Crennel names Grantham to staff
The Cleveland Browns have named Todd Grantham defensive coordinator. Grantham spent the previous three seasons as the defensive line coach of the Houston Texans. The first choice of new Browns coach Romeo Crennel was his Patriot colleague, Eric Mangini, but Mangini elected to remain with the Patriots and was promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator. "[Todd] has a good background with the 3-4 defense and will certainly enhance what we are building here in Cleveland," said Crennel. The Browns also named Dave Atkins running backs coach . . . Defensive end John Abraham was designated the New York Jets' franchise player with a one-year deal worth $6.7 million. Abraham was second on the Jets with 9 1/2 sacks last season despite missing the team's final four games with a knee injury . . . Linebacker Lemar Marshall, who started 14 games last season after LaVar Arrington had knee surgery, signed a three-year contract worth about $2 million to remain with the Washington Redskins . . . Wide receiver David Terrell of the Chicago Bears pleaded guilty to negligent driving as part of a deal with prosecutors, who agreed to reduce a reckless driving charge, said Cook County (Ill.) state's attorney spokesman Tom Stanton. He was fined $1,050 and placed on court supervision for six months . . . Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Akili Smith has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who said he will play for the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe . . . Ernesto Zepeda derailed Cesar Bazan's comeback plans, beating the former World Boxing Council lightweight champion on a technical decision when the fight was stopped 13 seconds into the ninth round at Fort McDowell, Ariz. . . . Mexico's Antonio Margarito retained his World Boxing Organization welterweight title by stopping Argentina's Sebastian Lujan in the 10th round at Atlantic City . . . Heavyweight boxer Thomas Williams, 35, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for being paid to throw fights, including one on the undercard of a WBA heavyweight title bout between Evander Holyfield and Chelsea's John Ruiz. Williams told a federal judge in Las Vegas he was broke before that August 2000 fight and took it to make money. Williams stopped short of admitting he threw the fight and his lawyers said they will appeal.
MISCELLANY
MassCap highlights June 18 card
The 65th running of the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap on June 18 highlights the 2005 Suffolk Downs Stakes schedule. The MassCap, a Grade II event contested over 1 1/8 miles, has been captured by such greats as Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Cigar (twice), and Skip Away (twice). The MassCap card will include the $200,000 Moseley Breeders' Cup, a 6-furlong dash; the $40,000 Old Ironsides at a mile and 70 yards on the turf, and the $40,000 Isadorable, at 6 furlongs, for Massachusetts-bred fillies and mares. The opening day feature April 30 will be the Miss Indy Anna, an open stake for fillies and mares going 6 furlongs . . . Michael Walchhofer delivered a near-perfect run down the unusually soft course in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to edge Hermann Maier and Bode Miller in a World Cup downhill event, winning in 1 minute 57.79 seconds . . . Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva set her second pole vault world record in a week and became the first woman to clear 16 feet indoors at the Norwich Union Grand Prix meet in Birmingham, England. It was the 11th career world record for the Olympic gold medalist . . . It was an all-American day at the Four Continents figure skating championships in Gangneung, South Korea as 19-year-old Evan Lysacek won the men's event and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto defended their ice dance title . . . For the second straight year, Connecticut men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun is among the finalists for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Hartford Courant reported on its website, citing a source it did not identify. The inductees will be announced tomorrow in Denver at the NBA All-Star Game . . . The Northeastern football team opens its 2005 season Sept. 3 at Parsons Field with a first-ever game against six-time national champion Georgia Southern.
