Steelers sign WR Brown to 5-year extension Steelers sign WR Brown to 5-year extension ADVERTISING LATROBE, Pa. — The Steelers signed wide receiver Antonio Brown to a five-year extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2017. Brown, voted Pittsburgh’s
Steelers sign WR Brown to 5-year extension
LATROBE, Pa. — The Steelers signed wide receiver Antonio Brown to a five-year extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2017.
Brown, voted Pittsburgh’s most valuable player by teammates last season, was entering the final season of the three-year contract he signed when he was drafted out of Central Michigan in 2010. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency after this season.
CBS Sports first reported the deal that will earn Brown $42 million over the next six seasons.
Brown made the Pro Bowl last season after becoming the first player in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards and at least 1,000 return yards (1,062). He finished second on the team to Mike Wallace with 69 receptions for 1,108 yards.
Peterson to start
camp on PUP list
MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have placed running back Adrian Peterson on the active physically unable to perform list to start training camp.
The move was expected, considering the team’s preference to be cautious with its franchise player and his comeback from reconstructive surgery on his left knee. Peterson can come off the PUP list at any time, but he can’t take part in drills with the team until then. He still counts against the 90-man roster.
Coach Leslie Frazier said Friday that Peterson put up a fight, but the decision is best for the team.
Two other offensive players competing for backup spots were placed on the active non-football injury list. Wide receiver Stephen Burton has a jammed toe, and tight end Mickey Shuler has a sore heel.
Support of WNBA Storm among Seattle arena issues
SEATTLE — With the King County Council potentially taking a vote next Monday on a proposed new arena in Seattle, sticking points and possible concessions on traffic and the city’s lease agreement with the Seattle Storm are building with the Seattle City Council.
Seattle City Councilman Mike O’Brien told The Associated Press on Friday that city officials continue to negotiate with investor Chris Hansen over changes to a proposed deal between the city and the private ownership group. Among those issues are dealing with traffic concerns in the city’s industrial SoDo neighborhood, and the possibility of having Hansen’s ownership group take over the city’s current annual subsidy of the Seattle Storm.
The city’s lease agreement with the Storm currently calls for a $300,000 payment each year from the city to the WNBA franchise as part of a revenue sharing agreement.
Asked about talks on the Storm subsidy, O’Brien said: “I’m not exactly sure how that’s going to fall out. That remains an issue.”
Lopez to Hornets
in 3-team trade
now official
NEW ORLEANS — The Hornets, Suns and Timberwolves have completed a three-team deal that will send 7-foot center Robin Lopez and forward Hakim Warrick from Phoenix to New Orleans, while moving forward Wes Johnson and a future first-round draft pick from Minnesota to the Suns.
Word of the multiplayer trade first broke on Wednesday, though the final version had minor changes.
The deal sends the contracts of Jerome Dyson and Brad Miller from New Orleans to Phoenix. Minnesota also receives three second-round draft picks in the deal.
The acquisition of Lopez fills a need at center for the Hornets, who traded away Emeka Okafor and let Chris Kaman go in free agency.
While the Hornets were able to draft 6-11 Kentucky star Anthony Davis first overall in last month’s draft, Davis is expected to play often at power forward because his slender build could leave him at a defensive disadvantage in 1-on-1 matchups against some of the league’s more powerful centers such as Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum.
Bonds granted
2-week delay in appeal
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds has been granted a two-week delay in his appeal of his obstruction of justice conviction.
A day after Bonds’ lawyers made the request, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday postponed the deadline for his reply brief from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16.
A jury found Bonds guilty in April 2011 of one count of obstruction of justice, finding he gave an evasive answer in 2003 to a grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution. The trial jury deadlocked on three counts of making false statements, charges which then were dropped.
Major League Baseball’s career home run leader was sentenced in December to 30 days of house arrest, two years of probation and a $4,000 fine.
Wolves sign
Russian, ex-Jazz standout Kirilenko
Andrei Kirilenko is returning to the NBA, this time with Minnesota.
The Timberwolves found the versatile, tough-defending small forward they’ve been seeking to fill out their roster, and this one they didn’t have to try to pry away from a division rival.
Kirilenko’s signing of a two-year, $20 million contract was completed Friday after a three-team trade with New Orleans and Phoenix cleared the necessary space under the salary cap. The 31-year-old Kirilenko spent last season with CKSA Moscow after a 10-year run with Utah, choosing to play in his native Russia during the lockout and staying there once it ended.
Cubs’ Garza won’t pitch before trade deadline
CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Garza won’t pitch again before Tuesday’s trade deadline after an MRI revealed a slight fluid buildup in his right triceps area.
Garza left his last start after three innings at St. Louis on Saturday when he experienced cramps. The Cubs decided to give Garza an extra couple of days rest before he underwent the MRI.
Cubs manager Dale Sveum said the results of the MRI “came back real clean” and if Garza is able to complete his throwing program without difficulty over the next few days, the right-hander could return late next week.
Former PSU players say Freeh report ‘flawed’
Franco Harris and two other former Penn State football players say the report about Penn State’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal “is highly flawed, and factually insufficient.”
Harris, Rudy Glocker and Christian Marrone sent to other Penn State alumni an email and letter criticizing the Freeh report that they plan publish in The Wall Street Journal and other large publications.
The email and letter were obtained by The Associated Press on Friday.
By wire sources
