In brief: Colts retain guard Scott; David signs with Saints

The Indianapolis Colts expect starting guard Jake Scott (University of Idaho) to return next season. They’ll lose cornerback Jason David unless they match an offer made to him by the New Orleans Saints.

New Orleans signed David, a restricted free agent and former Washington State Cougar, to the offer sheet Thursday.

If the Colts don’t match it by next Friday, David will go to the Saints and Indianapolis will receive one of New Orleans’ three fourth-round picks in the draft as compensation.

Scott planned to sign his one-year tender Thursday, keeping him with the Super Bowl champions in 2007. The three-year veteran has started on the right side the past two seasons.

“Top NFL prospects Calvin Johnson, Gaines Adams and Amobi Okoye reportedly admitted to marijuana use during interviews with teams in February.

Pro Football Weekly, citing anonymous sources, reported the three players, all expected to go early in the April 28 draft, made the admissions at the NFL combine during routine interviews.

“George Webster, the battered former Michigan State All-American and pro football star who lost a U.S. Supreme Court attempt to have his NFL disability pension increased, died in Houston. He was 61.

“Veteran punter Todd Sauerbrun agreed to a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos.

Auto racing

Gordon grabs pole

Nextel Cup points leader Jeff Gordon ran a blistering second lap at Phoenix International Raceway to grab the pole away from Jamie McMurray for Saturday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 in Avondale, Ariz.

Gordon toured the 1-mile speedway in 27.040 seconds (133.136 mph) to edge McMurray (132.577 mph) for the top spot. Denny Hamlin was third, two one-thousandths of a second behind McMurray, who finished in 27.154 seconds.

Scott Riggs (132.338 mph) will start fourth, followed by Jimmie Johnson (132.275 mph). Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne claimed positions six through 10.

Golf

Reifers leads Zurich

Teeing off for only his eighth time on the PGA Tour, Kyle Reifers shot a course-record 8-under-par 64 on the 7,341-yard TPC Louisiana, giving him a two-shot lead after the opening round at the Zurich Open in Avondale, La.

His closest challenger was seasoned pro and 1989 British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, who shot a 66.

Tim Petrovic finished his round in a four-way tie for fourth at 67, along with Lucas Glover, Jason Schultz and Tom Johnson.

Miscellany

Oden will declare today

Ohio State freshman Greg Oden will make himself available for the NBA draft today, a family friend said.

“There will be a release (this) morning from Ohio State. Greg Oden will be hiring an agent,” said Al Powell, who has been a party to meetings between Oden and two other Buckeyes freshmen stars considering the draft.

“Louisiana-Lafayette was placed on probation for two years and will lose two basketball scholarships under NCAA sanctions, stemming from a basketball player’s correspondence course and the football program’s mandatory summer workouts.

“Four-time Olympic gold medalist Janica Kostelic of Croatia retired from skiing. Kostelic became the most successful female skier in Olympic history when she won gold and silver at the 2004 Turin Games, adding to her three golds and one silver from Salt Lake City in 2002.