Blog matters

A sampling from the past week of blog entries in The Spokesman-Review Sports department blog, SportsLink. See daily offerings at spokesman.com

/sportslink.

Washington State’s list of known committed players for the class of 2014 is up to six after the news broke (Tuesday) that Sacramento receiver Calvin Green has committed to the Cougars.

Green, who is listed by Scout.com as 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds and attends Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, is another player who lines up primarily at running back for his high school team but reportedly projects as an inside receiver at WSU.

• Washington State added a member to its basketball coaching staff on Wednesday, announcing the hire of veteran coach Rod Jensen as the team’s new director of player development.

Jensen, a former head coach at Boise State and most recently at the College of Idaho, replaces Jeff Hironaka, who left WSU to become an assistant coach at Portland State.

You’d never know Beau Bell has been battling a high ankle sprain. He had two sacks and three quarterback hurries in Saturday’s rout over San Jose.

Watching practice at the last few media days, Bell is often by himself stretching or conditioning, or he’s working with a member of the training staff. He’d prefer practicing, but the reduced workload limits wear and tear on his body and allows him to play on game day. He’s been productive, despite dealing with an injury that typically sidelines players for 3-4 weeks.

• Raul Vijil, whose No. 15 was scheduled to be retired during Saturday’s home game with Jacksonville, was in the Shock offices late last week to put his signature on retirement papers, but declined. It doesn’t necessarily mean Vijil is plotting a comeback. It simply leaves the option open. 

Majority owner Brady Nelson said retirement papers aren’t required by the AFL, but he wants to be certain that when a number is retired the player doesn’t return two months later with Spokane or the following season with another team. Makes sense. If Vijil has any doubts, he did the wise thing. A retirement ceremony can always be held at a later date, next season, etc.

Vijil was with the team from its inaugural season in 2006 through 2011. Other than No. 9 (for the ninth man), Vijil’s No. 15 jerseys are still the most popular in the stands at Shock home games.

If you want to  participate in one of the Pac-12 blog’s polls at ESPN.com, here’s your chance Cougar fans. The question is who will lead the conference in tackles. Deon Bucannon is one of the answers. … Guess who the  Cougars miss in conference play this season? Yep, rebuilding Colorado. I would say that is a sure win except what happened last year. They also miss UCLA, which is probably a good thing.