NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL Players Association has released the 457-page transcript of Tom Brady’s June testimony in the deflated footballs controversy in a filing in Manhattan federal court. In it, the Patriots quarterback denies tampering – or telling anyone to tamper with – the footballs in the most recent AFC championship game. His testimony occurred in an arbitration hearing before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who decided last week to uphold a four-game suspension of Brady issued by a subordinate.
DETROIT (AP) — Al Avila is the Detroit Tigers’ new president and general manager following today’s dismissal of Dave Dombrowski after nearly 14 seasons at the helm. Dombrowski took over in November 2001 and built pennant-winners in 2006 and 2012, but the Tigers are 51-54 and in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in five years. Avila had served as Dombrowski’s top assistant since 2002.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced that his next and final bout will be against Andre Berto on Sept. 12. The welterweight title fight will be available on pay-per-view but doesn’t figure to be nearly as lucrative as the reported $220 million Mayweather earned for his May 2 fight with Manny Pacquiao (PAK’-ee-ow). The fight is the last in a six-bout deal that Mayweather has with the Showtime network, and the boxer has said repeatedly he will retire when the deal is finished.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly says running back Greg Bryant will not play for the Irish this season after failing to meet expectations. Kelly previously had suspended Bryant for the first four games of this season for violating team rules. Bryant was second on the team in rushing last season with 289 yards and led the team with 5.4 yards per carry.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks have signed recently-acquired center Brandon Sutter to a five-year contract extension worth about $21.9 million. The Canucks acquired the 26-year-old Sutter and a third-round draft pick in 2016 from the Pittsburgh Penguins last week for Nick Bonino, Adam Clendening and a 2016 second-round draft pick. Sutter had 21 goals, 33 points and 14 penalty minutes in 80 games last season.
