INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis spent the offseason trying to beef up its defense. New coach Jim Caldwell changed coordinators, hiring longtime NFL assistant Larry Coyer. Team president Bill Polian selected bigger players in the draft and re-signed 296-pound defensive tackle Ed Johnson to stop the run. And Coyer has revamped the system to take advantage […]
National Sports
Patriots LB Tedy Bruschi retires after 13 years
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tedy Bruschi retired Monday after a 13-year NFL career in which he won three Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots and made a gallant return from a stroke. The inside linebacker played for no other team and leaves football with only one unachieved goal — a fourth championship. “I’m […]
Patriots release backup QB O’Connell
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Quarterback Kevin O’Connell, projected to be Tom Brady’s backup, was cut Monday by the New England Patriots. O’Connell’s release came three days after Brady sustained what the Patriots described as a sore shoulder in a 27-24 exhibition win over the Washington Redskins. On Monday, Brady stretched with his teammates, at one […]
Yates to replace Labonte with Darnell for 7 races
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Former NASCAR champion Bobby Labonte won’t race this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, his best track, because of sponsorship issues at Yates Racing. The team had seven races to sell this season for the No. 96 Ford, and the sponsorship it secured wanted Erik Darnell in the car. The 26-year-old will […]
Patriots LB Bruschi to announce retirement Monday
BOSTON (AP) — Tedy Bruschi is retiring after a 13-year career marked by an inspiring return to the New England Patriots as a starting linebacker eight months after a stroke. A person familiar with his decision told The Associated Press on Sunday night that the 36-year-old Bruschi will announce his retirement at a news conference […]
Edwards passes Ambrose on last lap to win Montreal
MONTREAL (AP) — Carl Edwards passed Marcos Ambrose on the final turn to win the crash-filled Nationwide race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which ended with the cars on rain tires for the second straight year. Edwards won a two-lap sprint to the finish on a track that was both wet and dry in spots from […]
Slocum a surprise winner at Barclays
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — In a final hour of surprises, Heath Slocum delivered the biggest one Sunday at The Barclays. One week after Slocum wondered if he would even make it to the PGA Tour Playoffs, he finished off a compelling afternoon at Liberty National by making a 20-foot par putt on the 18th […]
Byrd’s surprising start carries Red Sox over Jays
BOSTON (AP) — It was a scene right out of the movies. A former major league right-hander spends the spring and early summer throwing batting practice to his son’s team before he returns to the bigs with six shutout innings. That’s exactly what Paul Byrd did Sunday. Byrd, making his first major league start since […]
Jake Peavy leaves rehab start with tight elbow
NEW YORK (AP) — Jake Peavy is having a hard time getting healthy. Still waiting to make his first start for the Chicago White Sox, Peavy left his minor league rehab outing after only 3 1-3 innings and 68 pitches Saturday night because he felt tightness in his pitching elbow. The right-hander, acquired from San […]
Coordinator: Vick doesn’t disrupt offensive rhythm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg doesn’t expect the insertion of Michael Vick into the Eagles offense to disrupt its rhythm. “Not at all,” Mornhinweg said. “We’ll straighten that out. We’ll take care of that. Michael is going to help this offense. I’m confident of that.” Vick played in just six plays Thursday […]