Tomlinson signs extension, will help anchor offensive line
Laken Tomlinson signed a three-year contract extension Friday, entrenching him as the 49ers’ starting left guard and clearing up one of the few depthchart mysteries heading into next month’s training camp.
Tomlinson’s extension includes $10 million in guarantees and up to $18 million overall, as first reported by NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo. He’s signed through 2021.
Tomlinson, 26, started the final 15 games last season, shortly after being acquired from the Detroit Lions, who used their 2015 first-round draft pick on him. He seemed to improve as the 6-10 season progressed, as did most of his teammates, especially in the run-blocking aspect as well as upon Jimmy Garoppolo’s 5-0 debut as the starting quarterback.
With Tomlinson settling in between left tackle Joe Staley and new center Weston Richburg, right guard is seemingly the only starting spot up for grabs on offense. Mike McGlinchey, the 49ers’ top draft pick this year, has been the first-string right tackle since his arrival. RAIDERS SIGN FULLBACK >> Undrafted free agent fullback Ryan Yurachek signed with the Raiders, and the team waived recently added fullback Henry Poggi.
NBA
ANTHONY TAKES MONEY >> Oklahoma City Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony plans to opt in and take the $28 million he is due next season. The New York Times first reported Anthony’s decision to bypass the chance to become a free agent. A person with knowledge of details confirmed Anthony’s choice and spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
Golf
HARMAN’S 66 GIVES HIM ONE-SHOT LEAD >> Brian Harman shot a 4-under 66 to move to 10-under par and then watched that hold up for the second-round lead in the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Harman finished a stroke ahead of Matt Jones and first round co-leader Zach Johnson, who lost a stroke during his round of 68 when his birdie putt hung on the lip of the cup at the third hole for longer than the maximum allowed 10 seconds before falling in, giving him a par. Defending champion Jordan Spieth had a 73 to drop into a tie for 25th at 4 under. STRICKER LEADS HOMETOWN
CHAMPIONS TOUR EVENT >> Steve Stricker made himself at home at the top of the leader board on a rainy and breezy day at the American Family Insurance Championship in Madison, Wisconsin. The hometown star and tournament host shot an 8-under 64 at University Ridge to take a one-stroke lead over Brad Bryant in the PGA Tour Champions event. LOPEZ STARTS OFF HOT IN LPGA’S ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP >> Former Arkansas star Gaby Lopez shot a career-low 8-under 63 to take the first-round lead in the NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers. Moriya Jutanugarn was a stroke back along with Minjee Lee, Catriona Matthew, Nasa Hataoka, Lizette Salas, Mirim Lee and Aditi Ashok.
College baseball
OREGON STATE STAYS ALIVE >> Oregon State used a fiverun second inning, and the Beavers beat Mississippi State 12-2 in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, to set up a bracket final rematch. Another win over the Bulldogs today would send Oregon State to the best-of-three CWS finals.
ARKANSAS TO FINALS >> Arkansas scored four times in five innings against firstround draft pick Brady Singer, and the Razorbacks earned a spot in the College World Series finals and eliminated the defending champs with a 5-2 win over Florida.
Tennis
DJOKOVIC REACHES GRASS ELITE >> Novak Djokovic became the 10th man to register 800 victories since the Open Era began in 1968 when he beat France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-1 to reach the Queen’s Club semifinals in London. Djokovic follows in the footsteps of Jimmy Connors (1,256), Roger Federer (1,156), Ivan Lendl (1,068), Guillermo Vilas (949), Rafael Nadal (903), John McEnroe (881), Andre Agassi (870), Ilie Nastase (846) and Stefan Edberg (801).
FEDERER TOUGHS OUT WIN >> Roger Federer defeated Matthew Ebden 7-6 (2), 7-5 to reach the semifinals of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany. The defending champion was made to work hard by Ebden, who saved five of the eight break points he faced and led 5-3 in the second set.
MURRAY GIVES IT A GO >> Murray will continue his comeback next week after asking for a wildcard into the pre-Wimbledon Eastbourne International event. The three-time Grand Slam champion returned after nearly a year out with hip problems when he lost at Queen’s Club on Tuesday.
Track and field
YOUNG U.S. SPRINTERS RULE >> Noah Lyles, a 20-year-old from Florida, won a thrilling 100 meters at the U.S. outdoor championships in Des Moines, Iowa,, becoming the youngest titleholder in the event in 34 years. Lyles finished in a world-leading 9.88 second. Ronnie Baker was second. Michael Rodgers, who ran a world-leading time of 9.89 seconds in the first round of the 100 on Thursday, pulled out of the meet for unspecified reasons. LSU’s Aleia Hobbs won the women’s 100 to become the first college winner in the event since 1991. She finished in 10.91.