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Soccer

Rulers of Europe: Champions League round of 16 quiz

The Champions League round of 16 matchups enter their second legs on Tuesday, headlined by Paris Saint-Germain’s clash with Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes.

The two fabled clubs, along with 14 others, will hope to punch their tickets to the quarter-final round and get closer to sitting atop the European football hierarchy.

As the clubs prepare to do battle, test your historical knowledge of past round of 16 matchups here:

NFL

Ex-RB Wells seeking treatment for brain injury

Former Ohio State and NFL running back Chris “Beanie” Wells is seeking treatment for a brain injury he believes was caused by playing football.

Wells, speaking Monday morning on 97.1 The Fan radio in Columbus, Ohio, said he had been absent from his radio show on the station as he sought medical advice and treatment in California. The former All-Big Ten running back and NFL first-round draft pick said he recently underwent an MRI on his brain after experiencing headaches and some speech and memory problems.

“I have some plaque separation,” Wells, 29, told his co-host Tim Hall on “The Tim and Beanie Show.’ “And when you have that plaque separation, it shows that you experienced some sort of traumatic brain injury. Obviously that traumatic injury for me would come from playing football. Not only that. They had some cells tacked on to that separated plaque that I needed to get under control.

“I’m still not out of the woods yet, but it’s coming. I’m hopeful.”

Running back Beanie Wells played for Ohio State from 2006 to ’08 before being selected No. 31 overall by the Cardinals in the 2009 NFL draft. Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Wells played for Ohio State from 2006 to 2008, winning three Big Ten championships, before being selected No. 31 overall in the 2009 NFL draft. He played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals but struggled with several injuries. Wells had 2,471 rushing yards in 51 career games with Arizona.

Wells said he has always spoken quickly but has struggled to find words before speaking.

“When you start to feel a little bit indifferent upstairs, it scares you,” Wells said. “So you want to go and get that checked out, and it was going on for about six or seven months. I’m just glad at this point in time I have an answer for it, and I’m addressing getting it squared away.”

Wells said he would appear on his radio show at least once a week while he continues to receive treatment in California.

Soccer

Neymar will miss at least 6 weeks, says father

Neymar’s father said it is illogical to think his son will play against Real Madrid next week, telling ESPN the injured 26-year-old won’t be available until April at the earliest.

“PSG know that they can’t have Neymar for six weeks at least,” Neymar Sr. said. “Because treatment requires six to eight weeks.”

Asked whether his son would miss next Tuesday’s crucial Champions League clash, Neymar Sr. added: “Yes, of course he is out against Real Madrid. It is absurd if anybody thinks otherwise.”

Neymar was diagnosed with a sprained ankle and a fractured metatarsal after being stretchered off the pitch toward the end of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Marseille. Manager Unai Emery called for calm while emphasising that the capital club had yet to decide whether to proceed with surgery.

A doctor from the Brazilian national team is already en route to Paris to assess the injury, according to Neymar Sr. With the World Cup a little more than three months away, Brazil has an obvious interest in the player’s well-being.

Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte reported earlier in the day that Neymar had opted to go under the knife, but Neymar Sr. neither confirmed nor denied that.

Sources also told ESPN FC correspondent Jonathan Johnson that Neymar would rather not play through the pain so close to the World Cup. Those close to the player would instead prefer surgery to ensure a full and quick recovery, Johnson added.

The injuries come at a delicate point in PSG’s season, with the Qatari-backed outfit down 3-1 on aggregate to Los Blancos. The club has yet to make it past the Champions League quarter-finals since Qatar Sports Investments took control in 2011.

NFL

Shaquem Griffin draws praise from J.J. Watt, Von Miller, more at NFL combine
4:15 PM ET

  • ESPN staff

Shaquem Griffin’s story has dominated this weekend’s NFL combine.

After not initially receiving an invitation to Indianapolis, the star linebacker from Central Florida has impressed in workouts. His official 4.38 in the 40-yard dash is the fastest time for a linebacker going back to 2006, the first year ESPN Stats & Information began documenting 40 times at the combine. And only two other 2018 draft prospects — wide receivers D.J. Chark (4.34) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (4.37) — have had faster times this week.

Griffin also finished with 20 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press, using a prosthetic on his left arm to attach to the bar on Saturday.

Both are notable marks as Griffin attempts to become the first player with one hand to be drafted in the league’s modern era, according to the NFL. Griffin had his left hand amputated when he was 4 years old because of amniotic band syndrome, a congenital condition.

Reactions have poured in from across the NFL, starting with Griffin’s twin brother, Shaquill, a cornerback with the Seahawks, and including some of the league’s biggest defensive stars, Hall of Famers and more:

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Soccer