FOOTBALL
Norman to Redskins
Josh Norman's agent said Friday the cornerback has agreed to terms on a contract with the Washington Redskins. Agent Michael George confirmed the deal in an email to The Associated Press. Norman, 28, one of the NFL's top corners, became a free agent Wednesday after the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag, which would have paid him $13.9 million next season. He was holding out for a long-term contract. Norman had a career-high four interceptions, 16 passes defensed and 56 tackles last season for the NFC champion Panthers. He posted the hashtag "Hail" with several emojis on his verified Twitter account to announce he had picked the Redskins over other suitors, and several new teammates congratulated him and welcomed him to Washington.
GOLF
Steele leads by 3
Brendan Steele completed an 8-under 64 in the morning and shot a 70 in the second round Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Texas Open at San Antonio. The winner five years ago at TPC San Antonio for his lone tour title, Steele had a 10-under 134 total. Play was suspended because of darkness with 13 players left on the course. Scott Langley, Stuart Appleby and Charley Hoffman were tied for second. Langley shot a 68, Appleby had a 70, and Hoffman a 71. Patrick Reed was in the group at 6 under after a 73. Defending champion Jimmy Walker missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 77. Phil Mickelson also dropped out, shooting 77-71. Bryce Molder (Conway) had a 1-under 71 (141). Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 1-over 73 (143).
• Wesley Bryan and Brad Fritsch were tied at the top of the leaderboard Friday at 13-under 131 at the Web.com Mexico Championship in Guanajuato, Mexico. Bryan shot a 63 and Fritsch had a 65 before darkness suspended the second round. About three dozen players did not complete their rounds. Brian Campbell was third at 10 under through 17 holes. Martin Flores (66) was fourth at 9-under 135. Matt Atkins (Henderson State) was at 5 under through 14 holes. Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 70 for a 4-under 140. Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) had a 70 for a 3-under 141. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a 71 for a 2-under 142. Austin Cook (Jonesboro, Razorbacks) was even through 13 holes. Zack Fischer (Little Rock) had a 74 for a 6-over 150.
• Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman teamed to shoot an 11-under 60 in better-ball play Friday to take the first-round lead in the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo. Langer and Lehman had a 7-under 28 on the front nine on Buffalo Ridge's Springs Course and added four birdies on the back nine. They teamed to win the 2009 event in Georgia. Defending champions Billy Andrade and Joe Durant were three strokes back along with the teams of Kenny Perry-Scott Hoch, Paul Goydos-Kevin Sutherland and Corey Pavin-Duffy Waldorf. Larry Nelson and Bruce Fleisher led the Legends Division for players 65 and older, shooting a 9-under 45 on the par-3 Top of the Rock course. They played nine holes of modified alternate shot and nine of better ball. Jim Thorpe and Doug Tewell were second at 47. Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were eighth at 53.
• Lee Soo-min shot a 7-under 65 Friday to take a three-stroke lead on the rain-interrupted second day of the Shenzhen International at Shenzhen, China. Lee, who is playing in his sixth European Tour event, recorded seven birdies to get 13-under 131. Joost Luiten (66) was in second place as nearly six hours of play was lost over two separate rain stoppages. Thirty-five players were unable to start their second rounds. Paul Dunne (69) was six shots behind in third, even with Brandon Stone (70), after three birdies and two bogeys on the front nine and an eagle on the 13th.
BASKETBALL
NBA: 5 bad calls
The NBA said Friday that Houston's James Harden should have been given an offensive foul for pushing Golden State's Andre Iguodala before his winning shot Thursday night in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series. The Rockets trailed by a point when Harden dribbled down the court and pushed Iguodala before stepping back for the shot with 2.7 seconds left that gave Houston a 97-96 victory and cut the Rockets' series deficit to 2-1. The finding was announced in the NBA's report on the final two minutes. The report also found four other incorrect calls in the last two minutes, including the failure to call a foul on Golden State's Draymond Green when he threw Michael Beasley to the ground as Houston was inbounding the ball with a second remaining. Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Sunday in Houston.
TENNIS
Kerber advances
Defending champion Angelique Kerber will face Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the semifinals of the Porsche Grand Prix at Stuttgart, Germany. The second-seeded German easily overcame seventh-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-2, 6-4 in Friday's quarterfinals, needing just 29 minutes to win the first set and 72 minutes overall at the indoor clay-court tournament. Fifth-seeded Kvitova had a tougher task defeating third-seeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. Qualifier Laura Siegemund upset sixth-seeded Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-4 in 76 minutes to improve on her previous best of a quarterfinal place in Charleston this month. The 28-year-old German had already upset fourth-seeded Simona Halep on Thursday and is set to improve on her career-high No. 71 ranking.
FOOTBALL
Coach calls to stop
Knoxville, Tenn., police said Friday they are ending their practice of making courtesy calls to Tennessee coaches about incidents involving athletes from the school. Police records released last month show that Knoxville police called Tennessee football Coach Butch Jones during a 2014 rape investigation involving former players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams. Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said at the time that police notify coaches "as a courtesy" when a Tennessee player is under investigation and that no information is shared that would hinder the case. After reviewing the policy with Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, Rausch said Friday that "going forward, in any incident involving a student at the university," police would make formal notification only to the school's law enforcement officials. The Knoxville News-Sentinel first reported the policy change.
BASEBALL
Blue Jays’ Colabello suspended 80 games
NEW YORK — Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello was suspended Friday for 80 games without pay after testing positive for the same anabolic steroid that caused Philadelphia pitcher Daniel Stumpf to be disciplined last week.
The commissioner’s office said Colabello tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, which is sold under the name Turinabol.
“On March 13, I got one of the scariest and most definitely the least-expected phone calls of my entire life. I was informed by the players’ association that a banned substance was found in my urine,” Colabello said in a statement released by the union. “I have spent every waking moment since that day trying to find an answer as to why or how.”
Colabello is hitting .069 (2 for 29) with one RBI this season. While he was beaned by Boston pitcher Steven Wright last Sunday, he missed only one game.
Colabello, 32, who also plays the outfield, spent eight seasons in the minor leagues before reaching the big leagues with Minnesota in 2013.
“This is obviously an unfortunate situation that we are in with Chris. We believe in him as a person and player,” Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins said in a statement. “Chris has overcome a great deal in his career and has been a key contributor to this team. While we are certainly disappointed with today’s news, we’re confident he’ll return ready to compete and will have taken the steps needed to ensure that this does not happen again.”
Colabello, who has played 225 big league games in parts of four seasons, will lose $227,891 of his $521,126 major league salary. He spent two seasons with the Twins before the Blue Jays claimed him on waivers in December 2014.
He is the sixth player suspended this year under the MLB drug program. New York Mets reliever Jenrry Mejia received a permanent ban following a third positive test, and Cleveland outfielder Abraham Almonte, Cincinnati outfielder Juan Duran, free-agent catcher Taylor Teagarden and Stumpf were suspended for 80 games each.
Sports on 04/23/2016