Manning, Gates among Hall finalists

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, pictured, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and TE Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The group includes five players in their first year of eligibility, nine who were finalists last year and WR Steve Smith Sr., who made it this far for the first time in his fourth year of eligibility. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players. Manning, Kuechly and Suggs are finalists in their first year of eligibility, along with kicker Adam Vinatieri and former Baltimore guard Marshal Yanda. Gates was a first-time finalist for the 2024 class and is back at this stage along with DE Jared Allen; WRs Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; OLs Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans; DBs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; and RB Fred Taylor also advancing.

Dodgers set to re-sign Hernández

Teoscar Hernández is headed back to the Dodgers. The free agent outfielder has agreed with the reigning World Series champions on a $66 million, three-year contract. After initially looking for a three-year contract that never materialized in free agency last offseason, Hernández and his representatives turned their focus to getting the best short-term deal from the best team interested. That led to a $23.5 million, one-year deal with the Dodgers, where he joined a loaded lineup that included Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Hernández wanted to play deep into October, and did, becoming a a World Series champion during an All-Star season when he was the Home Run Derby champion and won his third career Silver Slugger, which got him a $1 million bonus. The Dominican outfielder had a huge impact as the Dodgers won their second World Series title in five seasons. He hit .272 with a career-high 33 homers and 99 RBIs in 154 regular-season games. Hernández had made it clear he wanted to stay in Los Angeles, saying that was his priority.

Georgia’s Beck to enter NFL draft

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck on Saturday announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. Beck, a fifth-year senior, made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the SEC title game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Beck is expected to begin throwing next spring. He could have returned for a sixth season but instead will enter the NFL draft. Beck posted on Instagram: “The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made.” Gunner Stockton, who took over for Beck in the second half against Texas, will start for Georgia on Wednesday in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Beck has started every game of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He was 24-3 as a starter. —AP