Titans told to allow McNair to work out

The Tennessee Titans must allow Steve McNair to work out on their property as long as he has a contract with the team, an arbitrator ruled Wednesday.

Arbitrator John Feerick heard more than seven hours of testimony May 16 on charges that the Titans breached McNair’s contract by barring him from working out at the team’s headquarters. The union filed the grievance, arguing he should be allowed to work out on the property or be released.

The Titans originally told McNair on April 3 he wasn’t allowed to work out on the property because they feared the liability of a $23.46 million salary cap hit if McNair got hurt.

•The FBI has opened an investigation into a fledgling San Diego sports marketing firm that tried to recruit Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, attorney for the football star’s family, David Cornwell, told the AP.

•Bob Harlan handed the title of Green Bay Packers team president to eventual successor John Jones.

Jones becomes the 10th president in team history, and will remain the team’s chief operating officer until Harlan retires next May.

•The Carolina Panthers promoted running backs coach Jim Skipper to assistant head coach.

•The Detroit Lions signed free-agent guard Ross Verba and released quarterback Shaun King.

•A.J. Nicholson, 21, and another former Florida State football player, Fred Rouse, 20, are charged with breaking into the apartment of FSU running back Lorenzo Booker and stealing about $1,700 in electronic equipment, Tallahassee police said.

Nicholson, a linebacker drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in April, was being sought in Ohio. Rouse, who was kicked off the team in January, was arrested Saturday in Tallahassee.

Auto racing

Busch fined $50,000

Kyle Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR for throwing a safety device at Casey Mears’ passing car.

Busch was docked 25 driver points and placed on probation until the end of the year, and car owner Rick Hendrick was docked 25 championship points.

The monetary fine ties several others for second-highest in NASCAR history, behind only the $60,000 that Ray Evernham was fined in 1995.

Miscellany

Lawsuit revised

A former Penn State basketball player in the midst of a discrimination lawsuit against coach Rene Portland said Portland made “defamatory statements” against her, the latest chapter in the months-long verbal and legal battle in State College, Pa.

Jennifer Harris amended her lawsuit initially filed last December in response to comments Portland made in a statement May 18. Harris contends in the suit that Portland discriminated against her because the longtime coach perceived her to be a lesbian.

•Lazio president Claudio Lotito was questioned for six hours by Naples, Italy, prosecutors investigating match-fixing and manipulation of referee assignments in Italy’s top soccer league. Lotito is accused of fraud after he reportedly mentioned during a series of intercepted phone conversations favors to his team from referees during the 2004-05 season, according to Italian news agency reports.