NFL appeals Watson's suspension

The NFL is seeking an indefinite suspension of at least one year plus a fine in appealing a disciplinary officer’s decision to suspend Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, a person familiar with the filing told The Associated Press.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter isn’t public knowledge, also said Watson would be required to undergo treatment before he could be reinstated. The league initially recommended an $8 million fine and asked during settlement negotiations for at least a $5 million fine plus a 12-game suspension that never materialized, another person involved in the talks told the AP.

The NFL’S appeal gives Commissioner Roger Goodell or someone he designates authority to impose a stiffer penalty. League spokesman Brian Mccarthy said it’s still to be determined whether Goodell or someone else will hear the appeal.

Former federal judge Sue L. Robinson issued her ruling Monday after Watson was accused by two dozen women in Texas of sexual misconduct during massage treatments while he played for the Houston Texans.

• The Cowboys and four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr (UCLA) agreed to a oneyear deal. The 32-year-old Barr was a first-round pick by Minnesota in 2014 and has played his entire eight-year career with the Vikings. He was a Pro Bowler every year from 2015-18 and had a career-high three interceptions along with 2 ½ sacks and 72 tackles last season.

• Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu reported for training camp and participated in practice drills in his No. 32 jersey oafter initially being excused for what the team described as a personal matter.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL UCLA lands Italy's Canka

UCLA has added 6-foot-7 Abramo Canka of Italy to its basketball roster for the upcoming season.

Canka signed a grant-in-aid and will enroll as a freshman this fall, the school said.

The NCAA cleared Canka to join UCLA after he recently played with Lokomotiv Kuban, a professional team in Russia. He averaged 10.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in the Russian Superleague. The guard-forward has also played on Italy’s national team at various age levels.

Canka joins an incoming freshman class of guards Dylan Andrews, Amari Bailey and Jack Seidler and forwards Adem Bona and Evan Manjikian.

• Uconn star Paige Bueckers tore the ACL in her left knee during a pickup game and will miss the entire 2022-23 season, the school announced. Uconn said in a statement that Bueckers suffered the injury Monday and underwent an MRI that evening. It did not say where the junior guard was playing when the injury occurred.

GOLF Players sue PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson, Bryson Dechambeau and a group of players who defected to Saudifunded LIV Golf filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, the first step in a legal fight that could define the rules of where players can compete.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the filing in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

The complaint also includes an application for a temporary restraining order by Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones to compete in the Fedex Cup playoffs.

Six players who have competed in LIV Golf events are among the top 125 in the Fedex Cup standings and would be eligible for the start of the PGA Tour’s postseason that starts next week.

BITS & PIECES England-u.s. women's soccer matchup sells out

England’s women’s soccer team is continuing to generate unprecedented fan interest following its European Championship victory, with its planned game against the United States at Wembley Stadium in October selling out in less than a day.

The game pitting the European champion against the reigning world champion will be played Oct. 7, subject to England having secured World Cup qualification in September.

• Top-seeded and seventhranked Jessica Pegula is out of the Citi Open after getting upset in straight sets by Australian Daria Saville in Washington. Pegula, the defending champion of the tournament that serves as a hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open, lost 7-5, 6-4, with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

• Kurt Busch will miss his third consecutive race with concussion-like symptoms when he sits out Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. Ty Gibbs will replace him in the Toyota for 23XI Racing for his third drive in the No. 45.

• Indycar fined Andretti Autosport $25,000 because the team used a water bottle to make weight in the car Alexander Rossi drove to end his 49race losing streak.