NFL expands program for overseas players
Eight NFL teams will carry on their practice squads a player who came from an expanded program for overseas players.
The International Player Pathway was instituted last year. It aims to provide international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level.
Alex Gray (Atlanta Falcons), Alex Jenkins (New Orleans Saints), Eric Nzeocha (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Efe Obada (Carolina Pathners) participated in 2017 and will return to those NFC South teams.
The NFL announced Tuesday that the AFC North was added this year. The Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers also will get an exemption for an 11th practice squad member who’s ineligible to be activated during the season.
Hurricanes add Dudley to front office
The Carolina Hurricanes have hired veteran NHL executive Rick Dudley to a front-office position.
Owner Tom Dundon on Tuesday said Dudley will be the team’s senior vice president of hockey operations.
The 69-year-old Dudley comes to Carolina after holding the same position with the Montreal Canadiens, and has been a general manager for four NHL teams.
His hiring came a day after the Hurricanes terminated the contract of Hall of Fame player Ron Francis , the team’s demoted general manager who had spent roughly two months as Carolina’s president of hockey operations.
The Hurricanes are searching for a full-time GM and a head coach after they missed the playoffs for a ninth straight year.
Romo misses cut for U.S. Open
Tony Romo didn’t get out of the opening stage in another failed attempt to play in the U.S. Open.
Romo three-putted his opening hole at Gleneagles Country Club, made only two birdies and shot a 5-over 77 on Monday in the 18-hole local qualifier. The top eight finishers from Gleneagles advance to 36-hole sectional qualifying on June 4.
Romo, the retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback and NFL analyst for CBS Sports, failed to get through local qualifying for the second straight year.
He was tied for 24th among the first half of the field, meaning he would miss advancing by at least five shots.
Romo played his first PGA Tour event in March in the Dominican Republic and had rounds of 77-82, missing the cut.