ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Best quarterback of all time? Best receiver? Best linebacker? Every football fan has had those discussions. Washington Redskins special teams coach Danny Smith threw down the gauntlet on a whole new category: best holder. What’s more, Smith says his new punter, Hunter Smith, may be the best holder in the history […]

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Jonathan Vilma needed one season in New Orleans to resurrect his career. Coming back from major knee surgery, he played every defensive snap at middle linebacker in 2008, leading the team with 151 tackles to go with two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a game-sealing interception. Vilma understands he’ll be […]

NEW YORK (AP) — The Rangers have signed free agent Vinny Prospal, reuniting the former Tampa Bay Lightning forward with coach John Tortorella. General manager Glen Sather says the Rangers can use the 6-foot-2, 198-pound Czech star on the wing or at center. Two seasons ago, Prospal had a career-high 33 goals to lead the […]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Al Unser Jr. is getting behind the wheel of a plan to bring a Grand Prix style race to the streets of Baltimore. Unser was on hand at a news conference Monday on behalf of the Baltimore Racing Development, which announced its intention to secure a Indy Racing […]

MIAMI (AP) — They’re first in thriftiness and last at the turnstiles — again. They’ve never won a division title, and their roster turns over with the frequency of a college team. Yet as the playoff race heats up, look who’s in the mix: those perennially overlooked, underrated Florida Marlins. The Marlins began the week […]

CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) — A sharp-tongued Rex Ryan might have provided a Baltimore Ravens rookie with some extra motivation. Toward the end of his training camp news conference Monday, the New York Jets’ brash coach was speaking glowingly about Baltimore’s defensive tradition when he mentioned former defensive end Michael McCrary. “I am disappointed that they […]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Prince Fielder and the rest of the Milwaukee Brewers no longer peek at the out-of-town scoreboard. “I don’t know how far away we are,” Fielder said. “All I know is you’ve got to keep playing baseball and see what happens because time is running out. We either start playing good, or if […]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Toronto Raptors have agreed to send swingman Carlos Delfino to Milwaukee in exchange for power forward Amir Johnson as part of a four-player trade, a person with direct knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal would also send guard Roko Ukic to Milwaukee in exchange for […]

BERLIN (AP) — Usain Bolt couldn’t run away from the flood of fans pressing him for an autograph. They kept crowding closer and closer outside Olympic Stadium, pushing pens, shirts and Jamaican flags at him. Finally, an official came to the rescue, ushering Bolt to a nearby Toyota Prius that was on standby. He quickly […]

BERLIN (AP) — Shelly-Ann Fraser closed her eyes as she crossed the finish line, almost afraid to open them back up and glance at the Olympic Stadium scoreboard. As if she had anything to worry about. Fraser won with apparent ease in a time of 10.73 seconds, edging Jamaican teammate Kerron Stewart in the final […]