In brief: M’s sign Ackley at deadline

The Seattle Mariners went right to the 9 p.m. PDT deadline Monday before announcing they had agreed to a deal with Dustin Ackley, the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft.

Ackley, an outfielder/first baseman from North Carolina, has agreed to a five-year contract worth a reported $9.5 million.

Ackley was a three-time All-American at North Carolina.

Ackley, 21, played primarily first base after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2008, but also played outfield.

As a junior last spring, Ackley hit .417 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs in 66 games. He was named the ACC Player of the Year and was a consensus first-team All-American.

Seattle Times

Saints cut ex-Coug David

NFL: The New Orleans Saints cut former Washington State standout Jason David on Monday, letting go of a former starting cornerback who made his share of big plays, but gave up even more.

David arrived in New Orleans as a high-profile, restricted free agent in 2007, when the Saints signed him to a four-year deal worth $15.6 million.

In his first game for the Saints, he returned a fumble for a touchdown, but also gave up touchdown passes of 27, 28 and 45 yards against his former team, the Indianapolis Colts.

The move will save money for the Saints, as David was set to earn $2.4 million this season.

David, 27, spent his first three NFL seasons with Indianapolis, leaving shortly after the Colts’ Super Bowl title.

Associated Press

Gray now sixth on PRCA list

Rodeo: Ryan Gray scored 87 points on Loganberry to win the Farm-City Rodeo in Hermiston, Ore., last weekend. The check for $5,864 boosted the Cheney bareback rider to $75,915 on the season and into sixth place in the PRCA standings.

Though he is close to wrapping up a trip to his fifth straight National Finals Rodeo, Gray, 26, has his work cut out for him if he hopes to capture his first championship. Clint Cannon broke the single-season earnings record of Gray’s traveling partner, Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., from 2007. With six weeks left in the season, Cannon, of Waller, Texas, has $154,192. He has earned money at 11 straight rodeos and so far this season he has competed at 97 rodeos without receiving a no-score for a foul or getting bucked off.

“I’m riding at the top of my game right now,” Cannon told ProRodeo News. “I’m very competitive and enjoying riding right now. The record means a lot. I’m excited to be at this level. Bobby Mote is one of best bareback riders ever to walk the face of the earth. I’m in awe every time I see him ride, the way he gets in rhythm and the way he spurs. I want to be recognized in that same way.”

Dave Trimmer