In Brief

CYCLING

Report: Former Armstrong teammate alleges drug use

Lance Armstrong's attorney lashed out at a report that a former teammate of the seven-time Tour de France champion told investigators Armstrong knew of widespread performance-enhancing drug use on the U.S. Postal Service team.

Attorney Bryan D. Daly said there are hundreds of former Armstrong teammates who would deny he broke the rules to win.

The New York Times reported in Thursday editions that a cyclist, who was identified only as a former Armstrong teammate, backed up claims by Floyd Landis that the Postal Service team engaged in systematic doping with Armstrong's knowledge and approval.

The unidentified cyclist told the newspaper he had spoken with federal investigators looking into cheating in pro cycling.

Armstrong has strongly denied any allegations that he doped.

Daly released a statement Thursday afternoon saying the report contains "inappropriate leaks designed to create a circus-like atmosphere."

FOOTBALL

Ex-Rebels linebacker Bell signs with Omaha of UFL

Former UNLV linebacker Beau Bell said he has signed with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

Bell played one season in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2008.

Also: West Virginia student managers, graduate assistants and other noncoaching staff worked with players on their skills and techniques in violation of NCAA limits during the Rich Rodriguez era and under current coach Bill Stewart, according to NCAA allegations.

The NCAA said this week that there were five major and one secondary rules violations committed by the Mountaineers football program from 2005 to 2009.

The Big Ten Conference chose Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium as the site of its first football title game in 2011.

MISCELLANEOUS

Lakers re-sign guard Brown to two-year, $4.6 million deal

Free-agent guard Shannon Brown is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers for a shot at a third straight championship.

His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Brown agreed to a two-year deal worth $4.6 million. He averaged career highs of 8.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season for the Lakers.

Also: The Phoenix Suns hired Lance Blanks as their general manager.

Blanks spent the past five seasons as Cleveland's vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager. He replaces Steve Kerr, who resigned at the end of June.

Virgin Valley High School girls basketball player Rachel Morris has committed to Utah.

Morris, who will be a senior center next season, chose the Utes over scholarship offers from UNLV and Utah State, her mother, Bernice Morris, said.

Jockey Joe Talamo broke his left wrist after he was unseated when his mount fell in Thursday's third race at Del Mar.

Talamo was aboard 3-year-old gelding Rockstar Ben, who fell after breaking his right foreleg in the one-mile turf race and was euthanized.

Bob Baffert, the trainer of Preakness and Haskell Invitational winner Lookin At Lucky, said the horse came down with a fever this week and won't run in the Travers on Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Michael Phelps won the 100-meter butterfly at the national championships in Irvine, Calif., in 50.65 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.