "The other day, I'm in the weight room and he's on an exercise bike and there's almost steam coming off the wheels because he's riding the thing so hard. We're still only 2 months and change from the surgery, so it's that point where you start to feel good and you have to slow down, you have to be more careful now than you were in the first eight weeks."

The week before the bowl game, King announced he would return to Miami for one more season. In 2020, King threw for 2,686 yards and 23 touchdowns with five interceptions, also rushing for 538 yards and four touchdowns.

Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said he expects King to be able to throw to receivers and do 7-on-7 work as early as May.

"When it happened, I almost in a joking way was like, 'What's the record for the fastest guy coming back from an ACL, because whatever that is, he's going to beat it,'" Lashlee said. "We don't have to rush that process, and we're not going to. I feel really good he's going to have plenty of time to get ready going into fall camp."

Diaz also said cornerback Al Blades Jr., who announced in December that he had been diagnosed with myocarditis after going through COVID-19 protocols, has been cleared to resume physical activity. Diaz added that the team is being cautious with Blades and that there is no timetable for when he will return to practice.

Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, has been linked to COVID-19.

The Virginia men's basketball team is out of the ACC tournament following a positive COVID-19 test within the program, the ACC announced Friday morning.

The Cavaliers were scheduled to play Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament semifinals on Friday evening after defeating Syracuse in the quarterfinals. Georgia Tech will now automatically advance to the ACC championship game on Saturday against Florida State or North Carolina.

"Obviously we'd prefer to win the game to advance to the finals," Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said on the ACC Network's Packer & Durham show. "But hey, it is what it is. We'll have to be ready to play. You're still playing for a championship."

Virginia is the second team in as many days forced to withdraw from the ACC tournament due to COVID-19 issues and contact tracing, after Duke left on Thursday morning.

While Duke athletic director Kevin White announced Thursday that the Blue Devils' season was over, that's not necessarily the case for Virginia. To play in the NCAA tournament, a team needs to show seven consecutive negative daily tests before arriving in Indianapolis, then undergo daily testing while inside the controlled environment there.

Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of men's basketball, has also said that a team just needs five healthy players to play in an NCAA tournament game. If Virginia doesn't have a widespread COVID-19 outbreak and the rest of the team continues to test negative, the Cavaliers should be eligible to play in the NCAA tournament.

"I'm heartbroken for our student-athletes, coaches and support staff at both Duke and Virginia," ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement. "We will follow the lead of our medical personnel to ensure the health and safety of our programs remain the top priority. Our student-athletes and schools have been remarkable this entire season while enduring incredibly challenging circumstances."

The Cavaliers, the ACC regular-season champions, are a projected 4-seed in the NCAA tournament in Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology. Since the coronavirus pandemic canceled the NCAA tournament last year, Virginia remains the reigning champion after winning the title in 2019.

"We don't know the details of Virginia's testing, therefore we don't know the impact it may or may not have on our situation," said Pete Moore, spokesman for Syracuse. "It's safe to assume we did not have any positive tests prior to the Virginia game yesterday since all our guys were eligible to play."

Pastner said his team has not been back to Atlanta since it left to play Wake Forest on March 4 to create its own bubble. He told his players they can go in elevators only with people in their bubble.

"You can do everything right and still get a positive ... that's what it comes down to," Pastner said. "Can you get lucky enough to not get it?"

TAMPA, Fla. -- Quarterback Tom Brady has reached agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a four-year contract extension that voids to a one-year extension, sources tell ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal ties Brady to Tampa through the 2022 season, sources said.

The move saves the Buccaneers $19 million against the cap this year, sources said. The additional voidable years are there to defray the cost. It was another effort from Brady to keep as much of the team together as possible.

As of Friday morning, prior to Brady's new deal, the Bucs were $7.756 million over the $182.5 million salary cap, after using the franchise tag on wide receiver Chris Godwin and re-signing inside linebacker Lavonte David to a two-year extension.

Like Brady's deal, David's contract includes voidable years, something the Bucs have not used in well over a decade. David will only count $3.5 million against the salary cap in 2021, despite playing on a two-year deal worth $25 million because his contract includes three voidable years. The drawbacks to doing voidable years, however, mean that they'll essentially be borrowing from the future. But they recognize that Brady's window is a small one, even with an extra year on what was originally a two-year contract.

"Tom is one of those guys that understands that it takes a whole village to win," David said Friday. "It takes a takes a team, a group of guys to win football games. Me, the same thing. I'm all about team. And I'll do what I can, do what it takes to hopefully get everybody back and go do this thing again. ... The bond that we had, the bond that we shared this year -- it was like no other."

Brady's deal gives the Bucs space to try and bring back outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, who notched 4.0 sacks in the postseason and led the NFL with 19.5 sacks last year.

But Barrett isn't the only one the Bucs have to think about. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, wide receiver Antonio Brown, kicker Ryan Succop and running back Leonard Fournette are all set to become free agents on March 17 if new deals can't be reached.

In February, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said that he and coach Bruce Arians would be "elated" if they could extend Brady.

Brady, 43, has previously said his goal was to play until age 45, but he said during the week of the Super Bowl that he would now consider playing beyond 45. Brady will be 44 next season, and tacking on a year to his deal keeps him under contract through his 45th birthday. Family will play a major role in determining if, in fact, Brady plays beyond that.

In his first season with the Buccaneers, Brady won his seventh Super Bowl, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in the NFL's first Super Bowl played, and won, by the hosting team.

Caris LeVert will make his long-awaited Indiana Pacers debut on Saturday, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The guard underwent surgery to remove a small cancerous mass on his left kidney in late January. The issue was discovered during a physical exam conducted after he was traded by the Brooklyn Nets as part of a four-team deal centered around James Harden.

LeVert has been ramping up in recent practices for his return with the Pacers. Indiana will play the Phoenix Suns on Saturday in the second game of a three-game road trip that begins Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.

After a strong start to the season, the Pacers have struggled since trading Victor Oladipo to Houston in the same four-team trade that netted LeVert. Indiana is in desperate need of a third creator behind Malcolm Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis.

"[LeVert] looks good. To me, he looks ready to play," Brogdon told The Indianapolis Star on Thursday. "A complete game-changer. He changes the scouting report. Having another dynamic scorer on the floor can really help this team."

The 26-year-old LeVert averaged 18.5 points and six assists in 12 games for Brooklyn prior to the trade.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis is retiring after a 15-year career.

A three-time Gold Glove winner, Markakis holds the record for consecutive games without an error for an outfielder at 398. He was as steady at the plate as he was in the outfield, finishing with 2,388 career hits and a slash line of .288/.357/.423. Markakis played in no fewer than 104 games every year of his career except for 2020's pandemic-shortened season.

"I tell myself all the time, whether it is now or if I was fortunate enough to get that opportunity to be a Hall of Famer -- to get that many hits -- that 3,000 hits or 2,400 hits, it's not going to define the player that I was," Markakis told The Athletic. "I think I played the right way and that's all that really matters to me."

The 37-year-old was drafted seventh overall by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2003 draft and spent the first nine years of his career with the Orioles. A Georgia native, Markakis signed with the Braves before the 2015 season. His lone All-Star season came while playing for Atlanta in 2018 at the age of 34.

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians traded utility infielder Mike Freeman to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday for cash.

Manager Terry Francona announced the deal from the team's year-round training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, shortly after he said reigning Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber will start the opener at Detroit on April 1.

"That's probably not any big secret," Francona said.

No, but dealing the 33-year-old Freeman was a little surprising as the Indians valued his versatility and experience. Freeman played 99 games and batted. 270 over the past two seasons with Cleveland, which signed him to a minor-league deal last month with a camp invitation.

However, with Freeman behind Amed Rosario, who came over from the New York Mets in the Francisco Lindor deal this winter, and Yu Chang, he was probably not going to make Cleveland's roster and the club found him a fresh start.

"They seem to have what they think is a better opportunity for him to maybe not only make their club, but actually play a little bit more," Francona said. "It's not fun saying goodbye to someone you care that much about, but on the flip side, knowing he's got a really good opportunity kind of made us feel good."

Rosario is a shortstop, but the Indians are going to give him a look in center field starting next week.

NOTE: Top prospect Nolan Jones was among several other players optioned. Francona said the 22-year-old Jones will continue work at third base and in the outfield.

Andy Murray has withdrawn from next week's Dubai Championships after the birth of his fourth child.

Instead he will to travel to the United States for the Miami Open, which takes place from March 22 and where he is expected to receive a wildcard entry.

The two-time Wimbledon champion is currently ranked 116 in the world.

Flanker Jamie Ritchie is one of four changes to the Scotland team that hosts Ireland in the Six Nations on Sunday.

It will be Nel's first Test start since the 2019 World Cup.

Blade Thomson, Darcy Graham, James Lang, and the suspended Zander Fagerson drop out of the side that lost 25-24 at Murrayfield a month ago.

Gregor Townsend's men opened with a win in England before losing to Wales.

However, they have not played since after their meeting with France in Paris was called off because of a Covid outbreak in the French camp.

That has yet to be rearranged, but 26 March has been widely mooted as a potential date - just six days after Scotland host Italy.

After losing their opening two games to Wales and France, Ireland go into their fourth match of the campaign on the back of a 48-10 win over Italy in Rome.

Scotland: Hogg (capt); Maitland, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Nel; Cummings, J Gray; Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.

Replacements: Cherry, Bhatti, Berghan, Gilchrist, Haining, Steele, H Jones, Graham.

MCLEANSBORO, Ill. – Stringer Performance has taken back the reigns of the Clay Millican Top Fuel race team in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.

In addition, Stringer Performance will continue to build its marketing alliance with Nitro Funny Car driver Paul Lee, owner of McLeod Racing, and Street Outlaws/No Prep Kings Star Jeff Lutz.

Also back with Stringer and Millican is longtime primary sponsor, Parts Plus, who recently announced their new partnership with Pronto. Parts Plus has been with Millican for many years and continues to support the race team with a branding and hospitality program that will continue throughout the entire NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series racing campaign.

“I am beyond ecstatic with what lies ahead for this team as we have been able to bring on some great new partners on the marketing side while at the same time developing a new more centralized group of team members,” said team owner Doug Stringer. “We have been representing Parts Plus and all of their members for over seven years now and in an ever changing sponsorship environment today that speaks volumes. The family atmosphere is never far from this organization from our marketing partners and team members, to our friends at Paul Lee Racing and Jeff Lutz Racing. I cannot wait to get Mike Klober and Clay Millican and this team into the winners circle this year.”

“It has been a long but good off season for our team,” said Millican. “We are excited for our continued relationship with long time partner Parts Plus. Super excited for the opportunity to go out there and stomp on that loud pedal for all the NHRA drag racing fans.”

A new look expanded hospitality trailer has been added to the overall pit area to serve both professional race teams, which includes Paul Lee Racing and Stringer Performance. This Paul Lee Racing hauler will sit between the McLeod Racing Nitro Funny Car and the Parts Plus Top Fuel dragster for invited VIP guests, company employees and corporate sweepstakes winners.

“Personally, and as a team, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Doug Stinger, Clay Millican, Steven Cole and the entire Stringer Performance team,” said team owner Paul Lee.
“We seem to have a family and fun environment, which is important to me. Yes, we are there to race hard, but we also have a lot of fun. We had an awesome 2020 working together, and I’m looking forward to 2021 with high expectations for both our teams and our marketing partners. Can’t wait for Gainesville.”

Both teams are preparing and testing for this week’s NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season opener the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

New this year with both race teams is an official eyewear partner, Fatheadz, which has been outfitting professional racers since 2004. Rico Elmore is the founder of Fatheadz Eyewear and has renewed his partnership and friendship with Stringer Performance.

“Doug and I have been friends for quite some time, so I’m excited to officially partner with him for the 2021 season, said Elmore. “It’ll be great to see, not only the Stringer Performance cars carrying the Fatheadz Eyewear brand, but to see Clay, Paul Lee, and all of the team members showcasing our eyewear at the track each weekend.”