Briefs
Bears sign Blewitt
The Chicago Bears signed kicker Chris Blewitt.
Blewitt kicked for four seasons in college at Pitt from 2013-16, converting 69.6 of his field-goal attempts (55 of 79), including 4 of 8 from 50 yards and beyond, with a long of 56 yards.
Blewitt’s biggest kick at Pittsburgh was a 43-yarder with six remaining that lifted the Panthers to a 43-42 win over Clemson in 2016. It was Clemson’s only loss of the season en route to winning the national championship.
Blewitt participated in the Steelers’ rookie minicamp in 2017 on a tryout basis.
Browns release Collins
The Cleveland Browns have released linebacker Jamie Collins, who never lived up to high expectations.
Collins had two years remaining on his contract. He was due to make $10.5 million this season and $12.5 million in 2020.
Cleveland acquired the 29-year-old in a 2016 trade from New England, giving up a third-round draft choice. Collins made 30 starts for the Browns, with 204 tackles, seven sacks and two interceptions. However, the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder wasn’t consistent and drew criticism from fans last season for not hustling.
Browns general manager John Dorsey met with Collins’ agents last week at the NFL combine to discuss the player’s future. In a statement on Wednesday, Dorsey called Collins a “respected veteran player in this league.”
Collins started all 16 games last season and finished with 104 tackles, four sacks and one interception.
His departure could have a major impact on Cleveland’s plans in free agency and the draft.
Boston’s Wright suspended
Boston Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright has been suspended for 80 games following a positive test for Human Growth Hormone.
Major League Baseball made the announcement Wednesday, the latest in a series of setbacks for the 34-year-old knuckleball pitcher.
Wright accepted a 15-game suspension in spring training last year under the league’s domestic violence policy.
The commissioner’s office says he tested positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide 2 (GHRP-2).
The only other player to test positive for growth hormone under the big league program was Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Ravin in 2016.
MLB and the players’ association agreed to blood testing for HGH before the 2013 season.
In the NBA
Kelly Olynyk had 22 points and 11 rebounds, Hassan Whiteside added 18 points and 15 rebounds off the bench and the Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Hornets 91-84 to break a tie for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference.
Olynyk was 8-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-7 from beyond the 3-point arc as Miami won its third straight game.
In a game full of travels and bad passes – the teams combined for 39 turnovers – and plenty of poor shooting, the Heat emerged with the win largely because of a 16-2 fourth-quarter run.
- Bradley Beal dunked over 7-foot-2 Salah Mejri then stared him down, the most dramatic part of a 30-point performance that led the Washington Wizards past the Dallas Mavericks 132-123.
Beal added eight assists and seven rebounds as Washington finally beat Dallas at home after losing nine in a row when hosting the Mavericks.
Trevor Ariza scored 22 and Jabari Parker 20 for the Wizards, who entered the game 11th in the Eastern Conference and three games out of a playoff berth.