Weeden gets nod as Browns’ starting QB
Nfl: Brandon Weeden is officially the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback.
Coach Pat Shurmur announced what had been an open secret after practice on Monday: Weeden, the No. 22 overall pick, will start Friday night in Detroit. Weeden has taken snaps with the first-team offense throughout training camp.
Incumbent starter Colt McCoy is now in competition with 10-year veteran Seneca Wallace for the backup job.
Shurmur is confident Weeden, a 28-year-old rookie from Oklahoma State, will be able to guide Cleveland’s West Coast-style offense.
• Dolphins’ Gerrard No. 1 for now: David Garrard is listed as the first-team quarterback on the Miami Dolphins’ first depth chart, ahead of Matt Moore and first-round pick Ryan Tannehill as they try to win the starting job.
First-year coach Joe Philbin called the quarterback battle “a fluid situation” and said there was no guarantee Garrard would get the start in Friday’s preseason opener against Tampa Bay.
Moore started the last 12 games for Miami in 2011 and went 6-3 over the last nine weeks, compiling an impressive 97.8 passer rating during that span.
But Garrard, the longtime Jacksonville starter who sat out last season and underwent back surgery, has outplayed Moore in practice and also in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage.
• Giants’ Thomas chooses rehab: New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas may not be lost for the season, after all.
After getting a third opinion, the projected starting cornerback has decided to try to rehabilitate his injured right knee rather than have surgery.
Thomas saw noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday, and he concurred with the advice that the five-year veteran received from Dr. Arthur Ting in California and the Giants medical staff on how to approach the injury.
• Broncos sign Brooking: The Denver Broncos have signed veteran free agent linebacker Keith Brooking.
The 15th-year pro played his last three seasons in Dallas after an outstanding 11-year run in Atlanta, where he was the Falcons’ No. 1 draft pick in 1998.
• Blackmon, Jags reach deal: Jacksonville first-round pick Justin Blackmon agreed to terms with the Jaguars.
The Oklahoma State wide receiver is the last first-round pick to reach a deal. He was chosen fifth overall.
• NFL denies Vilma report: The NFL calls a report it has offered a settlement and reduced suspension to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma “completely inaccurate.”
Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the Saints bounty program, which he adamantly has claimed did not exist. Citing anonymous sources, ESPN.com reported the league offered Vilma an eight-game suspension if he would drop his defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says Monday, “No such settlement offer has been made.” He adds that the league “will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time.”
Vilma is one of four players suspended in the bounty scandal.
Penn State trustee will appeal sanctions
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: A Penn State trustee said he plans to file an appeal with the NCAA over the strict sanctions imposed on the university for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Trustee Ryan McCombie in a letter to fellow trustees sent Monday wrote he’s taking action in the interest of due process and sought an NCAA hearing. He invited other trustees to join in the appeal. Several indicated they would join.
“I know my actions will be poorly received by some on this board and in the community at large. To that end it would be easier to remain silent and allow these unfair actions to remain unchallenged. I cannot do this,” McCombie wrote. “As long as I am a member of this board, I will fight to learn the full truth of the Sandusky scandal and then, and only then, endorse the assignment of blame and the imposition of sanctions.”
The landmark penalties handed down last month included a four-bowl ban, scholarship cuts and 111 vacated wins from 1998-2011, meaning Joe Paterno no longer has the most coaching victories in major college football.
Sacramento extends Smart’s contract
NBA: Keith Smart is getting the closest thing he’s ever had to a long-term deal as an NBA coach.
The Sacramento Kings extended Smart’s contract through the 2013-14 season. Smart’s deal had been set to expire after the upcoming season.
The 47-year-old Smart took over for the fired Paul Westphal in January after a 2-5 start. The Kings went 20-39 under Smart.
Lightning strike victim identified
NASCAR: The NASCAR fan killed by a lightning strike at a track in northeastern Pennsylvania was a 41-year-old man from a nearby county, authorities said Monday.
Brian Zimmerman, of Moosic, Pa., died as he stood near his car in the parking lot of Pocono Raceway at Long Pond, Pa., according to the Monroe County coroner.
Nine other people were injured during Sunday’s violent storm, though it wasn’t immediately clear how many might have been struck by lightning.