Newsmakers

Donated Coroner’s officials say Junior Seau’s family donated some of his brain tissue for research amid questions about whether damage from his football career contributed to his decision to commit suicide. Sarah Gordon of the San Diego County medical examiner’s office said Thursday that the preserved tissue held by the office was recently released to the National Institutes of Health for study.

Defrauded Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote claims he is the victim of a scheme to defraud him out of more than $400,000. In a lawsuit Foote’s lawyer says was filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, Foote claims he was duped when he invested money with two defendants associated with a Dearborn Heights valet service.

Defended FIFA President Sepp Blatter defended his role in a World Cup kickbacks scandal, after his former boss Joao Havelange was formally identified for taking millions of dollars in payments from marketing deals. FIFA published a Swiss prosecutor’s report on Wednesday confirming that Havelange accepted kickbacks in the 1990s during Blatter’s 17-year stint serving him as FIFA’s top administrator.

Selected The Cleveland Browns selected former Baylor wide receiver Josh Gordon in the second round of the NFL’s supplemental draft. Gordon’s selection, the only pick on the day, fills a need for the Browns, who must forfeit their second-round pick in the 2013 draft.

Signed Arizona State linebacker Brandon Magee signed a contract to play for the Boston Red Sox, but will play for the Sun Devils during the 2012 football season. Magee is entering his fifth season with the football team and was a three-year letterman as on outfielder with the baseball team. He was selected last month in the 23rd round of this year’s baseball draft by the Red Sox.

Investigated Former Tour de France rider Remy Di Gregorio and another suspect were placed under preliminary investigation in connection with a doping investigation when they appeared in Marseille court, a judicial officer said.

Denied The Italian doctor accused of helping riders on Lance Armstrong’s winning Tour de France teams take performance-enhancing drugs, Dr. Michele Ferrari, denies the charges that resulted in his ban from sports.