CHAMP BAILEY WON’T PLAY AGAINST BALTIMORE
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – Champ Bailey won’t play in the Denver Broncos’ opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night because of a sprained left foot.
The 15th-year pro was ruled out Wednesday. He hasn’t practiced since getting hurt in a preseason game at Seattle on Aug. 17. Denver will start Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in Bailey’s place alongside right cornerback Chris Harris with Tony Carter getting work at nickel. Although Bailey was beaten twice by Ravens receiver Torrey Smith in the playoffs, his absence for the “NFL Kickoff” may prove less critical because Joe Flacco is without his top two targets from last season in Anquan Boldin (trade) and Dennis Pitta (hip).
Bailey plans to play against the New York Giants in Week 2.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…
NEW YORK (AP) – – Eighth-seed Richard Gasquet (ree-SHARD’ gas-KAY’) has moved into a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in six years with a 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 win over fourth-seed David Ferrer (dah-VEED’ feh-REHR’) at the US Open. Flavia Pennetta (FLAH’-vee-uh pehn-EHT’-uh) topped 10th-seed and fellow Italian Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-1 in the women’s quarterfinals.
ATLANTA (AP) – Andrew Brown’s two-run, first-inning homer got the Mets off on the right foot and they went on to beat Atlanta 5-2 this afternoon. Dillon Gee protected the early lead, allowing a run on four hits in seven innings.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – First-year Buffalo coach Doug Marrone has named rookie EJ Manuel as his starting quarterback for the season opener against New England on Sunday. Manuel was named despite being sidelined since Aug. 18 when he underwent what the team has termed a “minor procedure” on his left knee.
CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago Blackhawks have come to terms on a five-year contract extension with defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson (JAL’-mahr-suhn). He helped the Blackhawks win their second Stanley Cup in four years last season, recording five assists and a plus-10 plus/minus rating in 23 playoff games.
UNDATED (AP) – Fred Couples has named Webb Simpson and 20-year old Jordan Spieth (SPEETH) as captain’s picks for the US Presidents Cup team. Spieth started his rookie year as a pro without status on any tour this year, but won the John Deere Classic in July as a 19-year old and lost in a playoff last month in the Wyndham Championship.
