Newsmakers

Agreed A team official told the Associated Press that Houston Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans agreed to a six-year contract with the Texans. Ryans was the 2006 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and is the leader of a young Houston team that went 9-7 last season for its first winning record.

Fired Basketball coach Al Skinner is out at Boston College, ending a 13-year tenure in which he led the Eagles to more wins than anyone in school history. Athletic director Gene DeFilippo said Skinner’s departure was by mutual agreement but it had all the markings of a firing: Skinner will be paid for the remaining three years on his contract, and DeFilippo discussed at length the teams’ shortcomings.

Extended University of Pittsburgh football coach Dave Wannstedt signed a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2014 season. The extension was the second signed by the former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins coach since he was hired in 2004.

Dismissed UCLA dismissed sophomore center J’mison Morgan from the basketball team, making him the second player to leave this season. Morgan, who played in 40 games the past two seasons, will transfer to another school closer to his Dallas home.

Staying Quakers coach Jerome Allen, who was elevated to the head job at Penn when Glen Miller was fired in December after a 0-7 start, will remain Penn’s basketball coach, the school announced. Penn went 6-15 after Allen took over, including 5-9 in the Ivy League.

Scheduled A trial that could determine whether ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers is shared because of Frank McCourt’s divorce from estranged wife Jamie has been set for Aug. 30 and will be spread over 11 days.

Suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Dan Carcillo was suspended two games for a hit on New Jersey’s David Clarkson.

Sidelined Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding won’t play the rest of the season. Harding has a torn labrum in his hip and will likely need surgery. The Wild have six games remaining and are a long shot to make the playoffs.