Broncos sign left tackle Clady to 5-year contract
Broncos sign left tackle Clady to 5-year contract
DENVER — The Denver Broncos locked up Peyton Manning’s blindside protector Sunday, signing left tackle Ryan Clady to a five-year deal worth up to $57.5 million.
The Broncos and Clady have been at odds over a long-term contract for more than a year. Had he not signed by Monday, he would have played under a one-year, $9.823 million deal because of the franchise tag.
Instead, Clady has a deal that guarantees him at least $33 million and should keep him in Denver through the end of Manning’s playing days. It’s a better deal than the one the tackle turned down last season, when the guarantees the Broncos offered came in at about half of what he’ll make under his new contract.
Clady, a first-round draft pick in 2008, is still recovering from surgery to his right shoulder and is expected to miss the start of training camp, which begins July 25.
If he returns to full health, it will resolve one of Denver’s many issues on the offensive line.
Left guard Zane Beadles was the only starting offensive lineman to come out of last season unscathed. Orlando Franklin (toe, shoulder), Chris Kuper (ankle) and J.D. Walton (knee) also needed operations, and of the three, only Franklin was at full health during team minicamps this spring.
The Broncos signed Dan Koppen to fill in at center for Walton, who isn’t expected back until midseason. Their biggest free-agency signing outside of Wes Welker was right guard Louis Vasquez. If Kuper recovers from his second surgery in as many years, he’ll likely compete for a backup spot.
Metta World Peace: ‘Of course I’m interested in Clippers
LOS ANGELES — Metta World Peace wouldn’t mind playing for the Los Angeles Clippers now that he’s a free agent.
“Of course I’m interested in Clippers,” World Peace texted to the Los Angeles Times on Sunday. “I have to meet them first.”
The Clippers also are interested in speaking with World Peace, said NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
There have been reports the New York Knicks are also interested in World Peace, who was waived by the Lakers under the amnesty provision on Thursday.
Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific time was the deadline for teams with salary-cap room to bid on World Peace. But no team did, allowing him to clear waivers and negotiate with the team of his choice.
The most the Clippers can pay a player with World Peace’s experience level is $1.4 million.
He still will get the $7.7 million owed by the Lakers.
World Peace, 33, averaged a career-low 7.7 points during the 2011-12 season, but he improved under Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni’s system last season, averaging 12.4 points.
But World Peace suffered torn cartilage in his knee in March. He returned after only 12 days and was not as productive after that. He averaged six points a game and shot 25 percent in the playoffs for the Lakers.
World Peace has played small forward most of his career, the same position at which the Clippers already have three players — Jared Dudley, Matt Barnes and rookie Reggie Bullock.
But at 6 feet 7 and 260 pounds, World Peace can play some power forward because of his strength, something he did for the Lakers at times last season.
Davis sets HR record for first half
BALTIMORE — Chris Davis hit his 37th home run to tie the AL record before the All-Star break, and Baltimore cruised past Toronto.
Davis doubled in two runs in the first inning and hit a two-run homer in the third to give him 93 RBIs, second-most in the majors behind Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera.
By going deep in a fourth straight game, Davis equaled Reggie Jackson’s AL mark of 37 homers before the break, set in 1969. The major league record is 39, by Barry Bonds in 2001.
Hawks match Bucks’ offer, retain Jeff Teague
ATLANTA — Jeff Teague is still a member of the Atlanta Hawks.
The Hawks on Saturday matched the four-year, $32 million offer sheet the restricted free agent point guard signed with Milwaukee.
A move to Milwaukee would have allowed Teague to be reunited with former Hawks coach Larry Drew. Instead, he’ll remain in Atlanta and run the offense for new coach Mike Budenholzer.
Teague, a four-year veteran and two-year starter, set career highs with his averages of 14.6 points and 7.2 assists last season. He ranked 12th in the league in assists and is one of only 10 players to increase his scoring average each of the last three seasons.
“He has improved each year of his career and continues to get better,” said Hawks general manager Danny Ferry. “At 25, he’s already been a key contributor on a playoff team and we look forward to seeing him develop into even more of a leader on our team.”
The Hawks lost Josh Smith, who signed with Detroit, but have re-signed guard-forward Kyle Korver and added free-agent forwards Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll.
Budenholzer said Teague “has a high level of talent.”
“Keeping him with our group allows us to continue to build and improve going forward,” he said.
Teague was the No. 19 overall pick out of Wake Forest in the 2009 draft.
Coyotes sign 1st-round pick Domi to 3-year deal
GLENDALE— The Phoenix Coyotes have signed first-round pick Max Domi to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The deal with Domi, the No. 12 pick in this year’s draft, was announced on Sunday. The Toronto-born forward had 39 goals and 87 points in 64 games last season for London of the OHL.
Domi, the son of former NHL player Tie Domi, led London in goals and points and tied for first on the team in assists and plus-minus.
He also had a team-high 32 points in 21 postseason games, leading the Knights to their second consecutive OHL Championship.
“Max is a very talented young player with a bright future,” Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a statement. “He had an impressive prospect development camp and we look forward to watching his progress.”