In brief: Griffin top dog say Redskins

Football: Robert Griffin III already has the No. 1 quarterback job with the Washington Redskins.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Sunday that the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor will work with the starters when the Redskins begin full offseason practices later this month.

Said Shanahan: “He’s the starter. Period.”

Griffin completed a three-day rookie camp Sunday, a little over a week after he was selected second overall by the Redskins in the NFL draft.

Associated Press

Seau family may reconsider

Football: Junior Seau’s family is revisiting its decision to donate the former NFL linebacker’s brain for research into football-related injuries.

Chargers chaplain Shawn Mitchell said Sunday that the family, which is of Samoan descent, is consulting with a group of elders on a number of matters.

He said it doesn’t necessarily mean that the family won’t donate Seau’s brain for research.

“They really want to do everything right,” Mitchell said.

The 43-year-old Seau committed suicide Wednesday at his home in suburban Oceanside, Calif. He played parts of 20 seasons in the NFL, including 13 with the Chargers.

Associated Press

First save for Livan Hernandez

Baseball: For a few moments, a bemused Livan Hernandez didn’t know what was behind all the celebratory high-fives coming his way from his Atlanta Braves teammates.

Told in the aftermath of a 13-9 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night that he had earned the first save of his 17-year career, the longtime starter turned long reliever broke into a wide grin.

“I’d never been in that situation,” Hernandez said. “I found out about it after the game. I said, ‘What?’ But that’s nice. I enjoyed it. It’s very cool to close a game with strikeouts.”

Hernandez got five outs, fanning two of the last three batters he faced in his 11th career relief appearance.

“That was my first one and maybe it’ll be my last one. I don’t think I’ll be saving another game,” said Hernandez, who signed with the Braves on March 30, one day after he was released by Houston.

The right-hander has been slotted as the long man in Atlanta’s bullpen.

Associated Press