NHL
– The NHL has suspended Flyers’ F Claude Giroux 1 game for his hit to the head on Devils’ F Dainius Zubrus. The Flyers sniper cut in front of Zubrus’ skating lane and delivered the hit. He was assessed a two minute penalty for an illegal check to the head on the play. Giroux will miss the team’s potential elimination game in Game 5 on Tuesday. NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan felt that it was an illegal check to the head that was “late” and “reckless.” Giroux has eight goals and a league-leading 17 points in 10 playoff games. He will be eligible to return on Thursday if Philadelphia manages to win Tuesday.
– The Canucks have signed GM Mike Gillis to a contract extension. Francesco Aquilini, Chairman, Canucks Sports & Entertainment said, ”These past four years have been the most successful in Canucks history. Mike and his management team have done an excellent job to position us for long term success on and off of the ice. We believe Mike’s presence in this organization is important to the long term success of this hockey club and we are confident that we will continue to compete at the highest level under his leadership.” The Canucks have become one of the most competitive franchises in the NHL in recent years. They were upset in the first round of the 2012 playoffs, but they are still in a great position going forward.
“There’ve been moments where I reflected and wondered if the amount of energy and the amount of opportunity to be evaluated by everybody was the right thing for me, but I felt that it was. I felt that we had unfinished business for sure here, and this team was on the right track,” said Gillis.
– NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Monday that the league has reached a preliminary agreement to sell the team to a group headed by former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison. Bettman said the league and the group will work toward reaching a formal sales agreement while Jamison negotiates with the city of the Glendale on a new lease for Jobing.com Arena. Bettman said he hopes to have the sale completed in a matter of weeks, not months.
“We didn’t have a formal announcement to make; this is more of an update to where things are. But we think things are on track and see light at the end of the tunnel. This is a path, based on everything we know, we’re comfortable pursuing.”
Jamison still must complete negotiations on a lease with the city of Glendale, always the nagging issue in the league’s attempts to sell the team, which the NHL purchased out of bankruptcy. The sale also would have to be approved by the league’s board of governors. The anticipated announcement of the tentative agreement first was reported by the Phoenix Business Journal.
“It’s been some interesting times, some ups and some downs, but the future we believe is very bright. The future is bright for participants, for fans and sponsors and suite holders, and we’re excited about it.”
– The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a group led by minority owner Tom Stillman is expected to close on its purchase of the Blues on Wednesday, with Hall of Famer and former Blues captain Brett Hull re-joining the club in a management role. According to the paper, Stillman’s group will be paying $130M for a package that includes the Blues and the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen. Former team chairman Dave Checketts was trying to sell the team over the last two years and had an arrangement to sell the it to Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer. The NHL ruled in January that the purchase agreement had been terminated, allowing Stillman the go-ahead. The NHL Board of Governors’ vote on the sale is to be completed Tuesday, prior to Wednesday’s closing. Hull, who played for 12 years with the Blues, worked parts of two seasons as general manager of the Dallas Stars.
– Blackhawks’ GM Stan Bowman told the Chicago Tribune on Monday that while he doesn’t like to address rumours, head coach Joel Quenneville, who is under contract through the 2013-14 season, will not be joining the Canadiens next season, and will return behind the bench for the Hawks. The Tribune reports that Quenneville had disagreements with management during the season, when director of player development Barry Smith was on the ice with the team working on their struggling power play. Smith continued the role until the playoffs, but did not travel with the club, after a reported confrontation between Quenneville and team management. Rumours of Quenneville leaving Chicago picked up when Bergevin left the team to become the Canadiens’ GM last week and news broke of former Blackhawks executive Rick Dudley’s imminent departure from Toronto to Montreal.
– During Sunday’s France/Kazakhstan’s World Hockey Championship game, Roman Starchenko was levelled by Sacha Treille. Making matters worse, Treille is 6’5″ and Starchenko is just 5’10″. Treille received a 5-game suspension from the IIHF for the hit. Check out the hit:
MLB
– Phillies’ LHP Cole Hamels has been suspended 5 games and fined him an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at Nationals’ OF Bryce Harper during Sunday’s game. Hamels hit Harper with a fastball in the first inning of Sunday’s game and later admitted that it was intentional. Hamels’ next start will merely be pushed back by a day. He will not appeal and will begin serving the suspension Monday night.
“I was trying to hit him,” the left-hander said. “I’m not going to deny it. That’s something I grew up watching, that’s kind of what happened. So I’m just trying to continue the old baseball because I think some people are kind of getting away from it. But I think unfortunately the league’s protecting certain players and making it not that old-school, prestigious way of baseball,” Hamels said.
Rizzo unleashed on Hamels, saying:
“Cole Hamels says he’s old school? He’s the polar opposite of old school. He’s fake tough. He thinks he’s going to intimidate us after hitting our 19-year-old rookie who’s eight games into the big leagues? He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.”
“He thinks he’s sending a message to us of being a tough guy. He’s sending the polar opposite message. He says he’s being honest, well, I’m being honest. It was a gutless chicken (bleep-bleeping) act. That was a fake-tough act. No one has ever accused Cole Hamels of being old school.”
“This goes beyond rivalry and all that stuff. This points to, you take the youngest guy in baseball. He’s never done a thing. And then Hamels patted himself on the back. Harper’s old school. Hitting him on the back, that ain’t old school. That’s (bleeping) chicken (bleep).”
– Giants’ RHP Guillermo Mota has been suspended 100 games after a second positive test for a performance-enhancing drug. Mota, who has a 5.06 ERA and 9/4 K/BB ratio in 10 2/3 innings this season, tested positive for Clenbuterol. Mota had previously tested positive for PED use back in 2006 as a member of the Mets and served a 50-game suspension to begin the 2007 season.
– Nationals’ OF Jayson Werth (broken left wrist) underwent surgery on Monday and is now expected to miss at least 12 weeks. He was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 7. The Nationals initially timetable of 6 weeks has doubled. It’s a tough blow to the Nationals, who are currently in first place in the NL East. The Nats’ ranks 28th in majors with 96 runs scored.
– Phillies’ 1B Ryan Howard (Achilles) took batting practice Monday for the first time since February. Howard was recently given clearance to ramp up baseball activities at the team’s spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida. It’s not known when he’ll go out on a minor league rehab assignment, but a return in late May or early June is possible provided there are no setbacks.
– Red Sox’ RHP Josh Beckett (lat) has been cleared for Thursday’s start against the Indians after a successful bullpen session Monday. Manager Bobby Valentine said, ”Beckett threw today, said he felt great. Well, I don’t think he said great. I think he said he felt fine and ready to go.” Beckett was scratched from his last outing as a precaution due to minor lat soreness.
– Yankees’ RHP Mariano Rivera’s agent, Fernando Cuza, told George A. King III of the NY Post that his client “ran into complications” during his doctor visit on Monday. ”We ran into complications. I am referring to Dr. Ahmad and [Yankees general manager] Brian Cashman for further information.” Rivera, who was diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee last week, was expected to meet with team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad, knee specialist Dr. Russell Warren and Mets’ team doctor David Altchek.
– Yankees’ OF Brett Gardner (right elbow strain) is expected to return to the Yankees on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Gardner is scheduled to play rehab games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday and Tuesday, and could return to the active roster Wednesday if both of those go well. Gardner has been sidelined for 3 weeks with a right elbow strain. He’s batting .321 with a .424 on-base percentage and two stolen bases in nine games this season.
– D’Backs’ OF Chris Young (shoulder) took 50 swings in the cage and threw from 120 feet Monday at Chase Field. He hopes to go out on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. The 28-year-old was hitting .410/.500/.897 with five homers and 13 RBI through 46 plate appearances prior to the injury.
– Angels’ RHP LaTroy Hawkins (fractured right pinkie finger) is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Hawkins suffered the injury while catching a comebacker during Sunday’s game. The timetable would place his return in the early-to-latter part of June.
– Athletics’ OF Manny Ramirez will embark on a 10-game minor league rehab assignment before joining the team. If all goes well, he should be ready shortly after his 50-game PED suspension is up on May 30. ManRam signed a minor league contract in late February and is expected to serve as their part-time DH.
– Corpus Christi Hooks’ OF Austin Wales made a spectacular catch while landing in the bullpen. Check it out:
– Brewers’ assistant GM Gord Ash confirmed Monday that SS Alex Gonzalez (torn right ACL) is out for the rest of the season. Gonzalez is expected to undergo surgery in about a week. The 35-year-old batted .259/.326/.457 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 89 plate appearances for the Brewers this season.
– The Mets have placed SS Ruben Tejada (right quad strain) on the 15-day DL. Tejada suffered the injury Sunday after stumbling and falling face-first into first base.
– RHP Brad Penny has been released by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Japan’s Pacific League. Penny, who joined the SoftBank Hawks on a 1-year/$4M deal with a $4.5M mutual option for 2013, gave up six runs (four earned) over 3 1/3 innings in his lone start with the club. He complained of right shoulder pain after the start. Softbank told Sanspo.com that it was his “strong hope” to leave the team.
WWE
– WWE Champion CM Punk spoke out on Amendment 1 Monday morning on Twitter as he strongly feels same sex marriage should be legalized in the state of North Carolina. The WWE Superstar subsequently told a fan on the microblogging website who disagreed with his beliefs to “kill yourself,” and another to “drink bleach.” The message read,
“Man was meant for woman, and even the thought of homo’s make me sick.”
Punk was chastised for his harsh remark by another Twitter user, who reminded him of WWE’s anti-bullying campaign ‘be a STAR.’
“Telling someone to kill themselves? B A Star. How about creating a positive change instead of civil unrest? Ass.,” the Twitter user wrote to the WWE Champion.
Punk, however, disagreed, as he said he’s fighting bigotry. He responded,
“Hey moron, don’t try to hide behind the be a star campaign. I am a star. I’m fighting bigots here. Zero tolerance.”
The WWE Superstar then poked fun at “dirtsheets” for reporting his earlier remark, writing,
“Dirtsheets need to report that I have cilantro in my teeth. Then swallow tacks.”
Punk continued to stir the pot on the microblogging site as he then hinted at surprises for tonight’s Raw SuperShow.
“Trust me when I say this #RAW will be fantastic. #rumors #surprises #cilantro. I love knowing stuff nobody knows.”
Punk later apologized, saying.
“Amendment 1 is ridiculous. It’s an invasion of people’s rights. North Carolina, why do you care if somebody wants to marry who they love?” Same sex marriage should be legal. The fact that it’s illegal is embarrassing.”
“Divorce rate is at least 50% between men and women, so don’t give me the values angle. Making same sex marriage illegal is the same as having segregated drinking fountains. Embarrassing. The human race is embarrassing. #evolve.”
“I was pretty worked up today. The amendment 1 situation had me all wound up. I stand by my thoughts on gay marriage 100%. How I defended that stance was 100% wrong. I admit it. You can’t stoop to others levels. Sometimes I fight fire with fire and it isn’t ways the best way,” he said.
“To @ezeekay: I apologize. I don’t want you to kill yourself. I want you to better yourself. Just as I want to better myself. I’ll start by being the better man and once again, apologize for my harsh reaction to your opinion of homosexuals making you “sick.”
“Sorry y’all. If I let anybody down, I apologize. I’ll make it up to ya and move forward with a better understanding of others feelings.#pma.”
His beliefs contrast a homophobic slur he hurled at a fan last July at a WWE live event in Adelaide, Australia. Enclosed in the article is footage of Punk engaging in a verbal altercation with a fan and telling him that he has a “homo” haircut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_WQmijnz5k&feature=player_embedded
– Check out these pictures of CM Punk’s Chicago apartment, purchased in 2010 for $2,150,000. The home includes a two-story living room, two decks, theatre room, office with tigerwood flooring, master bathroom with heated floors and Jacuzzi tub, family room with a playroom and loft, wine cellar, African marble, and a three-car garage.
– According to the Wrestling Observer, there has been talk in the past week of CM Punk defending the WWE Championship against Lord Tensai at SummerSlam on 8/19. Also rumoured for the show are Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H and a Money in the Bank match.
– TMZ.com reports that Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez was pulled over police on his way to Monday’s RAW from Greensboro, North Carolina and was given a speeding ticket. Rodriguez was going 70 MPH in a 55 MPH zone close to the Greensboro Coliseum attempting to make Raw on time and paid a $200 speeding ticket, which was increased due to him speeding in a construction zone.
– A Fatal 4-Way Match for the World Heavyweight Championship has been announced for WWE Over The Limit 2012 as Sheamus will defend the strap against Alberto Del Rio, Chris Jericho and Randy Orton. The bout replaces a singles affair between Sheamus and Del Rio. Also announced for the event is a Divas Championship encounter between Beth Phoenix and strap holder Layla. With those matches set, here’s the updated card for Over The Limit on 5/20:
John Cena vs. John Laurinaitis
WWE Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
WWE Divas Championship Match: Layla (c) vs. Beth Phoenix
World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4-Way Match: Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton
– FCW star Dean Ambrose has reignited his feud with Mick Foley. When asked by a fan when he will finally “rid us” of the hardcore legend, Ambrose replied:
“There is a long cleanup job ahead to get rid of everything foley poisoned #wwe #raw”
Another fan asked if Ambrose has a dream opponent from any era in wrestling. The former Jon Moxley replied:
“Mick 20 years ago id have made sure he was eating his meals through a straw long b4 he did any so much damage #wwe #raw”
Ambrose ended his anti-Foley comments with:
“Thing is, im the worst thing foley ever created. Im the most highly evolved creature on the planet #thanksmick #wwe #raw”
– Warrior is back with another video message. In this 2-part update, Warrior talks about ignoring doctors ad “listening to his body” when healing his torn bicep, his upcoming appearance on June 2nd at the Legends of the Ring convention in New Jersey and a new reality television project he’s working on.
– WWE.com has a new storyline interview up with Beth Phoenix. Here are some highlights of what the Glamazon said about:
Being pulled from the Extreme Rules Divas Title match: “I was in a state of shock. I’d been told I would be allowed to compete regardless of the injury, but I guess when the doctor’s report came back it was a different story. It doesn’t matter. This is a road I’ve been down before. But I would have competed hurt – I’ve done that before too.”
Layla winning the title: “Layla hasn’t earned anything. I mean, who’d she ever beat? No one should be No. 1 contender until I’m cleared. There shouldn’t have even been a Divas Championship Match at Extreme Rules. I know Layla was out for a year. Big deal! I had ACL surgery too, and I made it back in half the time. When I return, I’m not only going to beat up Layla, I’m going to bust her other knee, and make sure that she goes away and never comes back. She has no idea what she has gotten herself into.”
Eve Torres as Executive Administrator: “Eve’s making a statement in her role. She’s flexing her muscles a little bit, and I respect that. Eve and I actually have a lot in common in that we’re both strong, powerful women wanting to get more in a man’s world. That said, I don’t like being talked down to, and I don’t like being taken for granted. If Eve ever challenges me, then she’s going to have her hands full.”
– Mason Ryan worked as Dolph Ziggler’s bodyguard over the weekend at WWE live events. While it’s not definite that he will be aligned with Ziggler on television, Mason Ryan was shown backstage on RAW along side Abraham Washington’s All World Talent Agency as they watched Ziggler’s match against Kofi Kingston. Speaking of AW, he tweeted after RAW that he’s decided to hold off on invoking the WWE Tag Team Title rematch clause of Primo and Epico:
“#WWE Being the Mastermind that I am, I’ve chosen to not invoke my clients rematch clause as of yet. Only when the time is right.. #SunTzu”
AW also talked up All World:
“#AllWorld is the definition of #ELitism We are like the first stroke of the Mona Lisa.. The beginning of greatness.”
– Smith Hart remembered his late brother Owen via Twitter:
“Today marks the anniversary of my brother Owen’s birth. I like to take this time to remember the wonderful moments we had together.”
– According to F4WOnline, everything taking place on Monday’s Raw SuperShow was approved at the last minute. The episode’s content had changed three times since creative heads arrived to Greensboro, North Carolina, the site of tonight’s show.
– A “major” viral campaign will be starting imminently on WWE.com. It will be pushed strongly beginning next Monday.
– Former Nexus member Husky Harris appeared under the name Bray Wyatt in a pre-Raw dark match. He defeated former NXT Season 2 peer Alex Riley. Harris debuted the Cape Fear-inspired character in WWE developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling in March. He debuted the crowd before the WWE audience at Raw live events over the weekend. Here’s a picture of the new Bray Wyatt character from a live event this weekend:
– WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be hosting his own reality game show on cable channel CMT called “Redneck Island.” The 10-episode series will feature Austin as host and 12 Southerns compete for $100,000 on a remote island. Austin will “guide the contestants through a number of hilrious mental and physical challenges.” The press release indicate that Austin has also signed a development deal with CMT, “Austin will look to produce additional series for CMT with his production company, Broken Skull Ranch Productions.”
– Former WCW wrestler Scotty Riggs addressed Paul Heyman’s Raw SuperShow return on Twitter, writing:
“Congrats to @HeymanHustle to bring credibility to “sports entertainment”, an bright light in the darkness of #WWE … Congrats to Paul!!”
– Triple H is advertised to appear on next week’s Raw SuperShow as he will address last week’s assault by Brock Lesnar.
– Last week’s (5/4) episode of SmackDown drew a 1.94 cable rating with 2,709,000 viewers.
– Brock Lesnar’s superstar profile on the WWE website has been moved from the RAW roster to the Alumni section, to sell the storyline that he’s quit the company.
TNA
– During a recent interview with Scottland’s One Wrestling Show Hulk Hogan responded to Scott Steiner recent shoot comments about him and Eric Bischoff, never wrestling Bret Hart around WrestleMania 9 and his long running feud with the Ultimate Warrior:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EFydh8Akvf0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ElHqVZ0GuTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JBxvNM1SvkQ
– During a recent interview with the One Wrestling Show podcast, TNA executive Eric Bischoff addressed Scott Stener’s recent Twitter rants against him and revealed new details about the additional format changes coming to Impact Wrestling. Here are some highlights of what Bischoff said about:
Scott Steiner’s Twitter Rants Against Him & Hogan: “I know that Scott has been saying some pretty negative things about a lot of different people. I haven’t read them, so I don’t know. I’ve seen a couple of them, some of them have been forwarded to me by people that think that I care. [Laughs.] So, I can’t really comment on all of it, because honest to God, I don’t know everything that he said or the vast majority of it.
“I don’t know where Scott’s coming from, to be honest with you. He’s had a long run. He’s 50-years-old, he’s had a great deal of success in the business. I guess being someone who’s also in my 50?s, I kind of look forward — my goal — is to look back on my career and look back at all the positive things. The fact that I’ve been able to travel the world and see things and do things and make a great deal of money and provide security for my family. Make a lot of friends.
“There’s a lot of things that when you’re 50-years-old and you’re at the twilight of your career, you should be looking back on them fondly. You should be embracing the good things. I think Scott is probably going through a little mid-life crisis and realizes that at 50-years-old, it’s time to move aside. Something that he was very vocal about in his 20?s and 30?s. Now that he’s in his 50?s, he’s not so anxious to move aside.
“But, there comes a time and Scott’s time is unfortunately now unless WWE thinks that Scott has something to offer. Scott will probably be wrestling on small independent shows until that doesn’t work out any longer.”
Open Fight Night, Gut Check Challenge & More Changes To Impact: “In my role as executive producer, one of the things that I really wanted to do — and I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. My partner, Jason Hervey and I, we’re in the television business and we work with many, many different television networks. In fact, just since we’ve been in TNA, we’ve wanted to produce nine different television series for eight different television networks in addition to executive producing Impact.
“One of the things that we’ve learned in producing different television series for different television networks is that in today’s television environment, format is really king. There is no such thing as a successful television series out there. In any genre — whether it be scripted, reality or action — every successful television show has a successful format.
“Wrestling really doesn’t. Wrestling has been produced much the same way as it always has for the last 15-25 years. What I wanted to do is change that. I wanted to create a very specific format for not only Impact, but for several. So, one of the things we did is that I got together with the creative team and we kind of worked through different formats.
“Week one, which is following the pay-per-view, is what we refer to as a ‘Reset’ format. Which means that we’re really bringing everybody up to speed it they didn’t order the pay-per-view. We have to reset our new stories going forward. I won’t go into the details of that format because you’ve probably seen them many, many times before but there’s a very specific purpose in the format.
“The second one is ‘Open Fight Night’. The ‘Open Fight Night’ format is essentially a format where any wrestler can challenge any other wrestler and the wrestler that’s being challenged has to take the challenge. Additionally, if someone challenges a champion, that world champion has to take that challenge regardless of any other condition. And as part of ‘Open Fight Night’, we’re going to have the ‘Gut Check’ segment.
“The ‘Gut Check’ segment is a segment where an aspiring young wrestler, who really has never been on national television before and is not a member of the TNA roster, is going to get an opportunity to have a television match. If that wrestler impresses the judges enough — and that doesn’t mean he or she has to win or lose, he or she just has to put on a great performance — if that aspiring wrestler impresses the judges, then that wrestler gets a TNA contract.
“So, that’s essentially ‘Open Fight Night’ which includes the gut check challenge. And there’s two others formats but your listeners will probably get bored if I go into the detail of them but one of them is called ‘Name Your Game’, which we’ll be seeing in the next couple of weeks and the other is called ‘Law & Order’. That’s the last episode that we’ll lay down before we go into a pay-per-view.
“So, they’re four different, very specific formats that were designed to achieve very specific results. It was really something that Jason and I brought from our outside wrestling, television experience into TNA.”
Where TNA Will Recruit Talent For The Gut Check Challenges: “Certainly, some talent will come from OVW. I’m sure a lot of talent try-outs will come from OVW given the relationship that we have with them. But it’s not exclusive.
“There will be other wrestlers, from other parts of the country, who are training at others schools and are not apart of OVW. They will also get an opportunity. … Theoretically, it’s open to anyone. Al Snow is actually the person that’s driving that program and heading up that program. If anybody from anywhere in the world wants to come in and get an opportunity to go to the ‘Gut Check’ on ‘Open Fight Night’ on Impact!, they just have to go through Al.
“They have to be qualified. There has to be a real good reason for us to put them on national television. But, yeah. Anybody from around the world.”
NFL
– The Broncos have fired GM Brian Xanders. Promoted to GM in a 2009 package deal that also made Josh McDaniels the Broncos’ head coach, Xanders had little power during the McDaniels’ stay, and none when John Elway took over football operations last offseason. He spent 1994-2007 working with the Falcons as a coach and player personnel evaluator.
– The Bills have signed RB Fred Jackson to a 2-year extension through 2014. Jackson was previously signed through only 2012. Jackson’s career didn’t take off until 2008, and has just 817 carries in his career. RB C.J. Spiller remains the future back, but won’t get his chance until Jackson breaks down or stops performing. Jackson averaged career bests in yards per carry (5.49) and yards per reception (11.3) before a fractured right fibula ended his season after ten games.
– Updating a previous item, free agent RB Ryan Grant never did meet with the Lions as reported on Monday. A Lions’ official disputed a report that Grant was ever scheduled to visit the club. The Detroit Free Press attempted to contact Grant’s agent on Monday, but their calls were not returned. The initial story last week claimed that the Lions had a contract offer on the table for Grant.
– The Vikings have released K Ryan Longwell. The 37-year-old missed 6-of-28 field-goal attempts last year in addition to one PAT. 6th-round rookie Blair Walsh went 21-for-35 on field goals as a college senior, converting just 54.8% of his attempts from beyond 30 yards.
– Cardinals’ RB Ryan Williams (torn right patellar tendon) revealed that he is already running and making cuts. Williams underwent surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in addition to meniscus damage on August 22, so he’s just under nine months removed. “I am running and cutting and doing things I didn’t think I’d be doing this early. I’m not worried about it.”
– Bengals’ WR Jordan Shipley (torn left ACL) has been cleared for full participation in OTAs. Shipley tore his left ACL on September 18, 2011. As a rookie in 2010, Shipley caught 52 passes for 600 yards and three touchdowns.
– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the Bengals and Jets have expressed interest in free agent WR Braylon Edwards. The Jets interest was publicly known, but the Bengals being added is new. Edwards’ knee is the biggest issue–he underwent surgery late last season, and was still believed to be in rehab mode early this spring.
– The Seahawks have signed DE Bruce Irvin, the No. 15 overall pick, to a 4-year/$9.34M contract, including a $5M signing bonus. Irvin tallied 22.5 sacks in just 26 college games.
– The Seahawks have agreed to terms with third-round QB Russell Wilson and seven other members of their ten-man rookie draft-pick class. Seattle’s only rookies yet to sign are 4th-rounders Robert Turbin and Jaye Howard. Wilson will compete for the Seahawks’ backup job immediately, and could make pricey Tarvaris Jackson expendable with a big camp.
– The Jaguars have waived WR Jarett Dillard. The 2009 5th-round pick caught more than three passes just twice down the stretch of last season with a starter. Dillard finished the year with 29 catches for 292 yards and a TD after missing all of 2010 with a toe injury.
NBA
– Knicks’ G Baron Davis (right knee) suffered a partial patella tendon tear, as well as a complete tear of his right ACL and MCL. Wow. Davis will have surgery this week and a recovery timetable has been set at 12 months. The oft-injured 33-year-old’s career is officially in question. Of note, G Jeremy Lin is an RFA this summer.
– Knicks’ G Jeremy Lin (knee) has been ruled out for the remainder of the first round of the playoffs, according to head coach Mike Woodson.
– Suns’ G Steve Nash was named GM of Canada Basketball’s senior men’s team Tuesday. The sport’s national governing body has had the two-time NBA MVP from Victoria in its sights for some time to head up a program that hasn’t made an Olympic appearance since the 2000 Games in Sydney. Nash led Canada to a seventh-place finish in Sydney, with Jay Triano as coach. The men’s team has been without a head coach since Leo Rautins resigned in September following Canada’s disappointing performance at the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament. Rowan Barrett was also hired Tuesday and will serve as Nash’s assistant general manager.
– According to Frank Isola of the NY Daily News, the Knicks have “initiated talks” to keep Mike Woodson as head coach. Per Isola, the discussions are only in the “preliminary stages,” but management is “convinced” that Woodson is the right man for the job. Woodson finished out the regular season with an 18-6 record after taking over for Mike D’Antoni.
– Check out this flop by Nuggets’ F Danilo Gallinari:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GI6eyti7M1c