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Report: NFL hopeful found dead in Florida

COLUMBIA, S.C., March 27 (UPI) -- NFL hopeful Heath Benedict, an All-American offensive lineman, was found dead on a couch at his home in Jacksonville, Fla.

Police said no foul play was suspected, but a cause of death is yet to be determined, The State in Columbia, S.C., said Thursday.

The 6-foot-6, 335-pound Benedict, 24, was an offensive lineman at Division II Newberry College in Newberry, S.C., after transferring from the University of Tennessee. He was found dead on a sofa Wednesday in Jacksonville, where he was training for the NFL draft.

"Right now, we're all just trying to figure out what to do," Newberry College assistant football coach Ike Allred told the newspaper. "Obviously, we're all just praying for Heath and his family at this time."

Several football Web sites and media outlets projected Benedict being a third or fourth round pick in this year's NFL draft in New York April 26.

A native of Netherlands and a two-time All-American, Benedict played high school football in Highstown, N.J., and listed his hometown as Greer, S.C.

Westwood leads the European event in Spain

ANDALUCIA, Spain, March 27 (UPI) -- Defending champion Lee Westwood is the leader after Thursday's first round of the European Tour's Open de Andalucia in Spain.

The native of Worksop, England, opened with a 7-under-par 65, one-stroke better than English amateur Danny Willett and Norway's Jan Are Larsen.

Westwood used birdies at the first and 18th holes as part of a bogey free opening round.

"I didn't make too many mistakes," he said. "My course management was good (and) I'm pleased with the way I'm hitting the ball, although my game is always a work in progress and there are a few things I'm working on at the moment."

Last year, Westwood opened with an even-par 72, but went 20-under over the next three rounds to forge a two-stroke victory over Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed, snapping a four-year winless drought.

Australia's Matthew Millar (67) is alone in fourth and at 68 a trio of players shares fifth place.

NBA announces European preseason games

LONDON, March 27 (UPI) -- The Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards have been selected by the NBA to play preseason games in Europe this October.

The NBA on Thursday said exhibition games would be played in Barcelona, Spain; Berlin; London and Paris. NBA teams have played more than 40 preseason contests in several European cities over recent years.

"Our third consecutive year of NBA Europe Live is another step in our ongoing effort to bring the excitement of the NBA to our growing fan base," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. "Through the support of our partners, including EA Sports, the Heat, Nets, Hornets and Wizards will compete and extend our global commitment to community service in four European cities where basketball's popularity is increasing."

The Heat and Nets are scheduled to play Oct. 9 in Paris and Oct. 12 in London. The Hornets and Wizards play Oct. 14 in Berlin and Oct. 17 in Barcelona.

Packers GM named top NFL executive

ST. LOUIS, March 27 (UPI) -- Green Bay General Manager Ted Thompson is the NFL's top executive for 2007.

Thompson, 55, captured the George Young NFL Executive of the Year when he beat out New York Giants' General Manager Jerry Reese 19-9 in a poll of NFL general managers and other executives conducted by The Sporting News earlier this week.

The poll by the sports publication appears in its latest issue released on Wednesday.

Forty-eight votes were cast with 10 other executives receiving at least one vote.

Thompson was cited for bending a mix of productive veterans such as defensive Aaron Kampman, wide receivers Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, linebacker Nick Barnett and tackle Chad Clifton, while acquiring talent like linebacker A.J. Hawk, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, cornerback Charles Woodson, running back Ryan Grant, and tight end Donald Lee.

"Ted understands every aspect of how an organization works," said former Packers general manager Ron Wolf. "That's why he was able to put together a winning team."