IN BRIEF
FOOTBALL
NFLPA, retired players settle for $26 million
The NFL Players Association reached a $26 million settlement Thursday with retired players who had successfully sued the union for cutting them out of lucrative marketing deals.
Retired player Bob Grant described the deal as an "encouraging" step for the NFLPA to begin healing its rift with former players.
The settlement is $2.1 million less than what the NFLPA was ordered to pay after a federal jury ruled in favor of the players. The jury determined the union failed to include retired NFL players in deals with Electronic Arts Inc., the maker of the "Madden NFL" video game, and other companies.
Also: Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini isn't afraid of a quarterback controversy, and he's in no hurry to name a starter.
With next week's mandatory minicamp concluding the offseason workouts, Mangini is content to go through training camp and at least part of the exhibition season before choosing between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.
"I want to go through the whole process, evaluate each phase, see it against other opponents," Mangini said. "It'll be pretty clear as to who should have the spot."
The San Francisco 49ers signed left tackle Joe Staley to a six-year contract extension, securing their durable young lineman through 2017.
Staley, a first-round pick in 2007 from Central Michigan, has played every offensive snap in his first two seasons with San Francisco.
Running back Patrick Pass is returning to New England. The team has signed a contract with Pass, who won three Super Bowls in seven seasons with the Patriots from 2000 to 2006.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice after he limped off the field following a collision with running back Willie Parker.
Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson has picked ESPN football broadcaster Chris Berman to introduce him at the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in August.
Wilson said he and Berman have been friends for many years and noted that, "Chris really embodies the Bills fans."
The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran safety Marlon McCree, bringing him back to where he began his career.
Jacksonville drafted McCree in the seventh round in 2001 and waived him in 2003.
The Arizona Cardinals have signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson to a new five-year contract that runs through the 2013 season.
Wilson is the hard-hitting leader of the Cardinals' defense and was a Pro Bowl selection in the 2006 and 2008 seasons.
BASKETBALL
Bosh has no intention of signing extension
Chris Bosh doesn't plan to sign a contract extension with the Toronto Raptors this summer and is preparing to become a free agent at the end of next season.
Bosh is in the final year of a deal that will pay him $15.7 million. While Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo has spoken optimistically about signing Bosh to an extension this summer, Bosh said that isn't his intention. He said leaving his status up in the air could help himself and the Raptors, who missed the playoffs this season with a 33-49 record.
Also: Dwyane Wade has sued a former business partner for $100 million, claiming the man maligned his reputation by making false allegations of illegal drug and steroid use in an e-mail to Miami Heat president Pat Riley.
Wade's lawsuit accuses Richard von Houtman of libel and slander. It also contends that von Houtman, who frequently uses the title "Baron," falsely poses as being of royal German descent because of his "own grandiose vision of himself."
Olympic teammates Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer will reunite to take part in a Basketball without Borders camp in September in South Africa.
The NBA and FIBA announced that China's Yao Ming will lead a camp in his home country. The other camp will be in Mexico City and include forward Eduardo Najera of the New Jersey Nets
Hornets reserve guard Devin Brown has exercised his option in his contract to return to New Orleans next season.
MOTOR SPORTS
NASCAR will begin double-file restarts
In a midseason attempt to add excitement to Sprint Cup racing, NASCAR has moved to double-file restarts beginning with Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
The first- and second-place drivers will line up side-by-side as the green flag drops for each restart. The former restart procedure had lap-down cars on the inside and the lead-lap cars on the outside for the restarts.
Also: Rod Fuller of Las Vegas will compete today in his first NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series race of the season when he drives the Top Fuel dragster owned by Rob Vandergriff. The series will be racing in the Route 66 Nationals in Joliet, Ill.
MISCELLANEOUS
Avalanche act quick, hire coach from AHL
The Colorado Avalanche hired Joe Sacco of the American Hockey League as their coach, a day after firing Tony Granato and shaking up their front office.
Sacco inherits a team coming off its worst finish since moving to Denver in 1995. He was promoted from the Avs' AHL affiliate, where he coached the Lake Erie Monsters the past two seasons.
Also: Boston Bruins forward David Krejci's hip surgery was a success, and he will need four to six months to recover. Krejci led the NHL with a plus-minus rating of plus-37.
Mark Roth, ranked No. 5 among the 50 greatest PBA bowlers, suffered a stroke Sunday that has left him partially paralyzed. Roth, 58, who owns 34 PBA Tour titles and two Senior Tour titles, was inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame on May 1.
Five-time PBA Tour titlist Harry Sullins, trying to win his first Senior Tour title, moved into the lead after the first round of match play in the PBA Senior U.S. Open at the Suncoast Bowling Center.
After bowling 35 games the past four days, Sullins led with a 7,931 pinfall and a 6-2 match-play record.
Defending Senior U.S. Open champion Wayne Webb of Sacramento, Calif., is second, 159 pins behind. Webb, a PBA Hall of Famer and 20-time national PBA Tour titlist, has a 7,772 pinfall and 6-2 match-play record.
