Off the wire
QB eligible at Georgia
Former Southern California starter JT Daniels said he has been granted immediate eligibility at Georgia, where he can join the competition at quarterback. Daniels posted on his Twitter account Monday his appreciation to the NCAA “for granting me immediate eligibility and allowing me to play football this fall.” Daniels announced his transfer to Georgia on May 29, and he can play for three seasons. He started for the Trojans in 2018, but lost his job to Kedon Slovis last season after suffering a knee injury in the season opener. Daniels started for USC as a freshman, passing for 2,672 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Without the waiver from the NCAA, Daniels would have had to sit out the 2020 season.
Charger suspended 4 games
Los Angeles Chargers safety Roderic Teamer has been suspended for the first four regular-season games due to a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, the league said Monday. Teamer played in seven games as a rookie last season with six starts. He posted 39 tackles and had an interception during a Week 7 loss at Tennessee. Teamer made LA’s roster last year as an undrafted free agent. He is eligible to participate in all training camp practices and preseason games. His suspension will begin the Monday before the Chargers’ first regular-season game, Sept. 13 at Cincinnati.
Phillips to lead committee
Northwestern vice president Jim Phillips was chosen Monday to chair the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee for the 2021-22 season, succeeding Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart. Phillips, who is in his fourth year on the committee, will spend the upcoming season as vice chairman. Phillips was the first active athletic director to serve on the Board of Directors and Board of Governors, and he was elected first chair of the NCAA Division I Council in 2015.
Delle Donne’s request denied
Elena Delle Donne’s request to be medically excused from the WNBA season was denied, according to the league’s reigning MVP. The Washington Mystics star said in a statement Monday that the independent panel of doctors the league and union agreed upon to decide whether players should be medically excused deemed her not to be “high risk, and should be permitted to play in the bubble.” Had Delle Donne been medically excused, she would have earned her entire salary for the season. Now, if she chooses not to play, the defending WNBA champion Mystics wouldn’t have to pay her. Delle Donne has battled Lyme disease since 2008. The disease is not included on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s list of underlying conditions that could put someone at an increased risk for severe illness from covid-19. “I love my team, and we had an unbelievable season last year, and I want to play! But the question is whether or not the WNBA bubble is safe for me,” Delle Donne said in the statement. “My personal physician who has treated me for Lyme disease for years advised me that I’m at high risk for contracting and having complications from covid-19.” Delle Donne’s statement was first obtained by ESPN. The league declined to comment, citing privacy concerns about player health matters.