Fitzpatrick, Jets finally reach deal
Quarterback agrees to return for one year on eve of training camp
A person familiar with the negotiations says the New York Jets have resigned Ryan Fitzpatrick to a one-year deal worth $12 million, ending months of speculation and uncertainty surrounding the team’s quarterback spot.
Fitzpatrick set the franchise record with a careerhigh 31 touchdown passes last season while helping lead the Jets on a playoff push in Todd Bowles’ first season as coach.
The deal was reached Wednesday night, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the signing.
The well-traveled 33-yearold veteran appeared to be a certainty to re-sign in the weeks leading to the start of free agency, but Fitzpatrick and the Jets became locked in a contract stalemate over financial terms.
Cowboys defensive end n Randy Gregory is facing a longer suspension over another violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, and owner Jerry Jones says he doesn’t expect to see the troubled player at training camp in Oxnard. With Gregory already suspended for the first four games this season, Jones acknowledged that the former Nebraska standout was undergoing treatment.
Michigan State’s athletic n department is establishing a scholarship fund to honor Mike Sadler, the former punter for the Spartans who died in a car accident Saturday in Wisconsin.
Sadler and Nebraska punter Sam Foltz died in a crash after attending a kicking camp in Wisconsin.
The Los Angeles Rams n have released quarterback Nick Foles after failing to find a trade destination for the disgruntled quarterback. Foles hasn’t been around the Rams since they traded up to choose Cal quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the draft this spring. The veteran skipped offseason workouts while Los Angeles attempted to trade him.
Tennis
Venus Williams opened play in Montreal at the Rogers Cup with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Barbora Strycova. Williams was coming off a loss to Britain’s Johanna Konta on Sunday in the final of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford. Konta also advanced, topping Vania King 7-5, 6-1.
Basketball
The Portland Trail Blazers formally signed guard CJ McCollum to a four-year contract extension. The terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team, but a person familiar with it told The Associated Press that it is worth $106 million.
The extension, which takes effect after the upcoming season, will keep McCollum in Portland through the 2020-21 season. McCollum was named the NBA’s 2016 Most Improved Player after averaging 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists during the regular season. He raised his scoring average by more than 14 points over the previous season.
Dirk Nowitzki has n signed his contract with Dallas, and a person with knowledge of the deal says it’s worth more than the original agreement. The 38-year-old star who has spent all of his 18 seasons with the Mavericks signed a two-year, $50 million contract on Wednesday — $10 million more than the deal struck before contracts could be signed.
NHL
The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Matt Carle to a one-year contract hours after signing forward Calle Jarnkrok to a six-year, $12 million contract through 2021-22.
Motor sports
NASCAR has suspended the crew chief for Kevin Harvick for an improperly installed lug nut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Rodney Childers will not appeal the suspension or his $20,000 fine. He will miss Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway. Childers is the fifth crew chief suspended over a lug nut rule instituted by NASCAR earlier this season.
Sam Wheeler, a renowned n land speed motorcycle racer, died Monday after a racing accident at Utah’s famous Bonneville Salt Flats. He was 72. He died at a Salt Lake City area hospital after crashing going about 200 mph during a test run at the Salt Flats.
San Jose Giants
Bakersfield’s Zack Littell threw eight scoreless innings before the Blaze held off San Jose in the ninth for a 2-1 victory over the Giants on Wednesday at Municipal Stadium. The defeat snapped San Jose’s (54-49) win streak at four games. Despite the loss, the Giants still won two out of three in the series from first-place Bakersfield and finished their seven-game homestand with a 5-2 record.
Dylan Davis had four hits as part of a perfect day at the plate to lead San Jose. Davis drove home the Giants’ only run with a ninth-inning RBI single. Phil Bickford (2-2) suffered the loss on the mound despite matching a career-high with seven innings pitched.