PHOENIX — The Chicago White Sox could have kept waiting to see if the New York Yankees eventually panicked and gave up prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones.

They could have waited to see if the Texas Rangers would have coughed up a better package of prospects closer to opening day.

Instead, they believed that Dylan Cease’s trade value would not get any higher after his last spring-training start, and once the San Diego Padres included a young outfield prospect in their proposal, they pounced.

The Yankees, who had every intention of acquiring Cease, now will likely turn to the free agent market and engage with Michael Lorenzen, or perhaps even Mike Clevinger, while seeing if Blake Snell’s asking price drops.

The Rangers may turn once again to owner Ray Davis and plead their case for making an offer to bring back free-agent starter Jordan Montgomery, who would love to return.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

The Padres, after trading away All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and letting Cy Young winner Blake Snell walk, have let everyone know they still plan to be a contender.

And for the White Sox?

They now are in their second massive rebuild in six years, hoping that pitching prospects Drew Thorpe and Jairo Iriarate, along with middle reliever Steven Wilson and outfield prospect Samuel Zavala, are the haul they need to jump-start their way back to being a contender.

“We felt it was the right time to make this trade,’ White Sox GM Chris Getz said Thursday. “We had a threshold that we felt that needed to be met. Up until [Wednesday], we didn’t feel like we had a deal on the table that met the mark. It finally came together and we moved on it.’

The White Sox, who had been shopping Cease all winter, never got close to trading him until his last outing on Tuesday when he struck out eight batters in 3 ⅓ innings against the Cincinnati Reds. The Yankees increased their offer, but still refused to include Jones. The Rangers made an offer. And the Padres included Zavala in their proposal, which persuaded the White Sox to jump on it.

“His last outing vs. Cincinnati was an impressive one,’ Getz said.  “There was a lot of buzz at that game. Unsurprisingly, teams really stepped up.’

Suitors still believed in Cease, who finished second in the American League Cy Young race two years ago, but needed to be convinced he was the same pitcher after struggling last season with a 7-9 record and 4.58 ERA. He squashed those doubts this spring, yielding six hits and two runs with 14 strikeouts in 8 ⅓ innings.

“Last year wasn’t Dylan’s best year,’ Getz said. ‘There was a level of concern that perhaps he wasn’t going to get back to who he’s been in the past. Other teams comfort levels were raised when they were able to see it in person. ….

“We had a highly motivated team that wanted to start the year out with Dylan Cease.’

Reviews of the trade are mixed among MLB scouts. Some thought the return was too light considering that catcher Ethan Salas, left-handed starter Robby Snelling or right-hander Dylan Lesko were not included. Thorpe, whom the Padres acquired from the Yankees in the Soto trade, was the only prospect ranked among the top 100 by MLB Pipeline (85).

Scouts rave about Thorpe’s change-up, but say he doesn’t overwhelm you, and project him to be a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. Iriarate has the best raw talent, hitting 100-mph on the gun, but may wind up as a closer instead of a front-line starter. The wild card is Zavala, a player some scouts compare to former Colorado Rockies three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove center fielder Carlos Gonzalez, and others to two-time Gold Glove winner Gerardo Parra. Zavala, 19, hit 14 homers and stole 21 bases last season at Class A.

If the White Sox waited, and kept Cease until the July 30 trade deadline, perhaps they could have received a better package considering Cease is earning just $8 million this season and isn’t a free agent until after the 2025 season. Then again, if they waited, they were also gambling Cease would be healthy and pitching as he did in 2022.

“That’s a risk,’ Getz said. “Were we willing to take that? Of course, we were willing to take that into the season.

“However, there is no denying a lot of things can happen on a baseball field throughout the season. You weigh that risk with the offer that was given to us by San Diego, we felt like that was something that was likely not to be met if we would have taken that into the season.’

The Padres, who of course could have held onto their prospects if they just re-signed Snell, say they simply don’t have the money to keep him. They slashed about $90 million from their payroll, leaving only about $20 million to spend. They still would like to acquire at least one more outfielder, and have engaged in talks with free-agent outfielder Tommy Pham.

Yet, they still believe they can contend for at least a wild-card berth, and with a rotation of Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Cease and Michael King, to go along with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts, they could be formidable if they reach the postseason.

“We like our group, we like where we’re at,’ GM A.J. Preller told reporters before leaving for Seoul, South Korea. “The ability to acquire someone like Dylan Cease, add another horse to the front of our rotation, we couldn’t pass that up.’

The White Sox, meanwhile, hope to contend again within two years. They’re still open for business with center fielder Luis Robert Jr. the only untouchable, while dangling pitcher Michael Kopech, who’s now being converted to the bullpen, along with third baseman Yoan Moncada and slugger Eloy Jimenez.

Certainly, Getz needs this return to be much more productive than when they traded ace Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox for Kopech and Moncada, who have been huge disappointments.

“We feel like it was a very balanced deal,’ Getz said. “And we’re not talking about guys that are in rookie ball or A-ball. We’re talking about guys that are going to touch our major-league club and are going to be at the lower minor leagues and working towards the big leagues as well. …

“To inject this type of talent into the organization, I woke up excited today.’

The Padres, who departed for South Korea, will wake up from their flight feeling a whole lot better, too. Cease is scheduled to meet the team in Seoul. The Padres once again are contenders, believing that last year’s bitterly disappointing season was an aberration.

“If you’re going to be serious about winning, which we are, this was something we targeted all offseason long,” Preller said. “Obviously, getting somebody of the quality of Dylan Cease, I think, speaks to the fact that we think we have a chance to win and compete.”

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DALLAS (AP) — A woman accusing Dak Prescott of sexual assault has filed a police report over the alleged incident in 2017 after the star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys sued her on a $100 million extortion claim.

Dallas police said Thursday there was an ongoing investigation after a report was filed earlier this week about an alleged sexual assault that occurred in the parking lot of a strip club in early 2017.

Prescott’s attorneys filed the extortion lawsuit in Collin County, north of Dallas, on Monday. Prescott has denied the woman’s allegation.

According to the lawsuit, the woman and her attorneys wrote Prescott a letter in which they said the woman wouldn’t pursue criminal charges or go public with her claims if Prescott paid her $100 million.

An attorney representing Prescott met last week with police in Prosper, where Prescott lives, and said his client was a possible victim of extortion, The Dallas Morning News reported.

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Prescott is seeking $1 million in damages in his lawsuit against the woman and her attorneys. Prescott’s attorney, Levi McCathern, said the quarterback has never had non-consensual sex with anyone.

“Sexual assault is a despicable crime that no person should ever endure,” the lawsuit said. “Defendants’ false claims in this regard undermine the courage of actual sexual assault survivors everywhere as well as the legitimacy of the horrific traumas they have endured.”

The woman told Dallas television station WFAA the incident happened in the back of an SUV after she left the bar where she worked with Prescott and some of his friends.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to be honest,” the woman said. “But I didn’t ask for that. I didn’t ask for this to happen to me.”

Yoel Zehaie, one of the woman’s attorneys, said Prescott’s extortion lawsuit was “a smoke screen to distract from the real topic that should be discussed. And that is that a rape was committed by Dak Prescott.”

Prescott has been the starter for the Cowboys all eight of his seasons, taking over after Tony Romo’s preseason injury. He was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has made three Pro Bowls.

During the 2023 season, Prescott was the reigning NFL Man of the Year for his charitable work.

The Washington Commanders have cleared the way for the team to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL draft.

The team is trading former starting quarterback Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks, per multiple reports. The Seahawks will receive Howell as well as fourth- and sixth-round picks, while the Commanders will get third- and fifth-round picks.

Howell stepped in as the Commanders’ starter last season after the 2022 fifth-round pick made just one start as a rookie. The season turned out to be a slog, with Howell leading the NFL in interceptions (21), sacks taken (65) and pass attempts (612). Washington lost the final eight games of a 4-13 campaign, and coach Ron Rivera was dismissed.

With a new regime led by Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury coming in, the Commanders already looked primed to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the draft. The team has most commonly been linked to Drake Maye – who was Howell’s successor at North Carolina – and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

On Tuesday, Washington agreed to a one-year deal with quarterback Marcus Mariota, positioning him to take over the backup role.

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In Seattle, Howell will likely slide in as the No. 2 behind incumbent starter Geno Smith. Backup Drew Lock left to join the New York Giants in free agency, leaving no other signal-callers on the roster.

NFL free agency is in full swing after the start of the new league year on Wednesday, with most of the biggest names on the market already having found their landing spots.

Several pending deals became official on Wednesday, largely putting a bow on Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of the pre-free agency negotiating window. But the biggest news was wide receiver Calvin Ridley surprising many by picking the Tennessee Titans, per reports. Entering Thursday, there are still some big names yet to sign: offensive tackle Tyron Smith, wide receiver Mike Williams (who was released Wednesday), defensive end Chase Young, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and more.

Chiefs sign WR Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 season was often dominated by discourse about their wide receiver room, though it ultimately didn’t cost them given they won Super Bowl 58.

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A lack of trustworthy pass catchers — the Chiefs led the NFL in dropped passes (44) last season — certainly played a role in the Chiefs’ offense sliding from first in points and yards in 2022 to 15th and ninth, respectively, in 2023. So, the Chiefs made a move late Thursday to get quarterback Patrick Mahomes some more help.

Kansas City has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million with wide receiver Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown.

— Jace Evans and Tyler Dragon

Keenan Allen traded to Bears

The Los Angeles Chargers are going to have a new wide receiving corps this season.

A day after the Chargers released wide receiver Mike Williams, the team decided to ship star wideout Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren’t authorized to discuss the deal.

Allen joins a Chicago receiving corps that also includes DJ Moore. The Bears own the No. 1 overall pick and are widely expected to draft USC QB Caleb Williams.

RB AJ Dillon staying with Packers

AJ Dillon is expected to re-sign with the Green Bay Packers. NFL Network reported the Packers are using a four-year qualifying offer to sign Dillon, a low-risk deal that protects the team if Dillon doesn’t crack the initial 53-man roster.

Under the four-year qualifying offer, teams can designate a player (or a combination of two players) to be signed and receive the benefit and reduce his (or their) base salary for cap purposes by up to $1.45 million. The rule also limits the player’s signing bonus to $167,500 and the player’s base salary cannot be more than $1.45 million (for 2024) over the applicable minimum salary for the player’s service time. In Dillon’s case, the fifth-year veteran minimum in 2024 is $1.125 million.

If the Packers cut Dillon before the season, they’ll take a $167,000 hit on their salary cap. Dillon’s cap number will be around $1.2 million.

It’s essentially a prove-it deal for Dillon, the Packers second-round draft pick in 2020. The Packers officially signed new starting running back Josh Jacobs on Thursday. What general manager Brian Gutekunst does in this spring’s draft ultimately will determine Dillon’s chances of making the roster in the fall.

After a promising 2021 replacing Jamaal Williams as backup behind Aaron Jones, Dillon has had an underwhelming past couple of seasons. Dillon rushed for 803 yards and five touchdowns in his second NFL season, but his production has declined the past two years. So has his yards per carry, from 4.3 in 2021 to 4.1 in 2022 to 3.4 last fall.

Dillon’s 613 yards on 178 carries in 15 games last season likely depressed his value on the open market, making a reunion with the Packers more appealing, even on the four-year qualifying offer. It’s not an ideal situation for Dillon, signing as a free agent for almost no guaranteed money, but it gives him a chance to rebuild his value without the Packers accepting any risk if he doesn’t.

– Ryan Wood, Green Bay Press-Gazette

Bills pick up WR Curtis Samuel

The Buffalo Bills waited a day to let the initial burst of free agency settle, and then they made their first notable signing of 2024, WR Curtis Samuel, formerly of the Washington Commanders.

The deal is for three years and worth up to $24 million ($15 million guaranteed), per reports, and it could climb to $30 million through incentives – a large expenditure for a team that remains hard against the NFL’s salary cap.

In three years with Washington, Samuel caught 132 passes for 1,296 yards and eight TDs. The 5-11, 195-pounder will only be 28 when the season starts. Provided he’s healthy, Samuel should be a nice complement to Stefon Diggs and Khalil Shakir and could also take pressure off a potential wideout the Bills may draft, allowing a rookie to slowly integrate into the offense behind three trusted veterans.

– Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Eagles adding LB Devin White

The Philadelphia Eagles continue to invest in positions they normally don’t.

Days after signing RB Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.8 million pact, GM Howie Roseman is putting some cash into his linebacking corps. Per multiple reports, ILB Devin White is joining the team on a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million. White, the fifth overall pick of the 2019 draft and a 2021 Pro Bowler, was an instrumental part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2020 run to the Super Bowl title. However he was removed from the starting lineup late in the 2023 campaign amid performance issues.

White, 26, is likely to start in Philly alongside Nakobe Dean but had better stay on his keys for new DC Vic Fangio.

Panthers replenish pass rush with D.J. Wonnum

On the heels of trading OLB Brian Burns to the New York Giants earlier this week, the Carolina Panthers have found a new edge rusher.

The team has reached a deal with former Minnesota Vikings OLB D.J. Wonnum, 26. Per reports, it’s for two years and worth $14.5 million. It’s a bit of a homecoming for Wonnum, who played collegiately for South Carolina.

He had 21 pressures for the Vikes in 2023 and tied his career high with eight sacks.

New Texans RB Joe Mixon reaches contract extension

Joe Mixon has a new team. And new money.

According to ESPN, Mixon, who was traded from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Houston Texans this week, has agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract extension with $13 million in guarantees. The deal’s $9 million annual average and total value rank seventh at the position league-wide.

Mixon, 27, had 1,410 yards and 12 TDs from scrimmage in 2023 for Cincy.

Lions beef up defensive front with D.J. Reader

The Detroit Lions had the NFL’s second-ranked rush defense last season, and there’s reason to believe they’ll be even better in 2024.

The Lions signed nose tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year deal on Thursday, NFL Network reported, the fourth significant addition they’ve made to their defense this offseason.

At 6-3 and 335 pounds, Reader was considered one of the best run stoppers available in free agency and should start next to Alim McNeill in the middle of the Lions defensive line this fall.

He had 34 tackles and one sack last season, but finished the year on injured reserve with a torn right quad tendon. He also tore his left quad in 2020, and missed six games with a knee injury in 2022.

The Lions hosted Reader, who turns 30 in July, on a free agent visit and for a physical Thursday. He told Cincinnati reporters after the season last year’s quad injury was not as bad as the one he suffered in 2020, which required a six-month rehab.

– Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

Commanders trade QB Sam Howell to Seahawks

The Washington Commanders have cleared the way for the team to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL draft.

The team is trading former starting quarterback Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks, per multiple reports. The Seahawks will receive Howell as well as fourth- and sixth-round picks, while the Commanders will get third- and fifth-round picks.

Howell stepped in as the Commanders’ starter last season after the 2022 fifth-round pick made just one start as a rookie. The season turned out to be a slog, with Howell leading the NFL in interceptions (21), sacks taken (65) and pass attempts (612). Washington lost the final eight games of a 4-13 campaign, and coach Ron Rivera was dismissed.

With a new regime led by Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury coming in, the Commanders already looked primed to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the draft. The team has most commonly been linked to Drake Maye – who was Howell’s successor at North Carolina – and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

On Tuesday, Washington agreed to a one-year deal with quarterback Marcus Mariota, positioning him to take over the backup role.

In Seattle, Howell will likely slide in as the No. 2 behind incumbent starter Geno Smith. Backup Drew Lock left to join the New York Giants in free agency, leaving no other signal-callers on the roster.

Jaguars fortify defensive front with DT Arik Armstead

The Jacksonville Jaguars are adding some heft to their defensive front.

Former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Arik Armstead is signing with the team on a three-year, $51 million contract, according to multiple reports.

Armstead, 30, is reunited with Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke, who selected the defensive lineman for the 49ers in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Armstead enjoyed a breakout 2019 campaign in which he recorded 10 sacks. But after signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension the following offseason, he struggled to recapture that form and only recorded five sacks in the last two seasons. He was cut by the 49ers this week after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a restructured contract.

Dolphins add CB Kendall Fuller

The Miami Dolphins have lost several key pieces in free agency, including defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, offensive guard Robert Hunt and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. On Thursday, however, Mike McDaniel and Co. brought on another key piece in the reloading effort for the defense.

Cornerback Kendall Fuller agreed to a two-year, $16.5 million contract, according to multiple reports.

Fuller, 29, was one of the few consistent pieces on a Washington Commanders defense that ranked last in pass defense with 262.2 yards allowed per game.

Fuller will join a defense that already features standout cornerback Jalen Ramsey and in recent days added linebacker Jordyn Brooks, safety Jordan Poyer and pass rusher Shaquil Barrett.

The move was met with approval from Tyreek Hill, who was Fuller’s former teammate on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cowboys bring back CB Jourdan Lewis

In what has been a quiet start to free agency for the Dallas Cowboys, the team is bringing back a key piece of its secondary.

Cornerback Jourdan Lewis is re-signing on a one-year deal with the team, according to multiple reports.

Lewis, 29, looks poised to reclaim his role in the slot, with breakout defender DaRon Bland teaming with Trevon Diggs on the outside as the latter recovers from a torn ACL. That could, however, leave Stephon Gilmore to look elsewhere in free agency.

Falcons to trade QB Desmond Ridder to Cardinals

Desmond Ridder’s run with the Atlanta Falcons is officially over.

The team is trading the former starting quarterback to the Arizona Cardinals, who will send back wide receiver Rondale Moore, according to multiple reports.

With new coach Raheem Morris in and Kirk Cousins taking over as the starting signal-caller, Ridder was expendable for a team that returns Taylor Heinicke as its backup quarterback. The 2022 third-round pick was Arthur Smith’s choice to lead the team into last season, but he was responsible for 16 turnovers, including six in the red zone. Ridder was benched twice during the season, including for good down the stretch when Heinicke took over in December.

In Arizona, he’s set to compete with Clayton Tune to be Kyler Murray’s backup.

Moore, 23, has been a spot contributor for the Cardinals but struggled to provide any sort of consistency since arriving as a second-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2021. He has yet to reach 450 receiving yards in a single season.

Lions extend contracts of HC Dan Campbell, GM Brad Holmes

After their most successful season of the Super Bowl era (since 1966), the Detroit Lions announced contract extensions for head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes through the 2027 season.

‘We are thrilled to have Brad and Dan under contract for the next four seasons,’ team owner Sheila Hamp said in a statement. ‘They have been the driving force behind the rebuild of our football team and the success that we have enjoyed. The continuity they provide for our football program will continue to be the key to our future success on the field.’

The Lions won the NFC North for the first time in 2023 before advancing to the NFC championship game for just the second time. They remain one of four teams to never reach a Super Bowl but are fresh off winning two games in the same postseason for the first time.

Browns defense adds interior help

There was a question as to whether or not the Cleveland Browns were going to do anything else with their defensive tackle group after an initial wave of deals that brought back Maurice Hurst II and Shelby Harris. The answer turned out to be, yes.

Cleveland agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, a league source told the Akron Beacon Journal. He spent this past season playing for the New York Jets.

Jefferson would, in theory, be the replacement for the departed Jordan Elliott in the rotation. Elliott, a 2020 third-round pick of the Browns who started 31 of the last 34 regular-season games, agreed to a free-agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday.

– Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal

Bengals bring back S Vonn Bell

The Cincinnati Bengals are turning to a familiar figure for help in the secondary.

Safety Vonn Bell is signing a one-year, $6 million deal with the Bengals, according to multiple reports.

Bell, 29, played for the Carolina Panthers last year but started for the Bengals from 2020-22, recording four interceptions in his final season with the team.

Along with fellow free-agent safety Geno Stone, he provides a fresh look on the back end of the Bengals’ defense.

Titans continue addressing WR corps

In addition to Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins, the Tennessee Titans are reinvesting in another trusted target.

Per NFL Network, veteran WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will return for a fifth season in Nashville. The undrafted free agent from Indiana, who projects as the No. 4 target (also behind Treylon Burks), has 94 grabs for 1,276 yards and 10 TDs in his NFL career to date.

Colts WR Michael Pittman has a plan

INDIANAPOLIS – Michael Pittman Jr. dreamed of reaching free agency, of getting to see all of his potential suitors line up and weigh them against the situation he enjoyed in Indianapolis. But he knew that was never going to happen.

Yet unlike the last time a Colts star player was faced with the potential of the franchise tag, Pittman had faith this would all work out. He sensed the moment the Colts were in with a developing Anthony Richardson and a team that just went 9-8. He’d kept the dialogue open with general manager Chris Ballard. He wanted the Colts to identify him as a true foundational player, and that’s what they did with a contract that will pay him $70 million over three seasons and make him the eighth-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL.

‘I kind of knew the whole time that this was going to happen,’ Pittman said.

He wore a navy blue suit to sign his new deal, his first veteran contract as an NFL player.

‘I think It’s just fulfilling to know that you are the guy they drafted you to be,’ he said.

– Nate Atkins, Indianapolis Star

Bengals making addition to defensive line

With uncertainty surrounding DJ Reader’s future, the Cincinnati Bengals added one of the best free agents available at defensive tackle in Sheldon Rankins.

The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway confirmed a two-year deal worth $26 million for Rankins, a former first-round draft pick who has played eight seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Houston Texans.

Rankins is familiar to Bengals fans because he wreaked havoc during the Bengals’ heartbreaking loss to Houston last November, including three sacks of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow.

– Dave Clark, Cincinnati Enquirer

Call it the Bee-NP Paribas Open.

The quarterfinal match between Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev was suspended for nearly two hours after a swarm of bees descended on the Stadium 1 court at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden during the first set.

Alcaraz was seen jumping around and swatting them away after a point in the first set. Quickly the two players and the ballkids started running toward the exits. Fans could be seen shooing them away, as well.

The spider cam (the floating camera that moves around the court in the air) was completely covered by bees.

An announcement was made by the umpire that the match was suspended due to a ‘bee invasion.’

The crowd remained in their seats and was not asked to leave the stadium. After a beekeeper arrived and they moved the spider cam with the swarm on it to a specific area in the stadium, fans in two small sections of the upper deck were asked to move.

The tournament put the Coco Gauff vs. Yue Yuan match being played on the bee-free Stadium 2 on the big screens in Stadium 1 for fans to watch as they waited out the suspension while ‘they call in a beekeeper’ according to on-court announcer Andrew Krasny said. 

At 4:17 p.m. PT, almost an hour into the delay, a beekeeper named Lance Davis from Killer Bee Live Removal in Palm Desert arrive with a large vacuum contraption and was getting the bees off the camera while fans watched and cheered.

During the delay, Zverev was seen kicking the soccer ball around with members of his team in the players’ area. Around 4:40 p.m., the players returned to the court. So did the beekeeper, to a loud applause as he used a spray bottle to get rid of some stray bees that were still on the court.

Davis the beekeeper was moving around the stands spraying more bees and getting high-fives and taking selfies with fans as the song ‘My Hero’ by the Foo Fighters played over the loudspeaker.

‘Davis has worked with the tournament for approximately seven years. He works with the tournament on a year-round basis, as needed, and has been out a few times to this year’s event to help with other beekeeping needs around the grounds,’ tournament organizers said in a statement.

‘He used a vacuum that filters the bees into a live catch cage, a natural and humane way to remove them from the site. This area, at this time of the year, can be a hotspot for bees, with all the flowers blooming and blossoming. In addition, the bees can be attracted to low-frequency sound waves, and music bass, as they feel the vibrations and are attracted to those locations.

‘The tournament is very thankful for his quick response to the situation, and on-going assistance to the BNP Paribas Open.’

The suspension lasted 1 hour, 48 minutes. After play resumed, Alcaraz went on to win 6-3, 6-1.

Saquon Barkley realized his perspective on the NFC East rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles changed when he saw his daughter dressed in Eagles green instead of Giants blue.

Even putting Eagles apparel, like the black hoodie with the logo near his left shoulder he wore Thursday before he was officially introduced as one of the newest Eagles, on himself felt weird.

“We’ve been on the worse side of the rivalry, I guess you could say, for the past couple of years,” Barkley said. “But I’m happy to be a Philadelphia Eagle.’

Since the Giants drafted him second overall in 2018, they were 3-10 (including the postseason) against the Eagles.

Barkley admitted his exit from New York could have been handled better. The 27-year-old said he had nothing but respect for Giants and the way they treated him over six years. Barkley agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million guaranteed with the Eagles on Monday. He is coming off his healthiest and most productive two-year stretch in the league since his first two seasons in the NFL.

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‘I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could have gave a proper goodbye. Like I said, once I announced, it kind of got hectic. But yeah, I’m forever grateful for the Giants fans. So grateful for them. But unfortunately, the NFL is a business. And I was able to get to a place that I know I can compete, I can win. I can stay close to home.’

In New York, the Giants made the postseason in just one of his years on the team (2022) – which ended with a postseason loss to the Eagles.

Gaining a ‘fresh start,’ Barkley said, is something he is looking forward to.

‘I feel like I’m a rookie again,’ Barkley said.

He added: ‘I’m a special player. I feel like I’ve got a lot left. I got a lot to prove.’

Did Eagles tamper to sign Saquon Barkley?

Barkley is back playing football in his home state, which is also where he played collegiately for Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin. And it was Franklin who ensnarled his former player in a tampering investigation.

Franklin told reporters during his spring practice news conference Tuesday that Barkley spoke with Eagles general manager Howie Roseman about the crossover between Nittany Lions fans and Eagles fans. On Thursday, the league said it was opening a standard investigation into these types of instances where a player may be having impermissible contact with team officials, even during the legal tampering window.

Barkley also provided his own clarification.

“Coach Franklin, I think, misinterpreted it,’ he said. ‘The truth is, the pitch, the sell, was Penn State — how many Penn State fans are Eagles fans. But that was through my agent. My agent told me that.’

TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett is mourning the death of his younger brother, Nathan Barrett.

The Barrett family said in a statement that Nathan died Tuesday. The statement, released Thursday by the Raptors and Canada Basketball, did not disclose a cause of death or Nathan’s age.

RJ and Nathan’s father, Rowan Barrett, is Canada Basketball’s general manager.

“While our family is devastated by this great loss, we will continue to cherish the memories and time spent together,” the statement said.

“Nathan was a God-fearing young man of strong character. He was thoughtful, kind, loving, compassionate, creative, admirable and driven.”

RJ Barrett, who is second on the Raptors in scoring at 19.5 points per game, did not play in Wednesday’s loss at Detroit.

Like his brother, Nathan played high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. RJ went on to play one season at Duke before declaring for the NBA draft. He was selected No. 3 overall by the New York Knicks in 2019.

The Arizona Cardinals have found their backup quarterback.

Arizona has agreed to trade wide receiver Rondale Moore to the Atlanta Falcons for quarterback Desmond Ridder, according to multiple reports including NFL.com and ESPN.

The move will give the Cardinals a more experienced backup in the 6-foot-3 Ridder, who has started 17 of the 19 games he’s played for Atlanta. He was the Falcons’ third-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022 and went 8-9 as a starter.

The only other quarterback under contract in Arizona beyond Murray has been Clayton Tune, a fifth-round pick last year out of Houston. He started one game for the Cardinals last season before Murray returned from his torn ACL and was intercepted twice during a 27-9 loss at the Browns, a game in which Arizona only mustered 58 total yards of offense.

Ridder, 24, became expendable in Atlanta following the news that the Falcons had agreed to terms with veteran free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins on a four-year, $180 million deal.

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Ridder completed 64.2% of his passes last season for 2,836 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was also intercepted 12 times in going 6-7 as the starter. He started the last four games of his rookie season in 2022, passing for 708 yards and two touchdowns with no picks in going 2-2.

Ridder will make $1.2 million this coming season and $1.4 million in 2025 if he’s on the roster for the 2025 season, the final year of his rookie deal.

Tune, 24, is expected to remain on the roster.

The 5-foot-7 Moore, 23, was a second-round pick in 2021 from Purdue and never was able to work his way into a regular role in the Cardinals’ offense. He was used mostly as a gadget-play weapon and third-down option and received multiple snaps as a ball carrier out of the backfield.

He caught a career-low 40 passes last season for 352 yards and one touchdown and had 28 carries for 178 yards and one touchdown. In three seasons combined, he finishes his Cardinals career with 135 receptions for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns and 52 carries for 249 yards and one score.

Moore’s departure figures to open the door significantly for 5-7 receiver Greg Dortch, who is returning on a one-year deal.

Dortch had a career-high 52 receptions for 467 yards and two touchdowns for the Cardinals in 2022, which included four starts. He finished with 24 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns last season, while also averaging 21.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns with a long of 40 yards and 9.5 yards on 29 punt returns with a long of 49 yards.

When he’s targeted eight or more times in a game, he’s responded with some impressive numbers. He has 48 catches for 502 yards in those seven such situations.