Herd’s Martinez

to miss opener

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Marshall running back Tron Martinez will miss Saturday’s season opener at No. 11 West Virginia.

Coach Doc Holliday said Tuesday that Martinez is still recovering from offseason knee surgery.

Martinez led Marshall with 649 rushing yards and three touchdowns last season.

Sophomore Travon Van is expected to get the start in Martinez’s place. Van ran for 551 yards last season.

 

 

MLB, ESPN extend

television contract

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball and ESPN have extended their television contract through 2021.

The deal was announced on Tuesday. It combines rights for TV, radio, digital and international that had been separate. The new single contract adds new rights to air a wild-card game, along with additional rights to highlights and digital content. It also gives the network more flexibility to show games involving popular teams.

The previous contracts were worth close to $360 million a year combined. A person with knowledge of the new combined deal says it will be worth about $700 million a year over eight years.

 

Shurmur won play

Weeden vs. Bears

BEREA (AP) — Browns rookie starting quarterback Brandon Weeden will sit out Cleveland’s preseason finale against Chicago.

Coach Pat Shurmur said after Tuesday’s practice that Weeden, who did not throw a touchdown pass in three starts, will not play and Colt McCoy will start against the Bears on Thursday night.

Shurmur said quarterbacks Seneca Wallace and Thad Lewis will also play against the Bears. Shurmur did not indicate how much time his QBs will get.

Shurmur said most of Cleveland’s starters will rest, and the ones who do get into the game will not play much.

McCoy is battling Wallace to be Weeden’s backup. Shurmur may have already decided on his No. 2 quarterback, but doesn’t intend to make it known until the Browns cut their roster to 53 players on Friday.

 

 

Giants’ Mota back

after suspension

HOUSTON (AP) — San Francisco Giants reliever Guillermo Mota has been activated from the restricted list after serving a 100-game suspension for his second positive drug test.

Left-hander Jeremy Affeldt has been placed on the paternity list to make room on the roster for Mota.

Mota tested positive for Clenbuterol, which he says was in children’s cough syrup. His first suspension came in November 2006 when he was with the New York Mets.