In brief: Belichick’s been taping opponents since 2000
Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents’ defensive signals since he became New England Patriots coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday in Washington.
“There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over,” Specter said.
Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.
“Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn denied that he was involved in an altercation on New Year’s Day in which a man claimed that Quinn made a slur at him and other gays outside a restaurant.
“Running back Justin Fargas agreed to a new contract with the Oakland Raiders instead of testing the market as a free agent.
“Horse-collar tackles may be outlawed in college football.
That rule change is among those proposed by the NCAA Football Rules Committee. Other suggestions include making chop-block enforcement less complicated and ignoring incidental face-mask contact.
“The University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission tentatively agreed to keep Trojans football at the venerable stadium for another 25 years.
Basketball
FSU coach settles
Former Fresno State women’s coach Stacy Johnson-Klein said she would accept a $6.62 million award so she could put an end to her high-profile gender discrimination case against the school. A jury originally awarded her a $19.1 million judgment, but a judge last week ordered a new trial unless she accepted the smaller amount.
“Pittsburgh point guard Levance Fields, sidelined nearly seven weeks with a broken left foot, plans to return Friday night for the 22nd-ranked Panthers’ game at Marquette.
Miscellany
Dodgers re-sign Saito
Right-hander Takashi Saito agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Saito, 38, made the All-Star team while pitching for the Dodgers last season.
“Tour de France champion Alberto Contador likely won’t get to defend his title after Tour organizers excluded the Astana cycling team from this year’s race. Astana was banned because of its past doping issues.
“Reigning world silver medalist Daisuke Takahashi edged two-time U.S. champion Evan Lysacek and Olympic bronze medalist Jeffrey Buttle to win the men’s short program at the Four Continents championships in Goyang, South Korea.
“AC Milan forward Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee in a 1-1 draw with Livorno in Milan, Italy, and the Brazilian soccer star was carried off the field in tears.
“Efforts to link China to the Darfur crisis are “irresponsible and unfair,” a government spokesman said in comments published today, following director Steven Spielberg’s decision to drop out as a Beijing Olympics adviser on human rights grounds.