Leaf has brain tumor removed

Football: Former Washington State and NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf was recovering in California on Tuesday after doctors removed a benign tumor from his brain stem.

The 35-year-old Leaf had been experiencing dizziness and blurred vision before seeing a doctor May 18, his publicist, Margo Myers, told The Associated Press. He had surgery a week later at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., and was released Saturday.

“I am looking forward to resting a bit and being with my family,” Leaf said in the statement. “This was just another bridge for me to cross, and I will continue to live each day to the fullest and give back where I can,” Leaf said in a statement

Leaf, a Great Falls, Mont., native, starred at Washington State, and the San Diego Chargers made him the second pick of the 1998 NFL draft.

Associated Press

Locker joins new teammates

NFL: Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Jake Locker has joined his new teammates for the first time for unofficial workouts in Nashville.

The Tennessean reported that the Titans’ first-round draft pick out of Washington joined 14 teammates at Nashville’s Father Ryan High School for conditioning drills on Tuesday morning. He says he plans on working out with teammates for the next two weeks.

Locker, won’t sign a contract or receive any salary until the ending of the NFL’s lockout, which prohibits contact between the coaches and players.

Associated Press

Cougars’ Ard is All-Pac-10

Baseball: Washington State first baseman Taylor Ard was named to the 2011 All-Pacific-10 Conference baseball team, the league announced, Tuesday. In addition, outfielder Derek Jones received honorable mention.

A redshirt-sophomore, Ard currently leads the Pac-10 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs. He led Cougars with a .337 batting average, 17 doubles, a .577 slugging percentage, and 40 runs.

Jones batted .275 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs.