Arena resigns
NEW YORK — Bruce Arena has resigned as U.S. men’s soccer coach after the team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati is staying around, at least for now. Arena quit Friday, three days after the ruinous 2-1 loss at 99th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago that ended the Americans’ streak of seven straight World Cup appearances. The USSF, which will miss the global event for the first time since 1986, said it will announce within 10 days an interim coach for planned exhibition games next month. Gulati said he did not plan to resign.
BASKETBALL
› CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers are lightening their overloaded roster by trading Kay Felder and Richard Jefferson to save money. Cleveland has agreed to send Felder, Jefferson, two second-round draft picks and $3 million to the Atlanta Hawks in a move that will allow last season’s Eastern Conference champions to avoid paying $12 million in luxury tax penalties, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. In return, the Cavs will get the rights to two international players, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league still had to approve the transaction. Cleveland’s roster filled up quickly after the club signed Jose Calderon, Jeff Green, Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade in the offseason. The Cavs needed to clear two roster spots before Tuesday’s season opener, and they’ve been looking for a team to do business with for several weeks. Jefferson appeared in 79 games last season, averaging 5.7 points in 20.4 minutes, while Felder played in 42 games for Cleveland last season, averaging 4.0 points.
FOOTBALL
› NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews said he made a bad decision when he threatened to quit football if the NFL institutes a new rule mandating players stand for the national anthem. Asked Friday if he stands by the initial statement he posted on Twitter on Thursday before deleting it soon after, Matthews said, “Not right now.” “Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that,” added Matthews, who has stayed in the locker room during the national anthem the past two games in protest of President Donald Trump’s comments on NFL players.