FBN-JAGUARS-CANN
Jaguars sign A.J. Cann, getting rookie class under contract
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) β The Jacksonville Jaguars have their entire rookie class under contract.
Third-round draft pick A.J. Cann, a 313-pound guard from South Carolina, signed his four-year deal Wednesday. Cann was the team’s lone rookie unsigned heading into a three-day, mandatory minicamp that began Tuesday.
Under the NFL’s rookie slotting system, Cann’s deal was projected to be worth a little more than $3 million and include a signing bonus worth around $800,000.
The Jaguars drafted Cann in hopes of upgrading an offensive line that allowed a franchise-record 71 sacks last season. Jacksonville also added right tackle Jermey Parnell and veteran center Stefen Wisniewski in free agency.
Cann started 51 games in four years with the Gamecocks and is vying with veteran Zane Beadles at left guard.
RED SOX-BRAVES
Markakis, Ciriaco power Braves past Red Sox 5-2
ATLANTA (AP) β Nick Markakis singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, Pedro Ciriaco added a pair of RBI singles and the Atlanta Braves beat the struggling Boston Red Sox 5-2 on Wednesday night.
The Red Sox, who began the night in last place and eight games out in the AL East, have dropped eight of nine overall and 11 of 12 on the road.
Red Sox manager John Farrell showed his frustration in the bottom of the seventh, getting ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
Atlanta, which has won three of five, took its first lead at 3-2 in the seventh when Markakis singled to score Cameron Maybin. Markakis’ hit came off Junichi Tazawa (0-3), who gave up three hits, two runs and one walk in two-thirds of an inning.
Nick Masset (2-1) earned the win in relief, and Jason Grilli recorded his 18th save in 20 chances.
PANTHERS-BEANE
Panthers promote Beane to assistant general manager
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Carolina Panthers have promoted Brandon Beane to assistant general manager.
Beane joined the Panthers in 1998 and has spent the past seven years as the director of football operations. He served as the team’s interim general manager for the final 10 weeks of the 2012 season after Marty Hurney was fired.
The Panthers eventually hired Dave Gettleman as their full-time general manager in 2013.
In a release, Gettleman says Beane “is very deserving of this opportunity and worked tremendously hard in helping us build this roster.”
The 38-year-old Beane has assisted in the evaluation of players at the professional and collegiate levels while holding administrative and scouting responsibilities in both areas. He has worked with the football operations staff on the negotiations of player contracts, developing budgets and CBA compliance.
PANTHERS-BENJAMIN
Hamstring issues plaguing Panthers 2nd-year WR Benjamin
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers second-year wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin is back on the sideline with more hamstring problems.
Benjamin missed minicamp practice on Wednesday with a strained right hamstring. A left hamstring injury kept last season’s 1,000-yard receiver out of most of Carolina’s OTAs in previous weeks.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera says Benjamin reported to offseason workouts slightly overweight, which may have contributed to his hamstring problems. He says the team’s trainers are looking into Benjamin’s history with hamstring issues.
Rivera says, “We’re going to look at every avenue to make sure it’s not a chronic issue with him. He’s too good of a football to have on the sideline.”
Benjamin says he won’t practice Thursday, but will be ready to go when the Panthers report to training camp next month.
HORNETS-HENDERSON
Guard Gerald Henderson picks up option, remains with Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Guard Gerald Henderson has exercised his player option for the 2015-16 season and will remain with the Charlotte Hornets.
Henderson is set to make $6 million in the final year of his contract.
The news comes two days after the team traded guard Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers for center Spencer Hawes and forward Matt Barnes.
Henderson was selected by Charlotte with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft and is the longest tenured player on the team’s roster. He played in a team-high 80 games with 72 starts last season, averaging 12.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 28.9 minutes per game.
Henderson scored in double figures 51 times last season, including 11 games with at least 20 points.
