Panthers cut Tolbert
The Carolina Panthers began restructuring their roster Tuesday, releasing three-time Pro Bowl fullback Mike Tolbert and backup defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Tolbert was used as a blocker, runner and receiver during his five seasons with the Panthers, but the 31-year-old’s production tailed off last season.
Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter has been fined $300 after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct stemming from a dispute with a bar bouncer and a police officer last month. Porter entered the plea Tuesday in City Court in Pittsburgh, ending a case in which he originally faced a serious felony charge of aggravated assault for allegedly grabbing the officer’s wrists outside a bar after a bouncer denied him entrance Jan. 8.
The value of Tom Brady’s missing Super Bowl jersey is listed as $500,000 on a Houston Police Department report. The New England Patriots quarterback is listed as the complainant in the report dated Feb. 6, the day after the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28, in overtime. The police report was made public Tuesday. Investigators have been working to identify who was in the locker room at the time the jersey was taken.
No. 1 seed Milos Raonic opened with an easy win Tuesday in his first appearance at the Delray Beach Open in Florida. Raonic defeated American qualifier Tim Smyczek, 6-1, 6-4. No. 3 seed Jack Sock defeated Radu Albot, 6-4, 7-6.
At the Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates, Garbine Muguruza retired with a left Achilles’ injury in her match against Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine. Monica Puig beat 15th-seeded Caroline Garcia, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, Elena Vesnina defeated Misaki Doi, 6-2, 7-5, and 17-year-old American Cici Bellis eliminated Laura Siegemund, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
China’s football association is planning for the country to have 50,000 academies by 2025 as part of an ambitious blueprint to grow into a soccer superpower.
The announcement from association Vice President Wang Dengfeng more than doubles the earlier target of 20,000 academies by 2020. Wang was quoted by state media Wednesday as saying that each school would be able to train 1,000 young players on average, fulfilling the goal laid out in a plan announced last April of having 50 million competent players.
President Xi Jinping has made boosting the country’s fortunes in the sport a priority. Plans call for qualifying for the World Cup, hosting the event and eventually winning the title.