The Denver Broncos bolstered their defensive line Wednesday by signing free agent tackle John Browning, who spent his first 11 seasons in Kansas City. Browning sat out last season with an assortment of injuries. He played every position along the defensive front, seeing action in 121 regular season games, including 96 starts for the Chiefs, who selected him in the third round out of West Virginia…
The Buffalo Bills reinforced their depleted defensive end corps by signing seven-year veteran Al Wallace on Wednesday. The move came a day after Wallace worked out for the team at its training camp facility in suburban Rochester. The 33-year-old Wallace spent the past five seasons with Carolina before being cut by the Panthers in a salary-cap move in February.
An NAACP leader said Michael Vick should be allowed to return to the NFL, preferably the Atlanta Falcons, after serving his sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation. “As a society, we should aid in his rehabilitation and welcome a new Michael Vick back into the community without a permanent loss of his career in football,” said R.L.
Stunt Man rallied to win the $150,000 Albany Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday. Sitting just behind the front-runners in third for most of the race over 1 1/8 miles, the 3-year-old son of Western Expression made his move on the far turn. He ran down Dr. V’s Magic and even-money favorite Chief’s Lake, who was seeking a $250,000 bonus for winning the third leg of the “Big Apple Triple,”…
Street Sense will be the horse to beat again at Saratoga Race Course — this time the Kentucky Derby winner was made the overwhelming 3-5 favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Travers Stakes. Last month, Street Sense won the Jim Dandy as the odds-on choice in his first start since his Triple Crown chances ended with a narrow loss in the Preakness on May 19.
The Washington Wizards hired former Charlotte Bobcats president Ed Tapscott as director of player development on Wednesday. The team also hired Dave Hopla as an assistant coach for player development. “Ed and Dave have an extensive coaching background and have proven to be very successful in working with and developing players throughout their careers,” Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said.
New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury defended Michael Vick, calling dogfighting a sport and comparing it to hunting. Marbury spoke Monday about the federal dogfighting conspiracy charges against Vick while promoting his basketball shoe in Albany, N.Y. “I think it’s tough,” Marbury said, according to Albany TV station Capital News 9.
Esteban Loaiza won in his season debut by outpitching A.J. Burnett, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep. Oakland (64-64) has won four straight and eight of 10, reaching .500 for the first time since it was 44-44 at the All-Star break. Toronto dropped to .500 at 63-63.
Dave Trembley will return next season as manager of the Baltimore Orioles after leading the team to a winning record over the last two months. Trembley replaced Sam Perlozzo on June 18, then was given the job through the rest of the season on July 31. The Orioles announced Wednesday that his contract has been extended through the 2008 season, with a club option for 2009.
