PANTHERS-TIGHT ENDS
Panthers plan to involve TEs more in offense
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Coach Ron Rivera says the Carolina Panthers plan to use their tight ends more in the passing game this season.
The Panthers added free agent Ed Dickson this offseason to go along with Greg Olsen, giving them a pair of receiving threats at tight end similar to what they had in Rivera’s first season in 2011 with Olsen and Jeremy Shockey.
Rivera says “You want that double threat.”
Rivera says the Panthers were a little too predictable when the team paired Olsen with Ben Hartsock, who was known almost exclusively for his run-blocking ability.
Dickson has shown the potential to be a big-time option in the passing game, catching 54 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns in 2011 with the Baltimore Ravens.
WINTHROP-COACHES
Winthrop gives coaches contract extensions
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) β Winthrop men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey and women’s basketball coach Kevin Cook each received two-year contract extensions after successful seasons.
Kelsey led the Eagles to a 20-13 mark β their first 20-win season in six years β and a trip to the Big South Conference tournament finals where they fell to Coastal Carolina. Kelsey, who made $175,000 when he was after the hired two years ago, will earn $220,000 a season under his new deal, which goes through 2019.
Cook brought the Lady Eagles to their first NCAA tournament by winning the Big South Conference tournament title. Winthrop went 24-9 this past season. Cook’s contract will pay him $113,000 a year through 2018.
Winthrop also announced assistant Mark Prosser’s promotion to associate head coach of the men’s team.
HALL OF FAME GAME
Bills rookie WR Watkins looks to shine in HOF Game
CANTON, Ohio (AP) β It’s approaching show-time for Buffalo Bills rookie receiver Sammy Watkins.
He’s already dazzled teammates and fans in training camp. Next is helping the Bills kick off the preseason against the New York Giants on Sunday in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
And it’s not lost on Watkins that Andre Reed will be in attendance, a day after the former Bills star receiver’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Watkins is hoping to put on a show for Reed. The Bills traded their 2015 first-round pick to move up five spots and select the Clemson player at No. 4.
The Giants will unveil a new offensive style under new coordinator Ben McAdoo. They’re introducing a quick-paced, no-huddle attack for quarterback Eli Manning.
PANTHERS-BENJAMIN
Panthers WR Benjamin returns to practice
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin returned to practice after missing five days with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Benjamin, the team’s first-round draft pick, eased back into practice Saturday at Wofford College. He wore a compression sleeve on his left leg but didn’t appear to have any trouble moving and running routes.
Benjamin, 23, had been working with the first team alongside Jerricho Cotchery when he banged his knee against the ground in a practice last Sunday. The knee swelled up the team sent him to have a precautionary MRI on Monday, but the tests revealed no structural damage.
Benjamin caught 54 passes for 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns last year for Florida State, including the winning touchdown against Auburn in the national championship.
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NASCAR-NATIONWIDE
Keselowski wins NASCAR Nationwide race in Iowa
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) β Brad Keselowski held off the charging Michael McDowell on Saturday night to win the NASCAR Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway.
Keselowski, the Sprint Cup driver commuting from Pocono in Pennsylvania, led 146 of 250 laps for his third Nationwide victory of the season and second in two starts.
Trevor Bayne was third, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. and Ty Dillon.
Keselowski was set to cruise to an easy win when James Buescher’s crash erased his lead. But Keselowski went high to overtake McDowell and held on for his 30th series victory.
Points leader Chase Elliott finished eighth. He leads Regan Smith by two points.
NASCAR-TRUCKS
Austin Dillon wins Truck Series race at Pocono
LONG POND, Pa. (AP) β Austin Dillon pulled away on the final restart to win the Truck Series race on Saturday at Pocono Raceway.
Dillon won his first Truck race of the season. His win came a week after his brother, Ty, won the Nationwide Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Dillon eluded Clint Bowyer and the rest of the field on the final restart of a caution-filled end to the race.
Johnny Sauter, Joey Coulter, Bowyer and Ryan Blaney completed the top five. Kyle Larson led from the pole for an early part of the race until his truck suffered engine issues and he faded to 18th.
Bowyer was driving for John Wes Townley, who was held out of all racing this weekend following a hard crash Friday at Pocono Raceway.
