Eagles give Jackson the franchise tag
NFL: The Eagles on Thursday placed the franchise tag on wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
Jackson, a 2008 second-round pick out of California, who led Philadelphia with 961 yards receiving last season, was scheduled to become a free agent on March 13.
Jackson made the Pro Bowl in 2009 and 2010, posting totals of 229 catches, 4,085 yards and 21 touchdowns along the way.
• Report: Hillis told Browns he considered joining CIA: If Peyton Hillis flirted with the idea of ending his professional football career to pursue a job as a secret agent, he never confided in Browns coach Pat Shurmur about it.
Citing unnamed team sources, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Hillis told Browns coaches he was contemplating retirement as recently as the end of last season and even considered joining the CIA. • Dielman retires after concussion: Four-time Pro Bowl guard Kris Dielman has retired from the San Diego Chargers, saying it’s the right thing to do so after he sustained a concussion last season that led the NFL to tell game officials to watch closely for symptoms during games.
• Jury begins deliberations in ex-Bronco’s trial: Jurors in the sexual assault trial of former Denver Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox saw video of him expressing shock that the alleged victim was pregnant and that he was accused of raping her.
Cox is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in his apartment over Labor Day weekend 2010. Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases, and the jury deliberated for about four hours before leaving for the day, after closing arguments concluded early in the afternoon.
Thunder beat Magic behind Durant’s 38
NBA: Kevin Durant scored 38 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, and Russell Westbrook added 29 points and 10 rebounds as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder erased a 14-point deficit to hold on to beat the Orlando Magic 105-102.
The Magic had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but Jason Richardson’s long 3-pointer bounced off the backboard at the buzzer.
• Sacramento releases financing plan for arena: The city of Sacramento has released the financing plan for a new arena, setting the stage for Tuesday night’s City Council vote that will decide whether the Sacramento Kings stay.
The non-binding term sheet announced estimates the final price tag for the arena at $391 million. The city will contribute $255.5 million to the project, mostly by leasing out parking garages around the facility.
Krejci’s hat trick lifts Bruins over Devils
NHL: David Krejci completed his second career hat trick at 2:59 of overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 4-3 victory over visiting New Jersey.
Krejci, who had three goals in his previous 23 games, picked up a loose puck in front of goalie Martin Brodeur and scored his 16th of the season, triggering a cascade of hats onto the ice. Krejci had not scored more than one goal in a game this season.
• Canadiens beat Wild in shootout: David Desharnais scored in regulation and in a shootout as the Montreal Canadiens pulled out a 5-4 win over the visiting Minnesota Wild, despite blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.
• Read, Jagr lead Flyers: Matt Read scored twice and Jaromir Jagr had the go-ahead goal to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 6-3 victory over the visiting New York Islanders.
No deadline for deal on MLB playoffs
Miscellany: Negotiators for baseball players and owners say there is no set deadline for an agreement to expand the playoffs to 10 teams this season, with one extra play-in round.
The sides have said for weeks a deal is likely. When players and owners signed their agreement for a new labor contract in November, the section covering the postseason established a March 1 goal for deciding whether the playoffs would increase by two teams for 2012 or 2013.
• Miller hits 3-pointer to lift Florida State: Iam Miller made a 3-pointer in the final second and No. 22 Florida State rallied from 11 points down in last 4 1/2 minutes to stun No. 24 Virginia 63-60 in men’s basketball at Charlottesville, Va., spoiling a stellar Senior Night for the Cavaliers’ Mike Scott.
Miller scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half, and got just free enough from Sammy Zeglinski in the final seconds to make the shot from deep in the right wing. It was Miller’s fifth 3-pointer and the seventh for the Seminoles.
• Love opens with 64: Davis Love III made a hole-in-one on the 197-yard fifth hole, birdied three straight holes to close out his front nine and tied the course record with a 6-under 64 for the early lead in the Honda Classic golf event at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla..
• Sprinter Rodgers accepts doping ban: U.S. sprint champion Michael Rodgers has accepted a nine-month ban after testing positive for a stimulant.
Rodgers, who tested positive last July, is suspended through April 19 and will be eligible for the Olympic trials and a spot on the U.S. team in London.