Report: Ochocinco signs with Dolphins
MIAMI, June 11 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco has signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins, his Web site and other sources reported Monday.
Ochocinco, a six-time Pro Bowl pick, "will now get a chance to finish his career in his home state," the player's OchoCinco News Network reported in a posting.
ESPN and NFL.com also confirmed the deal, saying a one-year contract was signed after he worked out with the Dolphins following his Thursday release from the New England Patriots.
The 34-year-old Miami native made 15 catches for 276 yards for New England last season.
Ochocinco logged six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2002 to 2007.
Derrick Mason retires as a Raven
BALTIMORE, June 11 (UPI) -- Wide receiver and punt return specialist Derrick Mason announced his retirement Monday, choosing to go out as a Baltimore Raven.
In six seasons with the Ravens, Mason became the all-time franchise leader in receiving yardage (5,777) and catches (471).
Mason owns the team's top three single-season reception records with 103 catches in 2007, 86 in 2005 and 80 in 2008.
But the 38-year-old was cut loose by the team amid acrimony last year. He was subsequently signed by the New York Jets and traded to the Houston Texans, finishing the 2012 season with 170 yards on 12 receptions in 12 games.
Mason considered a permanent retirement in 2009 after the death of close friend and former Tennessee Titans teammate Steve McNair.
He racked up 12,061 receiving yards and 66 touchdowns on 943 receptions in 230 games for four teams in his 15-year career, while also compiling 1,590 yards and two TDs on 182 career punt returns.
Originally drafted by Tennessee in 1997, he played eight seasons for the Titans.
Grizzlies owner strikes deal to sell team
MEMPHIS, June 11 (UPI) -- Memphis Grizzlies majority owner Michael Heisley announced Monday he has struck a deal to sell the team to Ubiquiti Networks founder Robert Pera.
Heisley said in a statement that Pera, a 34-year-old northern California billionaire, "has expressed a total commitment to build on our success in Memphis."
"I am confident that the franchise will continue its development toward being a perennial championship contender and an important member of the Memphis community," Heisley said.
Terms of the deal weren't announced but ESPN reported it was worth an estimated $360 million. It must be approved by the NBA Board of Governors, pass antitrust muster and clear other hurdles before it is consummated.
Pera, a former Apple engineer who left to start his own computer networking firm at age 25, said in a statement he was "excited about the opportunity to build on the work that has made the Memphis Grizzlies a highly competitive NBA team."
Clemens trial enters home stretch
WASHINGTON, June 11 (UPI) -- The defense rested Monday in the Washington perjury trial of former baseball star Roger Clemens.
Federal prosecutors began calling rebuttal witnesses after a former security director for the New York Yankees testified for the defense that he felt key prosecution witness Brian McNamee has "zero" credibility.
Gerald Laveroni, who said he saw McNamee on a daily basis in 2000-2001, was the last of 23 defense witnesses to testify on behalf of Clemens, who is charged with lying to Congress when he testified in 2008 he had never used performance-enhancing drugs.
McNamee testified last month that he had personally injected Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone repeatedly.
Clemens has hotly denied McNamee's allegation, though he did not do so in court. USA Today said Clemens told U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton outside the presence of the jury Monday he would not be taking the stand.
The newspaper said the rebuttal phase of the nine-week trial could be completed quickly enough that the case could go to the jury as early as Tuesday.
