Broncos make Kleine top-ranked female in NFL
The Denver Broncos hired former Vikings scouting executive Kelly Kleine as executive director of football operations and special adviser to the general manager.
That makes Kleine the highest-ranking woman in football operations at an NFL club. Additionally, she’s believed to be the highestranking female scouting executive in league history.
Kleine, who worked with Broncos first-year GM George Paton for nine years in Minnesota, will have scouting duties and manage several departments.
The Broncos said Kleine will “be involved in all aspects of the Broncos’ personnel department, including player evaluation, NFL Draft/free agency preparations and day-to-day football administration.”
Paton called Kleine “a rising star in the NFL.”
“Having worked with her for nine years in Minnesota, Kelly has a strong understanding of all aspects of football operations and player evaluation along with outstanding leadership qualities,” Paton said. “She will be a tremendous resource with her experience on the pro and college sides as well as her knowledge of our grading scale and football calendar.”
A native of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Kleine began her NFL career as a public relations intern with the Vikings in 2012 and was a scouting administration intern the following year.
• The 49ers signed freeagent wide receiver Marqise Lee to a one-year contract.
The former USC star hasn’t played since the 2019 season after spending five seasons with the Jaguars. He played in just six games in 2019, recording three catches for 18 yards for the Jaguars before another knee injury cut short that season.
Lee opted out of the 2020 season after signing a oneyear deal with New England last year. The Patriots cut him in March.
Lee has 174 receptions for 2,184 yards and eight TDs in 59 games (30 starts) for the Jags. He played a full 16 games just once, in 2016. Lee missed the entire 2018 season after tearing his ACL in a preseason game.
• The Patriots are signing free-agent offensive lineman Alex Redmond. He played in 32 games (24 starts) for the
Former Vikings executive Kelly Kleine was hired by the Broncos as their executive director of football operations and special advisor to the general manager on Monday.
Bengals over the last four seasons. He’s played in just 12 games over the past two seasons, however.
• Former Washington Football Team defensive end Ryan Kerrigan agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the NFC East rival Eagles. Kerrigan, who is Washington’s all-time sacks leader with 95.5, played in 156 games (141 starts) in 10 years for the franchise.
U.S. withholding $3M from WADA
The U.S. is holding on to nearly $3 million earmarked for the World Anti-Doping Agency, with plans to pay only if it sees “real progress and a path for more substantial future reforms” out of the global drug-fighting organization.
The White House drugcontrol office delivered an updated report to Congress on Monday in advance of WADA meetings scheduled for later this week.
The report comes some 11 months after the U.S. first threatened to withhold its 2021 payment to WADA, which normally would have been delivered in the first quarter of the year. The $2.93 million accounts for about 7.3% of WADA’s $40 million budget.
The U.S. has complained that it isn’t well represented in the agency — though it has picked up spots on some advisory panels, it has no seat on the 14-member executive committee that shapes most policies — and has been critical of WADA’s handling of the Russian doping scandal
that upended international sports since before the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Santa Clara claims NCAA women’s title
Izzy D’Aquila made her attempt and Santa Clara claimed the NCAA Women’s College Cup title on a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Florida State.
Two of Florida State’s penalty attempts hit the post, opening the door for 11thseeded Santa Clara, who last won a national title in 2001.
Jenna Nighswonger scored for top-seeded Florida State in the 63rd minute but Kelsey Turnbow tied it with a goal for Santa Clara in the 84th. The Broncos prevailed 4-1 on penalties.
Hoosiers reloading, add Carr, others
The Indiana Hoosiers are beefing up their roster with more veteran help.
Defensive lineman Jaren Handy has joined the program after playing 14 games with Auburn over the past two seasons, Indiana coach Tom Allen said. On Sunday, former USC running back Stephen Carr tweeted that he would be joining the Hoosiers next season.
Both were considered top 100 recruits coming out of high school and both could make an immediate impact — just like the other five transfers Allen has attracted since the end of last season, Indiana’s best in decades.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound
Handy recorded 10 tackles and one sack last season. He is the cousin of star Indiana receiver Ty Fryfogle.
Carr arrived at USC with an impressive resume and big expectations. But a plantar fascia injury derailed his freshman season. His career never really got back on track because of additional injuries and a revolving door of running backs coaches.
He leaves the Trojans after rushing 264 times for 1,319 yards and 12 touchdowns. Carr also caught 57 passes for 421 yards and one TD.
Voice of NBA, Albert set to call it a career
From Michael Jordan soaring through the air to Willis Reed simply walking onto the court, Marv Albert supplied the sound that went with the sights.
Albert has called numerous sports during a Hall of Fame career that spans nearly 60 years, though he is mostly linked to basketball.
“There is no voice more closely associated with NBA basketball than Marv Albert’s,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.
Albert plans to retire after calling the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals, ending a career that began on the radio in 1963.
Albert will call the series for TNT. He has been with Turner for 22 years, 19 as an NBA play-by-play announcer.
“My 55 years of broadcasting the NBA has just flown by and I’ve been fortunate to work with so many wonderful and talented people,” Albert said. “Now, I’ll have the opportunity to hone my gardening skills and work on my ballroom dancing.”
Albert, known for his signature “Yes!” call, turns 80 next month. He has covered everything from football and boxing to hockey, baseball and tennis.
But his voice is known to most through basketball, having called 13 NBA Finals and 25 All-Star Games for NBC and Turner, along with the Dream Team’s romp to the gold medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Canucks’ Virtanen accused of assault
Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen has been accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel room.
The suit alleges Virtanen took the woman to a hotel in West Vancouver in September 2017 and assaulted her as she repeatedly said no and pleaded with him to stop.
On May 1, the Canucks placed the 24-year-old Canadian player on leave, saying the team “does not accept sexual misconduct of any kind and the claims as reported are being treated very seriously.”
• Three-time major winner Vijay Singh has pulled out of this week’s PGA Championship due to a back injury. Organizers said Wyndham Clark would take his place in the field.
• Russian swimmer Kliment Kolesnikov improved his own world record in the 50-meter backstroke. The 20-year-old Kolesnikov touched in 23.93 seconds during the semifinals of the European Championship. That was 0.07 quicker than his previous mark set three years ago.
• Colgate football coach Dan Hunt is leaving to “address personal issues” following an unspecified “violation of university policy not involving students.” Associate head coach Stan Dakosty will serve as interim coach for the 2021 season.
• Soon after Tyson Fury announced his four-belt heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua for Aug. 14 in Saudi Arabia, an arbitrator ruled that Fury must fight Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout no later than Sept. 15.