Sports in brief: MLB drops Lee’s suspension

Baseball: Major League Baseball dropped its five-game suspension of Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee, who could be healthy enough to make his Seattle debut by the end of this month.

The 2008 A.L. Cy Young Award winner threw 70 pain-free pitches in a simulated game Tuesday and was asked how anxious he is to finally pitch for his new team in a game that means something.

“I don’t know if it can get any higher,” Lee said. “For me, it’s the start of the season. I’ve got to get back and help these guys win. … I’m excited.”

MLB vice president of administration John McHale made the decision Tuesday to drop the suspension after Lee’s appeal hearing last week. Lee, general manager Jack Zduriencik and Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said in a conference call with MLB that the left-hander’s injuries caused an errant pitch in a spring training game.

MLB disciplined Lee after he was ejected from a March 15 spring training game against Arizona for throwing over the head of batter Chris Snyder.

Lee strained his abdomen earlier in the game while colliding with Snyder, as the pitcher backed up the plate on a scoring play.

Associated Press

Former Seahawk Bullard dies

Football: Louis Eugene Bullard, 53, who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Cleveland Browns, has died in Franklin, Tenn.

His obituary stated Bullard, who worked as a sales manager for a beer distributor in Nashville, died Sunday.

Bullard, who was born in Hernando, Miss., was an offensive tackle at Jackson State University and was drafted by Seattle in 1978. After an NFL career, he played in the USFL, retiring from pro football in 1985.

Associated Press

Petersen deal tops $8 million

Football: Boise State football coach Chris Petersen is poised to get a new five-year contract worth more than $8 million. The deal awaits approval by the Idaho State Board of Education.

University officials announced the new contract during the Fiesta Bowl in January, but specifics were released Monday.

Under the terms, Petersen will make $1.2 million in salary in 2010, plus a $200,000 bonus if he’s still coaching the Broncos on Feb. 1, 2011.

In four seasons, Petersen is 49-4.

Associated Press