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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 6 december 2022
Panthers waive struggling QB Mayfield, a former No. 1 pick

By STEVE REED coaches and just like play-
AP Sports Writer ers, sometimes they need a
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — change.”
The short-lived Baker May- Panthers general manag-
field era is over in Carolina. er Scott Fitterer traded for
The Panthers waived the Mayfield earlier this sea-
struggling quarterback on son after unsuccessfully
Monday after the 2018 No. trying to acquire Deshaun
1 draft pick asked for his Watson from the Houston
release. Mayfield would Texans, and he beat out
be subject to waivers and Darnold for the starting job
become a free agent if he in training camp. Darnold
goes unclaimed. later injured his ankle and
The move does not come landed on injured reserve
as a surprise, because Sam and only recently returned
Darnold replaced Mayfield to action. Carolina will send
after his failed second stint the Cleveland Browns a
as starting quarterback, fifth-round pick in 2024 as
and the Panthers like what compensation.
they have in backup P.J. Fitterer was not made avail-
Walker. The move gives able to reporters on Mon-
Mayfield a chance to po- day. “I think he handled the
tentially land with a team situation the right way. Even
that needs quarterback with his ups and downs you
help. San Francisco’s Jim- Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) walks off the field after his teams loss to the never saw him act different
my Garoppolo, Jackson- Baltimore Ravens after an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Baltimore. or have a mood change.
ville’s Trevor Lawrence and Associated Press He was always the same
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson “Baker has been nothing P.J. has been productive conversions. guy. So I respect him and
all suffered injuries over the but a professional since when he was in there.” Wilks said he couldn’t pin- wish the best for him.”
weekend. he’s been here, a com- Mayfield was 1-5 as Caro- point why Mayfield didn’t Guard Austin Corbett said
Panthers interim coach plete pro,” Wilks said. “I lina’s starting QB and com- work out in Carolina. Mayfield stopped by the
Steve Wilks said Mayfield have tremendous respect pleted just 57.8% of his pass- “I can’t answer that ques- offensive line meeting
asked for his release once for him.” Wilks said he es, having six touchdowns tion,” Wilks said. “It is so room to inform them that
he informed the quarter- made the decision to go and six interceptions. He many different reasons. I he’d been released before
backs that Darnold would with Walker over Mayfield also struggled with tipped wouldn’t say that he failed. leaving Bank of America
be the team’s starter and as the backup after “look- passes at the line of scrim- I would say that it just didn’t Stadium, thanking them
Walker would be the back- ing at the body of work the mage. The Panthers are last work out. He is still a good and telling them he loved
up this Sunday at Seattle. last couple of weeks. I felt in the league in third-down football player. Just like them. q

Carlos Alcaraz youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP rankings

By HOWARD FENDRICH to claim the top two spots 2021 is the largest single- the ATP computerized rank- trophies, one ahead of
AP Tennis Writer at the close of a season season jump to No. 1. ings began in 1973. Djokovic and two ahead of
Teenager Carlos Alcaraz is since Americans Pete Sam- Iga Swiatek finished the He is the first man in 20 years Federer.
the youngest year-end No. pras and Michael Chang in year with a substantial other than Nadal, Roger Ruud finishes at No. 3, fol-
1 in the history of the ATP 1996. lead in the final WTA rank- Federer, Novak Djokovic or lowed by No. 4 Stefanos Ts-
computerized rankings and The final men’s tennis rank- ings, which were released Andy Murray since Andy itsipas, No. 5 Djokovic, No.
joins fellow Spaniard Ra- ings for 2022 were published last month. The 21-year- Roddick in 2003 to finish at 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime, No.
fael Nadal as the first play- Monday, and Alcaraz’s rise old from Poland moved up No. 1. 7 Daniil Medvedev, No. 8
ers from the same country from No. 32 at the end of from No. 2 in April to lead Alcaraz ended his season Andrey Rublev, No. 9 Taylor
the list for the first time after early after tearing an ab- Fritz and No. 10 Hubert Hur-
Ash Barty suddenly retired. dominal muscle while com- kacz.
Swiatek never relinquished peting at the Paris Masters Djokovic couldn’t play at
her hold, helped by earn- a month ago. the Australian Open or U.S.
ing major championships The 36-year-old Nadal, Open because he is not
at the French Open and meanwhile, is the oldest vaccinated against CO-
U.S. Open. Ons Jabeur the man to finish a year ranked VID-19 and didn’t earn any
runner-up at Wimbledon first or second. He also ex- rankings boost for his title at
and the U.S. Open closed tended his own record by Wimbledon because the
the season at a career-best placing in the top 10 at the WTA and ATP stripped that
No. 2. end of a year for the 18th tournament of any points
Alcaraz, who turned 19 in consecutive season. over the All England Club’s
May, has remained atop The recently retired Federer ban on players from Russia
the rankings since he won is the only other man with and Belarus.
his first Grand Slam title at that many top-10 finishes Fritz is the first American
the U.S. Open in September over the course of a career. man to close a year in the
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, right, greets compatriot Carlos Alcaraz
after defeating him in the men’s singles semifinals at the BNP by beating Casper Ruud in Nadal won the Australian top 10 since John Isner in
Paribas Open tennis tournament Saturday, March 19, 2022, in the final. Open and French Open 2018. The nine U.S. men in
Indian Wells, Calif. That made Alcaraz the first to raise his men’s-record the top 50 were the most
Associated Press male teen at No. 1 since Grand Slam total to 22 for any country. q