NFL
Broncos grab Koppen to help cope with linemen injuries
ENGLEWOOD – The Denver Broncos signed free-agent center Dan Koppen, bringing the 11-year veteran back after J.D. Walton had offseason surgery on his left ankle.
Koppen signed with the Broncos last October and started 12 regular season games after Walton first hurt his ankle. Walton was expected back this season but needed more surgery.
The Broncos have injury issues on their offensive line, with guard Chris Kuper (ankle) and tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder) still recovering from surgery.
Suit: Patriots’ Hernandez shot man in face in Fla. club
MIAMI – New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, already connected to a homicide victim in Massachusetts, is being sued in South Florida by a man claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after they argued at a strip club.
The lawsuit filed late Wednesday by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley comes as police in New England investigate the death of 27-year-old semi-pro player Odin Lloyd. Lloyd’s body was found in an industrial park near Hernandez’s home in North Attleborough, Mass. Lloyd’s family has said he had some connection to Hernandez but would not elaborate.
In his federal lawsuit seeking at least $100,000 in damages, Bradley claims he and Hernandez were with a group in February at Tootsie’s club in Miami when the two got into an argument. Later, as they were driving to Palm Beach County, Bradley claims Hernandez shot him with a handgun, causing him to lose his right eye.
Bradley, who is from Connecticut, also suffers from jaw pain, headaches, permanent injury to his right hand and arm and probably will need further surgery, according to the lawsuit. He already has undergone facial reconstruction surgery and has plates and screws in his face.
College Athletics
Athletes could get paid a different way: With a lawsuit
OAKLAND, Calif. – Lawyers for former student athletes are seeking to turn their lawsuit against the NCAA over compensation into a class action representing thousands of collegiate competitors.
A federal judge was scheduled to hear arguments in Oakland Thursday afternoon. If the lawsuit is turned into class action and the athletes prevail, the NCAA could face billions of dollars in liability.
The lawsuit initially was filed by UCLAbasketball player Ed O’Bannon and several other former college athletes in 2009 who feel the NCAA unfairly is profiting from their likenesses and images in marketing deals with video games and others.
The NCAA argues many of the athletes receive scholarships in exchange for playing sports.
Auto Racing
Formula One in-season tire testing gets its day in court
PARIS – The hearing to determine whether Mercedes and Pirelli broke Formula One rules by holding in-season tire tests has opened in Paris.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) convened the international tribunal hearing to determine whether Mercedes gained an advantage from the testing session in Barcelona last month.
Soccer
Spainish team feels robbed in Confederations Cup
RIO DE JANEIRO – Players for World Cup champion Spain say money was stolen from their hotel rooms while they were in Recife for a Confederations Cup game against Uruguay. Soccer’s governing body said Thursday police are investigating.
Six Spanish players, including Gerard Pique, reported that items, including money, had been taken from their rooms, according to the Spanish newspaper Marca and the EFE news agency.
Security long has been a major problem in Brazil, where knife- and gun-point muggings, carjackings and armed robberies are facts of daily life.
Associated Press
