IN BRIEF

NFL

Chiefs hire Pendergast to shore up defense

Clancy Pendergast, the defensive coordinator for Arizona's run to last season's Super Bowl, was hired as defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.

Pendergast joins Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, who was the Cardinals' offensive coordinator in 2008.

Kansas City finished 2-14 last season, the worst record in franchise history.

In other team news, the Chiefs agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Corey Mays. He played in 32 games, including one start, during two seasons with New England and Cincinnati.

And Chiefs cornerback David Macklin was arrested in Newport News, Va.,on a drunken-driving charge, Virginia State Police said.

Also: The St. Louis Rams released veteran wide receiver Torry Holt.

The move came three days after the Rams released 33-year-old offensive tackle Orlando Pace. Releasing Pace and the 32-year-old Holt creates $14 million in salary cap space for the Rams.

The Baltimore Ravens are expected to release former Pro Bowl cornerback Samari Rolle in the next few days, his agent, Peter Schaffer, said.

Rolle had asked Baltimore to grant his release, figuring his playing time would decrease after the team signed free agent Domonique Foxworth.

Former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin will give a deposition next week in Alameda, Calif., in his grievance against the team.

Kiffin was fired in September for cause after what owner Al Davis described as acts of insubordination and lying. Kiffin filed a grievance and is seeking two months' pay for the time he was unemployed before being hired at the University of Tennessee.

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini added another player he coached in New York, signing former Jets linebacker Eric Barton.

The Browns also signed former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Floyd Womack.

Tennessee signed restricted free-agent cornerback Jarrett Bush to an offer sheet, giving the Green Bay Packers seven days to match the contract or allow him to go to the Titans.

A Houston judge dismissed DWI and possession of marijuana charges against Reggie Williams, a free-agent wide receiver who previously played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

No reasons were given for the dismissals on the Harris County Web site. Both charges were Class B misdemeanors and carried maximum sentences of six months in jail.

BASKETBALL

Grizzlies guard Jaric cleared in assault case

Philadelphia prosecutors declined to file sexual assault charges against Memphis Grizzlies guard Marko Jaric, saying that the accusations against him "lack prosecutorial merit."

"I'm glad everything is over," Jaric said before the Grizzlies' game against the Celtics. "I'm glad all the facts are (out)."

Jaric's attorney, Bruce L. Castor Jr., said he was notified that his client was being investigated in connection with an incident involving an unidentified woman in Philadelphia on Feb. 11, when the Grizzlies were in town to play the 76ers.

Also: New Jersey Nets forward Eduardo Najera will miss the rest of the season after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.

GOLF

Jones, Day share lead in Puerto Rico Open

Matt Jones shot 30 on the back nine and finished with an 8-under-par 64 to match the course record of 10-under 134, giving him a share of the 36-hole lead with fellow Australian Jason Day in the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.

Also: Joey Sindelar posted an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over two-time winner Tom Purtzer after the first round of the AT&T Champions Classic in Santa Clarita, Calif.

American Jeff Gove shot a 9-under 63 for a share of the New Zealand Open lead with Australia's Jason Norris. Both players are at 10-under 134 after two rounds in the Queenstown tournament.

LOCAL COLLEGES

UNLV baseball drops series opener vs. Aztecs

The UNLV baseball team lost 4-3 at San Diego State in the opener of a three-game Mountain West Conference series, nearly overcoming a 14-strikeout performance by Aztecs starter Stephen Strasburg.

The loss snapped the Rebels' eight-game winning streak.

Anthony Morel hit a two-out RBI single to pull UNLV (11-4, 0-1) within one in the ninth inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, then Bryan Resnick was hit by a pitch before Ryan Thornton lined to shortstop to end the game.

Strasburg (4-0) allowed six hits and left after seven innings with a 4-2 lead. Rebels starter Jeff Urlaub (2-1) gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings.

Also: The UNLV softball team swept two games in the National Invitational Tournament in San Jose, Calif., beating Canisius 8-2 in the first game and Sacramento State 7-3 in the second.

Pitcher Stephanie Bregante tied a school record with 15 strikeouts in the opener for the Rebels (18-8), and Elena Fata had two RBIs in the second game.

Kristina Nedeltcheva won at No. 1 singles and teamed with Katy Williams to help the UNLV women's tennis team pick up a point in doubles, but the Rebels (7-6) fell to Virginia Commonwealth 4-3 at the Fertitta Tennis Complex.

The 13th-ranked College of Southern Nevada softball team (19-8, 16-6) was swept 2-0 and 8-0 by No. 27 College of Southern Idaho (22-10-2, 15-5) in a Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Mandy Tapia (6-4) suffered the loss in the opener despite taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning. She gave up one earned run on two hits.

The 16th-ranked CSN baseball team beat Colorado Northwestern Community College (6-18, 2-8) 10-0 and 11-5 in a SWAC doubleheader in Rangely, Colo.

Gabe Weidenaar (3-1) pitched six solid innings to win the first game. In the second, the Coyotes (15-11, 7-3) broke a 5-5 tie with a six-run ninth inning.

MISCELLANEOUS

NHL awards show moving to Las Vegas

The NHL is moving its annual awards show from Toronto to Las Vegas.

As part of a three-year deal with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, this year's show will be June 18 at the Palms.

"Las Vegas specializes in shining the spotlight on outstanding performers," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It's innate energy offers an exciting setting for our celebration of excellence."

Also: New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather posted $1 million bail for former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington, two days after Pocklington pleaded not guilty to bankruptcy fraud charges in Riverside, Calif. His trial is scheduled for May.

Colorado Avalanche forward Cody McCormick was suspended two games without pay for high-sticking in a game against Minnesota.

McCormick was assessed a double minor for high-sticking Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck in the Avs' 2-1 shootout victory Thursday.

Mike Bellotti is stepping down as Oregon's football coach to become the school's athletic director, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will be promoted to head coach.

Bob Tasca led Funny Car qualifying in the ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., powering his Ford Mustang to a 4.124-second run at 296.76 mph.

Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their divisions in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Newport Beach, Calif., prosecutors charged a Costa Mesa man with vehicular manslaughter in the death of a mixed martial arts promoter who was killed Wednesday when his red Ferrari was sheared in half in a collision.

Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, also was charged with gross negligence and one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury for the crash that claimed the life of 45-year-old Charles David Lewis Jr., who was known as "Mask" and founded the clothing line TapouT.

Lucian Bute (24-0) retained his IBF super middleweight title, stopping Fulgencio Zuniga (22-4-1) in the fourth round in Montreal.