Judge: Retirees’ suit vs. NFL can proceed

A lawsuit accusing the NFL’s disability plan of violating its duty to retired players by routinely denying valid injury claims can proceed to trial on most counts, a federal judge in Maryland has ruled.

The lawsuit, filed last year, accuses officials who oversee the program of bad faith and flagrant violations of federal law. U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin said the suit can move forward against the board, but not against Commissioner Roger Goodell or trustees individually, as they were not accused of wrongdoing.

The Lions released Cameron Sutton as authorities continue to search for the defensive back to serve a domestic violence warrant in Florida. The Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office has asked for help in finding Sutton.

College basketball: Duke freshman G Caleb Foster will miss the NCAA Tournament with a right ankle injury. The fourth-seeded Blue Devils (24-8) face No. 13 seed Vermont in a first-round game on Friday. Foster averaged 7.7 points while shooting 40.7% from 3-point range this season.

Golf: Kevin Streelman shot an opening-round 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead at the Valspar Championsip in Palm Harbor, Fla. The 45-year-old has two career PGA Tour wins, his last coming in 2014.

Soccer: Disgraced former Spanish federation boss Luis Rubiales told a judge he will return to Spain to face a judicial probe into the business deal to hold the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Rubiales was in the Dominican Republic when police raided a property belonging to him as well as the federation offices Wednesday in a corruption and money laundering investigation.