NEW YORK — New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez suffered what the team called a “minor break” in his nose Sunday, but he has already been cleared to practice this week without limitations and play in Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
“It feels a lot better now, and we’ll just worry about it after the season,” he said Tuesday. “It’s no big deal.”
It was the first time Sanchez broke his nose and said it “felt weird for a little bit.” He was hit in the face on a sack by Oakland’s Kamerion Wimbley in the third quarter, had his nose reset on the sideline and finished by wearing a visor on his helmet, something he’ll do for at least the next few games.
• The Houston Texans released running back Steve Slaton and signed Chris Ogbonnaya from the practice squad. Slaton was the NFL’s top rookie rusher in 2008 with 1,282 yards. He rushed for 437 yards but fumbled seven times in 2009 and was placed on injured reserve after 11 games. He had neck surgery after the season and never regained his form.
• The Indianapolis Colts signed quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who was released in the team’s final cutdown in September.
• The New Orleans Saints put place-kicker Garrett Hartley (hip) on injured reserve, ending his season and leaving John Kasay as their primary kicker.
• Anschutz Entertainment Group, which hopes to build a $1.2 billion football stadium in downtown Los Angeles, got a key boost when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that expedites resolution of legal challenges to the project, sending lawsuits over its environmental impact directly to the California Court of Appeal and bypassing the Superior Court.
BCS two-team conference limit reconsidered.
The Bowl Championship Series’ two-team-per-conference limit could be up for discussion as the BCS nears another round of television negotiations, according to Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive.
• The Pac-12 reprimanded Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley for referring to Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict as a dirty player.
• Vanderbilt starting linebacker Tristan Strong will miss the rest of the season after hurting his leg covering a punt in the Commodores’ loss at South Carolina.
• Penn State cornerback D’Anton Lynn (concussion) is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Eastern Michigan.
• Auburn receiver Trovon Reed (shoulder) won’t play Saturday at South Carolina.
Footnotes.
The NHL ruled that it lacked sufficient evidence to determine whether Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds directed a homophobic slur at New York Rangers agitator Sean Avery during Monday night’s game, despite video replays showing Simmonds seemed to use the word.
• Anaheim Ducks forward Jean-Francois Jacques will miss the first five regular-season games after being suspended by the NHL for leaving the bench on a legal line change to start a fight with Vancouver’s Mike Duco.
• The Atlanta Dream defeated the Indiana Fever 83-67 in Indianapolis to win the series 2-1 and advance to the WNBA Finals for the second straight year.
• NBA owners made a modest push from their rigid stance on implementing a hard salary cap during a brief meeting in New York, and the two sides plan to resume talks today, according to Yahoo Sports.
• A judge in Atlanta allowed former NBA player Javaris Crittenton, charged with murder in a drive-by shooting Aug. 19, to go free on bond after hearing friends and coaches testify he was too focused on making a comeback to squander his future on a revenge killing.
The Associated Press
