NFL
– The Dolphins have signed RE Cameron Wake to a 4-year/$49M extension through 2016 with $20M guaranteed. Wake sat out portions of OTAs while waiting for a raise on his $615K salary. The 30-year-old was entering the final year of the 4-year/$4.9M deal signed in 2009 after winning the CFL defensive player of the year award the previous two seasons. Pro Football Focus graded Wake as the league’s best 3-4 outside linebacker in 2011. Wake has 28 sacks and four forced fumbles in 31 career NFL starts. He will convert to right defensive end in new DC Kevin Coyle’s 4-3 defence.
– Redskins’ head coach Mike Shanahan confirmed Sunday that rookie QB Robert Griffin III will open full-squad OTAs with the first-team offense. ”He’s the starter. Period.”
NBA
– Bulls’ F Joakim Noah (sprained ankle) is doubtful to return during the first round. Noah has been cleared of any breaks or fractures, but his sprain is considered ‘severe.’ He left Saturday’s film session on crutches and didn’t speak to the media.
WWE
– WWE star/executive Triple H, and music star Justin Bieber, walked Floyd Mayweather to the ring ahead of his boxing victory against Miguel Cotto on Saturday night from Las Vegas. Hunter carried one of Mayweather’s championship belts and discretely wore a sling on his left arm, selling the storyline injury he suffered at the hands of Brock Lesnar on Monday’s RAW. He did, however, hold the title belt above his head at one point, which does conflict with the notion that his arm arm might be broken and need surgery. Hunter and Mayweather are close friends, dating back to Mayweather’s involvement at WrestleMania 24. Back in 2009, Mayweather talked about wanting Hunter to accompany him to the ring for an upcoming fight:
“Triple H is one of the greatest guys in the world and represents a whole universe of WWE fans that appreciate what he does. He and his stature are huge and I can’t think of a better person to escort me to the ring for my return to boxing.”
– Speaking to Emmy nominated entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet of WOIO in Cleveland, Ohio, Mick Foley was asked why he left TNA Wrestling last year.
“In my three years with Total Nonstop Action, I think exactly one person said, ‘Hey, you’re that guy from TNA.’ I’m a WWE guy. I went away from home for a while. There was no question. I was never one of those guys who said I’m never going back. I enjoyed my time away, but it’s still home.”
The Hardcore Legend was also asked about Brock Lesnar returning to WWE and his Extreme Rules match against John Cena.
“Oh, God. I’ve watched a lot of pay-per-view and it had a room full of people who have watched a lot of pay-per-views reacting in a way that was completely different than anything I’ve seen before. It was really shocking. It was very dramatic.
“Honestly, I wish they would have stopped it. I think John Cena was hurt bad enough that they should have stopped it. I think it would have been an ending unlike anything I’ve ever seen in WWE – an early stoppage of a match due to injury.”
Foley said he was backstage at WrestleMania XXVIII and thought Undertaker vs. Triple H was the best match of the evening. He also noted received a standing ovation from wrestlers in the backstage area after his Mr. Socko and Cobra segment with Santino Marella at the Royal Rumble. Other topics broached include his comedy tour and WWE promoting his book unexpectedly.
– Christian returned to action this weekend at a SmackDown live event from Asheville, North Carolina, defeating Yoshi Tatsu. Christian played the heel and told the live crowd before the match that he wants “one more championship match,” a sign that his career might be winding down.
– Here’s this week’s SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” video [sort of] featuring interviews with Damien Sandow, A.J. Lee and Intercontinental champion, Cody Rhodes:
– Bo Rotunda’s brother, Husky Harris, returned to action at Friday night’s RAW live event from Huntsville, Alabama. Wrestling as his new “religious” gimmick Bray Wyatt, he defeated Zack Ryder in what was said to be a good match. Live correspondents who were at the show said Wyatt looked to be in much better shape than the last time we saw him on WWE television as a member of Nexus. Check out this video of Bray Wyatt’s debut promo and first match at Florida Championship Wrestling:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Pw5jp4XAQB0
– This week’s episode of Santino’s “Foreign Exchange features Santino attempting to audition for other TV shows, including Man vs. Food and Ghost Hunters:
– Colt Cabana turns 32 today, while Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs turns 48.
NHL
– Check out this borderline hit by Capitals’ F Alex Ovechkin on Rangers’ D Dan Girardi during Game 4. Ovechkin was given a minor penalty on the play, but replays show he left his feet at the point of contact. As expected, both players had opposing views on the hit:
“I just missed the puck. I tried to kick the puck and I saw he was coming, so I just got to protect myself,” said Ovechkin.
“He hit me in the head first. I think it was the right call. I’m not sure what it was, whether it was charging or interference or whatever, but my head’s there, and he hits it. But I think he was just playing the game hard. I don’t know,” said Girardi.
Following the team’s 3-2 loss, Rangers’ head coach John Tortorella beat his own record for shortest post-game press conference:
– According to TSN, Rick Dudley is expected to become the next assistant GM of the Canadiens–the move from the Leafs to the Habs, however, is going to be complicated. Leafs’ GM Brian Burke and newly appointed Habs’ GM Marc Bergevin are in discussions over Dudley’s jump from one team to the other. Dudley, a member of Toronto’s management team, has an “out” in his contract with the Leafs, but has done extensive work for Toronto on the upcoming NHL Draft and sources say Burke would prefer Dudley not join the Canadiens until after the Draft. Compounding the issue is the fact Toronto and Montreal both have top five picks (Canadiens at third overall, Leafs fifth), an obvious concern for the Maple Leafs, who would rather not share Dudley’s expertise with the rival Habs. The NHL no longer allows teams to seek compensation when coaches or executives are lured to other teams. However, Burke and other concerned general managers will push for restrictive procedures to be reintroduced in the near future.
– According to ESPN the Magazine, Sabres’ F Thomas Vanek is currently the highest paid Austrian athlete. The Magazine charted the highest paid athletes of over 200 countries spanning all sports. Vanek’s $6.4M in 2011-12 was Austria’s top salary. Other hockey players to make the list included; Penguins’ F Craig Adams (Brunei Darussalam, $725K); Wild’ F Mikko Koivu (Finland, $7.29M), Jets’ F Nik Antropov (Kazakhstan, $4.25M), Flyers’ G Ilya Bryzgalov (Russia, $10M) and Bruins’ D Zdeno Chara (Slovakia, $8.5M)”.
MLB
– Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that 1B Derrek Lee is “definitely” on the Brewers’ radar as they look for a replacement for 1B Mat Gamel (knee). It’s not clear if the Brewers have made any contact with Lee’s agent. Lee, 36, never officially retired, and Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported back in March that Lee would be open to signing with someone if the “right opportunity” arises. He batted .267/.325/.446 with 19 home runs and 59 RBI last season for the Orioles and Pirates.
– The Twins have placed 1B Justin Morneau (sore left wrist) on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 1. It’s the same wrist that he had surgically repaired last October, and though a recent MRI showed no structural damage he’s still experiencing plenty of pain in the area. Morneau is hitting .230 with four homers and nine RBI this season.
– Mets’ manager Terry Collins said that OF Jason Bay (non-displaced fractured left rib) is “still pretty sore when he laughs or coughs” and won’t be activated from the DL “for awhile.” Bay has been on the DL for almost two weeks, but he’s yet to resume baseball-related activities. The Canadian could end up missing most or all of May.