SPORTS BRIEFS - Sports

SPORTS BRIEFS

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Article Tools
Email a Friend RSS digg it	Printer Friendly Mobile Alerts Sphere IT Save This Page

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Wilson likely out for Wolfpack

RALEIGH, N.C. - Neither starting quarterback Russell Wilson nor tight end Anthony Hill is expected to play in the Wolfpack's home opener against William and Mary, coach Tom O'Brien said.

Wilson, a former star at Collegiate and twice The Times-Dispatch player of the year, was carted off the field with a concussion during last week's 34-0 loss at South Carolina, and Hill - the team's leading receiver in 2006 who missed '07 with a knee injury - is likely out with a chest injury.

Top wide receiver Donald Bowens already is out for the season for the Wolfpack with a back injury, and tailback Jamelle Eugene is slowed by an ankle injury that kept him out of the opener. The injury to Wilson, who spent Thursday night in a hospital before returning to campus, leaves the Wolfpack (0-1) with senior Daniel Evans under center and Harrison Beck as the backup. The trio combined to complete just 5 of 20 passes against South Carolina, with Evans tossing a pair of interceptions.

UR climbs to third in polls

On the heels of its 28-10 win at Elon, Richmond jumped to No. 3 in both the Sport Network and FCS Coaches polls. The Spiders are at their highest spot in the Top 25 since being ranked No. 1 for five weeks in 1985. UR debuted this season at fourth in the Sports Network and sixth in the FCS Coaches polls. Appalachian State and North Dakota State are No. 1 in Sports Network and coaches polls, respectively.

NFL

Patriots add O'Neal to secondary

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Deltha O'Neal, two days after they released exhibition-season starter Fernando Bryant. O'Neal spent the last four seasons with Cincinnati after playing his first four with Denver. He had 31 interceptions for three touchdowns in 116 games, including 75 starts. He also scored one touchdown on a kickoff return and two on punt returns. The Bengals released him Saturday.

Manning bolsters Rams' secondary

ST. LOUIS - The Rams signed cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. to a one-year contract and released defensive back Eric Bassey. Manning gives the Rams badly needed depth at cornerback after preseason injuries to starter Fakhir Brown and rookie Justin King. In five NFL seasons, Manning has 14 interceptions, 233 tackles and 33 passes defended. St. Louis also agreed to terms with linebacker and special-teams player Gary Stills, who spent the past two seasons in Baltimore. In other NFL news:

Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, sidelined since Aug. 18 with a concussion, returned to practice and is expected to start Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. Browns coach Romeo Crennel indicated that his Pro Bowl quarterback would play against the Cowboys as long as he didn't have any setbacks during Cleveland's workout.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice and expects to start Sunday's regular-season opener in Buffalo. Hasselbeck participated in just his second full practice since injuring his back nearly a month ago.The Pro Bowl quarterback has played just two series of a preseason game since January's playoff loss at Green Bay.

Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco will start in the season opener Sunday for the Baltimore Ravens against the Cincinnati Bengals. There is a chance the two other quarterbacks competing for the job, Troy Smith (infected tonsils) and Kyle Boller (shoulder injury) will not be available as backups.

The Oakland Raiders agreed to terms on a one-year contract with discarded receiver Ashley Lelie in hopes that the former first-round pick can regain his form and help bolster an inexperienced position group.

Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jerry Porter practiced for the first time in nearly three months, calling it a "small step in the big scheme of things."Porter, who signed a six-year, $30 million contract in February to be the team's go-to receiver, had surgery to repair a torn hamstring in July.

Cornerback Marcus Hamilton (U.Va.), cut by Tampa Bay on Saturday, was one of eight players signed by the Buccaneers to the practice squad.

The Louisiana Superdome, for now still scheduled to host a regular-season opener Sunday between the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, appeared to be in good condition after the worst of Hurricane Gustav had passed, the stadium's operator said.

SOCCER

Lampard lands richest contract

Four weeks after Chelsea said there would be no sweetened pay offer to Frank Lampard, the London club handed the millionaire midfielder the most lucrative contract in the history of English soccer. The about-face followed two years of negotiations and Lampard saying he was considering moving to Italy's Inter Milan ahead of today's transfer deadline. His new deal, announced by Chelsea on Aug. 13, gives the 30-year-old a salary of 151,000 pounds ($272,000) a week, according to the Sun newspaper.

HORSE RACING

Anak Nikal wins Pennsylvania Derby

BENSALEM, Pa. - Anak Nikal surged ahead of the favorites to win the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. With 13-time Monmouth Park riding champion Joe Bravo in the saddle, the 3-year-old worked his way through traffic on the far turn, switched to the middle of the track in the home stretch and seized the lead within the shadow of the finish line. Anak Nikal, who was 16-1 and won for the third time in 10 lifetime starts. - From Wire Reports