NFL:
The NFL has suspended Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady for the first four games of the season for his alleged role in a scheme to deflate footballs used in the AFC title game. The league has fined the New England Patriots $1 million and taken away two draft picks. The NFL also has indefinitely suspended the two equipment staffers who carried out the plan, including one who called himself "The Deflator."
Tom Brady's agent says the Patriots quarterback will appeal his four-game suspension. Agent Don Yee says, "the discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis." The Patriots said in a statement last night that the team believes the punishment is too severe, and that Brady has "our unconditional support."
Meanwhile the Patriots have released cornerback Kyle Arrington. The 28-year-old spent the past five seasons in New England, playing in two Super Bowls. An undrafted free agent out of Hofstra who didn't stick with two other teams, he moved up from the Patriots' practice squad in 2009 and started 56 games for them.
Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been charged with witness intimidation, a month after he was convicted of killing Odin Lloyd in 2013. Prosecutors say Hernandez is accused of trying to silence a witness in a 2012 double murder case against him by shooting him in the face and leaving him for dead. He is accused of gunning down two men in Boston after one caused him to spill his drink at a nightclub.
The New York Jets have signed quarterback Jake Heaps and fullback J.C. Copeland. Both participated in rookie minicamp over the weekend as tryout players. To make room on their 90-man roster, the Jets have released cornerback Greg Henderson and safety Demarkus Perkins, undrafted free agents who were signed after the NFL draft.
NBA:
In the NBA playoffs, Atlanta beat Washington 106-101 tying the series at 2 games apiece and it was Golden State over Memphis 101-84 evening the series at 2 games apiece.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the Yankees bested Tampa Bay 11-5, Boston edged Oakland 5-4 in 11 innings, Texas beat Kansas City 8-2, and it was Baltimore over Toronto 5-2.
In the National League, the Cubs slid past the Mets 4-3, Pittsburgh edged Philadelphia 4-3, Washington topped Arizona 11-1, the Dodgers defeated Miami 5-3, and it was Atlanta over Cincinnati 2-1.
In interleague play, Milwaukee beat the White Sox 10-7.
Tennis:
The International Tennis Hall of Fame museum has announced it will re-open next week with new technology, including a hologram of 17-time champion Roger Federer. The Newport, Rhode Island-based museum says the hologram will be the first of its kind in any sports museum in the United States.
For the first time in 10 years Rafael Nadal is not among the top 5 in the men's world rankings. The 28-year-old Nadal has fallen to seventh a day after dropping the title match at the Madrid Open on Sunday, his fourth loss on clay this season. Novak Djokovic remains No. 1 in the world, followed by Roger Federer and Andy Murray.
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