Haynesworth appears on road rage charge
RENTON, Va., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth Saturday answered simple assault charges stemming from an alleged road-rage incident.
Haynesworth appeared in the Fairfax County Police station in Reston, Va., police station Saturday to sign a summons and talk to police about the misdemeanor assault charge, Comcast SportsNet Washington reported.
Police said the driver of a 1994 Honda Civic was punched in the nose after becoming involved in an altercation with a man driving a pickup Wednesday in Reston.
Authorities told The Washington Post the Civic driver made a "non-verbal hand gesture" because he believed the pickup driver was tailgating him. While both men were at a stoplight, the pickup driver emerged from his vehicle, had a brief exchange of words with the driver of the Civic and hit him.
The Civic driver identified himself as Joel Velazques, 38, of Leesburg, Va., to ESPN and claimed it was Haynesworth who punched him.
Haynesworth's agent told the Post there was no assault and that the allegations were "ridiculous."
Titans name Gray defensive coordinator
NASHVILLE, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray will been hired in the same capacity by Tennessee, the Titans said Saturday.
Gray was the Bills' defensive chief from 2001-05. He also served as secondary coach for the Washington Redskins from 2005-09 and for the Seattle Seahawks last season.
While with Buffalo, the Bills ranked second in the NFL for fewest yards allowed in 2003 and 2004. The 2004 Bills led the league in takeaways with 39 and was among the NFL's best red-zone defenders.
"Jerry has a number of qualities that I think are assets for this role," new Titans head Coach Mike Munchak said. "He played the game, he coached a position group and he has coordinating experience."
Gray made the Pro Bowl four times as a defensive back during a nine-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams (1985-91), Houston Oilers (1992) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993).
Redskins' Banks OK after knife wound
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Washington Redskins kick returner Brandon Banks was treated and released for a stab wound suffered Saturday helping a friend outside a bar, his agent said.
Bank's agent, James Gould, told The Washington Post the player was helping the club's bouncer break up an early-morning fight between a knife-wielding man identified as Jason David Shorter of Lanham, Md., and Banks's friend, Christopher Nixon, 24.
Banks was struck in the abdomen when Shorter allegedly swung wildly with the knife, Gould said, adding that Banks was briefly hospitalized and released after receiving stitches for a cut.
The Post said Shorter was in the custody of District of Columbia police facing initial charges of assault with the intent to kill.
Canada's Guay wins Worlds men's downhill
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Erik Guay defended Canada men's downhill title Saturday by winning the event at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Germany.
Guay overcame steadily softening snow conditions on the rugged Kandahar course at Garmisch and finished with a time of 1 minute, 58.41 seconds, about one-third of a second ahead of Switzerland's Didier Cuche.
Christof Innerhofer of Italy took the bronze with Romed Baumann of Austria in fourth.
Steven Nyman was to top American in 13th place. Bode Miller clipped a gate early in his run and took 15th with a time of 2:00.38.
Nyman said Kandahar began falling apart early as the temperatures warmed up. "It's bumpy, it's icy, it's dark, that's the way Garmisch is," Nyman observed. "Guay won his first World Cup here and it was on this type of snow. He's the guy I look at for just clean, solid skiing and that's what won the race today."
