SPORTS digest

Fitch’s Price finalist for Rimington Trophy

COLUMBUS

Ohio State senior Billy Price, already named the Big Ten Conference’s Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year, was today named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s outstanding center. Joining Price as finalists for the award are Bradley Bozeman, from Alabama, and Will Clapp, from LSU.

A four-year starting offensive lineman for the Buckeyes who converted to center this season after three seasons as a guard, Price has been a dominant performer for the No. 5 Buckeyes, the champions of the Big Ten Conference and who will meet No. 8 USC in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl onn Dec. 29.

The two-time first-team all-Big Ten Conference performer leads an offensive line that has powered the Buckeyes to national rankings of No. 6 in total offense, No. 5 in scoring, No. 15 rushing, No. 28 in passing, No. 1 in first downs and No. 5 in third-down percentage.

Price is an Austintown Fitch High School graduate and has already graduated from Ohio State with his degree in business administration with a specialization in operations management.

Mayfield, Jackson and Love up for Heisman

Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield made Heisman Trophy history just by being selected as a finalist.

Mayfield, reigning Heisman winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville and Stanford running back Bryce Love were chosen as finalists for the 83rd Heisman Trophy on Monday night.

The award for most outstanding college football player will be given out Saturday night in New York.

Mayfield and Jackson are finalists for the second straight year, and Jackson is trying to become the second player to win two Heismans, joining former Ohio State star Archie Griffin.

NFL suspends Gronkowski

The NFL suspended New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski one game on Monday for a late, gratuitous hit to the head of Bills defensive back Tre’Davious White.

White was lying face down on the sideline after intercepting a pass in Buffalo on Sunday when Gronkowski body-slammed him, driving his forearm into White’s back and head. Gronkowski was called for unnecessary roughness, but not kicked out of the game.

Gronkowski will appeal the punishment, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told The Associated Press. White entered the concussion protocol, Bills coach Sean McDermott said.

After the game, Patriots coach Bill Belichick appeared to apologize to his Buffalo counterpart. Gronkowski also apologized , saying he let his frustration get the better of him.

LaVar Ball will pull LiAngelo from UCLA

LOS ANGELES

The father of UCLA guard LiAngelo Ball says he plans to withdraw his son from school because of concerns related to the freshman’s indefinite suspension for his admitted participation in a shoplifting incident during the Bruins’ trip to China.

The younger Ball, along with freshmen Jalen Hill and Cody Riley, have been barred from all team activities as part of their suspension for shoplifting from three high-end stores last month when UCLA opened its season overseas.

LaVar Ball told the Los Angeles Times and ESPN on Monday that he’s going to explore other options for LiAngelo because “I’m not going to let him sit back and not practice.”

Giants fire McAdoo as team drops to 2-10

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.

A person familiar with the situation says Ben McAdoo has been fired as coach of the New York Giants less than a year after taking the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

McAdoo was fired Monday, a day after the Giants were beaten in Oakland and dropped to 2-10, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not made an official announcement.

From staff and wire reports