Newsmakers

Released The Green Bay Packers have released veteran center Jeff Saturday. General manager Ted Thompson announced the move Monday. Saturday signed a two-year deal with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in March 2012 after playing 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He had been the Colts’ full-time starting center since 2000. Saturday, a six-time Pro Bowl selection in 14 seasons, was benched as a starter with two games left in the regular season in favor of Evan Dietrich-Smith.

Injured Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Mat Gamel has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the second time in less than a year and will miss the season. The 27-year-old was injured May 1 at San Diego when he hit a wall while chasing Nick Hundley’s foul popup, cutting short his 2012 season after 21 games. Gamel reinjured the knee during the first week of spring training and a MRI revealed the tear.

Recovering Rachel Alexandra remains serious but is walking and eating as she continues improving from abdominal surgery. Veterinarians at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital say the 2009 Horse of the Year took a short walk outside and ate a small amount of grass. Rachel Alexandra began receiving feed along with IV fluids and nutrition on Saturday, and her vital signs remain “bright” and normal.

Died Duke says former star Phil Henderson has died. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said that Henderson’s mother told him her son died Sunday at his home in the Philippines. He was 44. No cause of death was given. Henderson was a senior captain and the leading scorer on the 1989-90 team that lost to UNLV in the national championship. He averaged 18.5 points that year and scored 22.3 points in tournament play that postseason.