TORONTO (AP) – The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the rights to Phil Kessel after months of talks with the Boston Bruins and then signed him to a five-year, $27 million deal on Friday. Toronto sent a first and second-round pick in the 2010 draft to Boston, along with another first-round pick in 2011. Kessel scored […]

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Juan Pablo Montoya will have a hard time playing the role of darkhorse if he keeps driving like this. The former Formula One star will make his debut in NASCAR’s Chase for the championship from the pole after setting a track record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday. Montoya turned […]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA will hold training camp next week with replacement officials, saying the referees union has rejected its final contract offer. The National Basketball Referees Association has been bracing for a lockout since talks first broke down last week, and lead negotiator Lamell McMorris called it “imminent and unavoidable” after no […]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The plan sounds simple enough: Put constant pressure on Tom Brady and you have a better chance of beating the New England Patriots. Shaun Ellis and the New York Jets know better than to think it’s simple. “Everybody knows that’s the formula,” the defensive end said Friday. “Get him off […]

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Kasey Kahne knows his Richard Petty Motorsports team can’t afford a slow start when the Chase for the championship begins on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. “We need to keep team morale up and keep everybody thinking ‘Hey, we can have a shot at it,’” Kahne said. It’s about the […]

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Ron Hornaday isn’t in the mood to start a feud with Matt Crafton. Sorry, there’s too much at stake for the 51-year-old NASCAR Camping World Trucks veteran to start worrying about getting payback, even if his latest incident with Crafton proved to be a painful experience for both. The two were […]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Eagles quarterback Dononvan McNabb is doubtful for Sunday’s game against New Orleans because of a cracked rib. McNabb sat out of practice for the third straight day Friday. Kevin Kolb took snaps with the first team and is expected to start if McNabb can’t play. Coach Andy Reid says McNabb has been […]

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — NASCAR championship contender Mark Martin will drive for Hendrick Motorsports through 2011, an easy commitment for a driver at the top of his game. Martin starts the Chase for the championship Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as the Sprint Cup Series points leader, a spot he earned through four victories […]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — LaDainian Tomlinson is one of three San Diego Chargers who have been ruled out of Sunday’s home opener against the Baltimore Ravens. The star running back, who sprained his right ankle in Monday night’s 24-20 win at Oakland, will miss just the second game of his brilliant career due to injury. […]

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress knows the perception exists that he does not like to give his quarterbacks the freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage. “Oh, you guys (media) always like to say that,” Childress said playfully. “Yeah, I’ve got shackles on them. We have an electric […]