Off the wire

FOOTBALL

Matthews signs extension

The Green Bay Packers locked up star linebacker Clay Matthews with a long-term extension Wednesday, and also are negotiating with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “It feels good,” Matthews said Wednesday during a news conference inside the Packers’ locker room. “It’s funny, because not a whole lot has changed. I’m happy about it but for me, it’s nice, it’s very humbling and it’s a blessing. But it’s business as usual for me. I’m glad that they have put their trust in me and belief in me in awarding me this. But at the same time, you’re going to get the same type of unwavering perseverance on the field and dedication that I’m going to bring day in and day out. I feel good but not much has changed.” The Packers did not announce terms of the extension, reported to be for five years, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said the deal is worth $66 million. That would put Matthews on par with Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, whose contract also averages $13 million per year. With Matthews’ deal done, the Packers can turn all of their attention to Rodgers, whose extension is expected to make him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Agent David Dunn represents Matthews and Rodgers, as well as defensive tackle B.J. Raji.

Florida State quarterback Clint Trickett has been released from his scholarship and will transfer. The junior is on target to graduate in May. Trickett had been competing for the starting job during spring practice, which wrapped up Saturday. He completed 22 of 32 for 259 yards during the spring game, but redshirt freshman Jameis Winston was the star and seemed to establish himself as the frontrunner to start this season. Sophomore Jacob Coker is also in the mix. Trickett played eight games last season as EJ Manuel’s backup and went 22 of 34 for 272 yards. In 2011, he started games against Wake Forest and Clemson. He passed for 336 yards and three touchdowns at Clemson. Because Trickett is graduating, he can transfer and be eligible to play next season.

GOLF Lewis in sixth after first round

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 5-under-par 67 and is in an eight-way tie for sixth place after the first round of the LPGA Lotte Championship in Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii. Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand leads the tournament after firing an 8-under 64 on the Ko Olina Golf Club. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) finished with a 1-under 71.

HOCKEY Canadiens’ White suspended

The NHL suspended Montreal Canadiens forward Ryan White for five games without pay Wednesday for a check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Kent Huskins. White was assessed a match penalty for the check in the first period of Montreal’s 7-3 loss to the Flyers on Monday night. The Flyers said Huskins sustained a concussion.

BASKETBALL Fla. Gulf Coast hires Dooley

Florida Gulf Coast has hired Joe Dooley as its new men’s basketball coach. The school announced Wednesday that it has hired the former Kansas assistant. Dooley replaces Andy Enfield, who left earlier this month to take a head coaching job at Southern California. Under Enfield, Florida Gulf Coast became the first No. 15 seed to reach the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles upset Georgetown and San Diego State before losing to Florida. Dooley has spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant on Bill Self’s staff at Kansas. In that time, the Jayhawks produced 300 victories, nine consecutive Big 12 regular season titles and six Big 12 Tournament championships. They’ve reached the round of 16 six times, five regional finals and two Final Fours. They won the national title in 2008.

BASEBALL Giants pitchers placed on DL

The San Francisco Giants placed left-handed pitcher Jeremy Affeldt on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain. Right-handed pitcher Jean Machi has been recalled from Class AAA Fresno and was available for Tuesday’s game in Milwaukee. Affeldt appeared in 6 games and allowed 3 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Cleveland Indians will be without their lead off hitter, starting center fielder and top base-stealing threat for at least two weeks. Michael Bourn’s loss creates some big holes. As expected, the team placed Bourn on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a cut right index finger that needed five stitches and currently is in a splint.

The Milwaukee Brewers have brought back reliever Francisco Rodriguez, signing the right hander to a minor league deal. The Brewers made the move Wednesday. Their bullpen has been a sore spot early this season. The 31-year-old Rodriguez played for Milwaukee the last year and a half. He pitched 78 games last season, going 2-7 with 3 saves and a 4.38 ERA.

MOTOR SPORTS NASCAR suspends 7 Penske crew members

FORT WORTH - NASCAR cracked down on Penske Racing on Wednesday, suspending seven crew members of defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and teammate Joey Logano and levying $200,000 in fines for bringing unapproved parts to the Texas Motor Speedway for last weekend’s race.

The drivers and their car owners were each docked 25 championship points, dropping Keselowski from second to fourth in the Cup standings and Logano from ninth to 14th.

Keselowski crew chief Paul Wolfe and Logano crew chief Todd Gordon were each fined $100,000 and placed on probation for the rest of the calendar year. Also suspended for the next six championship points races were Travis Geisler, who serves as team manager for both cars, along with the individual car chiefs and team engineers of both the Nos. 2 and 22 cars.

Penske Racing vowed to appeal.

“Penske Racing will appeal utilizing the appropriate NASCAR process,” the team said in a release. “We have no further comment at this time.”

NASCAR inspectors confiscated the original rear-end housing from Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford and Logano’s No. 22 before Saturday night’s race. It caused a pre-race scramble for both teams after NASCAR inspectors confiscated the original rear-end housing from Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford and Logano’s No. 22. Logano was late to the starting grid because of the additional inspections and he had to start at the back of the field. He finished fifth and Keselowski was ninth.

Keselowski was livid following the race.

“The things I’ve seen over the last seven days have me questioning everything that I believe in, and I’m not happy about it,” Keselowski said.

NASCAR said both Penske cars used parts that had not been approved before getting to Texas.

With the team manager and the engineers of both cars also being suspended, the penalties against the Penske teams went further than last season after Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 car failed the opening day inspection at the Daytona 500. Five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus and the car chief for that Hendrick Motorsports car were suspended for six races.

Knaus still had to pay a $100,000 fine, but the bulk of the penalties levied against him and the car chief were later overturned by NASCAR’s chief appellate officer, the highest level of appeal. Johnson also got back 25 points that had been docked.