ENGLEWOOD (AP) – Britton Colquitt spent close to an hour with his wife and their 1-year-old son in one of the corporate tents at the Denver Broncos headquarters following practice Monday. The NFL’s new highest-paid punter swears he wasn’t being a snob. He just didn’t realize he was keeping a throng of media members waiting for him at the podium. It’s not every day that punters get this kind of attention – or make this kind of money. Colquitt became the league’s highest-paid punter when he signed his three-year, $11.7 million extension upon arriving to work Monday. The deal included a $3 million signing bonus that, when added to this year’s $1.275 million salary, also makes him the NFL’s highest-compensated punter in 2013.
HOUSTON (AP) – Yu Darvish was nearly perfect, taking a no-hit bid into the eighth inning and striking out a career-high 15 to lead the Texas Rangers over Houston 2-1 for their eighth straight win. Darvish dominated the Astros until Carlos Corporan homered with one out in the eighth inning for Houston’s only hit in his eight innings of work.
TORONTO (AP) – Alberto Callaspo (ky-AS’-poh) hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the ninth inning to spark Oakland to a 5-1 win over Toronto. The Athletics had lost six of seven before arriving in Toronto, but took three of four from the last-place Blue Jays.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – The Tampa Bay Rays have bolstered their bullpen, claiming durable lefty Wesley Wright off waivers from the Houston Astros and he’s expected to be in uniform for the Rays’ home game against Seattle Tuesday night. Tampa Bay is in the thick of the races for the AL East and the wild-card spots.
CHICAGO (AP) – The Cincinnati Reds have reinstated outfielder Ryan Ludwick from the 60-day disabled list before tonight’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Ludwick has been out since opening day when he tore cartilage in his right shoulder. He had surgery and couldn’t swing a bat for three months.
LONDON (AP) – The Olympic leadership is upset with Russia for implementing anti-gay legislation ahead of next year’s Winter Games. IOC executive board member C.K. Wu says there must be no restrictions on athletes in Sochi (SOH’-chee) next year and that Russia must respect the human rights of athletes as outlined in the Olympic charter.
