In brief: Edwards signs with Cardinals

NFL: The Arizona Cardinals have signed rookie free agent wide receiver Nicholas Edwards.

Edwards caught 215 passes for 2,634 yards and 33 touchdowns in his collegiate career at Eastern Washington. His best season came in 2011, when as a junior he caught a school-record 95 passes for 1,250 yards. His 19 touchdowns that season led the NCAA College Football Subdivision.

The signing follows the announced retirement of Arizona rookie wide receiver Ryan Swope due to concussion issues.

Associated Press

Rattlers win home field

AFL: The battle for the No. 1 seed in the National Conference was settled on the field as Arizona routed Iowa 84-45 in Des Moines on Saturday.

The Rattlers (15-3) secured the West Division title outright and the top seed. Spokane (14-4) will be the third seed and entertain No. 2 Chicago on Thursday at the Arena in the first round of the playoffs. No. 4 San Jose visits Arizona in the other half of the bracket.

The Arena Football League on its Website last week declared Arizona as the Division champion and top seed last week, but backtracked when Spokane questioned tiebreaking procedures that would have come into play only if Arizona had lost Saturday.

Jim Meehan

Chiesa taps out in 2nd round

MMA: Spokane Valley’s Michael Chiesa (9-1) lost for the first time as a professional Saturday, falling victim to Jorge Masvidal’s D’Arce choke with one second remaining in the second round of the UFC on Fox.

The lightweight bout closed the preliminary card of the event at KeyArena in Seattle.

Masvidal (25-7) remains undefeated in UFC since coming over from Strikeforce.