Newsmakers
Denied Athletic director Lew Perkins said he has not offered the vacant Kansas football coaching job amid reports the school is negotiating with Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Perkins has been interviewing candidates to replace Mark Mangino.
Granted A judge granted a protective order that bars Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs from contact with the mother of his two young children, a decision that Suggs agreed to without admitting any wrongdoing. Candace D. Williams, 26, accused Suggs of hitting her in the chest, pushing her to the floor and sitting on her while holding her neck with one hand and a bottle of bleach with the other, according to court documents. Suggs has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.
Fired Illinois fired almost half of Ron Zook’s staff but said the fifth-year head football coach will keep his job despite a 3-9 season. First-year offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, quarterbacks coach Kurt Beathard and receivers coach Jim Pry were all fired, as was special teams coach Mike Woodford.
Charged Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux has been arrested and charged with marijuana possession. He was arrested during a traffic stop in suburban Atlanta.
Dropped Prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor assault charge against Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason because of a lack of evidence. No witnesses at a Charlotte strip club last month saw Beason throw a punch.
Bought Driver Kyle Busch is entering team ownership with two entries next season in NASCAR’s Truck Series.
Fined Tampa Bay right tackle Jeremy Trueblood has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness, while Tennessee defensive tackle Tony Brown was fined $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Retiring Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich is retiring after 10 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Ulbrich has been contemplating retirement since suffering a severe concussion Oct. 11.
Sidelined Saint Mary’s guard Wayne Hunter will miss the rest of the basketball season with a torn ligament in his left knee. The West Coast Conference school said Hunter will have surgery later this month.