No plea deal reached in Simpson trial
CONVINGTON, Ohio, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- No plea agreement has been reached in the alleged marijuana-trafficking case against Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jerome Simpson, a prosecutor said.
Simpson, free on $2,500 cash bond, appeared in Kenton County Circuit Court for a hearing Monday, and Judge Gregory Bartlett set another status hearing for March 1, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
Simpson, 26, pleaded not guilty in January to trafficking more than 8 ounces of marijuana. Authorities said they tracked a package of marijuana that had originated in Eureka, Calif., to his Crestview Hills, Ohio, townhouse.
If convicted, he could face a possible five years in prison but the Enquirer said most first-time offenders in Kenton County do not serve that much time.
Simpson did not speak to reporters.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Casey Burns said no plea agreement had been reached.
Burr Travis, Simpson's attorney, said the package was not addressed to Simpson but did not say to whom it was addressed. Travis said the package contained 2.9 pounds of marijuana.
Simpson, a second-round draft pick in 2008, had struggled for three seasons but last season started in 14 games and played in all 16. He was second on the team in yards, 725, and third in receptions, 50, during the regular season.
Cubs deal Chris Carpenter to Red Sox
FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Pitcher Chris Carpenter has been traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Boston Red Sox, the American League team said Tuesday.
Carpenter, a 26-year-old right-hander, made his major league debut with the Cubs last season. He appeared in 10 games but didn't get a decision. His earned run average was 2.79.
He was 21-19 with two saves and a 3.62 ERA over 96 minor league games (60 starts) in the Cubs' organization.
The Red Sox will send the Cubs a player to be named later in exchange for Carpenter.
The trade completes the compensation the Cubs had to make to Boston for allowing former Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein to move to the Cubs as president of baseball operations.
"I am pleased that the Cubs and Red Sox have resolved this matter," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "It has always been my preference that clubs resolve matters like this amongst themselves, as they understand their unique circumstances better than anyone else could."
Boston also placed pitcher Bobby Jenks on the 60-day disabled list. Jenks, 30, underwent back surgery Dec. 30. He was 2-2 with a 6.32 ERA last season in 19 games last season. He was on the disabled list three times in 2011.
Hawks' Johnson out with knee injury
ATLANTA, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson, an all-star pick this year and the team's leading scorer, will miss two games due to a knee injury, the NBA team said Tuesday.
Johnson has tendinitis in his left knee and was originally listed as doubtful for Atlanta's game Wednesday at New York. But team officials said Tuesday Johnson would be held out of that game and Thursday's contest with Orlando.
He was scheduled to have additional tests on the knee this week.
Johnson left Monday's game against Chicago because of the injury.
Johnson is averaging a team-best 17.6 points a game. He was named a reserve for the Eastern Conference all-star team.
The Hawks said they expect Marvin Williams will return to the team before Wednesday's game. Williams missed Monday's game because of a family member's funeral. He is averaging 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds over 28 games this season.
Peng, Ivanovic advance on Dubai upsets
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Peng Shuai and Ana Ivanovic both posted upset wins Tuesday as first-round play was completed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Peng was a 6-4, 6-3 winner over sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli. Bartoli grabbed 3-0 leads in each set but Peng answered each time. She won the last three games of the first set and six straight in the second to advance to the second round.
Ivanovic topped No. 7-seeded Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 7-5. She had 23 break-point opportunities over nine games, finishing off two in the first set and three in the second.
Fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska escaped with a 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 7-5 win over Aleksandra Wozniak in a match that took more than 2 1/2 hours. She had at least two breaks in each set.
Qualifiers Simona Halep and Iveta Benesova Tuesday moved into the second round against seeded players. Halep defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-2 and will go against No. 3-seeded Caroline Wozniacki. Benesova was up 3-1 when Dominika Cibulkova retired with a hamstring injury. Benesova next draws ninth-seeded Sabine Lisicki.
Also Tuesday, Daniela Hantuchova edged Polona Hercog 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) and Lucie Safarova beat Petra Martic 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
