Seattle Seahawks owner's The Khosla family, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Nina Khosla, left, Vinod Khosla, Neeru Khosla, and Neal Khosla pose for a portrait during a news conference at an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
FOOTBALL
Sale of Seahawks approved
NFL owners on Wednesday unanimously approved the $9.612 billion sale of the Seattle Seahawks to Vinod Khosla and his family, currently part owners of the San Francisco 49ers. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell congratulated the family for having "great timing" in purchasing the team that is coming off its second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. The sales agreement was announced on July 11 and awaited Wednesday's approval at a special owners meeting in Atlanta to become official. The sale was in accordance with the wishes of late team owner Paul Allen. Vinod Khosla thanked Allen's sister, Jody Allen, and the Allen Trust "for trusting us for this franchise." Vinod Khosla is the founder of Khosla Ventures, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. His current net worth is $13.7 billion, according to Forbes.
Giants lose WR to torn ACL
New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin has a torn ACL in his right knee and is expected to miss the season, according to a person with knowledge of the injury. Austin went down without contact during a 1-on-1 drill at training camp on Tuesday and was carted off the field. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said after practice that he feared the worst. The 27-year-old Austin was having a strong camp and preseason and looked to be carving out a substantial role for himself in the Giants' offense. He made two catches for 24 yards in exhibition play last week at Miami and had been one of quarterback Jaxson Dart's most popular targets during team periods of practice.
NFL ends Pro Bowl game
The Pro Bowl is no more, the NFL announced Wednesday, ending an exhibition of the league's top players that was held in some form almost every year since 1951. The game wasn't played in 2021 because of the covid pandemic, but that was the only pause in the postseason event. The league said 88 players will still be named as Pro Bowlers and honored in Los Angeles after this season. Several flag football events also will take place at that time. The Pro Bowl has waned in popularity in recent years. Once a staple in Honolulu, the NFL has moved the event to various cities and even switched from tackle to flag football in 2023.
Big 12 bans former NFL players
The Big 12 Conference on Wednesday followed the SEC and Big Ten conferences in banning players who were on NFL rosters from returning to college. The decision by the Big 12 came a day after rulings by the SEC and Big Ten. Earlier Wednesday, the NFL made it clear that players who leave the NFL to return to college won't be allowed to come back to the league this season. NFL executive Troy Vincent reiterated the longstanding policy at the league's meetings Wednesday, saying any player who returns to college would not be eligible to play in the NFL until 2027. Atlantic Coast Conference leaders were also discussing the topic this week.
BASEBALL
Yankees reliever placed on IL
The New York Yankees placed slumping reliever Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort on Wednesday, a day after the right-hander allowed his fifth home run since the All-Star break. In his second season with the Yankees, Cruz is 4-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances. He allowed a tying two-run home run to Jeremy Pena on a fastball in the sixth inning of Tuesday's 9-7 loss and has a 5.52 ERA in 17 appearances since the All-Star break.
GOLF
Gogel suspended 6 months
Matt Gogel has been suspended for six months for betting on golf. The PGA Tour said Wednesday none of the wagers were for tournaments he was playing. Gogel, whose best finish on the PGA Tour Champions this year was a runner-up in the Senior British Open, will be eligible to return on Feb. 22, 2027. Gogel, 55, called it an honest mistake. "In 2024 and 2025, I unknowingly violated the PGA Tour policy by placing small, recreational wagers on golf," Gogel said in a statement provided by the tour. "I want to be clear that these wagers were not placed on regular PGA Tour events, PGA Tour Champions events or any tournament in which I participated." The tour did not disclose details of his violation, though his statement would indicate the wagers involved major championships.
TENNIS
Spot opens for 2016 champion
Stan Wawrinka will get one final U.S. Open appearance after all. The 2016 U.S. Open champion was given a wild card Wednesday, a day after he posted what appeared to be a goodbye message to the tournament and the New York fans on social media. The 41-year-old from Switzerland is no longer ranked high enough to qualify directly for the tournament, and it appeared his chances of playing were over when the U.S. Tennis Association awarded its last wild-card spot to Patrick Kypson, an American who is ranked No. 115. But the USTA said Kypson has withdrawn with an injury and it gave his place to Wawrinka. There was some criticism of the USTA on Saturday when it passed on Wawrinka, a popular three-time Grand Slam champion who is planning to retire. He had not entered the U.S. Open qualifying tournament, so that decision seemed to end his final chance to make the main draw.
BASKETBALL
Pelicans, Mathurin reach deal
The New Orleans Pelicans and high-scoring wing player Bennedict Mathurin have agreed on a two-year, $16 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said Wednesday. The 24-year-old Mathurin was traded from Indiana to the Los Angeles Clippers last season, during which he averaged 17.6 points. The 6-5, four-year NBA veteran out of Arizona entered the offseason as a restricted free agent with the Clippers, who had to agree to withdraw an earlier $8.8 million qualifying offer for Mathurin's deal with the Pelicans to go through. Mathurin has career averages of 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds since being selected sixth overall by Indiana in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Seattle Seahawks owner's The Khosla family, Neeru Khosla, left, Vinod Khosla, center, and Neal Khosla speak during a news conference during an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Seattle Seahawks owner's The Khosla family, Neeru Khosla, left, Vinod Khosla, center, and Neal Khosla speak during a news conference during an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla speaks during a news conference during an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Seattle Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla speaks during a news conference during an NFL football owners meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)