Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving will return from a shoulder injury to play on Sunday night against the New Orleans Hornets, the team announced.

Irving has missed the team’s last eight games with an AC sprain of his left shoulder — suffered during a March 10 game against the Raptors — that was expected to sideline him for three-to-four weeks. He will sit out Monday’s game as a precaution as “he takes steps in his recovery,” the team said, according to NBA.com’s David Aldridge and the Associated Press’ Tom Withers.

The Cavs went just 1-7 in his absence and are currently on a seven-game losing streak.

Cavs announce Kyrie Irving (shoulder) cleared to play tonight against Hornets, will be held out of Monday's game as precaution.—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) March 31, 2013

#Cavs say Irving will not play in Atlanta tomorrow night as "he takes steps in his recovery."—
Tom Withers (@twithersAP) March 31, 2013

Irving has been the breakout player of the 2012-13 season, averaging 23.0 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range. The 21-year-old was the first overall pick out of Duke in last year’s NBA draft.

But he has been unable to escape the injury bug, also missing time during the preseason with a broken hand and in November with a broken index finger.

Irving has played 49 games this season after playing 51 as a rookie — missing much of the last month with a similar right shoulder sprain — and just 11 in his lone season at Duke.

With their starting rotation depleted by injuries, the Miami Marlins have opted to move 20-year-old prospect Jose Fernandez onto their Opening Day roster.

Fernandez will start the fifth game of the Marlins’ season — against the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday — just one year after beginning 2012 in Single-A Greensboro.

Young pitchers Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez, a right-hander acquired from the Blue Jays in the offseason mega-deal, will both start the season on the disabled list with shoulder injuries.

Fernandez, a 6-foot-2, 220-pounds righty, was Miami’s first-round draft pick (14th overall) in 2011 — 26 picks before Jackie Bradley Jr., who made the Red Sox’s roster — pitching just 4.1 innings in low-A and the Rookie League that year.

Last season, he posted a 14-1 record, 1.75 ERA, 158 strikeouts and just 35 walks in 134 Single-A innings, earning the No. 5 spot on Baseball America‘s top 100 prospects list.

From the Palm-Beach Post‘s Joe Capozzi:

The roster changes were announced by baseball operations president Larry Beinfest. The team was at Nationals Park this morning for a workout.

The rotation for Week 1 will be Nolasco, Kevin Slowey and Wade LeBlanc in Washington with Sanabia followed by Nolasco and Fernandez in New York. The Marlins are off Tuesday.

The opening day lineup for the Marlins has only one holdover from last year’s Game 1 lineup.

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

LeBron James called out Taj Gibson and other Bulls for their hard fouls against him during the Heat’s streak-ending loss on Wednesday. (David Banks/Getty Images)

The NBA has ruled one of the Bulls’ hard fouls against LeBron James during Wednesday night’s game a flagrant — but not one of the two James called into question during a postgame rant.

The league upgraded a foul by Chicago forward Taj Gibson that occurred with 2:37 remaining in the first quarter from a regular shooting foul to a flagrant foul, according to the Sun Sentinel‘s Ira Winderman.

After the game, a 101-97 Bulls win that ended the Heat’s historic 27-game winning streak, James admitted that he was “frustrated” by the hard fouls against him, saying that they were “not basketball plays.”

He called out Kirk Hinrich on a first-quarter foul and Gibson on a fourth-quarter foul in which he raked James across the neck.

From the Sun Sentinel report on the upgraded Gibson foul:

James made both free throws following the foul. Because there was no flagrant foul called at the time, there was no video review. However, had the flagrant foul been assessed during the game, instead of after the fact, the Heat also would have retained possession following James’ free throws. Instead, the Bulls pushed back to an 11-point lead immediately after James’ foul shots.

The Boston Red Sox’s announced Opening Day roster includes a name few imagined would be there at the start of spring training: Jackie Bradley Jr.

The 22-year-old will start in left field for the team’s 1:05 opener at Yankee Stadium on Monday, the team announced, according to The Boston Globe‘s Pete Abraham.

Bradley Jr. entered spring training as a highly regarded prospect — ranked No. 31 in MLB by Baseball America — but a long shot to make the team. He then made the preseason’s biggest splash by hitting .419 (26 for 62) with two home runs, 12 RBI and 10 walks in 28 games.

Bradley on roster. Mauro Gomez DFA'd. #RedSox—
Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 31, 2013

Bradley will be in left field tomorrow for the #RedSox—
Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) March 31, 2013

A first-round pick (40th overall) in the 2011 draft, the left-handed-hitting University of South Carolina product played just 10 minor-league games in 2011 and began 2012 in Single-A. He was promoted to Double-A for 61 games and hit a combined .315 with nine home runs, 24 stolen bases and a .911 OPS in the minors last season.

Manager John Farrell told Bradley Jr. he’d won the starting job during a Saturday night plane ride, according to CSNNE.com’s Sean McAdam:

Farrell on Bradley's in-flight reaction to news: "At 35,000 feet, he couldn't jump any higher." #RedSoxTalk—
Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) March 31, 2013

Veterans Jacoby Ellsbury and Shane Victorino are expected to start in center and right field, respectively, with Johnny Gomes, Mike Carp and Daniel Nava on the bench.

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is dealing an elbow injury. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is dealing with elbow discomfort and the team is optimistic that he will be available for the season opener, reports the San Jose Mercury News.

Sandoval did take batting practice on Saturday to see how his elbow responded. The Giants open defense of their World Championship Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Yeah, for sure,” Sandoval said, when asked if he anticipated playing on Monday. “I’m feeling better. If I’m allowed to, I’m going to be there.”

Giants manager Bruce Bochy felt confident as well about Sandoval’s availability to play

“It’s going to go down to the wire,” Bochy said. “It won’t be an easy call, but we’re pretty optimistic that he’s going to make it.”

From the Mercury News:

Bochy said the Giants could potentially use Sandoval off the bench for the first two or three games to give him additional rest. The Giants are off Sunday and have another off day on Thursday after three games with the Dodgers.

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has his work cut out for him in the tough SEC West. (Tom Lynn/Getty Images)

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema certainly did his best to fire up the fan base by commenting on Alabama coach Nick Saban’s record when he was coaching Michigan State in the Big Ten.

Bielema, who was hired by the Razorbacks from Wisconsin in December, spoke Wednesday night to the Saline County Razorback Club, who were having their annual fish fry.

He was asked about the challenges of playing in the SEC West and what Bielema said was interesting:

“I came to the SEC for a variety of reasons, but the major one in my mind was to win an SEC championship. You can take Saban’s record when he was at Michigan State and when he was a coach in the Big Ten and put it against mine, and he can’t compare,” Bielema said, according to Hootens.com.

Arkansas plays nine teams this season that made it to a bowl in 2012. Saban’s SEC team, Alabama, on the hand, has dominated college football in the past several seasons, winning two of the past three national championship

The Bills and free-agent quarterback Kevin Kolb are reportedly close to a deal. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Bills could have one heck of a battle to see who earns the starting nod at quarterback this upcoming season.

The Bills and former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb have agreed to a two-year deal worth a maximum of $13 million, according to NFL writer Adam Caplan.

The Bills released starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason, while signing veteran Tarvaris Jackson. The team could also select a quarterback in next month’s NFL Draft.

Kolb spent the past two seasons with Cardinals after being traded from the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent the first four seasons of his career.

Kolb completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,169 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions in an injury-plagued 2012 season. He was released by the team on March 15.

40-year-old Andy Pettitte returned to the Yankees on a one-year, $12-million deal after posting a 2.87 ERA in 2012. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Although many preseason projections have the New York Yankees missing the postseason for the second time in 19 years, veteran starting pitcher Andy Pettitte has other ideas.

“I think we’re going to win our division and I expect us to be in the World Series. Bottom line,” Pettitte said before the team’s final exhibition game on Saturday.

The low expectations — one of out of seven SI.com experts predicted that the Yankees will make the playoffs — come after the roster was decimated by injuries and starters Nick Swisher and Russell Martin left as free agents. Starters Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson and Phil Hughes will all open the season on the disabled list, while closer Mariano Rivera is recovering from a torn ACL and ace CC Sabathia had offseason elbow surgery.

But 40-year-old Pettitte and GM Brian Cashman both expressed optimism and confidence regarding the team’s outlook.

From the ESPN.com report:

“I don’t let my mind go in that direction because I think we’re going to win our division and I expect us to be in the World Series. Bottom line,” Pettitte said Saturday before the Yankees played their final exhibition game against Army at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. “I think we got the pitching and bullpen to do that and I feel like if people think we’re going to be short on scoring runs, we’re going to figure out how to score enough runs to me. To me, I feel great about our club.”

…

Our job is to say, ‘Hey, we might have some guys down but don’t count us out,’” Cashman said. “Our job is to make sure we find a way and I’ve repeated this a few times already, we need to find a way to survive and thrive despite what’s occurred. That’s what good baseball teams do.

“We’re just going to go forward and fight and find a way. That’s what we intend to do. We have a lot of players here that believe in themselves and believe in each other and we know our competition is fierce and tough and hungry. We’ve made a lot of enemies the last 20 years. People want to take advantage if we’re down. Our job is to say we’re not down.”

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

26-year-old Collin Cowgill has started 49 games in two MLB seasons, hitting .255 with two home runs overall. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

The New York Mets cloudy outfield situation became much clearer on Saturday afternoon, when manager Terry Collins named Collin Cowgill the team’s starting centerfielder.

Though Collins was expected to opt for a platoon in center — if not the corner spots, as well — Cowgill won the job outright with a strong spring in which he batted .303. The 26-year-old was acquired in a December trade that sent minor leaguer Jefry Marte to the Oakland Athletics.

Cowgill has started just 49 games in two major-league seasons for the Diamondbacks and A’s. He owns a .255 career average with two home runs and a .631 OPS.

The team was not comfortable with playing 25-year-old Jordany Valdespin — a left-handed hitter who was expected to platoon with the right-handed-hitting Cowgill — full-time because of his defense, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin.

From ESPN New York:

“One of the things we’ve got to make sure we do, that’s cover ourselves defensively,” Collins said. “Be it center field, be it late for Lucas, or whatever it might be, he’s the best outfielder we’ve got, in my opinion. Defensively he can really play center field. So we thought we could take him. Hopefully if he starts swinging, like he did last year, I’m sure he’s going to get a lot of playing time. But he does give us a lot of security.”

Lucas Duda and Marlon Byrd will start in left and right field, respectively, in an outfield that has been been the butt of offseason jokes — even by Mets GM Sandy Alderson.

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

Quarterback Matt Barkley is projected as a second-round pick after throwing 116 touchdown passed during his USC career. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Having already worked out four of the top quarterbacks in this year’s NFL draft class, the Buffalo Bills are turning their attention to USC’s Matt Barkley.

The Bills will hold a private workout for Barkley and former Trojans receiver Robert Woods in Los Angeles on Monday, according to ESPN.com’s James Walker.

Buffalo holds the No. 8 overall pick in the first round, as well as the No. 41 overall pick in the second round — closer to where Barkley is projected to go. The team released starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier this month, but could focus its draft on the defensive side of the ball after allowed 27.2 points per game last season.

Buffalo has held private workouts for West Virginia’s Geno Smith, Florida State’s E.J. Manuel, Oklahoma’s Landry Jones and Tennessee’s Tyler Bray.

But the team could have particular interest in Barkley, who threw for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns during his senior season, given first-year head coach Doug Marrone’s affinity for him.

From CBSSports.com:

After facing Barkley twice over the last two seasons while at Syracuse, Bills first-year coach Doug Marrone raved about the former Trojans’ quarterback’s comfort-level within a pro-style system. In the two wins, Barkley went 49 of 69 (71.0 percent) for 511 yards with 11 touchdowns and only one interception. In a 38-17 win in September of 2011, Barkley checked down to his running backs four times when the Orange eliminated his deep option downfield.

“If he doesn’t like what’s going on when they (take away) the deep vertical threats, he can come right back to the backs,” said Marrone, days before the Orange’s 42-29 loss to the Trojans in September. “That’s one of the things you see with the top guys in the NFL.”

Marrone even indicated that Barkley could have been the first quarterback selected behind Andrew Luck if he entered the Draft last season. If selected by the Bills, Barkley’s experience with a short-passing game and his proficiency in making pre-snap adjustments could help him fit within Marrone’s West Coast offense.

Carson Palmer is set to make $13 million next season after posting an 85.3 quarterback rating in 2012. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Oakland Raiders’ potential trade for Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn could set the NFL quarterback carousel in motion.

If Oakland finds its man in Flynn, the Arizona Cardinals could put together a deal for current Raiders QB Carson Palmer, azcentral.com’s Kent Somers is reporting.

Like the Flynn trade — which the Seattle Times reported on Friday is close to occurring — any trade for Palmer would only be completed if he restructures his contract to take a pay cut from the $13 million he is owed next season, according to Somers.

The Cardinals would only agree to a trade if it costs them late-round draft picks, possibly conditional on how Palmer plays, Somers reports. They could also wait to see if the Raiders release him so they could simply sign him as a free agent.

From Somers’ report:

Palmer could refuse and a proposed trade would be off. That would make sense from Palmer’s perspective. It would force the Raiders to release him and Palmer would then be free to pick his next employer. He probably would prefer a team that appears closer to making the playoffs than the Cardinals.

Palmer, 33, threw 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for the 4-12 Raiders last season. Arizona’s current quarterback crop includes Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley and John Skelton.

Florida Gulf Coast coach Andy Enfield led the Eagles to the first-ever Sweet 16 appearance by a No. 15 seed. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The University of Southern California basketball program,  which fired head coach Kevin O’Neill in January in the midst of a 14-18 season, is targeting Florida Gulf Coast’s Andy Enfield for its head coaching vacancy, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Wetzel.

The coach and school are expected to begin talks this weekend, the report states.

Enfield’s stunning 2013 NCAA tournament run at the helm of the 15th-seeded “Dunk City” Eagles ended on Friday in a 62-50 loss to Florida.

The 43-year-old gained recognition during the tourney for cultivating FGCU’s uptempo style, as well as his business background and model wife.

USC, meanwhile, finished near the bottom of the Pac-12 standings with a 9-9 record. During O’Neill’s three-plus-year tenure, the Trojans never finished better than 10-8 in the conference and made just one tournament appearance (2011).

They fired O’Neill after a 7-10 start this season, naming associate head coach Bob Cantu as interim head coach.

Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins is also considered a candidate for the job, but USC is intrigued by what Enfield offers, according to Wetzel.

While Enfield, a former Florida State and NBA assistant coach has few recruiting ties to the West Coast, USC is intrigued by not only his success and potential, but his preferred uptempo style of play.

FGCU became known as “Dunk City” due to its high-octane system that could play well in Los Angeles. USC competes for basketball fans with not just UCLA and other area colleges but the Lakers and Clippers NBA franchises that play just a few miles from campus in the Staples Center.

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed cornerback Terence Newman to a two-year, $5 million contract, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Newman recorded 52 tackles and two interceptions in his first year as a Bengal. Newman had spent the previous nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before being cut by the team in 2012.

Newman has amassed 542 tackles, 34 interceptions and eight forced fumbles over his ten-year career. His 75 combined tackles with the Bengals last season was four shy of tying a career high.

Newman took to Twitter to announce he was heading back to Cincinnati despite being offered more money by the Oakland Raiders.

After much time and thought, I'm heading back to Cincy. And for those of you who think it was about money, the Raiders offered more.—
terence newman (@terencenewman) March 30, 2013

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Cody Ross will start the regular season on the disabled list with a calf injury, according to manager Kirk Gibson. Ross signed a three-year, $26 million contract with the Diamondbacks in the offseason following a season where he hit .267 with 22 home runs and drove in 81 runs for the Boston Red Sox last season.

After the Diamondbacks signed Ross and had a sudden surplus of outfielders, they traded Justin Upton to the Atlanta Braves as a part of a seven-player blockbuster deal. With Ross beginning the season on the DL, Gerardo Parra and A.J. Pollock will fill the void left in the outfield while Ross tends to his calf injury.

#Dbacks mgr Kirk Gibson confirmed that OF Cody Ross will start the year on the DL.—
Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) March 30, 2013

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

The Baltimore Orioles acquired veteran reliever Scott Proctor from the San Francisco Giants for cash Friday, according to multiple reports. Proctor will report to Triple-A Norfolk following the trade.

Proctor last pitched in the big leagues in 2011 for the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves and pitched in Korea in 2012. The seven-year right-hander has played for the Yankees, Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, posting a 4.78 ERA over 343 innings as a big leaguer.

Scott Proctor traded to Baltimore for cash considerations. He will report to their 3A club in Norfolk.—
Andrew Baggarly (@CSNBaggs) March 29, 2013

The #Orioles get RHP Scott Proctor from #SFGiants for cash.—
Scott Miller (@ScottMCBS) March 30, 2013

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

Tyson Chandler will miss his ninth straight game on Friday night (Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

Tyson Chandler is officially out Friday against the Charlotte Bobcats. Chandler’s neck and shoulder pains still have not subsided, yet Knicks head coach Mike Woodson insisted Chandler will be back before the postseason.

Chandler was listed as “questionable” for Friday’s game and is still considered “day-to-day.” But Amar’e Stoudemire and Rasheed Wallace were also both considered “day-to-day” until they had season-ending surgeries to correct their injuries.

Kenyon Martin will continue to play for Chandler while he recovers.

Mark Teixeira hopes to get his brace off Monday, his latest step towards getting off the disabled list (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has a wrist check up Monday, at which time he’s hoping to remove the protective brace on his injured right wrist.

Teixeira said he’s hoping to be back in action May 1. He’s been keeping active and working everything except his wrist, doing the maximum he can to be ready when he’s off the disabled list. Getting the brace is one of many steps toward that goal.

Brian Cashman said it’s “way too early” to know about Teixeira’s wrist, but he’s working hard in the meantime. From the AP report:

“But I know one thing: He’s busting his tail,” Cashman said. “He’s doing leg stuff, he’s doing all these different stuff, so every aspect of his body other than the wrist can be better.”

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that, per sources, the Cowboys and Tony Romo have reached a six-year extension to make Romo the highest paid player in team history. The deal is worth $108 million, with $55 guaranteed. The Cowboys Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones and Romo’s agents did the deal together.

The Cowboys put all business on hold on Friday to focus on the Romo deal. The QB has gone 17-21 in the past three seasons, and hasn’t led the Cowboys to a playoff game since 2009. He’s also notched only one career playoff win. Still, he’s been a top-ten QB and is coming off career highs in attempts (648) and passing yards (4,903). At 33, the extension will keep Romo with the Cowboys until he’s 39.

Cowboys and Tony Romo reached an agreement on blockbuster 6-year extension that makes him highest paid player in team history, per sources.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 29, 2013

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have to wait until next week to put Jarome Iginla their uniform. (Brad Watson/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins may have to wait until next week to put Jarome Iginla on the ice because of immigration issues, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The Penguins, who have won 14 consecutive games, acquired Iginla from the Calgary Flames on Thursday but he is not permitted to work in the United States because he is a Canadian citizen.

The immigration issue could be delayed until next week because government offices in Canada are closed for Easter on Sunday and also are closed Easter Monday, which is a national holiday in Canada.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

The Penguins would prefer Iginla be able to practice with them once before participating in a game. He has played his entire 16-season career in Calgary, and the Penguins hope to at least briefly introduce him to their system in a non-game environment.

Following Saturday’s game against the Islanders, the Penguins have a scheduled off day on Sunday before practicing again Monday. They host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, which could mark Iginla’s debut.

Buster Posey and the Giants agreed to an eight-year extension worth $167 million. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The San Francisco Giants and catcher Buster Posey agreed to an eight-year extension Friday, with a ninth-year option, citing multiple reports.

Posey was scheduled to make $8 million this season so the total deal is worth $167 million over eight years.

He also receives a $21.4 million club option for 2022 and the contract also contains a no-trade clause.  Posey was under contract through the 2016 season, but this new deal buys out several years of free agency.

Posey, the 2012 National League Most Valuable Player, hit .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBI last season, leading the team to their second world championship in three seasons.

Posey missed the majority of the 2011 season have suffering a leg injury. In four MLB seasons, Posey is batting .314 with 46 home runs and 191 RBI winning the  National League Rookie of the Year award in 2010.

Giants, Buster Posey agree on extension through 2021 season cbsprt.co/YIIMqK via @cbssports—
Eye on Baseball (@EyeOnBaseball) March 29, 2013

Former Lakers star A.C. Green had three championship rings stolen. (Joe Murphy/Getty Images)

Police in a Los Angeles suburb say that former Lakers forward A.C. Green had three of his world championship rings stolen, reports the Daily Breeze, a Torrance, Calif. newspaper. 

The rings are estimated to be worth $25,000 each and were allegedly stolen by workers Green hired to move some belongings into storage.

Green won three championships with the Lakers in 1987, 1988 and 2000 and retired after the 2001 season. Green holds the NBA record for playing in 1,192 consecutive games.

From the Daily Breeze report:

“To him, [they are] priceless,” Palos Verdes Estates police Sgt. Steve Barber told the paper. “They are worth a lot of money, especially to somebody who is a collector. It’s going to be really difficult for somebody to pawn it off.

“We put out our bulletin to all the local agencies to get the word out,” Barber said. “Now with this story, the public will know and we can hopefully get their help. There are plenty of Laker fans in L.A. who wouldn’t want one of the best players who played for them in a long time to lose his rings. “

Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg signed a 10-year extension worth $20 million. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

It looks like “The Mayor” will be in Ames, Iowa for years to come.

Iowa State and men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg agreed to a 10-year deal, worth $20 million that will keep him at the school until the 2023 season, the school announced.

Hoiberg has a career record of 61-39 in three seasons at the school. This season, the Cyclones went 23-12 before they were eliminated by Ohio State in the third round of the NCAA tournament.

From the Iowa State release:

“When I returned to the university three seasons ago, it was a dream come true,” Hoiberg said in a statement. “The progress that we have made so far has been very rewarding, but there is more work ahead. I sincerely appreciate the support that president Leath and Jamie (Pollard) have given me. Ames is my home and Hilton Coliseum has given me countless memories as both a player and coach. I look forward to continue leading a program that Cyclone fans can be proud of.”

Butler coach Brad Stevens will remain at the school, despite being sought after for the UCLA job, reports ESPN.com. 

Stevens led the Bulldogs to two straight national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011 and this season led the team to a 27-9 record before they were eliminated by Marquette in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Stevens has a 166–49 record in six seasons at the school.

“We value him and he’s an extremely important coach and staff member,” Butler athletic director Barry Collier said.

From an ESPN.com report:

He was targeted by major conference schools such as Oregon, Wake Forest and Clemson in 2010, but signed an extension with Butler through the 2021-22 season. He reportedly makes around $1 million per season. Ben Howland, recently fired by UCLA, was making $2.3 million, but UCLA has had an influx of money, thanks to new television deals with the Pac-12 Network, ESPN and Fox.

Love walking thru Hinkle in the morning… Anxious to get started on our spring workouts next week.—
Brad Stevens (@BUCoachStevens) March 29, 2013

The Detroit Tigers and pitcher Justin Verlander agreed Friday on a five-year contract extension through the 2019 season with an option for 2020, the team announced.

ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports the Tigers could pay Verlander $202 million under terms of his new deal including $180 million over next seven seasons, plus vesting option of $22 million.

The deal would make him the highest-paid pitcher in the game, besting Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez‘s seven-year, $175 million deal he signed last month.

Verlander hinted at the new deal with a previous tweet, then followed up with his love for Detroit and a promise to bring another World Series to to the city following the announcement.

The 30-year-old Verlander went 17-8 with a 2.64 ERA last season, finishing second in the Cy Young voting. In 2011, he went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts when he won both the Cy Young and the American League’s Most Valuable Player awards.

Today is going to be a great day. Big news coming!—
Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) March 29, 2013

I love this city & the fans – couldn't be more excited to spend my career here! We're going to bring a World Series to Detroit!!!—
Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) March 29, 2013

[SI's Complete Team-By-Team MLB Season Preview]

Denver guard Ty Lawson has a heel injury and is listed as day-to-day (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson will miss tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets with a plantar fascia tear in right heel, the team announced.

The team says that Lawson suffered the injury March 19 in a 114-104 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, causing him to miss three of the next four games. Further examination on Lawson’s heel Thursday revealed the tear, and he is listed as day-to-day.

Lawson leads Denver in scoring at 16.7 points a game and dishes out a team-leading 6.7 assists per contest for the Nuggets, who are 49-24 this season and have already clinched a playoff berth.

After tonight’s game against the Nets, the Nuggets have the next four days off.  

Former U.S. National player Robbie Rogers announced he was gay on his blog in February. (Pete Norton/Getty Images)

Former MLS and U.S. National team player Robbie Rogers made headlines last month when he announced he was gay and leaving the sport via his blog. Rogers explained to The Guardian Friday why he felt an exit was his only option and hinted that his soccer career might not be over.

“Would I have had the same opportunities when I was younger if I’d come out?” Rogers said in The Guardian. “I don’t think so. There would have been that mentality: ‘Oh, he’s gay … how will that affect the team?’”

Since coming out, Rogers has considered becoming an agent for change in regard to football and sports, but doesn’t want to be a spokesman.

“About a month ago I would’ve thought: ‘I don’t want to be a spokesman for gay footballers,’” he said in the Guardian interview. “I have so many different things I’m interested in. But after thousands of emails, I’m thinking, OK, how can I help others? How can I make some positive change?”

“I’ve heard it recently from coaches. Obviously they’re not homophobic but they’ll say: ‘Don’t pass the ball like a fag,’” he said in the interview. “What are you talking about? Does it make a difference, if you’re gay or straight, as to how you pass the ball? Are you on drugs?’ I guess they say it because they think it’s funny. There’s the stereotype of a gay man being soft and flamboyant.”

According to The Guardian, Rogers’ immediate future will include the fashion industry and possibly a return to soccer:

He flies to New York this weekend and will meet people at Ralph Lauren so they can decide whether he is suited to their new campaign. He has also won himself a place at the London School of Fashion and could begin a three-year course in September. But he might just have enough talent, contacts and nous to concentrate on Halsey – the menswear brand he co-owns in LA. And then, of course, there is football.

“Most days I wake up and I go to my computer and look at my emails and then go onto the football sites. Football will always be part of me. I don’t know if I’m done playing yet. I might ask [the coach] Bruce Arena if I can train with LA Galaxy – we’ll see. I miss it and think about it a lot. But I’m so happy now I don’t want to mess with that. Football was my life and maybe I’ll need to go back … or maybe I’ll just be a fan. But it’s an industry where there are lots of problems – from sketchy agents to homophobic culture.”

The Diamondbacks locked up their first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, signing him to a five-year deal. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt agreed Friday to a five-year deal worth $32 million, reports FoxSports.com.

The deal runs from 2014 through the 2018 season with a club option of $14.5 million in 2018.

Goldschmidt, 25, hit .286 with 20 home runs, 82 RBI, 43 doubles, scored 82 runs and stole 18 bases in 2012, his first full season in the majors. He played in 48 games towards the end of the 2011 season hitting eight home runs in 156 at-bats.

He has been hot during the spring as well hitting .414 with two home runs, 14 RBI and five doubles in 69 plate appearances.

Tony Romo’s contract does not allow the Cowboys to franchise him after the 2013 season. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

As the Cowboys tiptoe the salary cap line while attempting to sign free agents and make room for rookies, the team’s attempt to reach a contract extension with quarterback Tony Romo has been in the background as a cap solution.

The Cowboys reportedly have only about $100,000 in salary cap space available and would be forced to sign Romo or linebacker/defensive end Anthony Spencer to long-term contracts, restructure more contracts or cut more players to free up enough space to sign any player.

Now Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports a detail in Romo’s contract increases the urgency to extend him and strengthens the quarterback’s negotiating leverage. In short: Romo can become a free agent prior to the 2014 season.

According to Rapoport’s sources with indepth-knowledge of the language in Romo’s contract, the Cowboys cannot place the franchise tag on Romo at the end of the league’s 2013 year.

Rapoport reports:

Here’s why Romo would become a free agent: He technically has three years left on his current contract. Based on paragraphs 27 and 28 of the deal, however, the final two years of Romo’s contract void with no action necessary from either party if he’s on the Cowboys’ roster by the end of the 2013 league year. So, if Romo still is on the roster at that time, he’s a free agent.

That’s when a team usually would issue the franchise tag.

Yet all of that occurs after the franchise-tag window has closed. So the Cowboys could not use their tag on Romo.

If the void happened during the franchise-tag window, Romo could be tagged. But it won’t, so he can’t. Not that the Cowboys won’t try if it comes to that, but sources believe it won’t work.

Kwame Harris played for the 49ers from 2003-2007. (Greg Trott/Getty Images)

Former 49ers and Raiders offensive tackle Kwame Harris went on the record about being a homosexual player during his NFL career in an interview with CNN Friday morning.

Harris’s homosexuality became public when he pleaded not guilty to charges of beating an ex-boyfriend in late January.

He told CNN Newsroom keeping his sexuality secret in an NFL locker room was not easy.

USA Today reports:

“You want to escape the despair and turmoil and your mind goes to dark places,” Harris said of keeping his sexuality secret. “I’m happy today, and I’m glad they were just ideas and I didn’t act on any of them.

“The cost was great not speak candidly open about myself in complete manner,” Harris said. “If I could have done it differently, I would have hoped I found the strength [to come out].”

San Francisco wide receiver Chris Culliver was critical of gays playing in the NFL after Harris was outed in January.

“I don’t do the gay guys man,” said Culliver. “I don’t do that. No, we don’t got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can’t be…in the locker room man. Nah.”

The 49ers quickly rejected Culliver’s statements. He later apologized and met with a support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youths.

Harris said Friday he hopes other gay athletes understand they aren’t alone in pro or amateur sports.

“I want people, whether gay athletes, athletes still in the closet, or youths who are not sure what their sexuality is to know those are common feelings,” Harris told CNN. “Don’t feel alone in having them.”

Free agent tight end Fred Davis has decided to return to the Redskins, according to reports.

Davis, 27, has agreed on a one-year deal to remain with the Redskins as first reported by ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

Davis met with the Bills on Thursday. He was left to decide between offers from the Bills and Redskins after cancelling a visit with the Jets.

He was paid $5.446 million in base salary under the Redskins’ franchise tag last season.

The Redskins’ second-round draft pick in 2008 told BuffaloBills.com he’ll be ready to start the season despite having surgery on his Achilles’ tendon just four months ago that usually requires a year of rehabilitation. He caught 24 passes for 325 yards in seven games before sustaining the injury in 2012.

“I’m way ahead of schedule for me. I don’t know what it is for most guys,” he told BuffaloBills.com. “Terrell Suggs had his surgery and he came back in five months and played the last few games. Depending on how bad your Achilles was depends, but for me it’s been maybe four and a half months and I’m running on the treadmill, doing drills, so I’m way ahead of schedule.”

Redskins re-signed TE Fred Davis to a one-year deal.—
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 29, 2013

Mike D’Antoni was critical of the Lakers playing “too much one-on-one” in Thursday’s loss to the Bucks. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Before Kobe Bryant left Milwaukee’s Bradley Center on crutches with a bone spur in his left foot, coach Mike D’Antoni was visibly frustrated with his play during the Lakers’ 113-103 loss to the Bucks Thursday night.

According to Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register:

With Steve Nash and Bryant both moving gingerly after halftime, the Bucks took the lead in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth. D’Antoni was visibly frustrated with Bryant — who despite not moving his feet well was not moving the ball late in the third quarter. D’Antoni responded by calling a pick play with Pau Gasol to encourage Bryant to pass the ball.

D’Antoni conducted his entire postgame news gathering with his arms crossed, dropping more hints about Bryant being a ball-stopper.

Referring to the Lakers having a 13-point lead and then squandering it, D’Antoni said: “Just play the game. We try to go a little bit too much one-on-one.”

Bryant scored 30 points in the game on 6-of-17 field-goal shooting and made 18-of-20 free throws to climb within four points of Wilt Chamberlain for No. 4 on the all-time NBA scoring chart.

D’Antoni and center Dwight Howard previously refused to place blame on Bryant’s ball-handling decisions in Sunday’s loss to the Wizards.

CBS college basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb almost immediately apologized Thursday night after delivering an awkward comment about how he brings a “white man’s perspective” to the CBS set.

After being introduced by host Greg Gumbel, Gottlieb made the awkward comment on the set with four other African-American co-hosts — Gumbel, Kenny Smith, Greg Anthony and Charles Barkley.

“Cream rising to the crop. I don’t know why you guys asked me, I’m just here to bring diversity to the set here. Give the kind of white man’s perspective on things from the point guard position,” Gottlieb said, according to USA Today.

All four co-hosts immediately looked away, and Smith told him he was “swimming upstream.” Later, CBS released a statement from Gottlieb, who remained on air throughout the night.

“It was not a smart thing to say and I apologize,” Gottlieb said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Later, during halftime of the game between Wichita State and La Salle, Barkley addressed Gottlieb’s comment by saying that Gottlieb was just making a joke and blamed “all those idiots” on Twitter for making it seem controversial.

“Listen — me Kenny, Greg Anthony, and Greg Gumbel did not take that personally, so all you people at home who have got no life and who are talking bad about Doug Gottlieb — get a life. It is over with, and it’s no big deal,” Barkley said.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said he’d be OK with a gay teammate. (Brian Babineau/Getty Images)

Amid reports of a gay, active NFL player “strongly considering” coming out publicly, New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski suggested he’d be fine if one of his teammates was gay.

“You’ve got to accept the player. Everyone has their own ways to live their life and as long as he’s respecting me, keeping distance, respecting myself, I’ll respect him back,” he told ESPN Radio New York’s Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on Wednesday.

“If he’s being a great teammate and he’s a guy on the field doing a great job, well then you’ve got nothing to complain about. He’s another teammate and another friend.”

No active NFL player has publicly revealed he is gay, but CBS’ Mike Freeman reported on Monday that one unidentified player “feels the time is now for someone to take this step.”

The report came in a week during which the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on two high-profile cases involving gay marriage, including California’s Proposition 8 law and the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Supreme Court decisions on those cases are scheduled to come by June.

Other NFL players offered vocal support for gay marriage ahead of the cases. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo filed an amicus brief in the Proposition 8 case, and Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita wrote a lengthy New York Times op-ed in support of gay marriage.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers could be close to a monster contract extension. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are closing in on a long-term extension that would make the 2005 first-round pick the highest-paid player in NFL history, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported Thursday. Schefter reported that the deal, which has a good chance of being completed this offseason, could average $25 million per season.

That number would surpass Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who signed a six-year, $120.6 million contract earlier this offseason that made him the highest-paid NFL player.

Midway through his first season as the Packers’ starting quarterback in 2008, Rodgers signed a contract extension that paid him $65 million over seven seasons. Rodgers has two years and $19.75 million remaining on that deal, including base salaries of $9.25 million in 2013 and $10.5 million in 2014.

Since becoming the Packers’ full-time starter in 2008 after three seasons backing up Brett Favre, the 29-year-old Rodgers has blossomed into one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. Under Rodgers’ lead, the Packers won Super Bowl XLV in 2011.

Last season, Rodgers placed in the top five of NFL quarterbacks in almost every important statistical category. He completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,295 yards while putting up a 108.0 quarterback rating. He threw 39 touchdowns to only eight interceptions.

UCLA is interested in Butler’s Brad Stevens for its vacant head-coaching position. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

UCLA is targeting Butler head coach Brad Stevens as its top choice for its vacant head coaching position, according to a report from ESPN’s Andy Katz and Peter Yoon.

Citing sources familiar with UCLA’s search, Katz and Yoon reported that UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero prefers to hire a college coach to replace Ben Howland, who the school fired earlier this week.

Stevens, as he has always done with coaching rumors, would not comment to ESPN about the speculation.

“I’m the coach at Butler,” Stevens wrote to ESPN in a text message. “As you know, my stance is to not comment on any other speculation or situation.”

The 36-year-old Stevens has been Butler’s head coach since 2007, where he has built the program into a perennial contender. He led the team to back-to-back national championship appearances in 2010 and 2011. The Bulldogs were eliminated from the 2013 tournament last weekend with a close, 74-72 loss to Marquette.

Speculation of major-conference coaching gigs has followed Stevens since he guided the Bulldogs to their first national championship appearance in 2010. In the past, he has been mentioned for openings at Oregon, Wake Forest, Illinois and Clemson, among others, but he signed an extension after the 2010 season to remain at Butler through the 2021-22 season. He professes that he doesn’t have a desire to leave his home state, and Butler is set to become a major-conference school itself next year when it joins the Big East.

On Wednesday, SI.com’s Pete Thamel reported that another of UCLA’s top targets, VCU coach Shaka Smart, turned down the school and agreed to a lengthy contract extension with the Rams.