Receiver Chris Henry is back with the Cincinnati Bengals, signing a two-year deal yesterday with the team that let him go after he was arrested for the fifth time. Coach Marvin Lewis said owner Mike Brown wanted to give Henry yet another chance.
The change of heart came with the Bengals' top two receivers idled by injury. Chad Johnson sprained his left shoulder Sunday, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh has missed both exhibition games with a hamstring injury.
Henry, who got no offers to sign with another team, will be suspended for the regular season's first four games.
Peyton Manning attended his first practice with the Colts since he had knee surgery five weeks ago, appearing to walk without much problem but not taking part in actual drills.
Steelers safety Troy Polamalu participated in a full practice for the first time this preseason. The hard-hitting four-time Pro Bowler was placed on the physically unable to perform list on the first day of training camp with a hamstring injury.
Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who signed a $70 million, seven-year deal after being acquired in a trade from Atlanta in the offseason, has ligament damage in his right hand and may have to wear a protective cast.
Receiver Joe Horn, 36, was released by the Atlanta Falcons after the team couldn't trade him.
A day after he returned to the practice field, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is again dealing with a balky back. He left a morning session early and didn't take part in the afternoon drills.
The Titans waived veteran punter Josh Miller.
The Patriots released 13-year veteran tight end Marcus Pollard, who played his first 10 seasons with Indianapolis, and signed rookie tight end Tyson DeVree.
Bills starting quarterback Trent Edwards sustained a deep bruise to his right thigh during practice, and it's unclear when he'll return to practice.
Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin asked to be traded, declaring he has no relationship with coach Ken Whisenhunt.
NASCAR
NASCAR will wait until today before issuing penalties against Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide Series teams, which were caught trying to cheat during a postrace test last weekend.
Auto Club Speedway in Fontana will host a race in the Chase for the Championship in October 2009 in a three-way swap of dates announced yesterday. Atlanta will get Fontana's current Labor Day weekend date and Talladega (Ala.) will host a Chase race on Nov. 1.
Travis Geisler replaced Chris Carrier as crew chief for rookie Sam Hornish Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series.
Texaco Havoline is ending Sprint Cup sponsorship, leaving former open-wheel star Juan Pablo Montoya without a sponsor for 2009.
TENNIS
Rafael Nadal was seeded No. 1 for the U.S. Open, marking the first time since January 2004 that a man other than Roger Federer has been awarded that spot at a Grand Slam. Ana Ivanovic is the No. 1 seed on the women's side. The draw will be announced tomorrow, but it won't include 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt. He withdrew after undergoing hip surgery.
Abigail Spears, a former Valley Center resident, won an opening-round match in the qualifying phase of the U.S. Open, defeating Karolina Sprem of Croatia 6-4, 6-4. Alexandra Stevenson of San Diego is to play an opening qualifying match today against Chin-Wei Chan of Chinese Taipei.
Amelie Mauresmo continued her slow struggle back to form with a 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2 victory over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in a first-round match at the Pilot Pen tournament, an Open tune-up in New Haven, Conn. In the men's draw, second-seeded Ivo Karlovic defeated American John Isner 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4 in a second-round match.
GOLF
Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe was the lone San Diegan to advance to the match play portion of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst, N.C. Lovemark shot a 1-under-par 69 in yesterday's second round of stroke play to finish tied for 33rd at 3-over 143. The low 64 scorers, including Josh Anderson (143) and Rickie Fowler (144) of Murrieta, will begin match play today. Robbie Fillmore of Provo, Utah, was the medalist at 6-under 134.
WNBA
Australian national team and WNBA star Lauren Jackson will undergo surgery on a nagging right ankle injury after the Olympics and likely miss the rest of the WNBA season with the Seattle Storm.
The Detroit Shock signed six-time WNBA All-Star Taj McWilliams-Franklin to a one-year contract extension and free-agent Ashley Shields to a seven-day contract.
DEATHS
John Challis, the 18-year-old who inspired professional players with his battle against cancer, died at his parents' suburban Pittsburgh home yesterday. Challis made national headlines when he threw out the first pitch at a Pirates game in June, leaving his home team a motivational message on their message board. “Have fun,” he wrote to the Pirates. “It's the reason we play ball.”
Parker Buckley, an exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen, has died after suffering a head injury in a riding accident Monday at Saratoga (N.Y.) Race Course. He had been placed in a medically induced coma and was taken off life support yesterday after his family arrived.
– FROM NEWS SERVICES
