Accomplice implicates Hernandez
NFL: Documents show a man linked to the murder case against former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez told police Hernandez admitted firing the fatal shots.
Carlos Ortiz reportedly told Massachusetts investigators that another man, Ernest Wallace, said Hernandez admitted shooting Odin Lloyd in an industrial park near Hernandez’s home.
The documents were filed in court by the Miramar, Fla., police department to justify a search of Wallace’s home in that city.
The documents also say that while investigating Lloyd’s killing, police did searches in Bristol, Conn., that turned up a vehicle wanted in connection with a July 2012 double homicide in Boston.
Police say the vehicle had been rented in the name of Hernandez.
In other developments, Hernandez was “argumentative” and slammed the door on police during their first encounter following his friend’s death, according to court records. He also called his girlfriend’s cellphone and stopped her from speaking with police after they pulled her over and told her Lloyd was dead.
• Broncos executive arrested: Tom Heckert, the Denver Broncos’ recently hired director of pro personnel, was arrested in Parker, Colo., on the night of June 11 and charged with driving under the influence and careless driving, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
The news comes one day after Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell apologized for his arrest over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence.
• Jaguars sign Robinson: The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed fifth-round draft pick Denard Robinson to a contract.
A quarterback at Michigan who is learning how to play running back in Jacksonville, Robinson is expected to see playing time. The Jaguars list him as an “offensive weapon.”
Wondolowski scores hat trick in U.S. win
Soccer: Maybe next time they’ll spell Chris Wondolowski’s name right.
The striker scored a first-half hat trick in a 6-1 victory for the U.S. men’s national team over Belize in the opening round of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Portland.
Wondolowski sported an extra “W” on the back of his jersey for the first international meeting between the teams.
• Nigeria suspends our teams: The Nigeria Football Federation says it has suspended all four teams involved in “scandalous scorelines” after two lower-league soccer clubs chasing promotion and needing to boost their goal difference won games by 79-0 and 67-0.
In the matches, played at the same time, the Plateau United Feeders reportedly scored 72 of their goals in the second half to beat Akurba FC 79-0. Police Machine reportedly scored 61 times against Babayaro FC in the second 45 minutes of their 67-0 game.
• Altidore agrees to deal: U.S. striker Jozy Altidore is returning to the English Premier League after completing his transfer to Sunderland from AZ Alkmaar. The 23-year-old Altidore agreed to a four-year deal to leave the Dutch league for Sunderland in Northeast England.
Rockets fined for Howard comments
NBA: The Houston Rockets talked too much, too soon about Dwight Howard.
A league spokesman confirms the team and its personnel were fined $150,000 by the NBA for comments made about the All-Star center during the moratorium period.
• NBA sets salary cap: The NBA has set next season’s salary cap at $58.7 million, paving the way for contracts to be signed starting today.
The tax level is $71.7 million, with harsher penalties starting this season for teams that exceed it.
NCAA suspends Ole Miss player
Miscellany: A person familiar with the situation says Mississippi cornerback Carlos Davis has been suspended for six games next season by the NCAA after playing in six games in 2012 while academically ineligible.
• Judge rules against Armstrong: A Texas judge has refused Lance Armstrong’s request to dismiss an insurance company’s lawsuit seeking $3 million in bonuses it paid him from 1999 to 2001, and an attorney for the company said he’ll move quickly to question the cyclist under oath.
Nebraska-based Acceptance Insurance Holdings had a contract with Armstrong to pay bonuses for winning the Tour de France and other races. The company sued to recover its money after Armstrong admitted that he used performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour every year from 1999-2005.