NEW YORK — The NFL calls a report it has offered a settlement and reduced suspension to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma “completely inaccurate.” NFL disputes report of Vilma settlement offer ADVERTISING NEW YORK — The NFL calls a report it
NFL disputes report
of Vilma settlement offer
NEW YORK — The NFL calls a report it has offered a settlement and reduced suspension to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma “completely inaccurate.”
Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the Saints bounty program, which he adamantly has claimed did not exist. Citing anonymous sources, ESPN.com reported the league offered Vilma an eight-game suspension if he would drop his defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“No such settlement offer has been made,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday. “We will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time.”
A judge has ordered the league and Vilma’s representatives to hold confidential settlement talks. A person familiar with those talks told The Associated Press he had “not heard anything that concrete from anyone at the NFL” regarding cutting Vilma’s suspension to eight games.
The person, who spoke anonymously because the talks are private, added that he was aware of no offers from the league at all.
Evan Longoria to return
from disabled list today
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Three-time All Star Evan Longoria is set to return to Tampa Bay’s lineup after being sidelined more three months with a partially torn left hamstring.
The Rays said the third baseman will be activated from the disabled list before today’s game against Toronto. He was batting .329 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 23 games before being injured running the bases against Seattle on April 30.
The Rays went 15-8 before the injury, and are 41-44 since.
Longoria returns after making eight starts as a designated hitter for Triple-A Durham, where he batted .200 with three RBIs and seven walks. An earlier rehabilitation assignment was cut short because of soreness in his hamstring.
Draft pick Blackmon
agrees to terms with Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville first-round pick Justin Blackmon agreed to terms Monday with the Jaguars.
The Oklahoma State wide receiver is the last first-round pick to reach a deal. He was chosen fifth overall by the Jaguars.
The contract will be worth about $18.5 million for four years, which is the maximum for a fifth pick under the NFL’s rookie wage system.
Blackmon, who missed the first 11 days of training camp, was arrested in Stillwater, Okla., on June 3 and charged with aggravated DUI when he registered a .24 alcohol level, three times the legal limit. He later apologized and indicated he would stop drinking. Blackmon pleaded guilty at his court hearing July 24.
Blackmon isn’t likely to play in the Jaguars’ first preseason game Friday against the New York Giants. New rules call for a player to have three days of noncontact work before he’s allowed to put on full pads.
Browns name rookie
Weeden starting quarterback
BEREA, Ohio — Brandon Weeden is officially the Browns’ starting quarterback.
Coach Pat Shurmur announced what had been an open secret after practice on Monday: Weeden, the No. 22 overall pick, will start Friday night in Detroit. Weeden has taken snaps with the first-team offense throughout training camp.
Incumbent starter Colt McCoy is now in competition with 10-year veteran Seneca Wallace for the backup job.
Shurmur is confident Weeden, a 28-year-old rookie from Oklahoma State, will be able to guide Cleveland’s West Coast-style offense. The second-year coach added that having both McCoy and Wallace available as reserves puts the Browns in an enviable spot at the position.
Viktor Troicki, Jeremy
Chardy win at Rogers Cup
TORONTO — Viktor Troicki and Jeremy Chardy won first-round matches at the Rogers Cup on Monday.
Troicki beat Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-4, 7-6. The Serb will next face Canada’s Milos Raonic, who had a bye.
Chardy defeated American Donald Young 3-6, 7-6, 6-0. Chardy will take on fellow Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, seeded third.
Matthew Ebden of Australia rallied for a 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over wild-card Peter Polansky of Canada to earn a second-round match against Mardy Fish. The 11th-seeded American had a first round bye.
In other first-round matches, Bernard Tomic of Australia defeated Michael Berrer of Germany 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and Vasek Popisil of Canada ousted Andreas Seppi of Italy 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6).
PSU trustee intends
to appeal NCAA sanctions
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A Penn State trustee cited a need for due process in telling the NCAA on Monday that he intends to appeal college sports governing body’s strict sanctions on the university for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Trustee Ryan McCombie said earlier Monday in a letter to fellow board members that he planned to take the action and sought an NCAA hearing. He invited other trustees to join in the appeal.
By wire sources
