USC suspends tailback after remark to TMZ

College Football: Southern California tailback Marc Tyler has been suspended from all team activities and the Trojans’ season opener for comments he made to TMZ that implied he gets paid to play for USC.

When asked by TMZ whether he could make more money at USC or in the NFL, Tyler said, “USC, they breaking bread,” making a gesture indicating a large stack of money.

USC coach Lane Kiffin suspended his leading rusher Monday for the Sept. 3 opener against Minnesota and possibly longer. The fifth-year senior is facing potential discipline from the school after what he said were two alcohol-related problems in April.

USC is entering the second year of a postseason ban during four years of NCAA probation stemming from illegal benefits provided to Reggie Bush.

• Petrino’s son arrested on drug charges: Police in the southern Indiana city of Huntingburg said 23-year-old Dominic R. Petrino, son of Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, was arrested at 12:06 a.m. Monday. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, illegal possession of prescription drugs and possession of paraphernalia.

Latest signs point to end of labor dispute

NFL: The NFL told club executives they could be schooled in the ins and outs of the new labor contract as early as Thursday, and the players’ association summoned its leadership for a potential vote – the strongest signs yet the lockout might be nearing an end.

Lawyers for both sides met for 8 1/2 hours in New York, including 3 1/2 with a court-appointed mediator, to try to close a deal to resolve the sport’s first work stoppage since 1987. Talks were scheduled to continue today.

Owners are set to hold a special meeting in Atlanta on Thursday, when they could ratify a new agreement – if there is one. Executives from all 32 teams then would be briefed there Thursday and Friday on how the terms would affect league business, two people familiar with the plan told the Associated Press.

Any tentative agreement also must be approved by the players.

• Oft-troubled Jones pleads not guilty in Ohio: Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in Cincinnati.

Court officials say attorney Edward Perry filed the written plea for Jones in Hamilton County Municipal Court. The misdemeanor charges stem from Jones’ July 10 arrest in Cincinnati. Jones was not in court.

T-wolves interview Porter for coach job

Basketball: The Minnesota Timberwolves have interviewed Terry Porter for their head coaching vacancy according to a person with knowledge of the interview.

A former point guard, Porter, spent three of his 17 NBA seasons playing in Minnesota.

Porter has been a head coach twice before, in Milwaukee and just over half a season with Phoenix in the 2008-09 season. • Lieberman makes move to front office: Nancy Lieberman – a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame – was made assistant general manager of the NBA Development League’s Texas Legends after a season in which she became the first woman to coach a men’s pro team.

Backe reveals MLS All-Star roster

Soccer: Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Thierry Henry will lead the MLS roster that will play Manchester United in the league’s All-Star game in New York.

New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe selected the 22 players for the game at Red Bull Arena on July 27. He picked all eight of the players chosen by fans who were available for the game.

Final table looming at World Series of Poker

Miscellany: Ryan Lenaghan, a 26-year-old LSU graduate who has played cards professionally for about two years, led the World Series of Poker’s no-limit Texas Hold ’em tournament in Las Vegas with 11.7 million chips after two hours, with 40 eliminations between him and the tournament’s final table.

Players were expected to play 10 hours, or until only 18 entrants remained Monday night.

• Two sailors dead after boat capsizes: Experienced sailors, Suzanne Bickel, 40, and skipper Mark Morley, 51, died after their boat, WingNuts, capsized during the annual Chicago-to-Mackinac race, competition organizers confirmed hours after six other crew members were pulled to safety by a rival team.

Officials said a severe thunderstorm with strong wind gusts was moving through the area when the boat capsized early Monday.