Newsmakers
Retired Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke considered going through neck surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation in hopes of coming back for a 12th season. Instead, he opted for retirement, thinking the danger of re-injury wouldn’t be fair to his family. The 35-year-old officially called it a career on Thursday, surrounded by his wife and their four children.
Confirmed The Boston Red Sox confirmed the signing of outfielder Cody Ross to a one-year contract and said right-hander Scott Atchison was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. Ross was the 2010 N.L. championship series MVP for the Giants and helped them win the World Series that year after they picked him up off waivers in August.
Placed Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona has been placed on baseball’s restricted list following his arrest for false identity. Carmona was arrested last week in the Dominican Republic on charges he falsified his name and birthdate to play in the U.S.
Agreed University of Texas regents agreed to extend football coach Mack Brown’s contract by four years to 2020, a move school officials hope will be a message of long-term stability for a program eager to get back in the chase for national championships.
• Free-agent reliever Brad Lidge agreed to a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals. Last season, the right-hander only threw 19 1/3 innings for the Phillies because of injuries.
Requested A former Ohio State and NFL quarterback facing 10 years in prison on fraud charges is requesting drug abuse counseling while behind bars. Art Schlichter is scheduled for sentencing next month in a fraud case stemming from a million-dollar ticket-selling scheme.
Indicted A Ukrainian hockey coach has been indicted on charges he fondled a teen attending clinics in Philadelphia. Ivan Pravilov, a mentor to several NHL and college players, has been in custody since his arrest last week.
Filed An Alabama man who was allegedly assaulted by Rolando McClain and another man sued the Oakland Raiders’ linebacker alleging “brutal and prolonged assault and battery.” Christian Tapscott of Decatur filed suit in Morgan County Circuit Court seeking unspecified punitive and compensatory damages from McClain and Jadarious Willingham.
Reported State police say Philadelphia Eagles tight end Brent Celek was a passenger in a car involved in an early-morning DUI crash. No one was hurt in Thursday morning’s crash on a highway off-ramp near the team’s stadium in South Philadelphia.