Newsmakers

Signed Alabama coach Nick Saban has signed a three-year contract extension, athletic director Mal Moore said. Saban signed an eight-year contract when he joined the Crimson Tide in 2007. The extension takes him through 2017. The extension is subject to approval by the compensation committee of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama System. Saban is about to begin his third season with Alabama against Virginia Tech on Sept. 5 in Atlanta. In two seasons, Saban has led the Crimson Tide to a 19-8 record, including a 12-2 record last season that earned a Southeastern Conference Western Division title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl.

Injured USC receiver Ronald Johnson will be out six to eight weeks after breaking his collarbone during the No. 4 Trojans’ mock game. Johnson was the Trojans’ third-leading receiver last season with 33 catches for 570 yards and eight touchdowns. The junior was expected to start for USC this season alongside Damian Williams.

Retired Former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Marvel Smith has retired from the San Francisco 49ers after being plagued by back problems. Smith missed practice Friday and the team announced his retirement Saturday. Smith won two Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh and made the Pro Bowl in 2004. Smith started 108 regular-season games with Pittsburgh but only played five games last season. He had surgery on his back in November and missed the Super Bowl. Smith signed a two-year deal with San Francisco in the offseason. He was losing his battle for the starting right tackle job to Adam Snyder.

Chosen Tampa Bay’s quarterback battle is over. Byron Leftwich will start the regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris selected the seventh-year pro over Luke McCown, saying Leftwich held an edge going into training camp and retained it with steady – if unspectacular – play through three preseason games. Leftwich is with his third NFL club since being dumped as Jacksonville’s starter two summers ago. Morris had hoped to decide between Leftwich and McCown, a career backup, before the third preseason game. The first-year coach extended the competition after McCown closed the gap with a stronger performance in the second game. Although neither quarterback sparkled in Thursday’s 10-6 loss to Miami, Leftwich did enough to win the job.