NEW YORK — The NHL has issued another proposal to the players’ association as a lockout looms next month.
Bettman, NHL
issue another
proposal to players
NEW YORK — The NHL has issued another proposal to the players’ association as a lockout looms next month.
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr confirmed that the league offered a new proposal — its second this summer — during negotiations Tuesday at the NHL offices. The two sides will meet again on Wednesday to discuss it, after Fehr and the players break it down on their own.
Speaking outside of the headquarters, Fehr said it was “a proposal that we intend to respond to.”
The current collective bargaining agreement runs out on Sept. 15 and the NHL has said it will lock the players out if a new deal isn’t reached.
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro gets 7-year deal
CHICAGO — Starlin Castro was barely out of his teens when he made his big league debut. Now it looks as though he’ll still be donning Cubbie blue when he hits his 30s.
The Chicago Cubs and their young shortstop agreed to a seven-year contract with a club option for 2020, the team said Tuesday. The deal could keep Castro in Chicago until after his 30th birthday.
Castro is a two-time All-Star in just his second full major league season, and he led the National League in hits with 207 last season. Since making his major league debut on May 7, 2010, Castro has more hits than any player in the NL with 486.
Panthers kicker Medlock wins NFL
job in ‘final attempt’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Justin Medlock was a little apprehensive when the Panthers called in March and asked him to come in for a tryout.
After all, he had a three-year offer on the table to return and kick for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a job with some measure of short-term security. In Carolina, he knew he’d have to fight an uphill battle to unseat 15-year veteran Olindo Mare to secure a roster spot.
He decided to give the NFL one more chance.
And he’s glad he did.
Medlock won the kicking job after the Panthers released Mare on Monday.
A bit more mature and polished, Medlock is back in the NFL for the first time since 2007 and hoping to make the most of a second opportunity he thought might never come.
Jets, Rams finalize trade of right tackles
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jason Smith and Wayne Hunter swapped places, eager to revive their NFL careers with a change of scenery.
The Jets and Rams completed their trade of struggling right tackles Tuesday, with New York acquiring Smith from St. Louis for Hunter. Both Smith, the No. 2 overall pick by the Rams in the 2009 draft, and Hunter, a nine-year veteran, had lost their starting jobs — and likely their confidence.
Smith was due $4 million this season, but a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that the Rams restructured his deal earlier in the day. Smith received a $1.55 million signing bonus that the Rams will pay, with the remaining $2.45 million paid by the Jets, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither team publicly discussed financial details of the deal.
The Jets were due to pay Hunter $2.45 million this season, so they are not doling out anything more by acquiring Smith.
Former NFL WR
Hurd ordered
jailed in drug case
DALLAS — A federal judge ordered former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd to be jailed indefinitely Tuesday for failing two drug tests and allegedly buying drugs while already facing charges he tried to distribute marijuana and cocaine.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan indicated that he was less troubled by the drug tests than the allegations that Hurd had tried to buy drugs while he was out on bond. He revoked Hurd’s $100,000 bond.
After the hearing, Hurd turned toward his family and supporters in the courtroom and said: “Lies.” He spoke briefly to a few people watching before he was led out of the courtroom.
The 27-year-old Hurd, who played for the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, was arrested again earlier this month. Prosecutors say he tested positive for marijuana at least twice this year. His cousin also allegedly told authorities he tried to buy five kilograms of cocaine (about 11 pounds) and 200 pounds of marijuana on Hurd’s behalf.
The cousin, Jesse Tyrone Chavful, also told prosecutors he sold Hurd 30 pounds of marijuana for $10,500 in May.
Browns’ Fujita optimistic he’ll
play in opener
BEREA, Ohio — Scott Fujita isn’t convinced he’ll have to miss a single game this season.
Suspended three games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for his alleged role in the New Orleans’ bounty scandal, Fujita expressed confidence that he’ll play in Cleveland’s season opener on Sept. 9 against Philadelphia.
“I’m optimistic about playing in Week 1,” he said.
Fujita was one of four players punished by Goodell for contributing to the pay-for-hits program that rocked the league. The 33-year-old returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since hurting his left knee in the Aug. 10 exhibition opener against Detroit. Following the workout on a bright, nearly cloudless day, Fujita said he “has a lot” of optimism about his suspension being reduced or delayed.
Fujita declined to give many details for his positive outlook other than saying he was encouraged by U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan’s recent statements regarding suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma’s request for a temporary restraining order to block the bounty sanctions. The judge has said that if she can clear up concerns about her jurisdiction, she would likely grant Vilma the TRO because she found the NFL’s disciplinary process in the bounty matter unfair and the punishment excessive.
Redskins cut
‘Captain Chaos’
Cooley, swap kickers
WASHINGTON — Captain Chaos fought to hold back the tears.
Chris Cooley, the longest-tenured player on the Washington Redskins and easily the team’s most colorful character, was saying goodbye.
“I appreciate everything,” Cooley said with a sniffle, his voice starting to waver. “I’m sorry. I’m a baby. I appreciate everything you guys have done for me. I guess, finally, just to say thank you to our fans. It’s been great. Thank you.”
The Redskins released their two-time Pro Bowl tight end Tuesday, a few hours after creating some special teams chaos of their own by cutting kicker Graham Gano and replacing him with Billy Cundiff.
Lawyer says tennis referee was incapable of murder
LOS ANGELES — A bail motion filed for tennis referee Lois Ann Goodman late Monday said she had two knee replacements and a shoulder replacement and was awaiting another shoulder replacement when she was arrested and charged with beating her husband to death with a coffee mug.
Her lawyer said in the motion that the 70-year-old woman also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, hearing loss and constant spinal pain that’s controlled by an electronic device implanted in her spine.
“It is physically impossible for her to have done this,” attorney Alison Triessl told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday night.
She noted in the motion that Goodman cooperated when police began investigating the death of her husband and submitted to three intensive interviews, driving herself to the police station when she was summoned.
MLB, ESPN extend television contract
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and ESPN extended their television contract through 2021 on Tuesday, a deal that almost doubles the amount of money the network will pay annually for baseball content while also all but eliminating local blackouts for ESPN games on Monday and Wednesday nights.
The deal was announced on Tuesday. It combines rights for TV, radio, digital and international that had been separate. The new single contract adds new rights to air a wild-card game, along with additional rights to highlights and digital content. It also gives the network more flexibility to show games involving popular teams.
By wire sources