nfl
Broncos cut ties with linebacker Joe Mays
ENGLEWOOD – The Denver Broncos are saving $3.5 million with the release of linebacker Joe Mays, who lost his starting job, then broke his left leg last season.
Not long after signing for $12 million over three years, Mays was suspended a game and docked $50,000 for an illegal hit on Houston’s Matt Schaub. He then lost his middle linebacker job after a poor performance by the defense in a loss at New England.
That relegated Mays to special teams, and he was blocking on a punt return Oct. 28 when a Saints player inadvertently leg-whipped him, fracturing his fibula just above his left ankle, ending his season.
Although healthy again, Mays was the odd man out with Nate Irving, Stewart Bradley and Steven Johnson vying for the job this summer.
Olympics
Expect fresh faces at U.S. hockey team’s Olympic camp
The U.S. hockey team’s Olympic orientation camp next month is expected to be full of newcomers.
Winning at the 2014 Winter Olympics is still the goal, but the U.S. is willing to give younger players a chance.
Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens, Jake Gardiner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets will at least get a taste of Olympic life next month, even if they don’t make it to the final roster for the Sochi Games in February
Zach Parise and Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild were those young players in Vancouver in 2010, and now they’re expected to be two of the best players on the team.
Of the group invited, 16 players were born in the 1990s, replacing some veterans who might be phased out as USA Hockey looks toward the future.
The idea, general manager David Poile said, is to reward success of players who have participated internationally, such as Galchenyuk and Anaheim Ducks goaltending prospect John Gibson, who won a bronze medal with the USA at the most recent world championships.
It also means some from the 2010 silver medalists stand a good chance of being left out this time. That includes Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who will be at camp but could need a strong start to the 2013-14 NHL season while competing in a group that includes Jonathan Quick, Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson, Cory Schneider and Gibson.
Poile made it clear the U.S. isn’t trying to make any roster decisions now, and players who weren’t on the list of 48 invited to camp in Arlington, Va., next month still have a chance.
soccer
Barcelona turns to Martino, a dark horse, to coach squad
Barcelona has agreed terms with a relatively unknown Argentine league coach, Gerardo Martino, to follow in the footsteps of two of European football’s most successful coaches.
According to a club statement on Tuesday, Martino will be given a two-year contract. He will replace Tito Vilanova, who in turn succeeded Pep Guardiola.
Vilanova began as Guardiola’s assistant, providing the tactical know-how that helped his then boss forge one of the best teams in the history of the sport – winning 14 of a possible 19 titles from 2008-2012, including two Champions League trophies.
During Vilanova’s single season in charge, he led Barcelona to the Spanish league title with a record-tying 100 points. He stepped down as Barcelona coach last week after a recurrence of throat cancer.
Despite having no experience coaching a European club, the 50-year-old Martino received backing from Barcelona star Lionel Messi before the club’s sporting director traveled to Buenos Aires to negotiate the deal.
Messi spoke glowingly of Martino, better known in Argentina by the nickname “Tata.”
“I like Tata Martino,” Messi said recently. “He is a great coach,” adding that “his teams play well, and we all respect him.”
Associated Press
