Sports briefs
Truex Jr. to start
first at Phoenix
Martin Truex Jr. won the pole Friday for the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at ISM Raceway.
The defending series champion turned a lap at 136.945 mph in the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota in the last of three rounds of qualifying on the mile oval. He has 16 career poles.
Kyle Larson took the second spot at 136.643 mph for Chip Ganassi Racing after topping the second session.
Chase Elliott was third, followed by Tucson driver Alex Bowman, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Erik Jones and Kevin Harvick. Harvick has a track-record eight victories and is coming off wins the last two weeks in Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Jimmie Johnson ended up 17th after topping the first round. The seven-time season champion is winless in 26 races, the longest drought of his career. He has four victories at Phoenix.
Seahawks cut Sherman
The Seattle Seahawks cut ties on Friday with star cornerback Richard Sherman, who became one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks during his seven seasons with the team.
The team informed Sherman early in the day he would be released, and he confirmed the decision in a text message to the Associated Press. The move appeared to be building after he met with the team Wednesday to discuss his future. Sherman declined to comment after the meeting.
“Thank you for helping win championships, shape our culture and define success in Seattle,” the team said in a statement announcing the decision.
“We love you and your unwavering competitiveness, confidence and fierce passion for football and life. For that, you will always be a Hawk!”
Sherman was an overlooked fifth-round draft pick who went on to become a two-time All-Pro who helped anchor a defense that was the league’s best for several years.
He will be 30 years old going into next season and coming off an Achilles tendon injury that cost him half of the 2017 season.
But the biggest reason for his release was financial. Sherman was due $13 million for the 2018 season and his release gives Seattle a salary cap savings of about $11 million.
Sherman became a star in Seattle, bringing a brash attitude and willingness to speak out on any topic to go along with his stellar play. His best seasons came in 2013 and 2014 when Seattle made two Super Bowl appearances and he has 32 interceptions.
Brown trade Kizer, acquire Taylor, Landry
A person familiar with the trade says the Cleveland Browns have traded quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers.
In exchange, the Browns are getting cornerback Damarious Randall.
The teams struck the deal on Friday, shortly after the Browns made two other major deals, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because NFL teams are not permitted to announce deals until the new league calendar starts next week.
Earlier, the Browns agreed to acquire quarterback Tyrod Taylor from Buffalo and Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami.
Kizer struggled as a rookie starter, going 0-15 and leading the NFL with 22 interceptions. His departure will impact the Browns’ plans in free agency and the draft.
Before landing Taylor, Cleveland was expected to target a veteran in free agency. The Browns may still do that and are expected to use the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft on a QB.