FOOTBALL
Bills’ McCoy in brawl
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy is under investigation over a Philadelphia nightclub brawl early Sunday that left two off-duty police officers injured, one with a broken nose and broken ribs and the other with a possible skull fracture. The incident occurred early Sunday morning after an argument broke out between McCoy’s party and the officers over a bottle of champagne. After one 40-year-old officer was knocked to the ground, he was punched, kicked and stomped multiple times on his body and head, police said Monday. When the second officer, also 40, intervened with security guards, he was also injured, police said. All were ejected from the club. One officer had a broken nose, broken ribs and a sprained thumb and remained hospitalized, police said, while the second received stitches and had a possible skull fracture. “Certainly over a bottle of champagne, nothing warrants an assault like this,” police Lt. John Stanford said. A person familiar with the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that McCoy was one of the four men under investigation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the case. McCoy’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Monday. McCoy played for the Bills last season after being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for six seasons. The Bills released a statement saying they were aware of the report and were gathering information.
Johnny Manziel’s ex-girlfriend said in an affidavit the Cleveland Browns quarterback hit her so hard during a late-night confrontation she lost hearing in one ear. Colleen Crowley’s affidavit, published online Monday, said Manziel dragged her into a car last month after she tried to get away from him. Crowley, 23, accused Manziel, 23, of striking her in her left ear. She won a protective order last week against Manziel, who is under criminal investigation on allegations of domestic violence. In the affidavit, Crowley said she and Manziel had a confrontation in his Dallas hotel room around 1:45 a.m. Jan. 30. She said that after hitting her, he threatened to kill himself as he drove her to Fort Worth. Manziel’s attorney didn’t return a phone message Monday. The affidavit was first obtained by KXAS-TV. Manziel, who won the 2012 Heisman Trophy as a freshman at Texas A&M, completed his second season with the Browns last month.
The New Orleans Saints have released four-time All-Pro right guard Jahri Evans, who has started for all 10 seasons since New Orleans drafted him from Division II Bloomsburg in 2006. In moves posted on the NFL’s transactions list Monday, New Orleans also has released linebackers David Hawthorne and Ramon Humber and receiver Seantavius Jones, while signing veteran free agent defensive back Tony Carter. The releases of Evans and Hawthorne in particular will save the Saints money by allowing the club to avoid paying upcoming roster bonuses and well as base salaries later in 2016. Evans was voted first-team All-Pro from the 2009 through 2012 seasons. Carter spent three games with Indianapolis this season. He also spent part of 2015 with New Orleans, but did not play.
The Philadelphia Eagles have released wide receiver Riley Cooper after six seasons. Eagles officials announced the move Monday. Cooper’s best season came in 2013, when he had 47 catches for 835 yards and 8 touchdowns. He played in half his team’s offensive snaps this past season. Cooper, 28, was perhaps best known for his troublesome training camp in 2013, when he left camp for three days to deal with fallout after a video surfaced of him using a racial slur at a black security guard at a Kenny Chesney concert. Cooper stayed with the team and had to win back the trust of teammates. The receiver has 169 catches and 18 touchdowns in 88 games played.
BASEBALL
Young arrested
Free agent outfielder Delmon Young was arrested after he choked and threatened a parking attendant at a Miami hotel Sunday night, police said. Young, a 30-year-old who appeared in 52 games for the Baltimore Orioles last year, grabbed the attendant’s neck and called him a “stupid Cuban,” according to an arrest report. The attendant told police he had refused to let Young on an elevator to a club at the Viceroy Miami because the club was closed. Young left the area for a short time, then returned and attacked the attendant again, the report said. The attendant got away and called police. Hotel security staff was familiar with Young and directed officers to his condominium, which is located in the hotel’s rear tower. Young told police he didn’t know anything about the attack on the attendant, the report said. An officer went on to describe Young’s behavior as belligerent. Young was arrested and charged with battery. He was released Monday morning on $1,500 bail, according to jail records. His attorney declined to comment on Monday. Young was the first pick overall in the 2003 amateur draft and made his big league debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006. He also played for Minnesota (2008-2011), Detroit (2011-2012), Philadelphia (2013) before a second stint with the Rays in 2013 and two seasons with the Orioles. He has a.283 average in 10 big league seasons with 109 home runs and 566 RBI.
FOOTBALL
Agent confirms Lynch’s retirement
SEATTLE — When Marshawn Lynch was brought to Seattle early in the 2010 season, he was acquired because the Seahawks desperately needed a running back.
What he ended up providing was an attitude and style that became the foundation for bringing the first Super Bowl title to the Pacific Northwest.
Without saying a word, Lynch drew a lot of attention during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl on Sunday night with a single post on social media. Just a picture, green cleats hanging from a power or telephone line, and a peace sign emoji. It was his way of saying goodbye from football, a decision that his agent Doug Hendrickson confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday saying Lynch intends to retire.
The mercurial running back who enjoyed avoiding media attention away from the field as much as he thrived under the spotlight with the ball in his hands is stepping away just before his 30th birthday.
Lynch will step aside after nine seasons in the league, rushing for 9,112 yards and 74 touchdowns. Six of those seasons came in Seattle, where he played in the postseason five times. He’s second all-time in Seattle history in rushing touchdowns
(57) and fourth in yards rushing (6,347). He tied for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns in 2013
(12) and 2014 (13) and is No. 8 all-time in total yards rushing (937) during the postseason. He was an All-Pro, a Pro Bowl selection and perhaps the most revered Seahawks player in the opinion of their fans.
The Oakland, Calif., native was limited to 111 carries and 417 yards in 2015 because of injuries. He was bothered by hamstring and calf issues early in the season and later missed the final seven regular-season games with an abdominal injury that required surgery and the Seahawks’ wildcard playoff victory at Minnesota.