GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers coach Matt LaFleur wouldn't say how close the team came to a trade for Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller before Tuesday's deadline, but he said there was no disagreement when it came to how Green Bay should handle the negotiations.

"I don't know if anything ever got that serious," LaFleur said after Tuesday's trade deadline.

Multiple media reports indicated the Packers offered the Texans a fourth-round pick, but Houston wanted no less than a second-rounder. ESPN's Dianna Russini reported that there was a disagreement within "the highest levels of the organization" over whether adding a top-end receiver in the short term was worth the price.

LaFleur said he was in regular contact with general manager Brian Gutekunst throughout the process.

"I have no idea where anything like that would ever come from," LaFleur said. "We're in constant communication, we're on the same page and there is no truth to that. I promise you that."

Had the Packers traded for Fuller or any other player on Tuesday, he would not have been able to play Thursday at San Francisco because of COVID-19 intake protocols.

"I wouldn't say we necessarily need to, because I think we've shown what we can do," Packers receiver Davante Adams said Tuesday when asked about adding a receiver. "When I went down, guys stepped up and did what they had to do. Stepped up big. I wouldn't say it's a need. Obviously, I've said this before, I don't think it's any secret that could help us potentially. I wouldn't be opposed to it. It could help us. But I definitely got full faith and trust in my guys here to be able to get it done."

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, when asked whether he has talked to Gutekunst about possible trade help, said: "I'm just going to reiterate what I've said and continue to say, is that I clearly understand my role and my place on the team, and that's my focus."

The Packers could actually get some receiver help for Thursday's game at San Francisco in the form of Allen Lazard, who hasn't played since Week 3. That's when he had his eight-catch, 146-yard, one-touchdown game against the Saints. Just days after that game, he underwent core muscle surgery and was placed on injured reserve. He returned to practice last week but was not activated for Sunday's loss to the Vikings.

"I think he's really close," LaFleur said. "I think he's done everything that we've asked him to do, and the trainers have asked him to do, and it's just a matter of when we feel like it's safe for him to go out there, and then he'll be out there. I know he wants to be out there in the worst way, and he wishes he was out there yesterday. But we're going to take our time and be smart with him and make sure that he's able to go out there and play to the level that he's been able to do for the last year and a half."

LaFleur sounded less optimistic about running back Aaron Jones' status, saying, "We'll give him up to game time, and then we'll figure it out. So, we'll see."

Jones has missed the past two games because of a calf injury, and the Packers already know they will be without two of their other top running backs, Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon, because they were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week along with linebacker Kamal Martin.

After Mookie Betts made spectacular play after spectacular play in the postseason -- including two home run robberies and a key catch of a sinking liner in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series -- it should come as no surprise that Betts is the National League Gold Glove winner for right field. In his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Betts claimed his fifth consecutive Gold Glove Award after winning four with the Boston Red Sox.

While postseason play doesn't factor into the awards, Betts' catch of Dansby Swanson's line drive in the third inning might have saved the game -- and the Dodgers' season. The Braves, already up 3-1 in the series, led 2-0 with runners at second and third and one out when Betts made his grab, with Marcell Ozuna then ruled out for leaving third base early. The catch kept the game close, and the Dodgers rallied to win 7-3.

"Unbelievable play by an unbelievable player in a big moment," teammate Corey Seager said after that game. "That is what you need to win baseball games this time in the year."

Betts ranked tied for third among all players with 11 defensive runs saved, trailing only Nolan Arenado's 15 and Joey Gallo's 12 and tied with Byron Buxton. Arenado won his eighth consecutive Gold Glove at third base -- matching all eight seasons he has played in the majors. Gallo is known for his prodigious home runs, but he earned his first Gold Glove after moving to right field on a full-time basis for the first time in his career.

This year's Gold Gloves were based solely on a collection of defensive metrics known as the SABR Defensive Index, which combines several methods of estimating defensive performance statistically. Due to MLB's regional schedule this season, managers and coaches, usually one part of the final component, did not vote.

Other repeat winners:

In the National League, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (fourth overall) and second baseman Kolten Wong of the Cardinals (second overall) were winners. The Cardinals surprisingly did not pick up Wong's $12.5 million team option for 2021, so he takes his Gold Glove into free agency. Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart also won his second Gold Glove after winning in 2017.

In the American League, Indians catcher Roberto Perez won his second straight and Royals left fielder Alex Gordon won his fourth in a row and eighth of his career. Gordon, who announced his retirement, becomes the sixth player to win a Gold Glove in his final season (joining pitchers Greg Maddux, Mike Mussina and Bobby Shantz; outfielder Roberto Clemente; and first baseman Wes Parker). Gordon finishes his career as one of the greatest defensive left fielders of all time. Based on total zone fielding runs, an estimated defensive measurement that goes back to 1953, Gordon trails only Barry Bonds and Carl Yastrzemski in career runs saved.

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert beat out Buxton, and Mariners first baseman Evan White edged out two-time winner Matt Olson, with the pair becoming the first rookie winners since Arenado in 2013. Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, known for his fielding wizardry, struggled at the plate in 2020 but finally won his first Gold Glove, beating out Swanson, who led all shortstop in DRS.

James Bond loved his women, his cars … and his squash
By TED GROSS (Publisher of Daily Squash Report)

When Sean Connery passed away last week I dug out an old photo from the spring of 1965.

The father of one of the kids in my elementary school class owned the British Motors dealership in San Francisco, and one day a vehicle pulls up in front of the school.

Not a big deal, it was only the most famous car on the planet then, the Aston Martin DB5 from the movie ‘Goldfinger’, which had come out in the US in January.

So I emailed my old classmates and asked if anyone remembered that day, and a couple of them called it the best day of their life to that point.

Then of course Pussy Galore (played by the great Honor Blackman) was discussed, who multiple people pointed out was our 5th grade class heartthrob.

One guy told an amazing story, of riding in the Aston Martin to a ranch in Napa that weekend.

“Mike Ashley drove Jeff and I up to Napa in the 007 car. Being a two seater, Jeff sat in the left side of the passenger seat and I sat half on his lap jammed in the right side of the seat against the center console. I remember when we stopped for gas, we put up the bulletproof screen.

“I’ll never forget that experience. I remember one thing that wasn’t in the movie, that being a drawer under the driver’s seat with moulded sections for a pistol and knives. Wow, was that cool!”

A little research shows that Mike Ashley was the UK sales manager for Aston Martin, and brought the car to the US on the SS France in December of 1964 for a promotional tour.

Ashley confirmed in an interview with CNBC in 2010 that the car was a pleasure to drive and the gadgets worked perfectly.

I have to admit, the photo of the Aston Martin being surrounded by our class has aged well.

One of the ‘kids’ said yesterday: “It’s a priceless photograph. So much action and energy and focus.”

It was interesting to learn that Sean Connery was an enthusiastic squash player. A picture emerged on social media yesterday of him relaxing after a game in 1981 and in the caption he says: “It’s an exhausting but fascinating game. It’s probably on of the best gams for keeping fit and, because it’s played inside, the weather doesn’t spoil the fun.

“That’s important from an actor’s point of view because he has to enjoy his sport at all sorts of odd times, fitting it in whenever possible.”

Pictures courtesy of Ted Gross and MGM

KNOXVILLE, Iowa – The non-profit National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum will be conducting its annual World Finals auction a little differently this year.

The auction, featuring items from both the sprint car and late model world, will be conducted online from Nov. 4-11, with the auction closing at 4 p.m CST on Nov. 11. The auction will showcase more than 60 items donated to the museum for auction purposes. The auction benefits both the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum in Knoxville, Iowa, and the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in Florence, Ky.

The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum normally holds up to seven live auctions a year. This year National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum officials have elected to go online as big racing events have been either postponed or canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Unfortunately, the pandemic has hit us at the museum as well as everyone else,” said National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum executive director, Bob Baker. “We want to thank everyone who helped us with our July and August auctions. We will miss heading down to Charlotte in November to be sure, but hopefully, this will give race fans and our supporters who didn’t make it to the Last Call in Charlotte a chance to support both our museum and the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in Kentucky.”

A large assortment of unique and autographed memorabilia will be a part of the auction, including: an autographed 1:18 scale Kyle Larson die-cast, an autographed Josh Richards door panel and other panels, a Knoxville Raceway lighted sign and autographed items from Brandon Sheppard, Jonathan Davenport, Tim McCreadie, Billy Boat, Kyle Bronson, Johnny Sauter, Shannon Buckingham, Jimmy Owens, Bob Trostle and many more.

Visit www.SprintCarAuction.com to view the lost listing and register to bid.

SOMERSET, Ky. – Chris Tilley, the owner of the, Iron-Man Late Model Series, has announced the series will expand to feature Northern and Southern divisions.

The Northern tour will cover parts Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. With a few events already booked, Tilley hopes to include between 12 and 15 races on the schedule for the Northern tour.

The Iron-Man Southern tour will feature events in Kentucky, Tennessee and North Georgia, with Tilley looking to schedule between 15 and 18 races. Each tour will have its own points fund, plus bonus money for anyone who runs both tours.

In addition, Tilley confirmed the Brucebilt Performance Iron-Man Open Wheel Series will continue next season with events in Kentucky and Tennessee. Brucebilt will also be returning as title sponsor of the series, which is expected to feature between 15 and 18 races.

“We want to iterate the fact that this isn’t another new series, we have just expanded our current tour to include two regions,” Tilley said in a press release. “This will strengthen regional series racing in both regions while allowing drivers to run for some extra points money and not interfere with tracks weekly late model events. It will also fill the void left by some of the series from days gone by that have went out of business or not continued.

In addition, Tilley is working to secure a new title sponsor for the Iron-Man Late Model Series, which was most recently sponsored by Schaeffer’s Oil

“We just finished up a multi-year contract with Schaeffer’s Oil and we want to thank them for their amazing support for the last five years as the title sponsor,” said Tilley.

Additional details, including schedules for the Northern and Southern regions, will be announced at a later date.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – POWRi officials have announced the launch of the POWRi Super Stock division, a cost-effective division that offers competitors and tracks a program of growth and competitiveness for future racing seasons.

“We have been working hard going through quite a few different sets of rules and trying to develop a package that is as cost-effective as possible for the racers, as well as tracks, to ensure a program that can maintain and grow,” said Lake Ozark Speedway General Manager and spearhead of the POWRi Super Stock Division, Kevin Greven. “POWRi has over 20 series competing in over 500 events on the schedule for 2021. With that being said, this program will receive the same attention and national recognition as any other program POWRi offers, only this one has been specifically developed for the Super Stock class.”

Comparable to Street Stocks or Stock Cars, the POWRi Super Stock division is set to hit speedways in 2021. Tracks already registered to host the division include Batesville Motor Speedway, Lake Ozark Speedway, Lebanon Midway Speedway, Legit Speedway Park, Monett Motor Speedway, North Central Arkansas Speedway, Old No. 1 Speedway, Old 71 Speedway and Poplar Bluff Motorsports Park, with other regional tracks in conversation with POWRi.

Added incentives for competitors will see each track offer their POWRi Super Stock Division yearly point fund as they have in the past with their existing class to crown a season champion for their track. On top of that, POWRi will offer a $10,000 POWRi National Super Stock year-end point fund for drivers participating across the entire group of weekly sanctioned facilities.

In addition to registered competitors challenging for a National POWRi Super Stock year-end point fund, participating tracks will look to give the competitors, teams and their sponsors broader exposure through POWRi TV and on-demand broadcasts.

Unlike other programs, the POWRi Super Stock division will have no cost to the tracks. Tracks will not be required to collect money from the drivers through additional pit pass costs that would in turn have to be sent to a sanctioning body. There is a single yearly driver registration fee of $100, which supplies the $100,000 secondary insurance policy for the season for each participating POWRi Super Stock driver as a requirement for all participants by the POWRi Racing League.

“My phone and messaging have been crazy with requests from existing street stock/factory stock/stock car/super stock drivers to get this all together and out to everyone; so that everyone can be on the same page and assured there is a sanctioning body as well as tracks that are looking out for their best interests,” said Greven. “It’s a very simple program, that compared to many of the sets we looked at and offers a simple set of rules from a sanctioning body that has the back of the track and racer.”

Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop and center Tyler Seguin both had offseason surgery and will each miss approximately five months, the team said Tuesday.

Bishop, who did not play in the Stanley Cup Final against eventual champion Tampa Bay after being deemed "unfit to play," had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee on Oct. 21 in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Seguin underwent a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair on Nov. 2 in New York. He had 17 goals and 33 assists for the Stars last season. Seguin did not miss a game during the postseason, getting 2 goals and 11 assists.

Bayern Munich came from behind to crush FC Salzburg 6-2 with two goals from Robert Lewandowski, stretching their record winning run in the Champions League to 14 consecutive games and leading their group by five points after three games.

The Bavarians, who have won five titles in 2020 including the Champions League, went behind after only four minutes when Mergim Berisha was left completely unmarked inside the box to beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

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Bayern instantly bounced back and Serge Gnabry had his shot cleared off the line before Lewandowski levelled with a 21st minute penalty.

Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen then turned a Thomas Muller cross into his own net a minute before the break.

The hosts came close to an equaliser right after the restart but Neuer got his fingertips to Enock Mwepu's shot to turn it wide. The Bayern keeper was beaten in the 66th minute, however, when Masaya Okugawa fired Salzburg level.

Despite a string of chances for the home side, it was Bayern who scored again via a header from defender Jerome Boateng following a Joshua Kimmich corner in the 79th with Leroy Sane scoring a perfectly curled shot four minutes later.

Lewandowski headed his second goal in the 88th and France international Lucas Hernandez drilled in a sixth in stoppage time to lift Bayern to nine points in Group A ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Lokomotiv Moscow, who drew 1-1 at home to Atletico, are third on two, with Salzburg in last place on one.

Striker Diogo Jota netted his first hat-trick for Liverpool as they thrashed Atalanta 5-0 on Tuesday in a blistering performance to go five points clear at the top of Champions League Group D after three straight wins.

Jota's treble continued his scintillating start to his Liverpool career while Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also got on the scoresheet in a superb display from Jurgen Klopp's Premier League champions.

"I don't think anyone could've defended against Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota so it wasn't about the tactics or our system it was about the team," Klopp said after the match.

Jota wasted an early chance before giving his side the lead in the 16th minute, latching on to a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold and holding off Jose Luis Palomino before delicately flicking the ball past Marco Sportiello.

The Portugal forward, who arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported fee of £41 million in September, made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute, controlling a raking pass from Joe Gomez with his left foot before firing home with his right.

"I'm playing in the best team of my career so far. I don't know if it's the best moment of my career but obviously scoring goals is my way of playing football. I'm happy with this, a great win away in Champions League, a good moment and a good night," Jota said afterward.

With the home side reeling, Salah scored a super solo goal two minutes into the second half, collecting a clearance from Andy Robertson and running from the halfway line before curling the ball in at the far post.

Minutes later it was Mane's turn to make it 4-0 with a sublime chipped finish before Jota completed his hat-trick with another coolly-taken effort in the 55th for his seventh goal in his first 10 appearances for Liverpool.

Atalanta's best chances on the night fell to Duvan Zapata, who clipped the underside of the crossbar with a superb curling strike. He twice tested Liverpool keeper Alisson with stinging shots and also had a stoppage-time effort ruled out for offside.

Salah almost scored a sixth for Liverpool in the 83rd minute. Once again he ran half the length of the pitch after an Atalanta corner was cleared, but this time his shot was steered out for a corner by Sportiello.

The victory puts Liverpool top of the group with nine points after three games, having conceded no goals. Ajax Amsterdam are second on four points and ahead of Atalanta on goal difference after a 2-1 win away to Danish side FC Midtjylland.

Liverpool now turn their attention to the Premier League and their marquee weekend matchup against Manchester City ahead of the international break.

"90% of my players have three games in the international break, my players are still on duty. After City this weekend it's only me who gets a week off. But we have to recover now and we will need it. Then we can see who is available and City are a different team so we have to make sure we're ready for that," Klopp added.

Sergio Ramos scored his 100th goal for Real Madrid as they beat Internazionale 3-2 on Tuesday night to maintain their chances of qualifying from Champions League Group B.

A busy first half saw Marco Asensio have a shot tipped over the bar by keeper Samir Handanovic with just three minutes played, before Nicolo Barella hit the woodwork with a header and Arturo Vidal fired into the side netting. Karim Benzema opened the scoring, pouncing on Achraf Hakimi's poor back-pass, and Ramos doubled Madrid's lead with a header from Toni Kroos' corner. Lautaro Martinez pulled a goal back a minute later after Barella's backheel flick.

After the break, Inter equalised through Ivan Perisic before substitutes Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined for a late Madrid winner.

Positives

Madrid's hopes of making it through to the knockout stage were looking slim after their 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk two weeks ago and going 2-0 down at Borussia Monchengladbach last week. They fought back to get a point in Germany, and this win, against their strongest group rival, puts them in a much better position.

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The reaction after Inter fought back to 2-2 was impressive, with Vinicius and Rodrygo providing some energy and cutting edge off the bench. The latter now has five goals in eight Champions League appearances and is a very useful plan B for coach Zinedine Zidane.

Negatives

Real Madrid have conceded two or more goals in their past five Champions League matches, and they haven't kept a clean sheet in their past six games in all competitions. Going 2-0 up early on, they should have been able to go on and win this one comfortably. Instead, it was a much more difficult, hard-fought victory. The team need to find a way to tighten up at the back or they stand no chance of winning the Champions League this season.

Manager rating out of 10

7 -- The match saw Zidane face friend and former teammate Antonio Conte, a coach Real Madrid almost appointed in 2018. The two managers could not be more different in style and approach: Zidane the laid-back man-manager versus Conte the fiery disciplinarian.

Zidane made two changes from the team that beat Huesca in La Liga, both expected, with Ferland Mendy replacing Marcelo and Kroos coming in for Luka Modric. With the exception of the injured Dani Carvajal, this is now Zidane's preferred big-game eleven. The team started well, helped out by a generous Inter at the back, and then let the visitors back into it, before Zidane's double change paid off.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Thibaut Courtois, 6 -- Saved from Martinez early on. Could do nothing about either of the Inter goals. Courtois needs more protection from his defence.

DF Lucas Vazquez, 6 -- Fit after coming off injured at the weekend, and went up against Ashley Young. Got forward frequently, overlapping Asensio. Caught badly by Vidal, who was booked, before half-time.

DF Raphael Varane, 7 -- One well-timed interception to steal the ball from Martinez in the first half, but left the same player too much space for his goal. Looks better with Ramos alongside him, as he admitted pre-match.

DF Sergio Ramos, 8 -- One hundred goals for Real Madrid now. This one was vintage Ramos, rising to meet Kroos' corner at the near post with a guided header. Busy defensively, getting an early warning when he was beaten by Martinez on the left, and blocking a dangerous second-half cross.

DF Ferland Mendy, 7 -- Looks so comfortable in a Real Madrid shirt now, regardless of the occasion. Strong in attack and defence, with all the ingredients to be Madrid's first-choice left-back for many years to come.

MF Casemiro, 7 -- Performed well in a midfield battle up against the combative duo of Vidal and Marcelo Brozovic.

MF Federico Valverde, 8 -- Has played so well lately that his selection ahead of Modric is no longer a surprise. Put one dangerous-looking early cross into the six-yard box, before shooting twice over the bar in the first half. Played a key role in Madrid's winner too.

MF Toni Kroos, 7 -- Fresh after being rested against Huesca. Swung in a trademark, pinpoint corner delivery for Ramos' goal, and played well before being taken off for Modric.

FW Eden Hazard, 6 -- His second start in a row. Quiet, with some encouraging moments. Madrid will hope one first-half burst into the box, moving at pace with the ball at his feet, was a sign of things to come. Hurt by Brozovic in the second half and was substituted not long afterwards.

FW Karim Benzema, 7 -- Four goals in three games now. Reacted quickly to take advantage of ex-teammate Hakimi's error for the opener. It was his 49th Champions League group-stage goal. Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have more.

FW Marco Asensio, 6 -- His fifth consecutive start, as Zidane has kept faith in Asensio, backing him to recover his form prior to his cruciate ligament injury. Had an early shot well saved by Handanovic and caused early problems as an inverted winger cutting in from the right, but faded as the match went on.

Substitutes

FW Vinicius Junior, 8 -- Introduced with 25 minutes to go, coming on for Hazard, and set up Rodrygo's goal brilliantly.

FW Rodrygo, 8 -- Replaced Asensio and grabbed a late winner. His goal-scoring record in this competition is impressive.

MF Luka Modric, N/R -- Played the last 10 minutes.