The rival Koreas moved toward easing their bitter animosity during rare talks Jawaan Taylor Jersey , with North Korea agreeing to take part in next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea. The countries also agreed to hold more discussions on reducing tension along their border and to reopen a military hotline.

The first meeting of its kind between the nations in about two years was arranged after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an abrupt push for improved ties with South Korea following a year of escalating tensions with the outside world over his expanding nuclear and missile programs. Critics say Kim may be trying to divide Seoul and Washington in a bid to weaken international pressure and sanctions on the North.

In comments that appeared to back up those critical views, chief North Korean delegate Ri Son Gwon said his country’s nuclear weapons are aimed at the United States, not South Korea. He made the comments while complaining about what he called inaccurate South Korean media reports that he said Tuesday’s talks dealt with North Korea’s nuclear disarmament.

TOKYO (AP) – It’s still unclear how many Russian athletes will compete next month in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, but a few things seem certain.

Athletes from winter powers like Germany and Norway could pick up unexpected medals with some top Russians absent because a massive doping scheme four years ago at the Sochi Games.

One medal forecast for Pyeongchang, compiled by Gracenote Sports, which refers to itself as a ”sports and entertainment provider,” shows the impact if Russian athletes are missing.

Gracenote released its medal-table projection on Wednesday, this time removing all Russians from the calculation. The U.S.-based company said it would release a final prediction just before the Olympics open on Feb. 9, this time including Russians who are known to be eligible and who will compete under the name ”Olympic Athlete from Russia” or OAR.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

ATLANTA (AP) – The national championship showdown between Alabama and Georgia drew 28.443 million viewers for ESPN, making it the second-most watched title game in the four years of the College Football Playoff format.

Alabama beat Georgia in overtime , rallying from 13 points down in the second half before winning with a game-ending touchdown pass . Viewership for the all-Southeastern Conference matchup on Monday night in Atlanta was up 13 percent from last season’s Clemson-Alabama rematch from the season before, ESPN said Tuesday.

ESPN said the audience peaked late in the first half at around 30 million viewers and more than 28.4 million were watching when the winning touchdown was scored.

SPORTS BETTING

ATLANTIC CITY Josh Oliver Jersey , N.J. (AP) – A new report predicts 18 states will introduce bills to regulate sports betting this year, with 11 having a good chance of passing legislation.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, which tracks gambling legislation nationwide, says that’s just the minimum; the firm predicts more than 30 states could introduce sports betting bills.

The U.S. Supreme Court this year will decide a case brought by New Jersey that seeks to overturn a ban on sports betting in all but four states: Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. A favorable ruling in that case could open the floodgates in terms of states adopting a new form of gambling.

PRO FOOTBALL

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) – Jon Gruden finally decided the time was right to finish what he nearly achieved in his first stint in Oakland and deliver another Super Bowl title to the Raiders.

Nearly 16 years after he was traded to Tampa Bay following a crushing loss in the ”Tuck Rule” game in New England and after a six-year courtship by Raiders owner Mark Davis, Gruden is officially back in Oakland where he started his head coaching career 20 years ago.

Gruden was introduced in front of a large crowd that included nearly 50 former Raiders and nine Pro Football Hall of Famers as the coach Davis believes can carry Derek Carr and the Raiders back to the top.

The Raiders nearly got there in Gruden’s first stint from 1998-2001 but the team lost to Baltimore in the 2000 AFC title game and followed that with the memorable loss in the snow against the Patriots that still haunts the franchise.

Gruden was then traded to Tampa Bay the following month for four draft picks and $8 million. He beat Oakland in the Super Bowl the next season but always identified with the Raiders.

”For my career to end that night in New England, it still ticks me off,” Gruden said. ”I’m so thrilled to be back here. I hope people understand the emotion inside. I feel there’s unfinished business. I also feel a lot of loyalty and I feel a lot of responsibility to get the Raiders going again. It’s been a while since we consistently performed at a high level. That’s all I care about.”

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Bills general manager Brandon Beane said there may have been a misunderstanding during an on-field exchange that led to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue accusing Buffalo guard Richie Incognito of using ”weak racist slurs.”

Beane said the Bills have spoken to Incognito and understand their player’s side of the story of the alleged exchange that occurred during Buffalo’s 10-3 loss to the Jaguars in an AFC wild-card playoff game on Sunday. Beane confirmed some type of exchange happened but declined to get into details.

He added during the team’s end-of-season news conference on Tuesday that the Bills take the allegation ”very seriously,” and are cooperating with the league’s investiga The Philadelphia Eagles were down to their third-string quarterback at the end of their playoff-clinching victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.Nick Foles left the game with a chest injury in the fourth quarter. Foles started the Eagles’ last three games of the season Deandre Baker Jersey , all of them victories that got the defending Super Bowl champions back into the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 6 seed. Carson Wentz, who started most of the season, has a back injury.Nate Sudfield relieved Foles and threw a 22-yard touchdown pass on his only attempt. Foles said after the game he was sore near his ribs and would know more on Monday.“I’m optimistic,” Foles said.The Redskins, who have placed 24 players on injured reserve this season, lost right guard Tony Bergstrom with a knee injury as they finished the season 9-7.Foles wasn’t the only quarterback to get hurt Sunday. A season in which seemingly everything went wrong for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers ended prematurely for the Pro Bowler, who left with a concussion in the second quarter of Green Bay’s 31-0 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.Although the team did not say exactly when Rodgers was hurt, he was sacked and lost his helmet on the second play of the game. He played two more series before departing, going 3 of 5 for 26 yards.Rodgers suffered a knee injury in Green Bay’s Week 1 victory over the Chicago Bears. He did not miss a start but was forced to wear a brace, and his mobility was limited. After the Packers lost three straight to fall to 4-7-1, coach Mike McCarthy was fired, and Green Bay finished 2-2 under interim coach Joe Philbin. Rodgers threw for 4 http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/oshane-ximines-jersey ,442 yards, 25 touchdowns and two interceptions this season.The Packers also lost left tackle David Bakhtiari to a hip injury and defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster to an elbow injury against the Lions.Elsewhere, fans of the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams were audibly concerned when left tackle Andrew Whitworth left the field gingerly with a knee injury in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers. He didn’t return, but rookie Joseph Noteboom appeared to play well in his absence. Coach Sean McVay said he was cautiously optimistic Whitworth’s injury is no more than a bruise.Rams safety Blake Countess suffered a concussion in the win over the Niners, who lost left guard Laken Tomlinson to an apparent right knee injury.The Rams earned a first-round playoff bye, giving Whitworth more time to recover.The No. 2 seed in the AFC, the New England Patriots, lost safety Devin McCourty to a head injury against the New York Jets.Kansas City, the AFC’s top seed, had three defensive players injured in a victory over the Oakland Raiders: linebacker Reggie Ragland (hip), free safety Jordan Lucas (neck) and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (concussion).With the top NFC seed wrapped up, the New Orleans Saints rested several offensive starters against the Carolina Panthers but still lost one player to injury: versatile offensive lineman Andrus Peat (hand).Kyle Allen Julian Love Jersey , the Panthers’ undrafted rookie quarterback, left Carolina’s win early with a shoulder injury that he did not think was serious.The NFC North champion Chicago Bears could be thin at wide receiver for their playoff game against the Eagles next week. Anthony Miller injured a shoulder against the Vikings and didn’t return. Taylor Gabriel suffered a rib injury a little later, leaving the Bears with only three healthy receivers.Guard Xavier Su’-a-Filo was hurt in the third quarter of the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys‘ victory over the New York Giants. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch left with a lower-leg injury that he said was minor. For the Giants, backup cornerback Grant Haley suffered a concussion and wide receiver Corey Coleman sustained a foot injury.The Seattle Seahawks will have a question heading into next week’s playoff game against the Cowboys after starting cornerback Shaquill Griffin twisted an ankle against the Arizona Cardinals. Coach Pete Carroll said Griffin wanted to return but was held out for precautionary reasons.Linebacker Jatavis Brown injured his right ankle for the Los Angeles Chargers, who finished 12-4 and will head to Baltimore for a playoff game after beating the Broncos. Denver lost three players to injury: right tackle Jared Veldheer (ribs), center Connor McGovern (ankle) and safety Darian Stewart (shoulder).Two players suffered head injuries in the Bills’ 42-17 win over the Dolphins: Buffalo cornerback Tre’Davious White and Miami cornerback Torry McTyer, who was being evaluated for a concussion.Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis hurt an ankle against the Atlanta Falcons, and safety Isaiah Johnson injured a shoulder in the Bucs’ loss.In their loss to the Steelers, the Bengals dealt with injuries to wide receiver Cody Core (left elbow), left tackle Cordy Glenn (ankle), safety Brandon Wilson (chest) and tight end Matt Lengel (chest). Pittsburgh was without All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown (knee).