Ohio State rewards Meyer with extension
Urban Meyer received a contract extension through the 2020 season after a year in which he coached Ohio State to the national championship in college football.
His previous contract ran through the 2017 season and would have paid him $4.9 million for 2015. The new terms and extension give Meyer a sixyear deal. He will make $5.8 million in total compensation for 2015. His contract will average at least $6.5 million a year over the next six years.
Alabama’s Nick Saban is the only coach to earn more money per season than Meyer at $7 million.
Meyer has led Ohio State to a 38-3 record and is 24-0 in Big Ten regularseason play. The Buckeyes defeated Oregon last season to win the first College Football Playoff.
The Oakland Raiders agreed to a deal with free-agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree , who had 68 catches for 698 yards and four touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers last season.
Free-agent cornerback Zack Bowman signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins, who are trying to fill the starting spot opposite Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes .
All-Pro fullback John Kuhn is headed back to the Green Bay Packers. Kuhn’s agent, Kevin Gold , said the veteran signed a one-year deal with Green Bay for the minimum salary of $870,000.
William & Mary removed former Tribe and NFL safety Darren Sharper from the school’s Hall of Fame. Athletic Director Terry Driscoll said the move was made after Sharper’s recent guilty plea on one of numerous rape charges he faces.
Rod Thorn said he would retire as NBA president of basketball operations in August. Thorn, 73, is in his second stint at the league office. He said the plan was always to stay two years during the transition from David Stern to Adam Silver as commissioner.
Among his duties was to serve as the league’s main disciplinarian. He said his job probably would be filled by senior vice president Kiki Vandeweghe .
Virginia guard Justin Anderson is forgoing his final season of college and to become eligible for the NBA draft. He averaged 12.2 points this season and was leading the team in scoring when he broke the pinkie finger on his (left) shooting hand during a game against Louisville on Feb. 7.
Kansas forward Perry Ellis said he would return to school for his senior season. The 6-foot-8 Ellis averaged 13.8 points and 6.9 rebounds last season. He started 34 games and surpassed 1,000 career points while helping the Jayhawks to their 11th straight Big 12 Conference title.