Newsmakers

Departed After 10 years, Steve Nicol is out as coach of the New England Revolution. He had been the longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer history. He had a record of 112-108-81, ranking second in league history in games coached with 301 and fourth in wins. Nicol took the Revolution to the Eastern Conference championship game six straight years from 2002-07, winning four of them to advance to the MLS Cup. But the Revs never won the title. And they haven’t made the playoffs in the past two years.

Contested Two University of Montana football players have denied charges filed after Missoula police used a stun gun to subdue them at a weekend party. Cornerback Trumaine Johnson and quarterback Gerald Kemp were arrested after police were called about a noisy party at Johnson’s apartment early Sunday morning, hours after the team returned from a game in Flagstaff, Ariz. Court records say Kemp hit an officer in the chest. Kemp was shot with the stun gun, followed by Johnson when he tried to intervene. School officials have said they will let the case work its way through the courts.

Declined The Phillies have declined the 2012 options for pitchers Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge. Oswalt gets a $2 million buyout instead of $16 million next season. Lidge receives a $1.5 million buyout instead of $12.5 million next year. Oswalt was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 23 starts for the Phillies this past season. Lidge went 0-2 with one save and a 1.40 ERA in 25 appearances for the Phillies in 2011. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team will consider re-signing both players.

Recovering Louisville cornerback Anthony Conner had surgery at Jewish Hospital in Louisville after breaking his neck making a tackle against Rutgers on Friday night. Coach Charlie Strong said the procedure was performed to “stabilize a cervical fracture” and that Conner “continues to maintain good feeling and movement in all his extremities.” Strong said doctors felt Conner might be able to leave the hospital “in the next couple days.”

Injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek is out 4-6 weeks after breaking a finger in his right hand. Michalek sustained the injury in the third period of a 4-1 win over New Jersey on Saturday when he dived to block a slap shot by New Jersey’s Rod Pelley.

• Buffalo Sabres left wing Tyler Ennis will be out indefinitely because of an ankle injury. Ennis was hurt early in the first period of Buffalo’s 3-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday, and coach Lindy Ruff said that Ennis’ status is week-to-week.