Lady Raiders finish second in District Tournament

Thurl Bailey and Cozell McQueen are among 10 members of North Carolina State's 1983 national title basketball team who are suing the NCAA, alleging misuse of the players' names, images and likenesses (NIL) without their approval, multiple media outlets reported Monday. In the lawsuit filed Monday in Wake County Superior Court in North Carolina, the players want a jury trial and "reasonable compensation for the appropriation" of facets of their NIL, according to The Atlantic. The lawsuit also targets the Collegiate Licensing Company, which represents the brands for over 700 schools, conferences, bowl games, conferences and other entities, according to its website. The other players are Alvin Battle, Walt Densmore, Tommy DiNardo, Terry Gannon, George McClain, Walter Proctor, Harold Thompson and Mike Warren. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA's continued use of images, videos and the players' names as it promotes the sport and the NCAA Tournament without compensation is "illegal, unethical and unscrupulous," according to the lawsuit. NC State defeated Houston for the title, with the winning points coming as time ran out when Lorenzo Charles dunked off an airball from Dereck Whittenburg. That play, and coach Jim Valvano's celebratory lap around the court are still seen in college basketball coverage. Whittenburg is an employee of the university and not part of the lawsuit. Charles died in 2011. The Athletic said it did not hear back after requesting comment from the NCAA. In wording from the lawsuit, "But for the illegal, unethical, and unscrupulous conduct of the NCAA and its co-conspirators, described above, Plaintiffs would have been paid substantial sums for the use of their names, images, and likenesses in the NCAA's advertisements and other promotional efforts. "Therefore, substantial funds that the NCAA has received -- and continues to receive to this day -- through the misappropriation of Plaintiffs' names, images, and likenesses belong to Plaintiffs." --Field Level Media

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson is nearing an agreement on a contract extension with the Patriots, he told reporters at the first day of New England's mandatory minicamp Monday. Stevenson, 26, is slated to earn a base salary of $3.116 million in the final year on his rookie contract, which he signed after the Patriots selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. "Right now, I'm trying to get the deal done and get it locked in. We'll see where that goes. It's pretty close," Stevenson told reporters. Last season, Stevenson suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 13 and sat out the rest of a 4-13 campaign. In 12 games, he rushed for 619 yards and four touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 238 yards. In 41 games (21 starts) over three seasons, the 6-foot, 227-pound Oklahoma product has 2,265 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns along with 121 catches for 782 yards and one receiving score. Stevenson said that contract talks have been ongoing but realizes that deals take time to be finalized. "It's not frustrating, but it's just a long process," he said. "This is my first time going through it, but just hearing from all the other guys, this is how it goes. It's a negotiation process, and I'm respecting the process." Stevenson shared the backfield with veteran Ezekiel Elliott last season, but Elliot rejoined the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. This spring, former Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson is in the fold after signing a three-year, $11.25 million deal, but Stevenson remains the starter. "I think he's one of the better backs in the league, no doubt about it," first-year Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said of Stevenson on Monday. "I'm excited to see what he does this season, and look, he's earned everything that he gets. He is our starting running back and hopefully we do get something done." --Field Level Media

Pass rusher Romando Johnson has given a commitment to West Virginia after visiting over the weekend. Johnson, who can play either defensive end or outside linebacker, visited Rutgers the previous weekend. Johnson, who is 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, reportedly also received interest from Penn State, Pitt, Miami, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Boston College, among others. Johnson, a three-star prospect from Monarch High in Coconut Creek, Fla., is the 11th commitment in West Virginia's 2025 class. --Field Level Media

Highly sought four-star safety Faheem Delane verbally committed to Ohio State over the weekend. Delane is the No. 2 safety in the 247Sports composite national rankings and the 34th overall player. He also is the top-ranked high school recruit in the state of Maryland. Delane selected Ohio State over Alabama, LSU, Virginia Tech and Tennessee. Ohio State had done well in securing commitments from defensive backs, earlier landing five-star cornerbacks Devin Sanchez of Houston and Na'eem Offord of Birmingham, Ala. --Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a three-year extension, keeping him on the sidelines through the 2027 season. Financial terms were not disclosed by the team. Tomlin was entering the final year of his contract. "Mike Tomlin's leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach," Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a team release. "Extending his contract for three more years reflects our confidence in his ability to guide the team back to winning playoff games and championships, while continuing our tradition of success." Tomlin, 52, became the NFL's longest-tenured coach after Bill Belichick departed the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. Tomlin has compiled a 173-100-2 record in the regular season since taking over in 2007 and has never had a losing season. He is 8-10 in the postseason, leading the Steelers to a Super Bowl win after the 2008 season. His 173 regular season wins are second most among active head coaches behind Andy Reid (258). "I am appreciative for this contract extension and thankful for Art Rooney II for his support during my first 17 years in Pittsburgh," said Tomlin. "We are continuing to work diligently to get back to where we belong -- sustained playoff success with the ultimate goal of winning the franchise's seventh Lombardi Trophy." --Field Level Media

Steelers sign coach Mike Tomlin to 3-year extension

The Chicago Bears are bringing back Marcedes Lewis on a one-year deal, setting him up to be the oldest tight end in NFL history. Financial terms were not announced for Lewis, who turned 40 last month. The 2024 season will be his 19th in the league. At 268 games, Lewis ranks third all-time among TEs in career games played, trailing Jason Witten (271) and Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (270). Lewis appeared in all 17 games (four starts) for the Bears in 2023, catching four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. A first-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006, Lewis has 436 career catches for 5,113 yards and 40 TDs for the Jags (2006-17), Green Bay Packers (2018-22) and Bears. He has started 225 of 268 games. --Field Level Media

Decorated return specialist Jakeem Grant will try out for the New York Jets at this week's minicamp, NFL Network reported Monday. Grant, 31, last played in the NFL in 2021 when he made the Pro Bowl and earned his second consecutive All-Pro second-team selection. Grant missed the 2022 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon at training camp with Cleveland. He missed the 2023 season after sustaining a ruptured patellar tendon in the Browns' final preseason game. A sixth-round pick by Miami in 2016, Grant has 100 receptions for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns in 81 games with the Dolphins (2016-21) and Chicago Bears (2021). He has returned 119 punts for 1,228 yards (10.3 average) and four touchdowns, and has returned 110 kickoffs for 2,699 yards (24.5 average) and two scores. --Field Level Media

Penn State picked up a commitment from four-star cornerback Daryus Dixson on Monday following his official weekend visit to the campus. Dixson plays at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei, and the 247Sports composite ranks him as the No. 10 overall cornerback in the Class of 2025. He announced his decision with a video posted to social media. "It is about family there," Dixson told On3. "That was big, and the relationships are genuine, so that had an impact on my decision. Then it was about player development. That is big for me, too. I trust in the coaches and believe they can get me to where I want to be." He continued: "When I got out there and saw everything with my family, it looked good, the relationships were strong and I decided Penn State was where I wanted to be." He also credited the rapport he already has built with head coach James Franklin as well as Penn State's academics. Dixson is the 14th -- and highest-rated -- player to commit to the Nittany Lions' 2025 class. The 247Sports composite ranks Penn State's class as No. 11 in the nation and third in the Big Ten behind No. 1 Ohio State and No. 5 Southern California. He chose Penn State over Washington and Tennessee, per On3. --Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders paid kicker Brandon McManus the other half of his signing bonus despite releasing him, Pro Football Talk reported Monday. The team paid McManus the first 50 percent of the $1.5 million bonus at signing, with the other half due Friday. However, the team released him in the aftermath of a civil lawsuit that was filed against him for an alleged incident while the kicker was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Commanders signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million deal in March. McManus and his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, are being sued by two women identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II. The lawsuit was filed May 24 in Duval County, where Jacksonville is located, and it was made public three days later. They allege McManus rubbed and grinded against them during a team flight to London last fall. Jane Doe I said McManus tried to kiss her and Jane Doe II said McManus "smirked and walked away" after she confronted him about grinding against her. The women said the Jaguars did not provide a safe environment for staff on the flight. McManus, 32, spent the first nine years of his 10-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos and signed with the Jaguars in May 2023. --Field Level Media