QB Wilson denies fire-Carroll request
Russell Wilson denied a report published Friday by The Athletic that last February he lobbied the Seattle Seahawks — his employer at the time — to fire coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider and replace them with Sean Payton, who was leaving that role with the New Orleans Saints.
Wilson, now the Denver Broncos quarterback, denied the report in a tweet an hour after the story went live.
“I love Pete and he was a father figure to me and John believed in me and drafted me as well,” Wilson tweeted. “I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win. I’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle.”
Coincidentally, Payton is now Wilson’s coach with the Broncos.
More pro football
Backup quarterback C.J. Beathard signed a two-year contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars, keeping him from hitting free agency next month.
Golf
Justin Suh shot a 6-under 66 to lead Chris Kirk by a stroke after the first round of the PGA Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
• Germany’s Yannik Paul extended his lead to five strokes with a 3-under 69 in the second round of the DP World Tour Indiana Classic at New Delhi.
• Natthakritta Vongtaveelap finished with six birdies on the back nine to take a one-shot lead over Maja Stark after a 7-under 65 in the second round at the LPGA Thailand at Pattaya.
Tennis
Andy Murray saved five match points to beat Jiri Lehecka, 6-0, 3-6, 7-6 (6), and advance to the final of the Qatar Open at Doha. Murray, 35, reached his first ATP Tour final since June and will face Daniil Medvedev.
Volleyball
The Nebraska women’s team will attempt to set the NCAA volleyball attendance record next season when it plays an outdoor match Aug. 30 in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers will host a doubleheader at the 85,000-seat football stadium, playing Omaha in the main event after an exhibition between Wayne State and Nebraska-Kearney.
College basketball
Miami was been on probation for one year after the school and the NCAA said women’s basketball coaches inadvertently helped arrange impermissible contact between a booster and two recruits. It’s first time the NCAA has announced a penalty related to an investigation into name, image and likeness deals.