SAMBRAILO AGREES TO PLAY FOR TITANS
TENN.» Free agent offensive NASHVILLE, lineman Ty Sambrailo and the Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
Sambrailo spent the past three seasons with Atlanta after a two-year stint with the Broncos. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder has played in 57 games, including 13 starts.
He has been used primarily as a tackle on both sides of the line and also at guard. The 28-year-old Sambrailo is expected to provide depth on an offensive front that has been altered over the past month by free agency.
Sambrailo was selected by the Broncos out of Colorado State in the second round of the 2015 draft. After starting in seven games over two seasons with the Broncos, he played in 44 games (including special teams) with the Falcons, including 13 last year — none of them as a starter.
Panthers bring in Bridgewater, XFL quarterback. N.C.» The
CHARLOTTE,
Panthers officially signed free agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year contract.
A source told The Associated Press last week that the contract is worth $63 million.
Bridgewater replaces 2011 No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton, who was released on Tuesday after nine seasons with the team.
The Panthers also announced they signed former XFL quarterback P.J. Walker to a two-year contract. Walker is expected to battle for the backup QB spot with last year’s third-round draft pick Will Grier.
Seven-inning games suggested. TORONTO» Seven-inning doubleheaders could be a way for big-league teams to squeeze more games into a condensed season without exhausting pitching staffs, Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins suggested.
Twinbills are rarely scheduled in the majors. But Rockies manager Bud Black said last week that frequent doubleheaders might be necessary to help fit more games into a shorter window.
By averaging nine games a week, a team could play 162 games in 18 weeks, eight fewer than usual. That means Major League Baseball could start as late as July and play a full schedule by extending the regular season through October.
Dayton’s Toppin headed for NBA.
OHIO» Dayton’s Obi Toppin DAYTON, is headed to the NBA after leading the Flyers to a 29-2 record and No. 3 ranking as a redshirt sophomore.
Toppin tweeted his decision a day after he was honored as The Associated Press’ men’s college basketball player of the year. The Flyers’ Anthony Grant was voted coach of the year.
Toppin, who was a late bloomer in high school and didn’t get much recruiting notice, led the way in one of Dayton’s greatest seasons. He averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds and punctuated each game with a variety of dunks.
The 6-foot-9 forward was a unanimous choice for the AP All-America first team.
USC forward Okongwu going pro.
ANGELES» Southern California
LOS forward Onyeka Okongwu declared for the NBA draft after one season.
He averaged 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks for the Trojans. Okongwu broke the school record for blocks by a freshman.
Okongwu signed with an agent this week and announced his plans Wednesday on social media. The 6-foot-9 forward from Chino, Calif., is projected to be a lottery pick in the draft.
Former A&M star Edwards dies.
TEXAS» Former Texas COLLEGE STATION, A&M basketball player David Edwards, whose single-season school record for assists has stood for more than 25 years, has died in his home state of New York. He was 48.
The school said in a news release that Edwards died Monday. Former teammate Charles Henderson posted on social media that Edwards died of complications from the new coronavirus. The Associated Press couldn’t independently confirm Henderson’s account.