NFL:
A person with direct knowledge of the team's decision says the New York Jets are releasing wide receiver Brandon Marshall, clearing $7.5 million on the salary cap. Marshall is the latest big-name player to be cut by the Jets, who have also parted ways with Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, Nick Folk and Breno Giacomini this offseason. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the move.
The Tennessee Titans have worked out a contract extension with quarterback Matt Cassel a week before he was set to hit free agency. The 12-year veteran played four games for the Titans last season and started the team's season-ending win over Houston. He is expected to help the Titans during OTAs while Marcus Mariota recovers from a broken right lower leg.
Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan is not attending the NFL combine in Indianapolis. A team spokesman told The Associated Press that McCloughan is taking care of some family matters. Coach Jay Gruden and other officials are representing the Redskins at the combine.
Also in the NFL:
— Dolphins general manager Chris Grier says quarterback Ryan Tannehill is expected to be ready for the offseason program after missing the final four games of last season because of a sprained left knee. The team spent several weeks after the season assessing the extent of Tannehill's ACL and MCL sprains before ruling out surgery.
NHL:
In the NHL, the Islanders beat Dallas 5-4, the Rangers won against Boston 2-1, Washington blanked New Jersey 1-0, Buffalo doubled up Arizona 6-3, Columbus shut out Minnesota 1-0, Philadelphia skated by Florida in a shootout 2-1, Ottawa bested Colorado 2-1, San Jose beat Vancouver 3-1, and it was the Kings over Toronto in a shootout 3-2.
Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists, and the New York Islanders rallied with four straight goals to beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 Thursday night. The Islanders, in a tight race for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, have won four of five and are 3-1 on a nine-game road trip.
Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves on his 35th birthday and the New York Rangers got third-period goals from Pavel Buchnevich and Oscar Lindberg to beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 Thursday night. New York, which has beaten Boston five straight times, outscored the Bruins 12-5 while sweeping the three-game season series.
Los Angeles Kings Hall of Fame play-by play broadcaster Bob Miller is retiring after 44 years and 3,351 games with the team. The 78-year-old Miller plans to call the Kings' last home game on April 8 against Chicago and their regular-season finale at Anaheim the following night to end his career. Miller has dealt with three medical issues over the past two years, including a mild stroke during the NHL All-Star weekend in January.
NBA:
In the NBA, Chicago beat Golden State 94-87, Phoenix topped Charlotte 120-103, and it was Portland over Oklahoma City 114-109.
Andrew Bogut has officially signed with the Cavaliers and is expected to make his team debut Monday against Miami in Cleveland. Bogut spent the previous four seasons with the Golden State Warriors, who could be on a collision course to play the Cavs for the third straight year. He was let go by Philadelphia last week after being acquired in a trade with Dallas, where he averaged three points and 8.3 rebounds in 26 games this season.
NCAA:
In men’s college basketball, Jimmie Taylor scored 16 points and drilled the game-winning 3-pointer and Rider survived to eliminate Manhattan 69-68 in the first round of the MAAC Tournament Thursday night. The Broncs will now play Number 3 seeded Iona in quarterfinal action on Saturday. Zane Waterman led Manhattan with 15 points in Albany.
Matt Scott scored 19 points, Kahlil Dukes added 18 and Niagara beat Quinnipiac 88-69 in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday night. Eighth-seeded Quinnipiac has lost seven straight.
Phil Valenti had a pair of layups in in the final 70 seconds and No. 7 seed Canisius held off No. 10 Marist, 77-73 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament first round Thursday night.
Stephen Brown scored 20 points and hit four 3-pointers to help lead No. 1 seed Bucknell to a 78-62 win over No. 8 seed Army in the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament on Thursday night.
Siena takes on Fairfield on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
MLB:
Baseball fans are seeing something new during exhibition games on Thursday. Major League Baseball has unveiled the pitchless intentional walk, a new rule designed to speed up the game this season. The change was implemented following approval by MLB and the players' association. Managers will now signal the plate umpire for an intentional walk, and the batter will be told to take first base.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred had hoped for more radical pace-of-game changes, but the union did not accept pitch clocks, alterations to the strike zone or a limit on trips to the mound. Video review regulations were changed to establish a 30-second limit for a manager to make a challenge and a conditional two-minute guideline for the replay umpire to make a decision.
Two other rule changes were announced Thursday. One formalizes an umpire interpretation and prohibits a pitcher from resetting his pivot foot or taking a second step toward home plate during his delivery. Another requires base coaches to remain behind the line of the coach's box closest to the plate and the front line parallel to the foul line prior to each pitch.
Red Sox left-hander David Price was scratched from his first spring training start and will consult with specialists after experiencing soreness in his left forearm and elbow. Price underwent an MRI on Wednesday but results of the test are not yet available. Price is expected to seek second opinions from Doctor James Andrews and Doctor Neil ElAttrache, who are at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz delivered on his promise to hit a homer for a boy with a congenital heart defect. Now the two will be honored together for helping to call attention to the disease. Seven-year-old Maverick Schutte, who has the heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot, along with lung disease, will join Ortiz when he accepts the inaugural CHARMED Courage Award. The award will be presented at the Children and Athletes Regenerative Medicine Foundation gala in Boston next month.
In baseball’s spring training, the Yankees beat Baltimore 8-1, Boston crushed Tampa Bay 19-2, and the Mets topped Miami 11-6.
PGA:
Veterans Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are part of a six-way tie for the lead through one round of the WGC Mexico Championship. Mickelson and Westwood opened with 4-under 67s, as did PGA champion Jimmy Walker, Torrey Pines winner Jon Rahm, Ryan Moore and Ross Fisher. Just one shot back is Rory McIlroy, who can go back to No. 1 in the world rankings with a victory. McIlroy played through a fractured rib. Dustin Johnson shot a 71 in his first round since climbing to the top of the rankings.
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