Newsmakers
Exercised The St. Louis Rams have exercised the fifth-year contract option on All-Pro defensive end Robert Quinn, keeping one of the NFL’s top pass rushers in the fold through 2015. Quinn set a franchise record with 19 sacks last season, second most in the NFL. Pleaded Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar has pleaded no contest to a lesser charge after blaming knee and ankle surgeries for not performing a field sobriety test during a traffic stop last September. Kosar had been charged with drunken-driving last autumn, but he entered a plea to reckless operation and received a fine and suspended jail sentence.
Signed The New York Giants have signed quarterback Rusty Smith, who played the last four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. A backup for the Titans, Smith played in only three regular-season games with one start. He has not been on the field since 2012.
Suspended Two-time Olympic gold medalist and Western New York Flash midfielder Carli Lloyd was suspended for two games by the National Women’s Soccer League for using excessive force in a game against Chicago. Lloyd drew a yellow card for pulling down Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo from behind by her jersey.
Hired Missouri has hired Central Missouri’s Kim Anderson, a former star player and longtime aide to Norm Stewart, as its men’s basketball coach. Anderson, 58, won a Division II championship at Central Missouri this season.
Released Tennessee has released 6-foot-8 forward CJ Turman from his letter of intent, leaving the Volunteers without any of the four basketball recruits who signed with them in November. Forward Phil Cofer and guards Larry Austin Jr. and Jordan Cornish were granted releases last week. Advanced Former coach Jim Tressel is one of three finalists for the president’s job at Youngstown State University, where he coached before leading the football program at Ohio State. The other finalists are Southern Oregon president Mary Cullinan and Gary L. Miller, chancellor at North Carolina Wilmington.
Died Southern University said Isaac Greggs, who led the university’s marching band for 36 years, has died at age 85. Cause of death was not released. The Southern marching band played at six Super Bowls, four Sugar Bowls and three presidential inaugurations during Greggs’ tenure.