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Rams claim Titus Young off waivers

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Wide receiver Titus Young, released this week by the Detroit Lions, was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Rams Tuesday.

The Rams decided to pick up 23-year-old Young one day after he was released by the Lions despite a controversial end to his stint in Detroit.

He missed Detroit's final six games in 2012 after getting into a fight with wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson along the sidelines during Detroit's Nov. 11 loss to Green Bay.

Young was sent home from practice by head Coach Jim Schwartz shortly thereafter and was later placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

He ended the season with 33 catches for 383 yards and four touchdowns after a dazzling 2011 rookie campaign during which he hauled down 48 passes for 607 yards and six touchdowns.

Cards GM: Carpenter likely out for 2013

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Oft-injured St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter probably won't play in the coming season, Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday.

The former Cy Young Award winner has experienced a setback in his rehabilitation from surgery to repair a nerve problem in his throwing shoulder and is "very unlikely" to pitch in 2013, Mozeliak said.

The 37-year-old is reported to be considering retirement, after missing most of last season with the ailment. He returned at the end of the season to make three starts as well as three more in the playoffs.

Although Carpenter hasn't yet made a decision on whether to continue, "at some point, he'll start reflecting on the next chapter of his life," Mozeliak said.

The right-hander earned the Cy Young award in 2005 and was Comeback Player of the Year in 2009 after battling elbow problems.

Carpenter played key roles in the Cardinals' World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. He sports a 144-94 overall record and a career 3.76 ERA over 15 seasons with the Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays.

Giants release veteran linebacker Boley

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The New York Giants have released veteran linebacker Michael Boley, the team announced Tuesday.

Boley had 355 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and three interceptions in 57 games (including 50 starts) over four seasons with the Giants after signing as a free agent in 2009.

The 30-year-old was a key player in New York's 2011 Super Bowl championship season and appeared in all 16 regular-season games in 2012, racking up 92 tackles and picking off three passes.

"Michael Boley was brought here as a fast, athletic, versatile linebacker," Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said. "We recognized his special skills were in coverage. He's a smart player who made some big plays for us."

Boley amassed 685 tackles, 9 1/2 sacks and eight interceptions in 121 career games (102 starts) with the Giants and the Atlanta Falcons.

Coach-teacher suspended after rant

ROGERSVILLE, Ala., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- An Alabama high school teacher and football coach was suspended for derogatory remarks about gays and first lady Michelle Obama, a school official said.

Bob Grisham, Lauderdale County High School psychology teacher and football coach, made the remarks in a debate-style classroom discussion of current affairs Jan. 27, NBC's "Today" program reported Tuesday.

Among other comments, recorded by a student, Grisham blamed the school's low-calorie lunches on "fat-butt Michelle Obama. Look at her. She looks like she weighs 185 or 190. She's overweight."

Grisham also mentioned his opinion of homosexuals, saying, "I don't believe in queers. I don't hate them as a person, but what they do is wrong and an abomination against God."

Grisham, who has taught at the school since 1991, admitted to the Florence Daily Times he misspoke during the class.

He has been suspended for 10 days without pay, will be barred from teaching, must attend sensitivity classes and will be assigned "other academic duties" for the rest of the semester, school superintendent Jennifer Gray said.

His coaching assignment was not addressed at Monday's Board of Education meeting, NBC said.