Briefs for print
Jackson mourning
Browns coach Hue Jackson plans to remain with the team in training camp while mourning the recent deaths of his mother and brother.
A team spokesman confirmed Wednesday night that Jackson’s mother, Betty Lee, died over the weekend in Los Angeles following a long illness. Her passing came two weeks after Jackson’s brother died.
Jackson intends to stay with the Browns through next week’s exhibition opener against the New York Giants while the family finalizes funeral plans in California.
Jackson is in his third season with Cleveland. He has not made any public comments about the deaths during camp, which opened last week.
Alabama ranked No. 1
Defending national champion Alabama is a unanimous No. 1 in the preseason coaches’ poll, with Clemson No. 2 and Ohio State No. 3.
The Crimson Tide received 61 one first-place votes from a panel of major-college coaches in the poll released Thursday. The Associated Press media poll will be released Aug. 20.
Alabama won its fifth national championship under coach Nick Saban last season, beating Georgia in overtime of the College Football Playoff national title game. The Bulldogs were ranked fourth by the coaches and Oklahoma was fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Washington, Wisconsin, Miami, Penn State and Auburn.
Tiger vs. Phil
Tiger Woods had nothing to add to an ESPN report that an exhibition match against Phil Mickelson was scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
Woods said nothing has been signed or confirmed.
Golf.com reported last month that Woods and Mickelson, who have combined for 19 majors, 122 victories on the PGA Tour and 90 years on earth, were contemplating a winner-take-all $10 million match.
The ESPN report did not mention prize money, corporate support or television details.
Woods and Mickelson played a practice round together at the Masters, were in the same group at The Players Championship and played a nine-hole practice round on Wednesday at Firestone. They have the most PGA Tour titles of players from their generation, though they never competed on the back nine with a major championship at stake except for the 2001 Masters and 2002 U.S. Open, both won by Woods.
Woods once played the starring role in Monday night exhibitions nearly two decades ago, which were televised by ABC. The first one was dubbed the “Showdown at Sherwood” between Woods and Duval, when they were Nos. 1 and 2 in the world. Woods won and earned $1.1 million, while Duval received $200,000. They each donated $200,000 to charity, half of it going to The First Tee.
Cyprien tears ACL
Tennessee safety Johnathan Cyprien will miss the season with a torn left ACL, and coach Mike Vrabel says veteran Eric Reid is among the safeties the Titans want to look at as a potential replacement.
Cyprien left practice Wednesday after grabbing at his left knee. He walked to the locker room with trainers. Vrabel announced after practice Thursday that Cyprien tore his ACL.
The Titans have Kendrick Lewis and Demontre Hurst among the other options at safety on the roster.
Vrabel said the Titans are in the process of trying to bring in Reid along with other safeties for a workout.
Cyprien signed a four-year deal last season. He started 10 games after dealing with an injured hamstring last year.