Georgia receiver Green declares for draft
ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 9 (UPI) -- University of Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green said Sunday he will forgo his senior season and instead be available for the NFL draft.
Green said in a statement he's leaving school to pursue a lifelong dream -- to play in the NFL.
"But Georgia is a great place and I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to be a Georgia Bulldog," Green said. "I want to thank the coaches, my teammates and the fans who have supported me and helped me grow not only as a player but as a man."
"A.J. has made an immeasurable impact on our team over the past three seasons and we wish him nothing but the best," Georgia head Coach Mark Richt said.
The 6-foot-4 wideout will likely by a high pick after hauling in 166 passes for 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns in 32 games for the Bulldogs.
Green served a four-game suspension this season after the NCAA determined he had sold a game jersey to a pro football agent. The receiver gave the $1,000 he got for the item to charity.
Phils, Dodgers mourn Green family death
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies Sunday sent condolences to the baseball-connected family of a 9-year-old victim of the Arizona shootings.
Christina-Taylor Green, who died in the Saturday slayings that killed six and wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was the granddaughter of former major league manager and general manager Dallas Green and the daughter of Dodgers scout John Green.
Dallas Green, who managed the Phillies to a World Series title in 1980 and was later general manager of the Chicago Cubs, is currently an adviser to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.
"The Phillies organization expresses our heartfelt condolences to Dallas and Sylvia and the entire Green family on the senseless, tragic loss of Christina's life," Phillies President David Montgomery said. "She was a talented young girl with a bright promising future. Her untimely death weighs heavily on our hearts."
"The entire Dodgers organization is mourning the death of John's daughter Christina, and will do everything we can to support John, his wife, Roxanna, and their son, Dallas, in the aftermath of this senseless tragedy," added Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.
"I spoke with John earlier today and expressed condolences on behalf of the entire Dodgers organization."
Kings give Johnson 7-year extension
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Kings said they have inked defenseman Jack Johnson to a seven-year contract extension.
Club officials made the announcement Saturday night after the Kings broke a five-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over Columbus.
The Kings didn't release the terms of the deal, but the Los Angeles Times reported Johnson will receive $3.5 million in each of the first three years and $5 million per season in the final four seasons of the deal.
The pact's length matches a seven-year contract awarded to Kings center Anze Kopitar in 2008. Only Wayne Gretzky has signed a longer deal in the franchise's history -- an eight-year contract signed in 1988.
Johnson, in his fourth full year in the NHL, has racked up four goals and 27 helpers this season with 21 goals and 68 assists over 241 career contests.
Titans owner: Fisher will return as coach
NASHVILLE, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams says he's keeping Coach Jeff Fisher around for another year but expects to see improvements.
Adams cleared up Fisher's uncertain status Saturday, telling The Tennessean that the embattled coach will serve out the final year of his contract but hinting he remained on probation after the team finished at 6-10 after a 5-2 start.
The season was also marked by a feud between Fisher and quarterback Vince Young. The team announced last week that Young wouldn't be back, and Adams said it came down to a choice between the coach and the signal-caller.
"We couldn't keep both of them," he told the newspaper. "When you have a problem you have to fix it. The coach is a veteran guy, and Vince is a young guy, and Fisher is under contract and he didn't want to have Vince playing for him."
Adams added he never strongly considered firing Fisher, partly because the Titans would have been responsible for his $6.5 million salary.
