NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has upheld the four-game suspension handed to Tom Brady for his role in using underinflated footballs during New England’s rout of Indianapolis in the AFC championship game six months ago. Goodell said the Pats quarterback told an assistant to destroy Brady’s cellphone on or just before March 6, the day he met with independent investigator Ted Wells. Brady’s agent called the appeal hearing a sham and said Goodell “failed to ensure a fair process.”
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has reduced Le’Veon (LAY’-vee-ohn) Bell’s suspension to two games, allowing the Pittsburgh All-Pro running back to play in St. Louis on Sept. 27. The league initially suspended Bell for the first three games of the 2015 season as part of the fallout from his arrest in August 2014 on DUI and drug charges. Bell was arrested last August following a traffic stop along with then-teammate LeGarrette Blount.
DENVER (AP) — The two highest-paid shortstops in the majors are part of a trade that sends five-time All-Star Troy Tulowitzki (too-loh-WITS’-kee) to Toronto and lands Jose Reyes in Colorado. The Blue Jays also get reliever LaTroy Hawkins from the Rockies for Jose Reyes, rookie reliever Miguel Castro and two minor league pitchers. Tulowitzki is hitting .300 with 12 homers and 53 RBIs in 87 games this season, while Reyes is batting .285 with four homers, 34 RBIs and 16 steals in 69 games.
UNDATED (AP) — The Phillies have sent All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon (PAP’-ul-bahn) to the Nationals for Double-A right-hander Nick Pivetta. The Royals have picked up versatile Ben Zobrist and cash from Oakland for pitchers Aaron Brooks and Sean Manaea. And the Angels picked up outfielder David Murphy from Cleveland for minor league shortstop Eric Stamets, and acquired David DeJesus from Tampa Bay for minor league pitcher Eduar Lopez.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Penguins have dealt center Brandon Sutter to the Canucks for forward Nick Bonino and defenseman Adam Clendening. The Pens also received a second-round pick in the 2016 draft, while the Canucks pick up a third-round pick in next year’s draft from Pittsburgh. Sutter tied a career-high with 21 goals last season, and Bonino delivered 15 goals and 39 points in 75 during his lone season in Vancouver.
