Brown practices with the Patriots

Patriots receiver Antonio Brown practiced with the team for the first time Sept. 11, a day after his former trainer filed a civil lawsuit in Florida accusing him of sexually assaulting her on three occasions.

Before the practice session, coach Bill Belichick declined to answer numerous questions about Brown, including his status for the Sept. 14 game at Miami. He deferred to the Patriots’ statement late Sept. 10 in which they said they were aware of the lawsuit and “take these allegations very seriously.”

NBA

CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTERFEIT RINGS SEIZED AT L.A. AIRPORT >> Twentyeight counterfeit NBA championship rings have been seized by federal authorities at Los Angeles International Airport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Sept. 11 that the rings were in a wooden box shipped from China with a final destination in Arizona.

Investigators suspect the intent was to sell the phony rings as a collection.

Inspectors confirmed the rings were fake and in violation of trademarks for the NBA and several teams including the Lakers, Warriors and Spurs.

No arrests were immediately announced.

Officials say if the rings were real, the collection could be worth more than $550,000.

Olympics

SOUTH KOREA WANTS IOC TO BAN ‘RISING SUN’ FLAG AT TOKOY OLYMPICS >> South Korea has formally asked the International Olympic Committee to ban the Japanese “rising sun” flag at next year’s Tokyo Games, calling it a symbol of Japan’s brutal wartime past and comparing it with the Nazi swastika.

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Sept. 11 said it sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach expressing “deep disappointment and concern” over Japanese plans to allow the flag in stadiums and other facilities during the 2020 Olympics.

PGA

MCILROY WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR >> Rory McIlroy is the PGA Tour player of the year, and even he was a little surprised.

In a vote of the players, who presumably gave as much weight to the whole season as the four biggest weeks, McIlroy won the Jack Nicklaus Award over Brooks Koepka.

It was the third time McIlroy won the award, and the first time without having won a major.

Koepka, who won the PGA of America’s player of the year based on points, was seen as the favorite for the tour’s award.