Newsmakers

Released Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce has been released by the New York Giants. The Giants on Thursday released the 31-year-old veteran who quarterbacked the defense for the past five years, including four trips to the playoffs and a Super Bowl victory in 2008. Pierce’s status with the team was put into question this season when he suffered a neck injury, forcing him to miss the final seven games of the season.

•The Jacksonville Jaguars have released receiver Torry Holt, left tackle Tra Thomas and defensive tackle Rob Meier, a former Washington State University standout. The moves had been expected because coach Jack Del Rio already told the three aging veterans they would not be part of the team’s rebuilding process.

Returned Basketball coach Jim Calhoun returned to his duties at UConn Thursday after a medical leave of more than three weeks forced him to miss seven games. He has no restrictions on what he can do and will be on the bench for Saturday’s game against Cincinnati.

Hired Ten-time All-Star Tom Glavine made his retirement official Thursday when he returned to the Atlanta Braves in a loosely defined new role. Glavine was hired as special assistant to Braves president John Schuerholz, and the two stood together before reporters for the first time since Glavine’s unexpected release last summer.

Traded The Florida Panthers have traded center Dominic Moore to the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft. Moore, signed by the Panthers as a free agent after the start of the 2009-10 season, had eight goals and nine assists in 48 games for Florida.

Died Former Los Angeles Lakers coach and general manager Fred Schaus, who mentored Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley at West Virginia, has died. He was 84.

The former West Virginia coach and athletic director died Wednesday night in Morgantown, W.Va., said Dan Hastings, a funeral director at Hastings Funeral Home.