More legal moves in bounty case
NEW ORLEANS — The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit against the NFL on behalf of three players suspended in connection with the bounty investigation, calling Commissioner Roger Goodell “incurably and evidently biased.”
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove on Thursday in federal court in New Orleans, highlighted a flurry of legal activity surrounding the punishment of four players for what the NFL says was their roles in a program that paid improper cash bonuses for hits that injured opponents.
Suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who is suing separately in the same court, asked a judge to overturn his suspension while also requesting a temporary restraining order and injunction that would allow the linebacker to quickly return to work and keep working while his case is pending.
Goodell, meanwhile, filed a motion to dismiss defamation claims that Vilma made in his initial lawsuit against the commissioner in May. The motion, which was expected, states that Vilma is barred from making such claims by the dispute resolution process outlined in the NFL’s labor agreement, which also includes a provision barring lawsuits by players against the NFL.
But Vilma’s attorney, Peter Ginsburg, said the defamation claims focus “exclusively on statements Mr. Goodell has made publicly and outside the confines of the CBA.”
Greipel wins fifth stage of Tour de France
SAINT-QUENTIN, France — In yet another crash-marred finish, Andre Greipel of Germany led a frenzied bunch sprint to win the fifth stage of the Tour de France on Thursday for his second straight stage victory.
Fabian Cancellara retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey for a sixth straight day after the mostly flat 122-mile trek from Rouen to Saint-Quentin — almost tailor-made for sprinters except for a slight uphill near the end.
But the Tour’s doping demons returned to cast a shadow. A Dutch newspaper report said former teammates of Lance Armstrong — including five involved in this year’s race — cut a deal with U.S. anti-doping officials for their testimony in a case against the seven-time Tour champion. As usual, the Tour riders tried to keep their focus on the race.
Citing “well-informed sources,” the newspaper said the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has given six-month bans to former Armstrong teammates Jonathan Vaughters, George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer, David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde.
Vaughters, now a team director at the Garmin-Sharp team, called the report “completely untrue.” The four riders all declined to comment, though Hincapie said his thoughts were with Armstrong.
“I’m sad he is going through this,” said Hincapie, the only rider to have been on all of Armstrong’s Tour-winning teams. “He’s done so many things for the sport. His accomplishments are incredible.”
Darvish, Freese win fan vote
CHICAGO — Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was hit by a line drive during one All-Star game in Japan. He’s hoping to avoid that mishap on Tuesday.
Darvish and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese are headed to the Midsummer Classic after fans voted them into next week’s showcase in Kansas City.
“I feel very good,” Darvish said Thursday through an interpreter. “I know the way that I got selected was a vote by the fans, so I appreciate all the fans who voted for me. I’m looking forward to it.”
Darvish is the eighth Rangers player on the AL team managed by Texas’ Ron Washington. He beat out four other pitchers: Chicago’s Jake Peavy, Baltimore’s Jason Hammel, Kansas City’s Jonathan Broxton and the Angels’ Ernesto Frieri.
“It just wasn’t meant to be,” said Peavy, who was supported by an aggressive marketing campaign by the White Sox. “Obviously we knew it’s hard to outvote a country.”
Freese emerged from an NL field that included Atlanta outfielder Michael Bourn, Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper and Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill. Freese is batting .285 with 13 homers.
Darvish has made a smooth adjustment to the major leagues after the Rangers committed more than $107 million to bring him to the U.S. The 25-year-old right-hander got a guaranteed $56 million, six-year contract and Texas also paid a record $51.7 million posting bid to his team in Japan.
Darvish responded by going 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in his first eight starts. The rookie leveled off a bit but is 10-5 with a 3.59 ERA for the only team in the majors with 50 wins.
Howard could return to Phils lineup
NEW YORK — Ryan Howard is making progress in his rehabilitation for an Achillies injury, and the star first baseman could make his return to the major leagues this weekend.
“He’s getting close,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday before Philadelphia faced the New York Mets.
Howard has participated in six rehab games with Class A Lakewood and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is scheduled to play back-to-back games in the field for the first time beginning Thursday night.
Sidelined since being injured making the final out of the Phillies’ season last year — Game 5 of the NL division series against St. Louis — Howard is hitting .471 (8 for 17) with two doubles, a homer and nine RBIs in the minors.
Amaro said Howard will be evaluated by doctors after he plays Thursday before making any decisions.
The All-Star break shouldn’t be a detriment to Howard finding his timing at the plate if he plays in the Phillies’ series against Atlanta then rests for four days.
“If he plays this weekend (for the Phillies), it may not be the worst thing for him to get some time off. You just don’t know how he’ll react and what kind of adrenaline there will be. We’ll take it one day at a time with him.”
Dodgers SS Gordon out six weeks
PHOENIX — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb that will require surgery, and he’s expected to miss six weeks.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said before Thursday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks that doctors expect Gordon to make a full recovery. Gordon, injured Wednesday night sliding head-first into third base on a steal attempt against Cincinnati, had an MRI earlier Thursday and arrived to the clubhouse with a cast over his right hand.
Surgery was scheduled for Friday in the Phoenix area.
“He’s a little scared, a little bummed out,” Mattingly said. “I feel bad for the kid. He came in and apologized to me (Wednesday) night. It’s just tough. He’s going to be fine.”
Gordon, 24, is in his first full season as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop. He’s batting .229, but leads the National League with 30 stolen bases.
Pitcher Javy Guerra, who was on the 15-day disabled list with right knee inflammation since June 4, will replace Gordon on the active roster and was to be activated in time for Thursday’s game.
The Dodgers had utilityman Elian Herrera starting in left field Thursday as the leadoff hitter, the spot Gordon has predominantly held in the order this season. Recent callup Luis Cruz was in at shortstop, and Mattingly said he will be used there along with Herrera, Jerry Hairston Jr. and possibly Juan Uribe while Gordon is out.
From wire sources