EX-UNC WIDEOUT RETIRES FROM NFL

Former University of Northern Colorado wide receiver Vincent Jackson has retired.

Jackson’s agent, Jonathan Feinsod, told ESPN that the 12-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowler is “very happily retired.”

Jackson, 35, had 9,080 yards receiving yards and 57 receiving touchdowns during his career with the Chargers and Buccanneers and had six 1,000-yard seasons.

He was a second-round draft pick out of Northern Colorado by the Chargers in 2005 and attended Widefield High School in Colorado Springs.

Jackson sat out the 2017 season.

Former Husker seeks NFL return.

DALLAS» Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory is seeking reinstatement to the NFL after missing the 2017 season over multiple violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy, a person with direct knowledge of the application said Friday.

Gregory’s application should be received by the league office within days in hopes that he will be reinstated in time for training camp in late July, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of privacy stipulations in the drug policy.

The NFL’s policy says those involved in the process will work to help Commissioner Roger Goodell rule within 60 days of receiving the application. The league declined to comment.

Cardinals settle with former AD.

KY.» Louisville reached a LOUISVILLE,

$4.5 million settlement with former athletic director Tom Jurich, who was fired in the wake of a national federal corruption investigation of college basketball.

Jurich disputed his Oct. 18 firing for cause after nearly 20 years as AD and had considered suing the school. The University of Louisville Athletic Association and Board of Trustees on Friday approved the settlement.

Jurich’s employment ended “without cause” as a result of his resignation, also described in the settlement as “retirement.”

He’ll also receive another $2.6 million in accrued employment benefits, along with home game tickets and parking for Louisville football and basketball for 20 years.

Nadal, Djokovic to renew rivalry.

» Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will renew their rivalry in the Italian Open semifinals — and threetime Rome champion Maria Sharapova also reached the last four Friday.

Nadal, who holds a record seven titles at the Foro Italico, overcame a poor first set and a partisan crowd to beat Fabio Fognini 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Then, four-time Rome winner Djokovic rallied past Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Nadal and Djokovic have played each other 50 times, but their last meeting came more than a year ago, when Nadal won in the Madrid Open semifinals. Djokovic leads Nadal 2624 overall, but Nadal holds a 15-7 advantage on clay.

USA Gymnastics VP Faehn out amid fallout.

INDIANAPOLIS

» USA Gymnastics has parted ways with senior vice president Rhonda Faehn, who has come under fire recently from victims of a former national team doctor now serving decades in prison for abusing athletes.

Faehn, a former U.S. national team member in the 1980s who later won three titles as head coach at the University of Florida, joined USA Gymnastics in 2015 and oversaw the women’s elite program. Shortly after taking over, she was alerted to potential abuse concerns about Larry Nassar, a longtime team physician. Faehn passed along the concerns to then-USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny.

The organization then conducted an internal investigation before removing Nassar and going to federal authorities.

USA Gymnastics did not alert Michigan State, where Nassar was a faculty member, or a club in Michigan that was affiliated with Nassar.