By wire sources
Bills exchange offers with WR Johnson
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills haven’t given up on re-signing Stevie Johnson before the receiver’s eligible to become a free agent next month.
A person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press on Thursday that the two sides exchanged offers over the past week, and plan to meet again at the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because negotiations are not being made public.
In completing the final year of his contract, Johnson became Buffalo’s first receiver to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He led the Bills for a second straight year with 76 catches for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns.
Johnson’s season did end in controversy, after he was benched for the final three quarters of the Bills’ finale at New England.
Seattle announces plans for new arena
SEATTLE — Christopher Hansen is making a $290 million proposal to his hometown that could be the impetus for a new sports arena that could bring the NBA and NHL to Seattle.
All he needs is city and county approval equaling $200 million and the two franchises to make it a reality.
Hansen, a hedge-fund manager based in San Francisco and a Seattle native, submitted a proposal to the city on Thursday that calls for $290 million in private investment toward the construction of a new arena that would cost between $450 and $500 million. Hansen and his investment group would also be responsible for the purchase of an NBA franchise and finding a partner interested in bringing an NHL franchise to Seattle as well.
New contestants, format in Dunk contest
NEW YORK — The NBA is leaving it up to the fans to determine the winner of the All-Star slam dunk contest.
Defending champion Blake Griffin passed on returning, leaving a lackluster field of New York’s Iman Shumpert, Paul George of Indiana, rookie Derrick Williams of Minnesota and Houston’s Chase Budinger.
The league announced Thursday that there no longer will be judges in the event, which also will be reduced to one round. Each contestant will execute three dunks. Fans will determine the champion by voting on NBA.com, Twitter or through text messaging.
The format in recent years was two rounds, with a panel of judges voting on the first round before fan voting in the second.
LeBron not ruling out return to Cavaliers
CLEVELAND — LeBron James could picture returning one day to the place where his NBA journey began.
Back in Cleveland.
Imagine that.
After practicing in a gym where he refined his game for seven seasons, James said Thursday he would not rule out a return to the Cavaliers, a team he carried to the brink of a title before he spurned an entire region by leaving as a free agent in 2010 to chase a championship with Miami.
Asked if he could play for the Cavs again, James initially paused before giving his answer.
“I don’t know. I think it would be great,” he said. “It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. You can’t predict the future and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I’m here as a Miami Heat player, and I’m happy where I am now, but I don’t rule that out in no sense.
“And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.”
Berdych advances, Baghdatis retires in Rotterdam
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Second-seeded Tomas Berdych advanced to the quarterfinals of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament on Thursday when Marcos Baghdatis retired with a leg injury in the fourth game.
Also, third-seeded Juan Martin del Potro fired nine aces to advance with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Karol Beck of Slovakia.
Baghdatis was injured in the opening games as Berdych raced to a 3-0 lead.
Harrison outlasts Ginepri at SAP Open
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Ryan Harrison advanced to the quarterfinals of the SAP Open, closing with a flourish to beat Robbie Ginepri 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night.
Harrison, who had 27 aces in his previous match, finished with only five this time but won the final 10 points — including a 7-0 whitewash in the tiebreaker.
By wire sources