Off the wire

FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein gives instructions to players in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Cleveland. Cavaliers first-year coach John Beilein will end a rough season by stepping down after 54 games, according to multiple reports Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.(AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein gives instructions to players in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Cleveland. Cavaliers first-year coach John Beilein will end a rough season by stepping down after 54 games, according to multiple reports Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.(AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

FOOTBALL

Free agent lineman arrested

NFL free-agent offensive tackle Greg Robinson remained in a West Texas jail without bond Wednesday after federal agents said they found 157 pounds of marijuana in a rented vehicle in which he and two other people were riding. Robinson, 27, of Thibodeaux, La., and Jaquan Tyreke Bray, 26, of La Grange, Ga., were in the El Paso County Detention Center after federal authorities charged them with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute it. Both were held without bond pending an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge. If convicted, both could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison. According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Robinson, Bray and an unidentified third person were driving from Los Angeles to Louisiana in a rented sport utility vehicle on Interstate 10 through a remote section of West Texas. When they passed a Border Patrol agent with a drug-sniffing dog, the dog detected the scent of marijuana. The agent radioed ahead to the patrol's checkpoint in near Sierra Blanca, Texas, 83 miles southeast of El Paso. Robinson, who played collegiately at Auburn, was taken with the second overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He was traded to the Detroit Lions in 2017 and played the past two seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

Bears add Harris

The Chicago Bears added help to their tight ends position with the addition of Demetrius Harris (Jacksonville) on a one-year contract, NFL Network reported Wednesday. The Browns released Harris, 28, earlier this week after one season, in which he had 15 receptions for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns. Harris played his first five seasons with Kansas City, four when Bears Coach Matt Nagy was the Chiefs' quarterbacks coach, then offensive coordinator. Harris made 57 catches for 605 yards and 6 touchdowns with the Chiefs, including a career-high 18 catches for 224 yards in 2017. The 6-7, 230-pound Harris played college basketball at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, which doesn't have a football team, before he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chiefs in 2013.

'Skins exercise Peterson option

The Washington Redskins exercised Adrian Peterson's 2020 option Wednesday, keeping the veteran running back in the fold for another season. Peterson returns to Washington for a third season and first under new Coach Ron Rivera. It'll be his 14th NFL season. Peterson, who turns 35 in March, was the Redskins' leading rusher last season with 898 yards and 5 touchdowns on 211 carries. He currently ranks fifth on the NFL's career rushing list with 14,216 yards and is less than 1,100 yards from catching Barry Sanders for fourth.

Dolphins sign TE Roberts

Tight end Michael Roberts signed with the Miami Dolphins, his fourth NFL team since he entered the league in 2017 as a fourth-round draft pick. Roberts caught 13 passes for 146 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2 seasons with the Detroit Lions. He was out of the league last year.

BASKETBALL

Cavaliers coach resigns

John Beilein didn't make it through one NBA season. Another college coaching dropout. Wildly successful at Michigan and other stops in his coaching career, Beilein resigned Wednesday after just 54 games with the rebuilding Cavaliers, who can't seem to find the right person to lead their team. Beilein, 67, never got comfortable during his short stint in the pro game. The demands of travel, lack of practice time and a group of players who didn't respect him or respond to his coaching style proved to be too much, so he decided to move on before the team returned from the All-Star break. The Cavs went just 14-40 under Beilein, who the Cavaliers signed to a five-year contract last May. The team said he will be reassigned to a different role within the organization. At this point, Beilein's next role is still being discussed but his college connections would make him invaluable in draft preparation. Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will take over for Beilein.

Connecticut acquires January

The Connecticut Sun acquired guard Briann January from Phoenix on Wednesday in a three-way deal that sent fan favorite Courtney Williams to the Atlanta Dream. The Sun also get a second-round draft pick from the Mercury. Phoenix received 6-2 forward Jessica Breland and 6-1 forward Nia Coffey from Atlanta. January, 33, who has been named to the WNBA's All-Defensive team six times, averaged 6.5 points and 3.3 assists in 33 games for Phoenix last season. Williams, 25, averaged 13.2 points in helping Connecticut reach the Finals last season. Connecticut Sun Coach and General Manager Curt Miller made it clear that Williams wanted the trade.

BASEBALL

Three win arbitration cases

Houston infielder Aledmys Diaz, Miami first baseman Jesus Aguilar and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Brian Goodwin all won their salary arbitration cases Wednesday, cutting the teams' advantage to 6-4 in decisions this year with three cases remaining. Diaz was awarded $2.6 million rather than the $2 million offered by the Astros, which matched Diaz's salary last year. Aguilar was given a raise from $637,500 to $2,575,000 instead of the Marlins' figure of $2,325,000. Goodwin received a raise from $585,500 to $2.2 million rather than the team's $1.85 million offer.

Pirates' Reyes suspended

The Pittsburgh Pirates' Pablo Reyes was suspended 80 games on Wednesday under the major league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Boldenone. He became the second player in three days suspended for Boldenone, which is sold under the brand name Equipose and is used commonly on horses. Houston pitcher Francis Martes was suspended for the 2020 season Monday following a positive test for Boldenone, his second violation of the major league drug program. Reyes, a 26-year-old outfielder and infielder, made his major league debut in September 2018 and hit .293 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI in 63 plate appearances. He hit .203 with 2 home runs and 19 RBI in 157 plate appearances for the Pirates last year and batted .286 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 191 plate appearances at Class AAA Indianapolis.

Orioles claim Velazquez

The Baltimore Orioles claimed infielder Andrew Velazquez on waivers from the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. Velazquez, 25, has hit .152 in 28 games with Tampa Bay and Cleveland, and joins a crowded competion for an infield spot with Baltimore. Last season, he hit .087 (2 for 23) in 15 games with the Rays and Indians. He's played six positions in the major leagues.

HOCKEY

Kings trade Martinez

The Los Angeles Kings traded Stanley Cup-winning goal scorer Alec Martinez to the Vegas Golden Knights for two second-round draft picks Wednesday. The Kings got the Knights' second-round pick in 2020 and St. Louis' second-round choice in 2021 for Martinez, the defenseman who scored the iconic double-overtime goal that won Los Angeles' second Stanley Cup six years ago. Martinez, 32, has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, who drafted him in 2007. He cracked Los Angeles' lineup for good in late 2010 and has spent the ensuing decade as a steady, productive two-way defenseman.

TENNIS

Halep advances at Dubai

Top-seeded Simona Halep's first match since losing to Garbine Muguruza in the Australian Open semifinals was a tough 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7) victory over Ons Jabeur at the Dubai Championships on Wednesday. Halep saved a match point in the two-hour match against Jabeur, who lost to eventual champion Sofia Kenin in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. Halep will meet Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals after Sabalenka beat Elise Mertens 6-4, 6-3. Anett Kontaveit beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6 (5), 7-5 and will play Petra Martic, who defeated Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-3.

Sports on 02/20/2020

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