After tryout, Jets sign Winslow to 1-year deal
After tryout, Jets sign Winslow to 1-year deal
NEW YORK — Kellen Winslow Jr. turned a three-day tryout into another chance at reviving his NFL career.
The former Pro Bowl tight end was signed to a one-year deal by the New York Jets on Friday after a solid performance during the team’s minicamp this week.
Winslow was brought in on a tryout basis and impressed coach Rex Ryan, who wouldn’t comment Thursday as to whether a signing was imminent but seemed to indicate he was pleased with what he saw.
Winslow, the son of Hall of Famer and former Chargers star Kellen Winslow, was a first-round draft pick of Cleveland in 2004. After a broken right leg as a rookie and a torn knee ligament the next year, Winslow had 89 catches in 2006 and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate the following year.
He was traded to Tampa Bay in 2009 and had solid seasons of 77, 66 and 75 catches. The Buccaneers traded him to Seattle before last season, but he was waived in September after declining to reduce his salary. He signed with New England a few weeks later and played one game with one catch for 12 yards — before asking for and being granted his release.
Toews wins Selke for best defensive forward
CHICAGO — Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews got another victory on Friday. The trophy he wants the most is still up for grabs.
Toews won the Frank J. Selke award, given to the NHL’s best defensive forward. He emerged from a trio of finalists that included fellow centers Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.
The 25-year-old Toews was third in the NHL with a plus-28 rating in 47 games in the regular season, helping Chicago post the most points in the NHL. He also was a finalist for the Selke after the 2010-11 season.
Also Friday, Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators won the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL’s coach of the year. The top executive honor went to Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero. The Lady Byng trophy for the NHL’s most sportsmanlike player was given to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis for the third time in four seasons.
DA: Holdsclaw pleads guilty in assault case
ATLANTA — Ex-WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist Chamique Holdsclaw has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an argument and shooting in November.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard says Holdsclaw pleaded guilty Friday to aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and other charges. The 35-year-old was sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine under the plea agreement.
Holdsclaw’s attorney Ed Garland says his client “felt that to honestly accept what her actions were was best for everyone concerned.”
Holdsclaw was arrested after the confrontation in Atlanta with Tulsa Shock player Jennifer Lacy, who told police she was Holdsclaw’s ex-girlfriend. Authorities said Holdsclaw broke Lacy’s car windows with a bat and then fired a shot into it. No one was injured.
Heat’s Chris Bosh fined $5,000 for Game 4 flop
SAN ANTONIO — Center Chris Bosh became the second Miami Heat player penalized in the NBA’s postseason crackdown on flopping, fined $5,000 Friday for what the league perceived as a violation with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter of Thursday’s 109-93 Game 4 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
On the play in question, Bosh sprawled to the court after minimal contact from Spurs forward Tim Duncan while Bosh attempted to defend a drive by San Antonio guard Gary Neal. Duncan was called for a foul on the play.
Bills sign first-round draft pick Manuel
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Quarterback EJ Manuel can focus solely on competing for the Buffalo Bills starting job now that the rookie first-round draft pick has his contract out of the way.
“It’s a great feeling and I’m excited to be truly part of the team now,” Manuel said, in comments released by the Bills. “I’m just glad it was done earlier instead of later.”
Manuel signed a four-year deal worth $8.9 million, a day after the Bills closed a three-day mandatory minicamp — their final session before training camp opens on July 28 in suburban Rochester.
The person said the deal includes a $4.84 million signing bonus. Though there is an option to add a fifth year to the contract, the person said it is considered a four-year deal.
Youkilis back on DL with back injury
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The New York Yankees have placed third baseman Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list because of a back injury and optioned right-hander Adam Warren to Triple-A Scranrton/Wilkes-Barre.
This is the 14th time the Yankees have used the DL and the second time with Youkilis, who missed 30 games with a lumbar spine sprain before returning to the lineup May 31.
The three-time All-Star, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract with New York as a free agent on December 14, has played in only 28 games and is batting .219 with two home runs and eight RBIs. It’s the eighth time Youkilis has been on the DL in his 10-year career.
Rangers’ Baker sprains thumb getting high-five
ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers slugger Jeff Baker sprained his right thumb receiving a high-five from a teammate and was not in the lineup Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Baker says the injury occurred before Thursday night’s game against Toronto. He wouldn’t identify the teammate, only saying he was “over-excited” when giving out the high-five.
The 31-year-old Baker, a right-handed hitter, says the thumb is swollen and he can’t grip a bat.
Hopkins-Murat
bout in July off
NEW YORK — Bernard Hopkins’ defense of his IBF light heavyweight title against Karo Murat has been canceled because Murat could not get a visa from the State Department.
Germany’s Murat, the No. 2-ranked light heavyweight, was training in Spain when he was told Friday that the July 13 bout was off. The bout was scheduled for the Barclays Center.
Hopkins has a career record of 53-6-2 with 32 knockouts. Murat is 25-1-1.
Murray vs. Tsonga in semi at Queen’s Club
LONDON — Two-time former champion Andy Murray edged Benjamin Becker 6-4, 7-6 (3) Friday to reach the semifinals at Queen’s Club.
Murray will play fourth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a repeat of the 2011 final. The Frenchman ended the run of 112th-ranked American Denis Kudla, 6-3, 6-2 in 53 minutes.
Defending champion Marin Cilic will face four-time winner Lleyton Hewitt in the other semifinal.
The fifth-seeded Cilic beat Tomas Berdych 7-5, 7-6 (4), and Hewitt reached his first semifinal in 11 months by upsetting Juan Martin del Potro 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 at the tuneup tournament before Wimbledon.
Roger Federer records ‘double bagel’ in Halle
HALLE, Germany — Roger Federer cruised past Mischa Zverev 6-0, 6-0 to reach the Gerry Weber Open semifinals on Friday, recording his second career double bagel and teaching a painful lesson to a player trying to serve and volley on grass.
Richard Gasquet also made the last four, defeating Florian Mayer 6-3, 7-6 (4). Gasquet will play Mikhail Youzhny, who upset 2011 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2.
Hantuchova beats Schiavone at Aegon
BIRMINGHAM, England — Daniela Hantuchova rallied from a set and 4-1 down Friday to beat former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and advance to the semifinals of the grass-court Aegon Classic.
Hantuchova won 6-7 (8), 6-4, 7-6 (3) to record another upset in a rainy week at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Birmingham.
Donna Vekic, a 16-year-old Croat, routed third-seeded Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-1. No. 16 Magdalena Rybarikova eased past Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0.
From wire sources