Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams wanted nothing to do with the team as last year’s NFL draft approached.

A forthcoming book describes how the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and his father explored options that would allow him to have a hand in which team selected him.

In “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback,” author and ESPN reporter Seth Wicksham wrote about how the Williamses sought a workaround to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

The book says they also explored signing with the UFL and considered publicly ripping Chicago and the Bears to create an untenable situation for the team.

Colts apologize to Hill for schedule release video

The Indianapolis Colts have apologized to Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and Microsoft for a video released on social media during Wednesday night’s NFL schedule release.

The video was a spoof of the popular video game Minecraft, which is owned by Microsoft, and poked some fun at Hill with a dolphin wearing a Hill jersey being stopped by a U.S. Coast Guard boat with a blaring siren. The post was quickly deleted.

Hill was involved in a confrontation with Miami-Dade deputies last September. He was dragged from his vehicle, forced to the ground and handcuffed after arriving at the Dolphins’ stadium just hours before a home game. Traffic citations issued against Hill were later dropped.

Indy opens its season Sept. 7 against the Dolphins.

NFL might allow players to compete in Olympics

NFL owners will discuss a proposal to allow players under contract to participate in flag football when the sport makes its Olympic debut in 2028 in Los Angeles.

The league released a proposed resolution on Thursday on the issue that will be considered next week by owners at the spring meetings.

If the resolution is approved by at least 24 of the 32 team owners, the league would be allowed to negotiate with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials and national governing bodies on the specifics of letting NFL players participate.

Minor league baseball

Saints swept by Cubs in Des Moines doubleheader

The Saints suffered losses on both ends of a doubleheader against the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines.

Game 1 saw the Cubs take a 3-0 first-inning lead en route to an 8-2 loss.

St. Paul scored its lone runs of the game in the sixth inning on a home run by Jair Camargo that also plated Emmanuel Rodriguez.

Game 2 saw the Saints ahead 5-1 entering the bottom of the eighth before a bullpen collapse allowed Iowa to log seven runs over the final two innings — capped off by a walkoff home run by Cubs’ infielder Matt Shaw, who had opened the season as the Chicago Cubs’ starting third baseman.

St. Paul fell to 21-18 on the season with the losses.

Major league baseball

Former MLB SS Furcal facing felony charges

Former major league shortstop Rafael Furcal is facing felony charges in South Florida, authorities said.

The former All-Star turned himself in at the Broward County jail on Wednesday and was released on bond a short time later, according to court records.

He’s charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and throwing a missile into public or private dwelling.

Court records didn’t list a defense attorney for Furcal. His former agent, Paul Kinzer, declined to comment on the charges and did not provide a way to reach Furcal directly.

The Sunrise Police Department issued the warrant for Furcal’s arrest on Monday, but they didn’t immediately release details about what led to the criminal charges.

Furcal, 47, started with the Atlanta Braves in 2000, followed by stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

He was with the Cardinals in 2011 when they beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series. He finished his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins in 2014.

Gophers athletics

Men’s golf coach Smith signs 3-year extension

Gophers men’s golf coach Justin Smith signed a three-year extension through the 2027-28 season.

Smith, who is one of the most decorated players in the history of the program, was named head coach of his alma mater on June 24, 2019.

Prior to being named the ninth head coach in program history, Smith was the program’s associate head coach for two seasons and was an assistant coach since September 2014.

Softball tops Spartans as Sundquist whiffs eight

Senior Eli Sundquist had a dominant performance, fanning eight Michigan State hitters over 3 2/3 shutout innings of work to help propel the Gophers over the Spartans 4-3.

Sundquist (3-1) gave up just one hit and no walks for Minnesota (23-27, 9-19). The pitching staff stuck out 13 Michigan State hitters in all.

At the plate, the Gophers were led by freshman Jameson Martin, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Junior Weber Neels went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Sophomore Charlie Sutherland went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

swimming and diving

13-year-old Niday wins USA 10-meter diving title

ElliReese Niday became one of the youngest champions ever when she won the women’s 10-meter title Thursday at the USA Diving national championships.

The 13-year-old from Moultrie, Georgia, scored 721.40 points to beat Texas sophomore Bayleigh Cranford by 10 points.

She’s the youngest American diver to win a senior national title in an individual event since 2016, when former Olympian Hailey Hernandez won a 3-meter title at the same age.

— From news services