GOLF
Three share Sony Open lead
Peter Malnati, Jason Kokrak and Joaquin Niemann each shot an 8-under 62 in the first round of the Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. Five golfers are two shots back at the PGA’s second tournament of the year. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Arkansas Razorbacks) is at 2-under 68 and tied in 52nd place. Andrew Landry (Razorbacks) turned in an even-par round of 70 and is tied for 94th place.
FOOTBALL
Jets hire Saleh as head coach
The New York Jets reached an agreement in principle with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Thursday night to hire him as their head coach. Saleh replaces Adam Gase, who was fired by on Jan. 3 after going 9-23 in two seasons. The 41-year-old Saleh emerged as the favorite for the Jets job when he was brought in for a second — and this time, in-person — interview Tuesday night, and those discussions extended into Wednesday. The 49ers ranked fifth in overall defense this season despite.
Lions hire Holmes as GM
The Detroit Lions desperately need to figure out how to draft better players and they’re leaning on Brad Holmes to lead the way, drawing on his expertise with the Los Angeles Rams. Holmes and the Lions agreed to terms Thursday on a deal Thursday that makes him their general manager. He led the Rams’ college scouting department for eight years and started his 18-year career with them as a public relations intern in 2003. Unlike Detroit’s previous search in 2016 when it hired Bob Quinn after interviewing just three candidates, it chose to give Holmes a shot after he was one of 12 to formally discuss the job with the team. Holmes will now join Detroit’s search for a new coach.
Steelers release 3 assistants
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff flameout cost offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner and two assistants their jobs. The team announced Thursday it would not renew the contracts of Fichtner, offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett, and secondary coach Tom Bradley following a 48-37 loss to Cleveland on Sunday night. The club also said tight ends coach James Daniels is retiring after 17 seasons in that position.
HOCKEY
Blues forward suspended
St. Louis Blues forward Sammy Blais was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL on Thursday for an illegal check to the head of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews. Blais received a minor penalty for elbowing in first-period incident in the Blues’ 4-1 victory at Colorado on Wednesday night in the opener for both teams.
BASEBALL
LA reliever avoids arbitration
New Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Corey Knebel agreed to a $5.25 million, one-year contract on Thursday that avoided salary arbitration. The 29-year-old was acquired from Milwaukee on Dec. 2 ahead of the deadline for teams to offer 2021 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters. Knebel was an All-Star in 2017 and a key part of the Brewers’ bullpen during their run to the 2018 NL Championship Series. Knebel’s best season came in 2017, when he went 1-4 with 39 saves and a 1.78 ERA in 76 appearances. He had a 6.08 ERA in 15 games last season.
Phils add Bradley to roster
The Philadelphia Phillies and reliever Archie Bradley have agreed on a $6 million, one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. The right-hander was 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 6 saves in 16 games last season with Arizona and Cincinnati. Bradley had a career-best 18 saves in 2019. Bradley, 28, is 23-25 with a 3.91 ERA and 28 saves in 6 seasons. He has 425 strikeouts in 412 innings.
Mets, Martinez reach deal
Jose Martinez and the New York Mets agreed Thursday to a one-year contract that pays $1 million while he is in the major leagues and $225,000 while he’s in the minors. The 32-year-old first baseman and outfielder hit .182 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs and 10 RBI last year for the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs, who acquired him in a trade on Aug. 30. He has a .289 career average with 43 home runs and 182 RBI in four major league seasons.