Raiders star files helmet grievance

Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown has reportedly filed a grievance with the NFL over a league rule that prevents him from wearing his 10-year-old helmet.

ESPN reported Brown had a two-hour conference call with an independent arbitrator to state his case for why he should be able to use a helmet that is no longer certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. League and union representatives were also on the call and ESPN reported a ruling could come as early as next week.

Brown has not participated in a full practice for the Raiders after starting training camp on the nonfootball injury list with injuries to his feet that reportedly came from frostbite suffered while getting cryotherapy treatment in France. Brown was cleared to practice July 28 and participated in part of two sessions but hasn’t been around the team the past few days.

MLB

BRUCE BACK ON SHELF >> Phillies outfielder Jay Bruce has been put on the injured list, only one day after he returned following a threeweek absence for a different injury. Bruce is out this time with a strained left flexor. The Phillies made the move before a game at San Francisco.

Bruce started and played in left field during Aug. 8’s 5-0 loss to the Giants. The 32-year-old made a handful of plays but injured his hip making a throw back to the infield in the third inning. Bruce remained in the game and went 0 for 3. CRUZ RUPTURESWRIST TENDON>> Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a ruptured tendon in his left wrist, but the team is optimistic about his eventual return.

Cruz was injured on a swing Aug. 8 in a 7-5 loss to Cleveland that cut Minnesota’s American League Central lead to a single game. Tests revealed a rupture of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon, but Cruz reported feeling no pain in the wrist when he arrived at Target Field on Aug. 9.

“I can grab the bat,” Cruz said. “It feels good. Monday, I’m going to go to New York and see a specialist. We’ve got to go from there. But it looks as if it’ll be good in 10 days.” DAVIS, O’S MANAGER CLEAR AIR >> Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said he reached a “breaking point” when he charged at Manager Brandon Hyde in the dugout Aug. 7, and expressed his regret during a lengthy conversation with Hyde.

The flare-up occurred in the fifth inning of Baltimore’s 14-2 loss to the Yankees. Hyde walked over to Davis and said something that the first baseman clearly didn’t like, and Davis attempted to charge at the manager before being restrained by teammate Mark Trumbo and hitting coach Don Long.

“It happened. Brandon and I have talked,” Davis said, hours before the lastplace Orioles hosted the Astros. “I knew right after it happened we were going to be fine, and we are.”

Tennis

SERENA ADVANCES AT ROGERS CUP >> Serena Williams advanced to the Rogers Cup semifinals, beating soon-to-be-top-ranked Naomi Osaka of Japan, 6-3, 6-4.

Playing her first event since losing the Wimbledon final, Williams faced Osaka for the first time since losing to her last year in the U.S. Open final.

“I knewher game a little bit more, so that’s a little easier. I’m just overall a little bit better,” Williams said. “I know her game. I watch her a lot. I know what I need to do to hopefully try to get a win today, and it helped a little bit. I go into every match thinking I can do it, but sometimes that doesn’t happen.” NADAL ADVANCES IN MONTREAL >> Top-seeded Rafael Nadal rallied to reach the Rogers Cup semifinals, beating No. 7 Fabio Fognini of Italy, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The winner last year in Toronto for his fourth title in the event, Nadal won his 380th ATP Masters 1000 match, a day after breaking a tie with Roger Federer for the tour record. Nadal has 82 singles victories, winning the French Open in June for his second title of the year.