MEYERS TWEETS APOLOGY TO EX-WIFE OF EX-ASSISTANT
OHIO» Amid withering COLUMBUS, criticism of his failing to more directly address domestic abuse issues at a news conference earlier this week, suspended coach Urban Meyer issued an apology Friday to the ex-wife of a former assistant coach who was suspected of abusing her.
Meyer, who is serving a three-game suspension for his handling of abuse allegations and other misdeeds from former receivers coach Zach Smith, was criticized because he declined to address Courtney Smith during a question-and-answer session with reporters on Wednesday night.
“Let me say here and now what I should have said on Wednesday: I sincerely apologize to Courtney Smith and her children for what they have gone through,” Meyer said in a statement he tweeted and university officials emailed.
“My words and demeanor on Wednesday did not show how seriously I take relationship violence,” the statement said.
Darnold impresses in loss to Jets.
N.J.» Sam Darnold EAST RUTHERFORD, led the New York Jets on two touchdown drives, moving closer to securing the starting quarterback job in a 22-16 loss to the New York Giants on Friday night. The No. 3 overall draft pick made his second consecutive start, finishing 8-16 for 86 yards — including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Terrelle Pryor.
Cousins, Sloter drive Vikings.
Kirk Cousins helped Minnesota’s offense make some progress by passing for 182 yards in the first half, and third-stringer Kyle Sloter threw for two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Vikings rallied for a 21-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Friday night. Russell Wilson led one scoring drive against the vaunted Vikings defense, finishing 11-21 for 118 yards.
Cam has scare in Panthers win over Patriots.
N.C.» Cam CHARLOTTE,
Newton gave the Panthers a concusion scare before returning to help Carolina defeat the New England Patriots 25-14 in a preseason game Friday night.
He finished 11-17 for 142 yards passing and led three scoring drives.
It was a quiet night for Tom Brady, who completed 12-18 passes for 102 yards in the first half. The five-time Super Bowl champion didn’t get much help from his receivers, who dropped multiple passes.
Cup comes to Humboldt.
SASKATCHEWAN» A small Saskatchewan city devastated by a fatal bus crash involving its junior hockey team welcomed the sport’s top trophy on Friday.
Washington Capitals forward Chandler Stephenson, originally from Saskatoon, brought the Stanley Cup to Humboldt to recognize the community’s strength and resilience after the April crash that killed 16 people — 10 of them players.
Sponsor dumps driver over his dad’s remarks.
ELKHART LAKE,
Lilly Diabetes has pulled its sponsorship of Conor Daly’s No. 6 car in the NASCAR Xfinity race at Road America, citing a racial slur made by the driver’s father in the 1980s that surfaced this week.
Conor Daly, 26, wasn’t born when his father made the comment.
Bill Elliott’s back.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott has come out of retirement to drive the No. 23 Chevrolet for GMS Racing in the Xfinity series stop at the rural Wisconsin road course Saturday. It will be his first race in any of NASCAR’s national series since July 2012.
McMillen joins Maryland football probe.
COLLEGE PARK,
Former Maryland basketball star Tom McMillen and former Gov. Robert Ehrlich have been added to the commission to investigate the culture of the Maryland football program.