IN BRIEF

PRO FOOTBALL

Steelers' Harrison to sit Monday after appeal denied

The NFL denied James Harrison's appeal of a one-game suspension Friday for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy, and the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker will sit out Monday night's game at the San Francisco 49ers.

Harrison did not address the media but responded on his Twitter page: "17 games, 1000+ snaps, 100+ tackles, 12+sacks and 2 forces fumbles since my last incident and I get a suspension for a football play!"

The ruling was made by NFL-NFLPA on-field appeals officer Ted Cottrell after a review of the hit that drew the original suspension Tuesday. McCoy, who returned during the Steelers' win over the Browns on Dec. 8, suffered a concussion.

The NFL cited Harrison's history of flagrant hits -- this was his fifth on a quarterback -- in making him the first player suspended under stricter guidelines for player safety that were invoked midway through last season.

Also: Browns quarterback Colt McCoy is still experiencing headaches from his concussion and was sent home for the fourth time this week to rest. He was seen driving away from the team's facility in his truck and will not accompany the team to Arizona for Sunday's game. Seneca Wallace will make his first start of the season.

In other Browns news, tight end Benjamin Watson was placed on injured reserve, ending his season after he sustained his third concussion since July in the loss at Pittsburgh. He was Cleveland's leading receiver last season and had 37 catches for 410 yards and two touchdowns this year.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will start for the Tennessee Titans against the host Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, barring any setback. Hasselbeck practiced fully Friday despite an injured left calf.

Houston receiver Andre Johnson will miss his second straight game with a strained left hamstring Sunday when the Texans host Carolina.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Wisconsin-Whitewater wins third straight D-III title

Levell Coppage scored on a 1-yard run, and Wisconsin-Whitewater shut down Mount Union until the closing minutes to win its third consecutive Division III national championship, 13-10 in Salem, Va., in the seventh consecutive title game meeting between the schools.

The victory was the 45th in a row for the Warhawks (15-0), who haven't lost since Mount Union beat them in the 2008 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The Purple Raiders finished 14-1.

Coppage, the most outstanding player of the past two title games, wasn't nearly as dominant in this one, but he cashed in on his most important opportunity after the Warhawks forced a fumble and recovered at the Mount Union 1. Coppage scored on the next play, making the score 10-0 with 4:02 left in the third quarter. It was his seventh TD in the last three title games.

Also: Mars Hill (N.C.) College running back Jonas Randolph won the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II's top player, two days after celebrating the birth of his son. Hill received the award on the eve of the national championship game after leading all NCAA divisions with a 197-yard rushing average.

Iowa State announced a 10-year, $20 million contract with Paul Rhoads, hoping to keep the promising young coach with the school for years to come. The Cyclones, 18-19 under Rhoads, are playing in the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers on Dec. 30, the school's second postseason trip in three years.

Analyst Craig James has been granted time away from ESPN while he considers running for the U.S. Senate in Texas. James, 50, appears on weekly game broadcasts for ESPN. He was embroiled in Texas Tech's decision to fire popular coach Mike Leach in 2009 over allegations that Leach mistreated James' son, a Red Raiders player, after he sustained a concussion.

BASKETBALL

Wife of Lakers' Bryant seeks divorce after 10 years

Kobe Bryant's wife, who stood by her husband when he was charged with sexual assault in 2003, filed for divorce from the Los Angeles Lakers star, citing irreconcilable differences after a decade of marriage.

Vanessa Bryant signed the papers Dec. 1. Kobe Bryant signed his response Dec. 7, and it was filed Friday in Orange, Calif., according to the documents. "The Bryants have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012," according to a statement from a representative for the couple.

In the filing, Vanessa Bryant asked for joint legal and physical custody of the couple's two daughters, Natalia, 8, and Gianna, 5. Kobe Bryant asked for the same in his response. Vanessa Bryant also requested spousal support.

Vanessa Bryant appeared at a news conference with her husband when he was charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman who worked at the exclusive Lodge & Spa at Cordillera near Vail, Colo., in 2003. She held his hand and stroked it tenderly as the NBA star admitted he was guilty of adultery -- but nothing else. Earlier she had issued her own statement to the media, vowing to stand by her husband.

A year later, prosecutors dropped the criminal charge against Kobe Bryant because the woman did not want to go ahead with a trial.

Also: Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat agreed on a contract extension, ending any speculation that team president Pat Riley's protege would be a lame-duck coach this season. Terms weren't announced.

Spoelstra, 41, is beginning his fourth season as coach and 17th with the team overall.

Francisco Cruz scored 14 points to lead Wyoming past Division II Sioux Falls (S.D.) 62-54 at Laramie, Wyo. The Cowboys (11-1) have won nine in a row for the first time since 2002-03.

MISCELLANEOUS

UFC heavyweight Lesnar faces hunting charges

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has been accused by Canadian wildlife officials of shooting a mule deer buck in southern Alberta but keeping only the trophy head. Lesnar and his hunting guide are facing three charges related to leaving meat to rot, improper tagging and illegal possession of wildlife.

Lesnar wasn't present during Thursday's hearing at Medicine Hat provincial court. According to court documents, he has yet to submit to the jurisdiction to be arraigned and has only been represented by a legal agent.

After 14 months away from mixed martial arts while he recovered from a lower intestinal ailment, Lesnar will return to the octagon Dec. 30 against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 at the MGM Grand Garden. Lesnar is the UFC's biggest pay-per-view draw, largely thanks to his fame from his former career with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Also: American Lexi Thompson made a birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 2-under-par 70 and a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 16-year-old Thompson is at 10-under 206, with Sweden's Sophie Gustafson second.

Lee Westwood followed his career-best 12-under 60 with a 64 to take an 11-stroke lead after two rounds of the Thailand Golf Championship in Bangkok. He is at 20-under 124.

Las Vegan Drew Scott sank a short putt on the second sudden-death hole to win the Nevada Open golf tournament at CasaBlanca Golf Course in Mesquite. Scott, who won $10,000, and Daniel Summerhayes of Farmington, Utah, each shot 203 after 54 holes.

Anthony Galea, a Canadian sports doctor sought out by superstar athletes for help in healing from injuries, avoided prison for bringing unapproved and mislabeled drugs into the United States for house calls. Galea, whose patients included Tiger Woods, was sentenced to time served in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y. The sentence amounted to one day, that of Galea's arrest.