NFL/Broncos
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – The Denver Broncos have released veteran long-snapper Lonie Paxton in their first round of roster cuts.
Former coach Josh McDaniels brought Paxton with him to Denver from New England in 2009, signing him to a five-year, $5.53 million deal that called for him to make $875,000 this season and $885,000 next year. The 13-year pro was supplanted by rookie Aaron Brewer, a 6-foot-5 undrafted free agent from San Diego State. The Broncos also waived wide receivers Mark Dell and Cameron Kenney, tight end Anthony Miller, running back Xavier Omon, fullback Austin Sylvester, tackle Mike Remmers, guard Austin Wuebbels, linebacker Eliot Coffey, defensive end Cyril Obiozor, safety Anthony Perkins and cornerback Ramzee Robinson.
MLB/Rockies
DENVER (AP) – Jeff Francis and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the Colorado Rockies beat Los Angeles 10-0 Monday night to spoil the Dodgers debut of Josh Beckett. Beckett (0-1) was acquired in a nine-player megadeal deal with the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. His career in Los Angeles got off to an inauspicious start as he gave up a leadoff homer to Tyler Colvin on his second pitch, a 91-mph fastball that Colvin hit into the second deck. The righty allowed three runs over 5 2-3 innings as the Dodgers fell 2 1/2 games behind idle San Francisco in the NL West. Francis (5-4) scattered three hits in five innings and struck out a season-high six batters. Josh Roenicke, Rex Brothers and Matt Belisle (BEHL’-eye-ul) closed out the game. Belisle pitched 1 2-3 innings to earn his second save this season.
Elsewhere in sports…
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting on wide receiver Mike Wallace. He is holding out for a bigger contract. Wallace has already refused a one-year, $2.7 million tender which was made before camp started. Over the past two seasons, Wallace has had 2,450 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.
METAIRIE, La. (AP) – Tropical Storm Isaac has caused the New Orleans Saints to change their practice and travel plans. After allowing players to skip practice to evacuate their families, the Saints moved to Cincinnati where they will practice today in preparation for Thursday’s game at Tennessee.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – It’s expensive for college athletic departments to buy out a coach’s contract. Take the University of Tennessee where officials acknowledge athletics posted a $3.98 million deficit for the 2011-12 fiscal year, after bringing in $106.5 million in revenues. The Vols bought out the contracts of athletic director Mike Hamilton, football coach Phillip Fulmer, men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl and baseball coach Todd Raleigh.
NEW YORK (AP) – Today is the second day of play at the U.S. Open. Both second-seeded players have a match as women’s No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska (ahg-nee-ESH’-kuh rahd-VAHN’-skuh) faces a Russian opponent, while men’s No. 2 Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) plays an Italian. The Williams sisters are in action as well, fourth-seed Serena goes against fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe (VAN’-duh-way) while unseeded Venus Williams is playing fellow American Bethanie Mattek (MAT’-ihk)-Sands.
NEW YORK (AP) – In case you missed the first-day results from the U.S. Open, there were no major upsets. Among the winners were Roger Federer, defending women’s champion Samantha Stosur (STOH’-sur), women’s top seed Victoria Azarenka (as-ah-REHN’-kuh) and No. 3 Maria Sharapova (shah-rah-POH’-vah) were among Monday’s winners at the U.S. Open. Olympic gold medalist and men’s third seed Andy Murray opened with a win as well.
