Raiders release King in surprise move

One year into a contract extension that would have carried him through the 2020 season, punter Marquette King was released by the Raiders. The move comes as a surprise, given King’s status as one of the NFL’s top young punters.

The move was made without comment, grouped with the expected and previously reported release of tight end Clive Walford.

Vikings: Signed wide receiver Kendall Wright, who led the Bears in receptions and yards last season. The Vikings will put Wright in the mix behind standouts Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.

Browns: Continued their quarterback makeover, signing free agent Drew Stanton to a two-year deal. The veteran is expected to back up Tyrod Taylor, acquired from Buffalo in a recent trade.

Jets: In need of help at running back after starter Matt Forte retired, New York turned to Thomas Rawls, who spent three seasons with the Seahawks, starting 17 games.

ODDS AND ENDS

Horse racing: Arrogate started the Dubai World Cup from the ninth gate last year and won. West Coast has drawn the ninth gate this year and is the race favorite. Bob Baffert has a shot at becoming only the second trainer to win the $10 million horse race in successive years today. The four-yearold West Coast, ranked the No. 3 racing thoroughbred in the world, won the Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs last year, but comes to Dubai having finished second to No. 1-ranked Gun Runner in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup.

Olympics: International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach met with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Friday and said the North Korean leader is committed to having his country participate in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022.