Mercedes: Verstappen not on ‘radar’

Mercedes team principal and chief executive Toto Wolff has denied rumors on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix weekend that he’s still seeking to sign four-time reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen for 2026. Mercedes, which has a new driver lineup this year that sees rookie prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli join George Russell, is hoping to emerge from its recent lean spell in F1 that has seen it score just five wins from the last three seasons, four of which came in 2024. But while Verstappen, above, was reportedly on Mercedes’ shopping list last year as a top-gun replacement for its then-outgoing star Lewis Hamilton, Silver Arrows’ team boss Wolff says extending Russell’s contract beyond 2025 is the priority. “I think we’ve said it pretty clearly last year, and (Verstappen) said the same, we need to concentrate on our driver line-up, we need to do (the best with) that we have,” Wolff said Thursday in Melbourne. “I don’t flirt outside if I’m in a good relationship, and that is true for this year, too. So, at the moment that is not on any, let’s say, radar.”

Rodgers hits the market for 1st time

Aaron Rodgers’ much-hyped but overwhelmingly disappointing two-year tenure with the Jets is officially over. The team released the four-time MVP, as expected, and the 41-year-old quarterback can now join another team as a free agent for the first time in his career — if he stills intends to play a 21st NFL season. While the team didn’t announce the move, which was a formality, it appeared on the league’s transaction wire early Thursday morning. Meanwhile, the Jets absorbed a $49 million dead money charge by cutting Rodgers, but are able to spread that over two years instead of one — $14 million this year and $35 million next year — by designating him a post-June 1 cut. The Jets’ new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn said on Feb. 13 that they informed Rodgers they were moving on without him. On Monday, the Jets agreed to terms with former Steelers and Bears QB Justin Fields on a two-year deal worth $40 million with $30 million guaranteed. Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April 2023 after 18 seasons with the Packers.

Ex-Arkansas, NBA center Miller dies

Oliver Miller, a beefy center who helped Arkansas advance to the Final Four before playing nine seasons in the NBA, died. He was 54. Several of Miller’s former teams announced his death on Wednesday, as did the National Basketball Retired Players Association. A cause of death wasn’t disclosed, but Arkansas had announced during an event honoring its 1990 Final Four team that Miller had cancer, and Miller thanked the team for its video tribute to him while posting it on social media last month. Known as the “The Big O” for his 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame that ballooned to well over 300 pounds during his NBA career, Miller was a standout at Arkansas from 1988-92. He averaged 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in four seasons, helping Naismith Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson’s 1989-90 team reach the Final Four before losing to Duke and earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors in 1991. Miller was drafted by the Suns in 1992 with the No. 22 overall pick. He went on to average 7.4 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Suns and five other NBA teams. —Associated Press