Ravens sign rookies Grant, Humphrey, cut FB Ortiz
The Ravens continued to tinker with the back end of their roster Monday, signing two players who participated in last week’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis while waiving two others. They added former Rutgers wide receiver-return specialist Janarion Grant and ex- Shepherd defensive end Myles Humphrey. To make room on their roster for them, they waived fullback Ricky Ortiz and rookie inside linebacker Mason McKenrick. Ortiz, a member of the team’s 2017 undrafted free-agent class, spent much of last season on the practice squad. McKenrick was signed late last week after he went undrafted out of John Carroll University. Grant is Rutgers’ all-time leader in kickoff-return yardage (2,857) and is fourth all-time in punt-return yardage (588). He tied an NCAA record with eight combined return scores, five off kickoffs and three on punts. Humphrey, an Upper Marlboro native, was the Mountain East Conference defensive player of the year last season. In 11 games, he had 13 sacks, 201⁄ tackles for loss and 59 tackles. MORE NFL: The Oakland Raiders signed fullback Henry Poggi, a rookie free agent who played at Gilman for his father, Biff. Henry Poggi played four years for the Wolverines, where his father later coached, appearing in 44 games with17 starts — 13 at fullback and four at tight end. He totaled nine career receptions for 68 yards and two career rushing attempts for 6 yards and one touchdown. COLLEGE AWARDS: Kristen Confroy (women’s basketball) and Alex Leto (men’s track and field) have been named Maryland’s Big Ten Medal of Honor award winners. The Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference’s most exclusive award and was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, a former interim coach at Maryland, will make $1.2 million annually. Locksley’s salary is the same as predecessor Brian Daboll, who left for the same job with the Buffalo Bills. COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Salisbury was one of 20 teams to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. The Sea Gulls will head to a regional hosted by No. 19 College of New Jersey and will take on No. 11 Moravian in its first game of the double-elimination four-team regional Friday. — with a “failed physical” designation. He finished last season on IR with a concussion. ... Former Broncos RB C.J. Anderson signed a one-year contract with the Panthers. ... The players union filed a noninjury grievance on behalf of free-agent S Eric Reid, saying one team appeared to have based its decision not to sign him on Reid saying he planned to protest during the national anthem. ... Two-time Pro Bowl S Michael Griffin retired. ... The Raiders officially signed LB Derrick Johnson to a one-year contract and waived DB Darius Hillary. ... The Vikings signed Northern Illinois WR Chad Beebe, son of former Bills WR Don Beebe. ... The 49ers released OL Zane Beadles.
Two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Steven Lopez was temporarily suspended while the U.S. Center for SafeSport resolves a case against him involving sexual misconduct allegations.
Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil said he will recover in time from a back injury to be available for Germany in the World Cup. ... Tim Cahill is in Australia’s provisional squad for the World Cup, boosting his prospects of being selected for a fourth straight tournament.
Novak Djokovic beat 20thranked Kei Nishikori 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of the Madrid Open, his highestranked win in 10 months. Coming back from a right elbow injury, Djokovic hasn’t made it to the quarterfinals in his previous five tournaments. In women’s play, Maria Sharapova defeated Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-1 and Caroline Wozniacki edged Ashleigh Barty 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.