Browns sign veteran safety Leonhard to contract

BEREA (AP) — Cleveland has signed safety Jim Leonhard, making the Browns the fifth different NFL team in the nine-year veteran’s career.

The Browns confirmed the signing Wednesday after Leonhard wrote on Twitter that, “It’s official, I just signed my 8th NFL contract to become a part of the Cleveland Browns. (hash)dawgpound.”

Leonhard, 31, was with Buffalo last year where he spent the first four seasons of his career after being signed as an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin in 2005. He spent 2012 in Denver and also played 2008 for Baltimore and 2009 and 2010 with the New York Jets.

He had four interceptions playing in 16 games last season with seven starts. He has 12 career interceptions.

 

Blue Jackets sign forwards D’Amigo, Tyrell

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forwards Jerry D’Amigo and Dana Tyrell to one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contracts.

The 23-year-old D’Amigo was acquired by Columbus along with a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Matt Frattin on July 1. He appeared in 22 games with Toronto last season, making his NHL debut on Dec. 5, 2013, against the Dallas Stars. He had one goal and two assists with the Maple Leafs in addition to also playing with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.

The 25-year-old Tyrell played 64 games in the AHL last year, totaling 15 goals and 18 assists. He also appeared in seven games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

 

New Mexico suspends player for domestic violence

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A University of New Mexico football player has been suspended from the team following his arrest in a domestic violence case.

Head coach Bob Davie says offensive lineman Jamal Price was suspended Tuesday after he was charged with breaking into his girlfriend’s apartment.

According to a criminal complaint, Price pushed his girlfriend and Lobo basketball player Khadijah Shumpert at her apartment Monday in a dispute over an Apple television.

Authorities say Price, a junior from Pomfret, Maryland, and a friend forced their way into Shumpert’s apartment to look for the TV. Police later arrested Price and charged him with breaking and entering and conspiracy to commit a fourth-degree felony.

It was not known if Price had an attorney.

Shumpert is a 6-foot junior from Minneapolis. Last season she led the Lobo women in rebounds at 6 points per game.

 

Ex-Duke star Hill makes big donation to alma mater

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Former Duke and NBA star Grant Hill and his wife are giving $1.25 million to the school.

President Richard Brodhead announced the donation Wednesday.

He says $1 million will go to the athletic department with the remainder going to the school’s annual fund in support of Trinity College.

Brodhead calls Hill “a beloved part of Duke’s history.”

The 1994 Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year led the Blue Devils to national championships in 1991 and ’92, then made five All-Star teams during an 18-year NBA career.

Hill says he and his wife “are in a fortunate position to be able give back to the university that did so much for me.”

They previously gave $1 million to establish a men’s basketball scholarship fund.

 

Minor league pitcher faces sexual assault charge

DETROIT (AP) — A pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a woman at a downtown hotel last spring after they met at a bar in the suburbs.

Evan Reed, 28, plays for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens but was with the Tigers when the alleged assault occurred on March 30, the eve of Opening Day.

Reed is accused of an act of penetration through force or coercion at MotorCity Casino Hotel. The charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

The 45-year-old woman “began to feel odd” after consuming alcohol earlier at a bar in Royal Oak, the Wayne County prosecutor’s office said in a statement. They took a cab to the hotel.

Reed “had reason to know the victim was physically helpless or mentally incapacitated or mentally incapable to consent,” Prosecutor Kym Worthy said at a news conference. She declined to say whether the woman had been drugged.

Reed’s attorneys have aggressively declared his innocence since the investigation was made public in the spring. They had predicted there would be no charges.