FOOTBALL
Police detain Zeke
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was handcuffed by police, but not arrested, after a scuffle involving event staff at a Las Vegas music festival, officials said Monday. The 23-year-old was detained briefly about 3 a.m. local time Saturday near a gate to the overnight Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway after police officers saw him “push a security officer to the ground,” Officer Laura Meltzer said in a statement. “The security guard who was the victim of the misdemeanor battery refused to press charges,” the statement said, and the officers released Elliott. He was not charged with a crime. Cellphone video posted by celebrity website TMZ appeared to show Elliott speaking with a woman and then with several security and event staff members, including one who falls backward over a metal parking area barricade before police arrive. Elliott is handcuffed and led away. Elliott’s agent Frank Salzano said Monday that Elliott was released shortly after the video ends, and that event security misconstrued the situation and overreacted. The agent identified the woman in the video as Elliott’s girlfriend.
Colts sign QB Kelly
The Indianapolis Colts have signed free agent quarterback Chad Kelly after bringing him in for a tryout earlier this month. Kelly was drafted in 2017 by the Denver Broncos as the final pick that year, but the Broncos waived Kelly in October after he was arrested on a first-degree trespassing charge. He pleaded guilty in March to a misdemeanor charge of second-degree criminal trespassing after appearing in just one game with the Broncos.
Kelly also was arrested in December 2014 after allegedly being in a fight outside a Buffalo night club. Kelly pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in exchange for having other criminal charges dropped. He started his college career at Clemson but was kicked off the team. After transferring to East Mississippi Community College, he eventually wound up at Mississippi. Kelly started 34 games for the Rebels before a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee ended his senior season.
Foster injures knee
Reuben Foster’s 2019 season ended after just one practice rep. The former 49ers linebacker suffered a season-ending ACL tear, as first reported by NFL Media, during his first play of offseason team activities Monday with Washington. The Redskins claimed Foster just days after he was released by San Francisco in November after his second arrest relating to domestic violence allegations involving his girlfriend. The 2017 first-round draft pick was immediately placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while the league looked into his arrest. Charges were dropped and Foster was fined two game checks by the league with no suspension, allowing him to practice with his new team for the first time during the offseason program.
Report: Francois to FAU
A troubled quarterback situation at Florida Atlantic may have found a potential solution: ex-Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois. Francois plans to transfer to FAU, a source told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Monday. Francois was dismissed from Florida State in February after domestic violence allegations were made against him. The Francois transfer was first reported by 247 Sports on Monday.
Neither FAU nor Coach Lane Kiffin have made an official comment. Francois, a redshirt senior next fall, would be immediately eligible to play since he has already graduated. Francois was dismissed from the Seminoles after his girlfriend at the time posted a video on Instagram alleging that he abused her. The owner of the account later released a statement saying she was hacked, and Francois was never charged.
BASKETBALL
Wolves keep Saunders
The Minnesota Timberwolves have chosen Ryan Saunders as their full-fledged head coach — and the first millennial to hold the job in the NBA. The team announced Monday that Saunders will stay in the post he held on an interim basis during the second half of this past season, the role long held by his father. The widely expected decision was made by new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas. Rosas was hired earlier this month without a mandate to retain the 33-year-old Saunders, who is the son of the late Flip Saunders. The Timberwolves finished 17-25 under Saunders, but players unabashedly endorsed his leadership. The next-youngest head coach in the league is Sacramento’s Luke Walton, who is 39.
MOTOR SPORTS
Three-time champion dies
Three-time Formula One world champion Niki Lauda, who won two of his titles after a horrific crash that left him with serious burns and went on to become a prominent figure in the aviation industry, has died. He was 70. The Austria Press Agency reported Lauda’s family saying in a statement he “passed away peacefully” on Monday. Wal-
ter Klepetko, a doctor who carried out a lung transplant on Lauda last year, said Tuesday: “Niki Lauda has died. I have to confirm that.” Lauda twice underwent kidney transplants, receiving an organ donated by his brother in 1997 and a kidney donated by his girlfriend in 2005.
TENNIS
Tipsarevic advances
Former top-10 player Janko Tipsarevic used his wild-card entry to beat Peter Gojowczyk of Germany 7-5, 7-5 in the Geneva Open first round on Monday. Now ranked No. 317, Tipsarevic, 34, is back in ATP Tour main draws after missing the 2018 season for hamstring injuries to heal. Fifth-seeded Radu Albot beat qualifier Lorenzo Sonego 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), after 92nd-ranked Hugo Dellien beat eighth-seeded Andreas Seppi 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, and seventh-seeded Matthew Ebden lost to Nicolas Jarry of Chile 6-2, 7-6 (4).
HOCKEY
Pro women form union
More than 200 of the world’s top women’s hockey players have formed a union, saying they must “stand together” if there is to be a sustainable professional league. The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) said Monday the paperwork was filed Friday to help push for the creation of a “single, viable women’s professional league in North America.” The women had announced earlier this month their pledge to sit out the upcoming season in North America after the Canadian Women’s Hockey League abruptly shut down this year. The PWHPA made it clear the union wants a league that provides health insurance, money and infrastructure along with support for training programs.