Branch, Vermeil are named football Hall of Fame finalists
Former wide receiver Cliff Branch and ex-coach Dick Vermeil were chosen as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 on Tuesday.
Branch was named the Senior Finalist and Vermeil was tabbed Coach Finalist.
Branch was one of the most dynamic receivers of his era as the speedy deep threat for the Raiders that stretched opposing defenses.
Branch, who died in 2019 at age 71, was a three-time Super Bowl champion and a four-time Pro Bowler with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 197285. He caught 501 passes for 8,685 yards and 67 touchdowns in 183 regular-season games.
Branch also excelled in the postseason with 73 receptions for 1,289 yards and five touchdowns in 22 games.
“He dreamed of this. He wanted this so bad, he
could taste it,” Cliff’s sister, Elaine Anderson, said in a call with Hall of Fame President David Baker on Tuesday. “It was all he talked about — when he would go to the Hall of Fame.”
Vermeil, who turns 85 on Oct. 30, compiled a 120-109 regular-season record and 6-5 in the postseason. The San Jose State graduated won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams in the 1999 season and lost in the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1980.
Vermeil went 54-47 with the Eagles from 1976-82, 22-26 with the Rams from 1997-99 and 44-36 with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001-05.
To be elected to the Hall of Fame, Branch and Vermeil must each receive 80 percent of the vote by the full 49-member Selection Committee when it meets early next year.
NEWTON BACK AFTER COVID TEST MISUNDERSTANDING >> New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick
said he expects Cam Newton to return to the field this week for the second day of joint practices with the Giants after the quarterback missed a second day of practice because of a misunderstanding of COVID-19 testing rules.
Newton is under an NFL-mandated five-day reentry process for unvaccinated players after traveling to a team-approved, out-of-town medical appointment over the weekend.
EX-49ER ROSEN SIGNS ON WITH FALCONS >>
Former Arizona Cardinals first-round pick Josh Rosen, who was cut by the 49ers last week, has signed with the Atlanta Falcons and will compete
to open the season as the backup quarterback.
The 24-year-old Rosen replaces AJ McCarron, who was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick out of UCLA by Arizona in 2018, lasted only one season with the Cardinals. Rosen was traded to Miami, where he started three games in 2019. He was waived by San Francisco on Aug. 17 and also spent time with Tampa Bay, making the Falcons his fifth team in four seasons.
PANTHERS SIGN ANDERSON TO $37.5M EXTENSION >> The Carolina Panthers have agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract extension with wide receiver Robby Anderson, according to a person familiar with the situation. JAGUARS LOSE ETIENNE TO INJURY >> Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Travis Etienne is likely out for the season after injuring his left foot in Monday’s preseason loss at New Orleans.
The team said that Etienne, a first-round draft pick from Clemson, has a Lisfranc injury. He is expected to have surgery as soon as possible.
FOUR BILLS SENT HOME FOR COVID-19 PROTOCOL >> Receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis are among four Buffalo Bills players who must spend at least five days away from the team facility after having close contact with a trainer who tested positive. BROWNS’ MCKINLEY BACK AFTER 3-WEEK ABSENCE >> Browns defensive end Takk McKinley, a former Kennedy High of Richmond star, has returned to the team after leaving training camp last month for
personal reasons.
Coach Kevin Stefanski said McKinley, who signed a one-year free agent contract with Cleveland in March, came back a few days ago.
“He’s doing well, working through it and hopefully we’ll see more of him as we go,” Stefanski said. “He’s in a good place, ready to go.”
Soccer
FIFA, SOCCER BODIES TO GET $200M AS CORRUPTION VICTIMS >> The U.S. Department of Justice declared FIFA and other soccer bodies to be victims of corrupt former officials and said they would get more than $200 million from cash forfeited in a sprawling investigation.
A first amount of $32.2 million will be paid into a “World Football Remission Fund” overseen by the FIFA Foundation charity, federal prosecutors said.
Most of the forfeited money — in a case unsealed in 2015 that led to more than 50 people or corporate entities charged — will now be under FIFA’s control in Zurich though it never belonged to the world soccer body.
The forfeited money was typically linked to bribes and kickbacks from broadcasting and sponsor deals for continental competitions in the Americas and national deals for World Cup qualifying games.
Women’s hockey
KNIGHT SETS WORLD HOCKEY RECORD IN U.S. WIN >> Palo Alto’s Hilary Knight became the all-time scoring leader in women’s world hockey championship history with her 45th goal as the United States beat Russia 6-0 in Calgary, Alberta.
Knight passed former U.S. star Cammi Granato with a goal at 3:17 of the second period. The 32-yearold split two defenders with a cutback to find an open shooting lane for a 2-0 lead.
The goal also moved Knight into a tie with Granato for the U.S. record of 78 points at worlds, and Brianna Decker became the all-time U.S. assists leader (39) with the pass to Knight.
“It’s really a magical moment, and a dream come true,” Knight said. “I hope the next girl looking up is going to shatter that record, because that’s what it’s all about.”
The U.S. (3-0) has started the tournament with three straight shutouts for the third time (2001, 2009). The U.S. looks to extend a 29-game winning streak on Thursday in a Group A showdown against Canada.
Basketball
NCAA RULES J.R. SMITH CAN PLAY GOLF AT N.C. A&T >> The NCAA ruled former twotime NBA champion J.R. Smith eligible to play golf at North Carolina A&T.
The ruling comes a day after Smith officially began classes at the school, located in Greensboro, N.C.
“It was probably one of the most exciting feelings I’ve had in a while,” Smith told The Undefeated on Tuesday. “I really didn’t know how it was going to go . ... But to be able to actually call myself a studentathlete is a great feeling.”
Smith went straight from high school in New Jersey into the NBA draft.
The freshman, who turns 36 next month, joined the A&T golf team as a walkon. Smith, who says he has a 5 handicap, will pursue a liberal studies degree.