Fast Break

NFL

Cutler extends olive branch

Jay Cutler spent his rookie season under the tutelage of Jake Plummer and even took his job. The Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback said Thursday he would like to see Plummer stay with the Broncos next season.

Cutler was given the starting job in November, when the Broncos were 7-4. But Denver ended the season at 9-7 after a 26-23 overtime loss to San Francisco eliminated them from the playoffs.

Cutler said he had spoken with Plummer recently.

“I would love to have him around and have his experience and have him in the locker room,” Cutler said. “He’s a great team guy, but I don’t know if that’s what Jake wants. I don’t know if that’s what the guys upstairs want.”

NFL

Tomlinson’s dad killed in accident

The father of NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson was killed Friday when the pickup truck in which he was riding blew a tire and flipped on a highway east of Waco, Texas.

Oliver Tomlinson was killed at about 1:30 p.m. in the one-vehicle rollover, said Charlie Morgan, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman. Tomlinson was 71.

The driver, Ronald C. McClain, was rushed by ambulance to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition, Morgan said. The 48-year-old McClain is believed to be a relative of Tomlinson’s, Morgan said.

College basketball

Aggies on notice for fan vulgarity

New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus loves the support for his team, but he warned students during a pep rally that continued use of vulgarities could result in having next season’s WAC tournament moved out of Las Cruces.

Aggies fans have used a chant containing a vulgarity the past 12 years after opponents shoot free throws.

New Mexico State has a contract to stage the WAC tournament at the Pan American Center next month and next season, but WAC senior associate commissioner Jeff Hurd said presidents of the nine WAC schools could vote to move the event if the sportsmanship issue persists.

“The issue is the chant,” Hurd said.