NFL:
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension for his role in using underinflated footballs during the AFC championship game. The league announced the decision yesterday. Goodell says Brady told an assistant to destroy his cellphone on or just before March 6th. Brady met with independent investigator Ted Wells on that day.
Tom Brady's agent is calling the appeal process "a sham." Don Yee says Roger Goodell "failed to ensure a fair process" in upholding the quarterback's four-game suspension. The Patriots used the words "folly" and "incomprehensible" in their statement yesterday, and then said they "unequivocally believe in and support Tom Brady."
Patriots Nation is fuming after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld Tom Brady's four-game suspension. In bars across downtown Boston, fans said yesterday they were surprised and angered by the ruling, but were still holding out hope Brady would be vindicated.
The New York Jets have signed wide receiver Austin Hill and released kicker Andrew Furney. Hill was signed by Oakland as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Arizona by Oakland in May. Furney spent last summer with the Jets. The team reports to training camp today at their facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.
A lawyer for former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is asking a judge to let him question under oath a woman who called him anonymously and raised questions about a member of the jury that convicted his client of murder. James Sultan told the judge on Monday that he had identified the tipster who told him a juror may have been "untruthful" during jury selection.
MLB:
In baseball, In the American League, after giving up five runs in the first inning, the New York Yankees made it up for it real fast. Brendan Ryan doubled twice with three RBIs and Didi Gregorius had a bases-loaded triple in New York's 11-run second inning as the Yankees overcame the Texas Rangers 21-5 last night. The White Sox topped Boston 9-4, Tampa Bay won against Detroit 10-2, Kansa City slid past Cleveland 2-1, and it was Houston over the Angels 10-5.
In the National League, the Mets blanked San Diego 4-0, Miami beat Washington 4-1, Colorado trumped the Cubs 7-2, Cincinnati defeated St. Louis 4-0, and it was Milwaukee over San Francisco 5-2.
In interleague play, Philadelphia edged Toronto 3-2, Pittsburgh slid past Minnesota 8-7, Baltimore topped Atlanta 7-3, Arizona doubled up Seattle 8-4, and it was Oakland over the Dodgers 2-0.
Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts is being evaluated for a possible concussion. Betts was injured in the sixth inning of last night's loss to the Chicago White Sox when he tumbled into Boston's bullpen while attempting to catch a drive by Jose Abreu that went for a home run.
Olympics:
Embarrassing as the debacle in Boston may have been, chances are it will be nothing more than a distant memory when the vote for the 2024 Olympics finally rolls around. That's still more than two years away, and the U.S. Olympic Committee has seven weeks to replace Boston with a more willing candidate. Now, all eyes are focused on Los Angeles as a possibility.
Hall of Fame:
Baseball's Hall of Fame is cutting the number of voters in its annual election by eliminating writers who have not been active for more than 10 years.
The change was announced Tuesday by the Hall's board of directors.
Until now, the electorate has included people who have been active members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America for 10 consecutive years at any point.
The Hall says in a statement "BBWAA members previously holding Hall of Fame voting privileges who are no longer active in the game and are more than 10 years removed from active status will have the opportunity for annual reinstatement, based on their coverage of the game in the preceding year."
Before the change, about 650 people were eligible to vote.
FIFA:
Michel Platini plans to announce his candidacy for FIFA president this week.
Two officials familiar with Platini's plans have told The Associated Press that the FIFA vice president has made a decision to try to succeed Sepp Blatter.
The FIFA election is on Feb. 26. Would-be candidates must apply by Oct. 26.
NCAA:
Syracuse has dismissed Ashton Broyld from the football team for violating team policy.
Coach Scott Shafer announced the move Tuesday but did not say what Broyld did.
Broyld is a 6-foot-4 senior whose time at Syracuse has been slowed by injury. He never found his niche, having played quarterback, running back, outside wide receiver and slot receiver. He was moved to hybrid back this spring and was listed as the third-team hybrid back after spring ball.
He played 25 games for the Orange from 2012 to 2014. He had 74 receptions for 679 yards and rushed 38 times for 173 yards with one touchdown.
WNBA:
In WNBA, Indiana beat Connecticut 75-73 in overtime and it was Phoenix over Chicago 89-87 in overtime.
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