ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – The Denver Broncos have signed veteran free agent linebacker Keith Brooking.
The 15th-year pro played his last three seasons in Dallas after an outstanding 11-year run in Atlanta, where he was the Falcons’ No. 1 draft pick in 1998.
A five-time Pro Bowler, the 36-year-old Brooking has played in all 16 regular season games for 11 consecutive years, starting all of them in nine of those seasons. But he started just three games last year, when he was supplanted by Sean Lee.
Brooking recorded 34 tackles in 2011, his lowest total since 21 his rookie season after the Falcons made him the 12th overall pick out of Georgia Tech.
LONDON (AP) – American Michael Tinsley had to settle for the silver medal, finishing second to the Dominican Republic’s Felix Sanchez in the 400-meter hurdles. Sanchez reclaimed the Olympic title he won eight years ago in Athens.
The 35-year old pulled away down the stretch to finish in 47.63 seconds. Tinsley finished 28-hundredths of a second back. The bronze medal was won by Javier Culson of Puerto Rico.
TRACK AND FIELD-200 METER QUALIFYING
Ross leads U.S. charge
LONDON (AP) – Sanya Richards-Ross led the qualifying in the opening round of the 200 meter heats. The 400-meter gold medalist turned in a time of 22.48 seconds. Fellow American teammates Carmelita Jeter (JEH’-tur) and Allyson Felix also advanced.
Two-time defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica barely advanced out of the opening round finishing third in her heat in 22.75 seconds
GYMNASTICS-UNEVEN BARS
Mustafina wins, Douglas doesn’t medal
LONDON (AP) – Russian’s Aliya Mustafina won the title on uneven bars, just 18 months after blowing out her knee and putting her chances for London in doubt. Britain’s Beth Tweddle won the bronze medal, after just missing out on it four years ago and briefly considering retirement. The silver went to China’s He Kexin.
All-around gold medalist Gabby Douglas finished last among the eight competitors.
She’ll get another shot at adding to her personal medal count in the individual balance beam on Tuesday.
WOMEN’S BOXING
American clinch medals
LONDON (AP) – Flyweight Marlen Esparza and middleweight Claressa Shields secured at least bronze medals for the United States in the debut of women’s boxing at the Olympics. Esparza outboxed Venezuela’s Karlha Magliocco, and the 17-year-old Shields closed furiously in an 18-14 win over Swedish veteran Anna Laurell.
50 METER RIFLE
U.S. wins bronze
LONDON (AP) – The United States added to its medal count when Matthew Emmons claimed the bronze in the 50-meter rifle three positions at the Olympics. He was in line for the silver medal but was overtaken in the last of the final’s 10 shooting rounds.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
U.S. team goes down
LONDON (AP) – The United States men’s volleyballers are going home without a medal.
Americans Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal were knocked out of the Olympic beach volleyball tournament by Latvia. The Americans won the first set 21-19, then dropped two straight to Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins, 21-18, 15-11.
The other American men’s team, Beijing gold medalists Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, had already been eliminated.
TENNIS-SERENA WILLIAMS
Serena eyes Rio
LONDON (AP) – Serena Williams is making Olympic plans four years out. The women’s gold medalist at the London Games says she wants to defend her title in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The 30-year old says she’s feeling great and plans to compete in the next Olympics, unless and act of God prevents it.
WATER POLO
U.S. swamped by Hungary
LONDON (AP) – Defending champion Hungary rolled to a dominating 11-6 win over the United States in the last preliminary-stage game for the Americans at the London Olympics. The Americans finished play in Group B with two losses to end up even with Hungary with six points.
The U.S. has already qualified to advance in the tournament.
