Newsmakers

Released The Green Bay Packers have released tight end Brandon Bostick, who mishandled a Seattle onside kick in the Packers’ loss in the NFC title game last month. The team also released wide receiver Kevin Dorsey.

• The Chiefs released wide receivers Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins as they began to clear roster and salary-cap space ahead of what could be a busy offseason.

Hired Utah has hired Lewis Powell as the new tight ends coach. Powell served as the defensive line coach for Hawaii the last two seasons after being an administrative assistant for the Utes in 2011 and a graduate assistant from 2009-10

• Former Montana State linebacker Jody Owens, the 2012 Big Sky Conference defensive MVP, is joining the Bobcat coaching staff as an assistant coach. Owens spent the past two years coaching at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, and will assist Kane Ioane in coaching the linebackers at MSU.

Announced ESPN’s “Dickie V” won’t be at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the latest North Carolina-Duke rivalry game. Broadcaster Dick Vitale has called every meeting of the rivals aired by ESPN since joining the network in 1979. But Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas will call tonight’s meeting between the No. 4 Blue Devils and No. 15 Tar Heels. Vitale says he’s “a loyal team player” who goes “where my bosses tell me to go.”

• Sage Karam will drive in the IndyCar season opener for Chip Ganassi. He’ll drive the No. 8 Chevrolet on March 29 in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Florida. Karam turns 20 on March 5.

Agreed A person familiar with the deal says the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a minor league contract with left-hander Bruce Chen. The 37-year-old has gone 82-80 in 16 major league seasons, the past six with Kansas City.

• Two people with knowledge of the agreement say left-hander Barry Zito is returning to the Oakland Athletics with a minor deal that includes an invitation to major league spring training. Zito, 36, was taken by Oakland in the first round of the 1999 amateur draft.

Out Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has undergone surgery to remove a growth from a bone in his left foot and will miss the start of the regular season. The team says Jansen is expected to be out about eight to 12 weeks.

Filed Troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon filed a grievance against the Cleveland Browns, arguing he should not have been suspended for the 2014 finale.