PHILADELPHIA — Jim Johnson, whose attacking defenses helped the Philadelphia Eagles to one Super Bowl appearance and five NFC title games, has died. He was 68.
Johnson had taken a leave of absence from the team in May to battle a cancerous tumor on his spine. The Eagles announced his death Tuesday afternoon.
“I have been praying for him every day, and those prayers won’t stop now,” said Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, who played 10 seasons for Johnson in Philadelphia.
• The Cleveland Browns placed wide receiver Braylon Edwards on the nonfootball injury list with an undisclosed injury.
Mickelson returning next week
AKRON, Ohio — Phil Mickelson will return to the PGA Tour at the Bridgestone Invitational next week, his first tournament since he tied for second at the U.S. Open.
Mickelson has been away for nearly two months because his wife, Amy, has breast cancer. She had surgery July 1. At about that time, Mickelson learned his mother has breast cancer and is being treated.
• General Motors Co. will end its half-century run as sponsor of the Buick Open as it tries to focus marketing dollars on its vehicles. The tournament in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., begins Thursday.
Thomas signs with Mavericks
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks signed forward Tim Thomas, who averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 64 games last season.
• The New Orleans Hornets finalized a trade, sending Tyson Chandler to the Charlotte Bobcats for Emeka Okafor in a swap of 26-year-old centers.
• The Indiana Pacers signed former Nuggets guard Earl Watson to a multiyear contract.
USA Hockey Hall announces class
COLORADO SPRINGS — Former NHL stars Tony Amonte, Tom Barrasso, John LeClair and the 1998 U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
The 2009 Hall of Fame class announced also includes the late Frank Zamboni, inventor of the storied ice resurfacing machine.
Footnotes.
Illinois and Northwestern might move their annual Big Ten football game to Wrigley Field.
• French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out of next week’s L.A. Women’s Tennis Championships because of a foot injury.
• Roush Fenway Racing said it will move sponsor Crown Royal to former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth‘s car next season.
• Merrill Moses stopped 10-of-15 shots and eight players scored for the United States in an 8-5 victory over Germany in the quarterfinals of men’s water polo at the world championships in Rome.
• Becky Hammon scored 24 points and Sophia Young hit a 3-pointer from 21 feet as the buzzer sounded as the San Antonio Silver Stars defeated the visiting Seattle Storm 74-71.
In other WNBA games, the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Lynx 76-70 in Minneapolis; the visiting Phoenix Mercury rolled past the Connecticut Sun 95-80; and the Indiana Fever rallied for an 85-81 victory over the Washington Mystics in Indianapolis. Denver Post wire services
