Newsmakers

Admitted New York Mets clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels admitted to betting on baseball, according to a person familiar with the investigation. Samuels made the admission to an investigator for Major League Baseball in the last few weeks, the person said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Fined The NFL fined two New England Patriots for hits on Brett Favre. Defensive tackle Myron Pryor was docked $7,500 for his hit that cut the Minnesota quarterback’s chin, and linebacker Gary Guyton was fined the same amount for a roughing-the-passer penalty when he unnecessarily struck Favre in the head and neck area. Also, Tennessee Titans defensive end Jason Babin was fined $20,000 for roughing San Diego QB Philip Rivers.

Suspended San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton has been suspended two games under the NHL’s new rule on head hits for a shot he made on St. Louis forward David Perron. Thornton was ejected from Thursday’s game in St. Louis after hitting Perron in the neutral zone.

Released The Mets were forced to release reliever Hisanori Takahashi after the sides failed to agree on a new contract. His contract required that the Mets sign him to a new deal by Oct. 31 or release the 35-year-old left-hander, and the sides pushed back the deadline after Sandy Alderson was hired as general manager.

Withdrew Top-ranked Rafael Nadal withdrew from the Paris Masters tennis tournament because of a shoulder injury that will keep him sidelined for at least a week.

Returned Memphis freshman guard Jelan Kendrick returned to practice with the Tigers after a two-week absence to deal with a “personal matter.” CBSSports.com has reported Kendrick was indefinitely suspended while school officials investigated a verbal threat he made against a teammate.

Announced Baylor point guard Kelli Griffin quit the second-ranked Lady Bears one week before their season opener. The school announced Griffin’s decision in a statement before an exhibition game against Texas A&M-International.

Died Former Detroit Lions receiver John Greene died Thursday in Allen Park, Mich., following a brief illness. He was 90.