Fast Break
NFL
Falcons sign QB Leftwich
The Atlanta Falcons signed former Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich on Tuesday, giving the team immediate depth and a potential contender for the starting job.
Leftwich’s agent, Tom Condon, said the former first-round draft pick passed a physical, worked out for the team and signed a two-year, $7 million deal.
Condon said the 27-year-old Leftwich already was studying film and would join the team for today’s practice.
The Falcons needed help. Joey Harrington, who took over as the starter when Michael Vick was suspended by the NFL, has lost his first two starts with Atlanta and the offense has scored only 10 points.
Harrington’s current backup is Chris Redman, who has not played in an NFL game since 2003.
College basketball
Nelson will miss freshman season
New Mexico freshman point guard Nikki Nelson will undergo knee surgery on Thursday and miss the entire season.
“It’s a real bummer, that’s for sure,” said the 5-foot-5 Nelson, who played for Chewelah High School last season and for the Spokane Stars.
“I’m just going to stay positive and try to be even better when I come back,” she added.
Nelson was playing a pickup basketball game at Johnson Center when she was injured. She landed after a shot and said her knee “just crumbled.”
An MRI revealed tears of the anterior cruciate and medial colateral ligaments and damage to the meniscus of Nelson’s left knee. It will require reconstructive surgery and six to nine months of rehab.
Nelson also played at Mead High School during her junior season.
Guest speaker
‘Rudy’ will visit Gonzaga Prep
The Gonzaga Prep Alumni Association will host an appearance by Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger on Oct. 26.
The son of an oil refinery worker and third of 14 children, Ruettiger took years to achieve his dream – to attend and play football for Notre Dame.
With 27 seconds left, in his last and only football game, Rudy sacked the quarterback as fans cheered RU-DY, RU-DY.
In 1993, his life story became a movie, “Rudy.”
Ruettiger will speak in the G-Prep gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.
For more information or to purchase the $35 tickets, contact the alumni office at Gonzaga Prep at 489-6302 or by e-mail at alums@gprep.com, or visit the Gonzaga Prep Web site, www.gprep.com.