Jack Leach returns for one of the most important matches in Somerset's history when leaders Essex visit Taunton for the Specsavers County Championship title decider, starting on Monday.

The hosts must win to secure the pennant for the first time. They go into the match 12 points adrift in second place, but optimistic of making home advantage tell, having won five and drawn one of their six Championship games at the Cooper Associates County Ground this season.

Leach's availability after his Ashes heroics is a major boost. The left-arm spinner, who has just been awarded an England incremental contract, trained with the squad on Friday and could prove a key figure on a pitch sure to turn as the match progresses.

With rain forecast, Somerset will be keen to play on a result wicket in the hope of forcing a victory well inside four days. A gamble on a bowler-friendly surface appears to offer their best chance, even though Essex have two of the most prolific wicket-takers in the Championship.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer is top of the list with 78 wickets, while seamer Jamie Porter is also in the top 10, with 48.

Somerset head coach Jason Kerr is in confident mood, despite last week's 136-run defeat by Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

"It's an incredibly exciting week ahead, not just for the players, but for the many supporters, who have taken the emotional journey with us in recent weeks," he said. "What could be better than the two best teams in the Championship going head-to-head with the title as the prize.

"We cannot control the weather, but I believe there will be enough play to achieve a decisive result and we back ourselves against anyone on our home pitch."

"Essex have had the distraction of Vitality Blast Finals Day this weekend and hopefully we can capitalise on that" Somerset head coach Jason Kerr

A packed crowd and large media circus will descend on the County Ground, most of the latter expecting Essex to be crowned champions.

Kerr acknowledges that Somerset's batsmen will need to raise their game. None of them is averaging more than 33 in the competition this season, whereas Essex have three with an average of more than 40 in Sir Alastair Cook, Ravi Bopara and Dan Lawrence.

"Statistically, our batting looks poor, but we have played on some tough pitches and there have been some fine innings in difficult circumstances that have helped us win through," said Kerr.

"I am expecting the players concerned to step up on last week when we came across a bowler in exceptional form. Kyle Abbott's performance was just incredible."

After discussions with director of cricket Andy Hurry and skipper Tom Abell, Kerr looks set to stick with the same batting line-up against Essex, with Leach's inclusion likely to be the only team change.

Jamie Overton missed the Hampshire match with a back injury and was sent for a scan on Friday. He was already facing surgery on an ankle spur at the end of the season.

Kerr's final message to the Somerset players will be to "go out and enjoy the occasion". While he accepts there is pressure to deliver that elusive first title, he wants his team to ignore the hype as much as possible.

"So much work has gone into getting us this far," he said. "Now it is important we stick to the processes which have put us in the top two.

"Essex have had the distraction of Vitality Blast Finals Day this weekend and hopefully we can capitalise on that. Given a reasonable amount of luck with the weather, I'm sure we can do it."

Kerr ruled out a sentimental recall for Marcus Trescothick, who announced some time ago that this would be his final season as a player. Somerset will make a presentation to the 43-year-old at the lunch interval on Monday to mark his 27 seasons of service.

Trescothick will be in and around the dressing room during the game and Kerr said: "I hope he gets around the ground and soaks up the atmosphere. It would be fitting if we could win the title he has dreamt about for so long."

Wisconsin moved into the top 10 for the first time this season, landing at No. 8 in The Associated Press college football poll after a weekend during which seven ranked teams lost.

The top of the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank remained mostly unchanged, with Clemson staying No. 1, followed by three Southeastern Conference teams: No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 LSU. Ohio State edged past Oklahoma to No. 5.

Clemson received 55 first-place votes from the media panel. Alabama had six, and Georgia received one.

Auburn moved up a spot to No. 7 after beating Texas A&M 28-20, and Wisconsin jumped five spots to No. 8 after defeating Michigan 35-14. Florida remained No. 9, and Notre Dame slipped three spots to No. 10 after losing 23-17 at Georgia.

POLL POINTS

THIS WEEK IN BAMA

Alabama has been ranked for 200 straight weeks, the fourth-longest streak since the AP poll started in 1936.

The Tide's streak began with the preseason poll of 2008. Alabama joins Nebraska (348, Oct. 12, 1981-Sept. 22, 2002), Florida State (211, Sept. 24, 1989-Nov. 11, 2001) and Florida (209, Sept. 9, 1990-Oct. 5, 2002) with poll streaks of at least 200 appearances.

UP

The middle of the rankings got a big makeover after five teams ranked from Nos. 10 to 19 lost. California was the big mover, jumping eight spots to No. 15. The Golden Bears have their best ranking since they were No. 6 on Sept. 27, 2009.

No. 14 Iowa, No. 16 Boise State, No. 17 Washington and No. 18 Virginia all moved up at least three spots.

DOWN

Several ranked losing teams managed to stay in the rankings.

• No. 19 Utah fell nine spots after losing at USC.

• No. 20 Michigan dropped nine spots.

• No. 22 UCF fell seven places after losing to Pitt, the Knights' first regular-season loss in almost three years.

• No. 24 Texas A&M slipped six spots but stayed ranked with a 2-2 record. The Aggies have losses to Clemson and Auburn.

OUT

One-and-done teams are common early in the season. Arizona State and TCU both had short stays after debuting in the rankings last week. The Sun Devils and Horned Frogs fell out after losing home games.

Washington State dropped out of the rankings for the first time this season after blowing a 32-point lead at home to previously winless UCLA.

IN

Three teams moved into the rankings but only one for the first time this season.

• No. 21 USC has been in, out and back in the past three weeks.

• No. 24 Kansas State, which did not play this weekend, is ranked for the first time since Sept. 10, 2017.

• No. 25 Michigan State jumped back in after a week out.

CONFERENCE CALL

SEC -- 6 (Nos. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 23)

Big Ten -- 6 (Nos. 5, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25)

Pac-12 -- 5 (Nos. 13, 15, 17, 19, 21)

Big 12 -- 3 (Nos. 6, 11, 24)

ACC -- 2 (Nos. 1, 18)

American -- 1 (No. 22)

Mountain West -- 1 (No. 16)

Independent -- 1 (No. 10)

RANKED vs. RANKED

No. 18 Virginia at No. 10 Notre Dame: This might be the toughest game left on the Fighting Irish's schedule.

No. 21 USC at No. 17 Washington: The Clay Helton Survival Tour heads to Seattle.

Had Antonio Brown not sent intimidating group text messages to a female artist who accused him of unwanted sexual advances last week, the star wide receiver would be playing in the New England Patriots' game Sunday against the New York Jets, league sources told ESPN.

But when Brown sent those text messages as a member of the Patriots -- he was not with New England during the time period when he allegedly sexually assaulted another woman -- the organization felt that it had to move on from him, sources said.

"That crossed the line," one source familiar with the organization's thinking told ESPN. "This was real evidence."

Now the question becomes how New England handles Brown's departure. The Patriots are expected to withhold the $9 million signing bonus they agreed to pay Brown when he signed; $5 million is due Monday and the other $4 million is due Jan. 15, 2020.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Brown will file a grievance Monday to try to recoup that money, setting up a legal battle between the player and team.

Among other factors, New England will lean on the "representation and warranty" clause in Brown's contract that specifically states: "Player represent warrants and covenants to the club that he will 1) execute in good faith and to the best of his ability all of his obligations to and for the club; 2) he does not and will not participate and is not engaged or will not engage in any conduct or activity that is illegal, unlawful or immoral. And 3) No circumstances exist that would prevent player's continuing availability to the club for the duration of the contract."

However, other NFL sources strongly believe that the Patriots eventually will owe Brown the $9 million. Those sources insist that once a signing bonus is earned, it's earned, and there's no turning back.

"They are going to lose," one NFL executive predicted about the Patriots' plight in a potential financial battle with Brown.

Brown called out Patriots owner Robert Kraft as part of his Sunday morning Twitter tirade, referring to Kraft's ongoing case in Florida in which he was charged with solicitation for allegedly receiving a sex act at a massage parlor. After the tweets, a source told ESPN that "Kraft [is] never writing that check, no matter what the ruling is now."

Brown has deleted the tweet referring to Kraft.

Brown was officially released by the Patriots on Friday, one day after the lawyer for the female artist reached out to the NFL because Brown apparently sent what were described as threatening text messages to her client.

The sides spoke Friday morning, with the woman's attorneys saying in a statement that the league "pledged to conduct a thorough investigation under its Personal Conduct Policy." According to that statement, the league also contacted the Patriots, who then directed Brown to have no further contact with the woman.

As part of a Sports Illustrated report published Monday, the woman accused Brown of sexual misconduct when she was working at his Pennsylvania home in 2017.

Brown also has been accused of sexually assaulting his former trainer, Britney Taylor, according to a lawsuit she filed Sept. 10. Taylor met with the NFL this past Monday. A source had told ESPN that there are "more interviews and information-gathering being conducted now beyond Taylor."

It remains unclear when or if Brown will interview with the league. He is an unrestricted free agent eligible to sign with any team, and the NFL said Friday that Brown would not be placed on the commissioner's exempt list while he is a free agent.

But the league also warned, "If he is signed by a club, such placement may become appropriate at any time depending on the status of the investigation."

Antonio Brown says he won't play in the NFL anymore and took shots at New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a series of tweets sent Sunday morning.

Will not be playing in the @NFL anymore these owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime we will see if the @NFLPA hold them accountable sad they can just void guarantees anytime going on 40m 2 months will see if they pay up !

— AB (@AB84) September 22, 2019

Brown appeared to be referencing the $29.125 million in guaranteed money from the Oakland Raiders and $9 million signing bonus from the Patriots that, sources told ESPN, have both been rescinded.

The Raiders' guaranteed money was voided after the team fined him for detrimental conduct before his release on Sept. 7, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Patriots are planning to withhold the signing bonus based on a representation warranty clause that calls for a player to disclose any situations that might prevent continued availability, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Brown is being sued by former trainer Britney Taylor over multiple allegations of sexual assault. He was also accused of sexual misconduct by an artist in a story published by Sports Illustrated last week.

Had Brown not sent intimidating group text messages to the artist who accused him of unwanted sexual advances, the star wide receiver would be playing in the Patriots' game Sunday against the Jets, league sources told Schefter.

When Brown sent those text messages as a member of the Patriots -- he was not with New England during the time period when he allegedly sexually assaulted another woman -- the organization felt as if it had to move on from him.

Brown called on the NFL Players Association to hold teams accountable and get him the money he apparently is still seeking. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Brown will file a grievance against the Patriots and the NFLPA will represent him in it.

But after Brown's tirade, a source told Schefter that "Kraft [is] never writing that check, no matter what the ruling is now."

In since-deleted tweets, Brown called out Kraft and former Steelers teammate Roethlisberger. Brown referred to Kraft's ongoing case in Florida in which he was charged with solicitation for allegedly receiving a sex act at a massage parlor and Roethlisberger's four-game suspension in 2010 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy based on a sexual assault accusation.

"Kraft got caught in the parlor AB speculations fired different strokes different folks clearly," Brown said in a now-deleted tweet that also appeared to include a photo of Taylor.

Of Roethlisberger he earlier tweeted: "4 games for Big Ben crazy world I'm done with it."

Brown's tweets came a day after his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Schefter that he has had communication "with a few teams that are interested" in his client.

Rosenhaus told Schefter that the teams "want information regarding his legal situation and the NFL investigation" into the wide receiver.

A source told Schefter that some in the NFL believe that it was unlikely Brown would sign with another team until the league's investigation is resolved -- although there may never be a deal, if the wide receiver is to be believed.

The NFL released a statement Friday night that said Brown would not be placed on the commissioner's exempt list while he is a free agent but warned, "If he is signed by a club, such placement may become appropriate at any time depending on the status of the investigation." The NFL also said its investigation into Brown is "ongoing and will be pursued vigorously and expeditiously."

PHILADELPHIA -- Last week, Jamal Agnew lost his job as the team's kick and punt returner in the middle of the game after gaffes throughout the first two weeks of the season. All week long, Lions coach Matt Patricia expressed confidence in Agnew and said that it was a one-game change for the former All-Pro.

Agnew showed in one return Sunday afternoon that the confidence the Lions had in him was correctly placed. Agnew took the ball at the Philadelphia goal line during the first quarter Sunday and took off on the left side. He got a block from one of his upbacks -- believed to be Ty Johnson -- and he was off.

Take it to the house! #OnePride@jamalagnew with the 100-yard kickoff return for the TD. pic.twitter.com/mg8TP5m5z0

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2019

Agnew reached the sideline and turned upfield, with blocks from Miles Killebrew and Dee Virgin along the left sideline to help and give him a path. By the time Agnew reached the 20-yard line, he had no Eagles in front of him.

And when that happened, with Agnew's speed, no one was catching him. One hundred yards later, Agnew had his first-ever kick return for a touchdown and third career touchdown return. (He had two on punts as a rookie.)

It was a massive change from last week, when Agnew's job looked to be perilous despite Patricia's faith in him.

"We knew that the ball security was going to be really important, and especially in that situation, just made a quick change as far as that's concerned," Patricia said of Agnew's benching last week. "We'll just keep going forward. Like I said, [Sunday] night, Agnew is a tremendous player.

"He has an explosive ability and he's obviously done a lot, so we're just getting back to work. That's really kind of our bottom line there."

It's not the first time the Lions have had returns at Lincoln Financial Field. The last time the Lions had a kick return for a touchdown was also at the Linc, with Jeremy Ross taking one back 98 yards for a touchdown in the snow. Ross also had a 58-yard punt return for a touchdown in that game.

CHICAGO -- The Cubs are seeing their season slip away in heartbreaking and dramatic fashion as they lost their fourth consecutive one-run game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, after closer Craig Kimbrel gave up ninth-inning home runs on back-to-back pitches.

Kimbrel, 31, entered the game against the St. Louis Cardinals holding onto an 8-7 lead before Yadier Molina hit his first pitch, a 97 mph fastball, out to left field. Paul DeJong did the same moments later, sending another fastball over the wall.

"I feel like I made two competitive pitches that I wanted to and they went out," Kimbrel said after the game. "It's frustrating. It's the only thing I can say."

The ending is becoming all too familiar for the Cubs and Kimbrel. He also gave up a winning home run to Matt Carpenter in Game 1 of this series on Thursday, breaking a 4-4, 10th-inning tie. In just 23 appearances since signing with the Cubs in June, Kimbrel has given up nine home runs, a career high for one season.

"We had the right guy there at the end," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "You talk about two shots to the jaw, and they got the win."

The Cubs will have to wonder if Kimbrel was ready for the moment, considering he was on the injured list until Thursday with right elbow soreness. The team deemed him ready after a 16-pitch simulated game a couple of days earlier, but three home runs given up in less than two innings of work might suggest something different.

"I feel great right now," Kimbrel said. "I just didn't get the results I wanted -- the results I need to have to do my job. Moving forward, I have a good feeling I will."

As Maddon added, "He was already in one game. He's had ample time to get it back together. It was kind of surprising. ... That was the right time for him. There was nothing wrong with his arm strength."

Kimbrel is signed for two more seasons after this one, so concern might grow about his performance, if indeed he is healthy. But the here and now is the only thing that matters for the Cubs. It was a crushing defeat in a week of them, even though they fought back several times in Saturday's four-hour, 24-minute marathon. But whatever can go wrong has, as the Cubs dropped their fifth consecutive game, and they are reeling from injuries and blown saves.

"Craig's a Hall of Fame closer," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "He's got a track record for a reason. He puts in the work. We all see it. He's an amazing guy in the clubhouse. We have his back. It's tough. I know he feels bad, but he's a competitor and he's a champion and he'll bounce back."

It has been 47 years since the Cubs have lost four consecutive one-run games, but they'll have to put that all behind them if they have any chance at a fifth consecutive postseason appearance. Saturday's game will be a tough one to get over. Chicago's chances to make the playoffs dropped from 77% at the end of play on Monday to 9.1% on Saturday night, according to FanGraphs data.

"I'm feeling for Craig right now more than anything," Maddon said.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Boston Red Sox left-hander David Price will have surgery Thursday to remove a cyst in his left wrist that ended his season early. The 2012 Cy Young winner is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

Price, who went 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA in 22 starts this season, last pitched on Sept. 1 and made just two appearances since the end of July.

Boston manager Alex Cora said before Sunday's game at Tampa Bay that Price should have a normal offseason once his recovery from surgery is completed.

"As of now everything seems like, take care of the cyst and he should be fine," Cora said.

The defending World Series champion Red Sox were mathematically eliminated from postseason play on Friday night.

NEW YORK -- CC Sabathia wiped tears away with his hands and the top of his jersey. Honored at Yankee Stadium ahead of his retirement at season's end, his emotions came out as his wife, mother and children read tributes on a video broadcast on the center-field scoreboard.

"It's been a great 11 years," Sabathia said before the New York Yankees' regular-season home finale Sunday against Toronto.

True to his nature, the 39-year-old left-hander thanked the training and clubhouse staff by name.

He was given a lap around the field in a golf cart, passing the bullpen that will be his home during the postseason.

Sabathia was presented with art portraying his accomplishments and a 10-day vacation to Japan, then spoke briefly and posed for photos with his family and the entire team. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his mom -- Margie was his first catcher.

He envisions a future role with the Yankees, perhaps as an adviser or instructor.

"I just feel like I'm going to be here," he said earlier in the clubhouse, where gifts commemorating Sabathia's career were placed on the chair of every teammate. "I'm not going anywhere. I live here. I'll be at the Stadium."

Sabathia was drafted 20th overall by Cleveland in 1998 from Vallejo High School near San Francisco. Sabathia made his big league debut in 2001 and was 17-5 in his first season

"When I showed up, I didn't plan on playing this long," he said. "I'm from Vallejo. I'm from the inner city. I'm from the hood, so just making it was a big deal. So I never really thought past that first year."

Sabathia is 5-8 with a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts, a season interrupted by four trips to the injured list because of a chronically bad right knee that one day will require replacement surgery.

His is 251-161 with a 3.74 ERA and 3,091 strikeouts in a big league career that began in Cleveland from 2001-08 and included a brief stay in Milwaukee before he signed with the Yankees in December 2008. A six-time All-Star, he won the 2007 AL Cy Young Award and was MVP of the Yankees' win over the Angels in the 2009 AL Championship Series. He made a pair of starts for New York in the World Series win over Philadelphia.

"Nineteen years of kind of pitching the way that I have, like emotionally, I'm kind of exhausted," he said. "It will be good next year to just kind of give that a break and my body a break, but I'll definitely miss the guys, the relationships I have in here."

New York appears headed toward a postseason rotation of Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, Luis Severino and J.A. Happ. Sabathia is getting switched to a relief role he filled just once, when he allowed a run at Detroit as the Yankees lost Game 5 of the AL Division Series.

"I'm nervous. I'm excited," he said. "I don't know what to expect."

Sabathia has heard the debate over whether he is worthy of the Hall of Fame. He's watched Mariano Rivera celebrated for his induction this year and anticipates Derek Jeter getting enshrined next summer.

"I've seen all the parties and stuff," he said. "I love parties, so it would be fun to get in."

As part of our series with reigning world champions, the sprinter shares his memories of London 2017, where he gained 4x100m gold for GB alongside CJ Ujah, Adam Gemili and Danny Talbot

What are your memories of London 2017?

First the 200m heats – I was buzzing so much. The crowd was cheering like it was a final. Then qualifying for the final was another great feeling. Coming fourth was a gut-wrenching feeling.

Then we had the relay heat and I remember I was so sore physically after running the three rounds of the 200m that I actually asked the head of sprints and relays if I could miss the first round and run the final, given the opportunity, but they wanted me to run the heat.

So I ran the heat and I remember I felt good.

We then all took a nap and we came out into the hallway. It was like a boy band, almost like a movie. Have you seen (the film) The Hangover before? Not saying that we were hungover! But you know when they walk into the hallway from their hotel rooms to go to the casino, they all come out at the same time from different entrances. We had a time that we were going to meet in the hallway but we all literally opened and closed doors at the same time. Everybody had the game face on.

That was a great feeling – that instinct with each other mentally. I remember Danny saying, ‘you got this’ and we later went on to become world champions.

How has it changed things for you, becoming a world champion?

The fact that I can call myself a world champion, that changes a lot. But it never changed my goals, it just allowed me to get an experience that we all aspire to have in the sport, of becoming a world champion.

Having team success definitely motivated me to later getting individual success. Albeit being Europeans – getting an individual medal (European 200m silver) was very important to me because I didn’t just want to be known as a relay guy. I want to achieve much more individual success and with that I believe will come collective success for the group.

Click here for more interviews in the series.