Commanders release quarterback Carson Wentz after one season
The top five spots in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll remained the same. The rest of the AP Top 25 was a big jumble.
Houston was No. 1 for the second straight week in the poll released Monday, receiving 49 first-place votes from a 62-person media panel. No. 2 Alabama had five first-place votes and No. 3 Kansas received eight.
UCLA and Purdue rounded out the top five. The Boilermakers held at No. 5 despite losing to No. 15 Indiana.
In the rest of the poll, only No. 20 Providence kept the same position from last week as teams get ready for conference tournaments next week and the start of March Madness.
Alabama held its spot after winning two games despite a challenging week off the court. Brandon Miller had a pair of huge
The Washington Commanders released Carson Wentz on Monday, an expected move that puts an end to the one-season experiment with the veteran quarterback that did not work out.
After giving up draft picks to acquire him in a trade with Indianapolis last March, the Commanders were able to get out of the final two years of Wentz's contract without any salary cap penalty.
Wentz threw for 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight No. 21 Maryland is games, going 2-5 as back in the AP Top 25 the starter sandwiched after wins over Minaround a broken finger nesota and then-no. 23 that sidelined him for Northwestern. several weeks.
No. 23 Kentucky reWhen Taylor Heturned to the poll after inicke struggled late in a seven-week absence. the season, coach Ron The Wildcats had a rapRivera turned back to id fall from being No. 4 Wentz, who had three in the preseason poll, interceptions in a loss but reeled off wins over to Cleveland that conNo. 12 Tennessee, Floritributed to knocking da and Auburn. Washington out of
No. 25 Pittsburgh is playoff contention. ranked for the first time From that point forsince 2016 after beating ward, Rivera gave no Georgia Tech and Syrathought to handing cuse last week. the job back to Wentz.
Northwestern's reRookie Sam Howell turn to the poll for the started the regularfirst time in two years season finale and goes Marquette has made didn't last long. The into offseason worka quick rise under coach Marquette matched Wildcats dropped out outs as the starting Shaka Smart. No. 14 Uconn andqb.no.thisweekafterlossesto
The Golden Eagles 18 San Diego State with Maryland and Illinois. Wentz, on the other wrapped up a share the week's biggest jump Iowa State fell out hand, faces a very unof their first Big East among teams in the from No. 23 after three certain future at age regular-season title in poll, each climbing four straight losses and con30. If signed, he would a decade with a 90-84 spots. secutive losses knocked join his fourth NFL win over Depaul on No. 13 Virginia took out Creighton from No. team in as many seaSaturday and climbed the biggest tumble, los- 19. sons after flaming out games since police alleged that he brought a gun to former teammate Darius Miles, who is charged with capital murder in a fatal shooting.
Against Arkansas on Saturday, Miller's regular pregame introduction with a Crimson Tide staffer giving him a pat down didn't sit well with coach Nate Oats — or anyone else.
“I can assure you it definitely will not happen again the remainder of this year,” Oats said.
Miller had 24 points in the 86-83 win over the Razorbacks after scoring 41 in a twopoint win over South Carolina.
SOARING EAGLES
four spots in this week's poll to No. 6. It is Marquette's highest ranking hitting No. 1 in 1977-78.
HOUSTON ON TOP
Houston moved into the top spot last week and held onto it after a pair of routs last week. Thecougars' 76-57 win at East Carolina on Saturday clinched the American Athletic Association regularseason championship, the fourth time in five seasons they've at least shared the conference title.
“Our kids know how to win — I say that a lot,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “But we've figured out how to play our system, be unselfish.”
RISING/FALLING
ing seven spots following losses to Boston College and North Carolina last week.
IN AND OUT
in Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Washington.
The Commanders also released veteran safety Bobby Mccain, whose presence was made redundant by the emergence of Darrick Forrest. Mccain's release saves roughly $2.32 million in salary cap space.
Mccain, 29, had four interceptions in 34 games over two seasons with Washington but none in 2022 for a defense that often played with three safeties on the field at once.
The Commanders must next decide what to do about standout defensive tackle Daron Payne, who led the team with a careerhigh 11½ sacks and could get a big payday in free agency. Putting the franchise tag on him at a price of $18.9 million — much less than the money saved by cutting Wentz — is one option.
If Payne is back, Washington's defense will again have high expectations, especially with Chase Young fully healthy after recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee.
The Commanders are expected to change more on offense than defense after hiring two-time Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowlwinning assistant Eric Bieniemy as coordinator and assistant head coach. That includes at quarterback after Wentz was shown the door.