In brief: Roethlisberger back on the practice field
Football: Ben Roethlisberger practiced Tuesday for the first time since injuring his right foot during the team’s final training camp practice, and coach Mike Tomlin said he will play in Saturday night’s exhibition game against Buffalo.
The Steelers starters are expected to play about a half against Buffalo, their most extensive playing time before the Sept. 10 season opener against Tennessee.
Roethlisberger sat out last Saturday’s preseason game against Washington, two days after left tackle Max Starks accidentally stepped on the quarterback’s right foot minutes before the Steelers ended training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.
•T.O. still out, Jackson also hurt: Terrell Owens still isn’t ready to play, and the Buffalo Bills offense has another concern after running back Fred Jackson aggravated a left thumb injury in practice.
Coach Dick Jauron ruled out Owens from playing in Buffalo’s preseason game at Pittsburgh on Saturday because the receiver is still not fully recovered from a sprained toe.
Jackson was hurt during a running play, when he took a pitch to the left. He was hit as he burst through the line of scrimmage, fumbled the ball and fell to the ground in pain.
•Vick will play on Thursday: Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed that quarterback Michael Vick will be in uniform for Thursday night’s exhibition game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field.
Reid might use Vick exclusively in the Wildcat formation rather than at the traditional quarterback spot. The coach said he had no qualms about showing the Wildcat formation in a preseason game.
•Montana wants to bid for FCS title game: University of Montana officials told members of Missoula’s business community that the school would like to bid for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national title game next season.
The game would be held on Jan. 7, 2011.
Safina, Federer No. 1 seeds for U.S. Open
Miscellany: Defending champion Serena Williams was seeded No. 2 for the U.S. Open, behind Dinara Safina, because the tournament stuck to its policy of strictly following the rankings.
Roger Federer was seeded No. 1 for the fifth time at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. He is ranked No. 1 and has won the U.S. Open five years in a row.
The tournament begins Monday.
•Jackson medalist at U.S. Amateur: Tim Jackson shot a second-round 72 to leave him at even-par and earn medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur tournament, even after he was assessed a one-shot penalty for slow play.
Washington State University senior Nick Grigsby (Spokane Valley) shot a 7-over par 79 and missed the cut.
•Reisndorf out as possible buyer of Coyotes: A group headed by Jerry Reinsdorf has pulled out as a potential buyer of the Phoenix Coyotes just as the NHL filed a bid in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to purchase the team and keep it in Arizona.
However, Ice Edge Holdings, a group of Canadian and American investors, submitted a bid that would keep the team in Glendale.
Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie filed an amended purchase agreement on Monday offering $212.5 million. It was contingent on moving the franchise to Hamilton, Ontario.
•Semifinal matches set for LLWS: Staten Island, N.Y., will play San Antonio today in the Little League World Series semifinals after the Texas team beat Chula Vista, Calif., 6-3 on Tuesday night. The Californians get Warner Robins, Ga., in the other U.S. semifinal Thursday.
In another game Tuesday, Austin Batchelor homered and scored three runs, and Peabody, Mass., used a nine-run third inning Tuesday to pull away from Russellville, Ky., 12-3
In international action Saudi Arabia beat Venezuela 5-3, Canada defeated Germany 14-13, and Mexico beat Taiwan 3-2.
•Trouble flares at English match: A fan was stabbed during a large-scale riot before an English League Cup match between West Ham and Millwall on Tuesday, the worst case of fan violence in English soccer in several years.
Metropolitan Police said hundreds of fans were involved in the disorder before the game at Upton Park.
One man was stabbed close to the stadium and taken to a hospital, where police said he was listed in a stable condition.
•Beer company pulls promotions at some colleges: Anheuser-Busch InBev is dropping its “Fan Cans” promotions from communities around the country where colleges have complained that the effort – which sells cans of Bud Light in school colors – promotes underage drinking and infringes on trademarks.
The Federal Trade Commission has discussed the issue with the brewer, both the agency and the St. Louis-based brewer said. Regulators are concerned that cans will be marketed to fans under the legal drinking age of 21, said Janet Evans, a senior attorney at the FTC responsible for alcohol marketing issues.