BRADY AGAIN OUT, BUT EXPECTS TO PLAY
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told New England fans not to worry about his left shoulder injury, even though it has kept him out of the team’s first two practices this week.
Brady did not participate in practice Wednesday, according to the team’s injury report, although he was spotted on the field during the portion that was open to reporters. Brady was absent from the open portion of practice Tuesday and reportedly received an MRI on his nonthrowing shoulder.
Asked about the procedure, Brady said he would be on the field for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets with first place in the AFC East on the line.
“I’ll be there Sunday. Don’t worry about that,” Brady said. “I’ll be there.”
The 40-year-old Brady leads the NFL with 1,702 passing yards. He has thrown for 11 touchdowns with one interception and another pick-6 that was officially ruled a fumble.
He has also been sacked 16 times, more than in all 12 games he played in last year.
“It’s a physical sport, so I think everyone is dealing with something,” Brady said. “Everyone’s running around and they’re big and they’re fast and they hit hard. You have bumps and bruises, but you just deal with them the best you can and try to get ready for the next week.”
Also missing practice on Wednesday were tight end Rob Gronkowski (thigh), defensive back Eric Rowe (groin) and offensive lineman Nate Solder (not injury-related).
• Rookie DeShone Kizer has been replaced as Cleveland’s quarterback by backup Kevin Hogan, who will be the 28th different starter for the Browns since 1999.
Kizer leads the league with nine interceptions — four inside the red zone.
James may miss season opener.
CLEVELAND» LeBron James won’t play again in the preseason because of a sprained left ankle and his status for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season opener is in question.
James aggravated his ankle while making his exhibition debut Tuesday night against Chicago. The Cavs open the regular season Tuesday against the Boston Celtics and former Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving.
Former Sec. of State to lead study.
The NCAA said it will form a commission to study the inner workings of college basketball in response a federal investigation into bribery and fraud that rocked the sport and implicated several assistant coaches.
The NCAA said former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will lead the committee.
NCAA president Mark Emmert said the NCAA needs to quickly make “substantive changes” in the way it operates. He said the changes will focus on the relationships between the NCAA, schools, athletes and coaches with outside entities like shoe companies, agents and financial managers. He said the committee will also examine the effects of the socalled “one and done” rule that prompts players on a pro track to play in college for one season, as well as college basketball’s broad relationship with the NBA.
Footnotes.
Former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Ben Hawkins died on Monday, the team said. He was 73. A third-round pick of the Eagles in 1966, Hawkins spent eight of his nine NFL seasons in Philadelphia. He is tied for ninth in team history in receiving TDs (32), 10th in receiving yards (4,764) and 19th in receptions (261). … Auburn has hired a law firm to review allegations that a part-time academic staffer took an online test for a football player. ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reported that a mentor took the final exam for a player from the 2015 team. … Tara VanDerveer has signed a three-year contract extension that takes the Hall of Fame Stanford women’s basketball coach through the 2019-20 season. This will be her 39th season as a head coach and 32nd at Stanford.