Memphis police change wording

Police backed off calling the death of an Alabama football booster a homicide Wednesday, a day after investigators said he died in a fierce, bloody struggle.

A police statement referred to a continuing “death investigation” and said a ruling from the medical examiner into the cause and manner of death was pending. The statement did not explain the change or whether investigators were considering possibilities other than murder.

Logan Young, who was convicted last year of bribing a high school football coach, was found dead at his Memphis (Tenn.) home Tuesday. No arrests had been made and no suspects had been identified.

•The Seattle Seahawks signed former New York Jets safety Oliver Celestin to a $425,000, one-year contract to address uncertainty in their defensive secondary.

•Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart fired agent Leigh Steinberg less than three weeks before the NFL draft, where he is expected to be among the top three choices.

•New York Giants punter Jeff Feagles will return for a 19th season in 2006.

•New England reached a deal with All-Pro defensive lineman Richard Seymour on a contract extension. No details were released.

•The Chargers and San Francisco 49ers swapped disappointing former first-round draft picks, with San Diego getting wide receiver Rashaun Woods in exchange for cornerback Sammy Davis.

College basketball

Iowa’s Alford wishes to stay

After months of speculation about his future, Iowa men’s coach Steve Alford said he hopes to sign an extension soon.

•Wichita State men’s coach Mark Turgeon’s new 10-year contract extension makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference.

•Miami assistant Billy Kennedy was hired as Murray State’s men’s coach.

•John Calipari will remain the men’s coach at Memphis after agreeing to an extension.

•Kent State men’s coach Jim Christian signed a new seven-year contract.

•Western Kentucky graduate assistant Kristina Covington, once the women’s team’s MVP, was charged with trafficking a controlled substance (marijuana) near a school.

•From Indianapolis, the NCAA Management Council has approved a proposal allowing men’s and women’s teams to compete in one exempt tournament per season, and another that would move up the start of the season.

Lacrosse

Duke group hires Clinton’s lawyer

A small group of boosters and others close to the Duke University men’s team have hired President Clinton’s former lawyer as part of an aggressive public relations effort to argue that the players did not rape a woman at an off-campus party.

Bob Bennett, a former federal prosecutor and Washington attorney who represented Clinton in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case, is serving as a spokesman for the Committee for Fairness to Duke Families.

Miscellany

Biffle’s girlfriend faces rebuke

Nicole Lunders, Greg Biffle’s girlfriend, faces a reprimand from NASCAR about her pit-road confrontation with Kurt Busch’s fiancee after the two drivers wrecked at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday.

•First Samurai was installed as the slight favorite over Bluegrass Cat for Saturday’s $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.