Fast Break

Football

Other Palmer directs offense

They’re the same height and almost the same weight. They have many of the same facial features. They use some of the same expressions. They play the same position.

And, for the first time, Carson and Jordan Palmer play on the same NFL team.

Carson stood on the sideline in shorts and watched his younger brother run plays during a weekend rookie camp at Paul Brown Stadium, a moment that was special for both of them. Jordan, who is 23, got to run some of the plays that his 28-year-old brother has mastered.

“It’s great,” Carson said, using one of their common expressions. “It’s been so much fun. He’s been living in our basement. We never had the chance to be on the same team because of our age difference. It’s fun to be on the same team.”

It goes deeper, of course.

When the Bengals signed Jordan on Jan. 30, giving him a chance to compete for the No. 3 quarterback job, two brothers who are closer than their age got a chance to do something they always wanted to do.

“It’s exciting to have not only your best friend but your brother (here),” Carson said.

HORSE RACING

PETA wants jockey suspended

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles’ jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.

PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky’s racing authority claiming the filly was “doubtlessly injured before the finish” and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles’ death is investigated.

“What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?” PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. “If he didn’t then we can probably blame the fact that they’re allowed to whip the horses mercilessly.”

Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

ROWING

GU men’s crew wins WCC

The Gonzaga Bulldogs took second place in the Varsity Eight and Novice Eight and third in the Junior Varsity Eight to complete the WIRA Championships at Rancho Cordova, Calif.

With Gonzaga having the best finish out of all West Coast Conference schools in the Varsity Eight it was also awarded the WCC championship trophy.