UPI NewsTrack Sports

Browns terminate Stallworth's contract

BEREA, Ohio, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who was suspended for the 2009 season by the NFL, was cut by the Cleveland Browns Monday, the day after the suspension ended.

The Browns announced they had terminated a seven-year contract with the troubled 29-year-old player, who joined the team in 2008.

On March 14, 2009, a car driven by Stallworth struck and killed a man in Miami Beach, Fla. The player's blood-alcohol level was above Florida's legal limit at the time of the accident and Stallworth served 24 days in jail and received 10 years probation in a DUI manslaughter plea agreement.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell initially suspended Stallworth indefinitely for violating the league's policies on personal conduct and substance abuse. Goodell later said the suspension would end after the Super Bowl, which was played Sunday with New Orleans defeating Indianapolis 31-17.

Stallworth, who is now a free agent, was injured during much of the 2008 season with the Browns. He previously played for New Orleans, Philadelphia and New England.

Gauthier replaces Gainey as Montreal GM

MONTREAL, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey stepped down Monday and was replaced by Pierre Gauthier.

"After a long and difficult period of reflection, I have decided to step down as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens," Gainey, 56, GM since 2003, said at a news conference. "I've done my best, and now it's time for me to pass the torch."

Gainey played for Montreal in the NHL and was a head coach of the old Minnesota North Stars and general manager of the Dallas Stars.

Gauthier, also 56, who had been assistant general manager, has been with the team since 2003.

The Canadiens are in third place in the Eastern Conference Northeast Division.

Soderling rallies to win Rotterdam opener

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Sweden's Robin Soderling posted a comeback win Monday in the opening round of the World Tennis Tournament in the Netherlands.

Soderling, the tournament's No. 3 seed and eighth-ranked player in the world, produced 26 aces and eliminated France's Florent Serra 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Fifth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Robin Haase, a Dutch wild card, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

In other first-round matches, Italian Andreas Seppi topped countryman Stephane Bohli 6-1, 7-5; Germany's Florian Mayer survived a battle against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6); and Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands ousted German Mischa Zverev 6-7 (2-7, 6-3, 7-5.

The event's top seed, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the world's second-ranked player, will open against Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine Tuesday.

Defending champion Andy Murray of Scotland is not entered in the tournament this year.

Dolphins' McDaniel jailed after dispute

DAVIE, Fla., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Tony McDaniel has been charged with domestic violence, police records indicate.

Police and court records show McDaniel, 25, appeared in a Broward County courtroom Sunday morning, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Monday.

The newspaper said McDaniel's arrest report indicated he and his girlfriend, Alaina Smith, got into a shoving match outside their Davie, Fla., home Saturday while arguing over unanswered phone calls and a late night of partying.

Officers said Smith asserted she had just returned from buying breakfast for houseguests when McDaniel confronted her after returning from a night out with friends. She alleged McDaniel grabbed her purse and pushed her to the pavement, where she hit her head as they struggled over the bag.

The Sentinel quoted the police report as saying Smith ran into the house, told the guests to call 911 and then ran back outside, where he threw her phone to the ground.

McDaniel, however, reportedly told police Smith attacked him and he used his forearms to block her.

The Sentinel said Davie Police arrested McDaniel on a misdemeanor battery charge and he was released from the Broward County jail on $3,500 bond.