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A14 sports
Tuesday 27 december 2022
Broncos fire rookie head coach Hackett after 4-11 start

By ARNIE STAPLETON Packers, where he was of-
AP Pro Football Writer fensive coordinator, to help
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — them land quarterback
The Denver Broncos fired Aaron Rodgers. But Rodg-
first-year head coach Na- ers decided to re-up with
thaniel Hackett on Monday the Packers and the Bron-
with two games left in the cos instead traded for Wil-
season. son, who was seen as still in
Owner and CEO Greg his prime.
Penner said he’ll lead the Wilson, however, has had
search for a new coach an awful first season in
with assistance from GM Denver after the Broncos
George Paton, in whom sent four premium draft
he expressed confidence picks and three players to
while announcing Hack- Seattle for the nine-time
ett’s dismissal. Pro Bowler. Wilson has 12
Firing Hackett with two touchdown passes with
games left in a lost season nine interceptions and 49
allows Penner to begin his sacks in 13 starts and has
search for a replacement been unable to snap out of
immediately. a season-long funk.
The Broncos scheduled a He is 3-10 as Denver’s start-
news conference for Tues- er and has missed games
day, when they’re expect- Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett reacts after an interception against the Arizona with a pulled hamstring
ed to name their interim Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Denver. and a concussion.
Associated Press
head coach for games at He routinely has ignored
Kansas City next weekend Russell Wilson threw three rection would ultimately be gio last January but hasn’t open receivers underneath
and at home against the interceptions and was in the best interest of the been able to build an of- to try for deep throws and
Chargers in Week 18. sacked six times. The game Broncos. This change was fense suitable to Wilson, he has shown a noticeable
The Walton-Penner group featured a sideline spat made now out of respect who recently turned 34. dip in his ability to escape
purchased the Broncos for between backup QB Brett for everyone involved and Hackett is the third NFL from pass rushers this sea-
$4.65 billion last summer, a Rypien and guard Dalton allows us to immediately head coach fired during son.
global record for a profes- Risner, and pass rusher Ran- begin the search for a new the 2022 season. The Car- The Broncos have missed
sional sports franchise, and dy Gregory threw a punch head coach.” olina Panthers replaced the playoffs seven straight
Rob Walton said after the at a Rams player after the Penner said that “moving Matt Rhule with interim seasons and extended
league’s approval that he game. forward, we will carefully head coach Steve Wilks their string of losing records
aimed to make the Bron- In a statement Monday, evaluate every aspect of and the Indianapolis Colts to six.
cos perennial champion- Penner thanked Hackett our football operations and fired Frank Reich and re- They will try to snap a 14-
ship contenders again. for his dedication but said make whatever changes placed him with coaching game losing streak to the
On Sunday, the Broncos (4- that “following extensive are necessary to restore novice Jeff Saturday. Kansas City Chiefs on Sun-
11) were blown out by the conversations with George this franchise’s winning tra- Many fans thought the day and beat Patrick Ma-
equally downtrodden Los and our ownership group, dition.” Broncos hired Hackett homes for the first time in 11
Angeles Rams 51-14 when we determined a new di- Hackett replaced Vic Fan- away from the Green Bay tries.q

U.S. to let MLB stars play for Cuba in

World Baseball Classic

cense to FCB. It clears the the world for its baseball ing the Cuban revolution
way for MLB stars such as talent. But in recent years, 60 years ago.
José Abreu, Yordan Al- hundreds of those players Longtime sanctions by the
varez, Randy Arozarena, have defected from Cuba U.S. make it largely impos-
Yoán Moncada and Luis to play professionally else- sible for Cubans to play
Robert to play for Cuba in where. Most notably, professionally for an Amer-
the WBC in March if they many have become Unit- ican team without defect-
Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena reacts in the dugout choose to accept a po- ed States residents and ing. Meanwhile, Cuba his-
after hitting a three-run home against the Toronto Blue Jays tential invitation. stars with major league torically has not allowed
during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sept. 23, 2022, in St. It’s up to each country’s teams in the U.S. Cuban players who de-
Petersburg, Fla. national governing body The defections are largely fected on their national
Associated Press
to pick the players on its due to a not-so-uncom- team rosters.
By MEGAN JANETSKY Saturday in a news release WBC team. Final 30-man mon geopolitical spat The defections have tak-
Associated Press by the Baseball Federation rosters are due Feb. 7 for between the two seaside en a toll on Cuba’s per-
HAVANA (AP) — The Unit- of Cuba (FCB) could be the WBC, which begins neighbors, leaving Cuban formance in international
ed States will permit Major a big step in once again March 8 with Cuba facing players stuck in the middle. baseball competitions.
League Baseball players turning Cuba’s national the Netherlands in Taiwan. Cuban athletes compet- For example, the Cuban
from Cuba to represent team into heavy hitters on While the sport of choice ing on the island can’t baseball team failed to
their home country in the an international stage. for much of Latin America earn a paycheck under qualify for the 2020 Tokyo
World Baseball Classic Major League Baseball is soccer, baseball domi- the communist govern- Olympics after years of
next year. confirmed Monday that nates in Cuba. The island ment, which prohibited previously winning medals
The decision announced the U.S. granted the li- has gained fame around professional sports follow- in the sport.q