Sports shorts Source: Tigers to hire Gardenhire

A person with knowledge of the discussions says the Detroit Tigers are in talks to hire Ron Gardenhire as manager.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because no announcement had been made. Gardenhire was the bench coach this season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He managed the Minnesota Twins from 2002-14.

The Tigers are replacing Brad Ausmus after four seasons at the helm. Detroit finished tied for the worst record in the majors this year at 64-98 and faces what figures to be a tough rebuilding process.

Gardenhire is plenty familiar to Tigers fans after his long run managing an AL Central rival. The Twins won the division six times in his first nine seasons in charge, and he was voted AL Manager of the Year in 2010.

Teddy Bridgewater says he “definitely” believes he’ll play for the Minnesota Vikings this season, after returning to practice for the first time in almost 14 months.

Bridgewater spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since the beginning of training camp. He was cleared to rejoin the team Wednesday on the field where he dislocated his left knee and tore multiple ligaments in a noncontact drill less than two weeks before the 2016 season began.

The 24-year-old quarterback said his knee was feeling fine the day after his first practice, though he wasn’t taking any hits. Bridgewater will be brought along slowly, realizing the return to the field this week was only one of many steps toward playing in a game again.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has declined to speak to reporters for the second consecutive day.

Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said Thursday the 2015 league MVP gave no explanation as to why he wouldn’t participate in his weekly news conference prior to Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Drummond was seen speaking to Newton at his locker for several minutes during the team’s open locker room session.

NFL players are subject to fines for not talking to the media.

Newton’s decision comes two weeks after he apologized for comments he said were “extremely degrading and disrespectful to women.” Jourdan Rodrigue, the female reporter from the Charlotte Observer that Newton’s sexist comments were directed at, returned to work this week after taking time off.

When reporters entered the Panthers locker room on Thursday, Newton had the volume so high on a sound system playing music it made it difficult for other players to conduct interviews. He turned the music off after about 15 minutes.