Report: Ravens trade Boldin to 49ers
BALTIMORE, March 11 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens have traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round draft pick, The Baltimore Sun reported Monday.
The newspaper, citing league sources with knowledge of the situation, said the 32-year-old Boldin was on the verge of being released by the reigning Super Bowl champions due to a contract impasse before he was dealt.
The Ravens were asking him to take a $2 million cut in his $6 million base salary, the newspaper said.
The reported deal has instead sent Boldin to the team the Ravens defeated in last month's Super Bowl XLVII, who are coached by Jim Harbaugh, the brother of Ravens Coach John Harbaugh.
Boldin hauled down 65 passes for 921 yards with four touchdowns this past season. He also played a big role for Baltimore in the post-season, making 22 grabs for 380 yards with four scores in four playoff games.
He made six grabs for 104 yards with a score in the Super Bowl.
Over 10 NFL seasons with Arizona and the Ravens, Boldin has 772 receptions for 10,165 yards with 58 touchdowns.
Chipper Jones to Yankees: 'No thanks'
TAMPA, Fla., March 11 (UPI) -- Former Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said Monday he's not coming out of retirement to play for the injury-plagued New York Yankees.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters Monday at team's spring training home in Tampa, Fla., he'd be interested in talking to the likely future Hall of Famer about a spot on the team.
But Jones, who retired last season after 19 years with the Braves, indicated via Twitter he wasn't about to put the cleats on again.
"Enough with the rumors! While I am flattered about the speculation of being enticed out of retirement, I'm happy with life as a bad golfer!" Jones wrote.
Cashman said he has been reaching out to a variety of veteran players for help after the Yankees lost regular first baseman Mark Teixeira for 10 weeks with a strained wrist tendon, The New York Times reported.
The GM also said he has asked former Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins star Derrek Lee if he'd be willing to come out of retirement, but isn't optimistic the former left-handed slugger would accept.
Jets sign veteran quarterback Garrard
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., March 11 (UPI) -- Veteran NFL quarterback David Garrard has signed a contract with the New York Jets, the team announced Monday.
The 35-year-old Garrard, who hasn't played in two years, is expected to provide competition for Mark Sanchez, who was benched toward the end of last season after a long ineffective spell.
Greg McElroy and Tim Tebow are also in the quarterback mix for the Jets.
The terms Garrard's contract weren't announced.
He last played for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2010, when he threw for 2,734 yards and 23 touchdowns in 14 contests. He was cut from the team before the 2011 season.
The nine-year veteran underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee last season and was released by the Miami Dolphins during pre-season camp.
Garrard has thrown for 16,003 yards, 89 touchdowns and 54 interceptions in 86 career games.
Two USC basketballers suspended
LOS ANGELES, March 11 (UPI) -- The University of Southern California said Monday it has suspended basketball players James Blasczyk and Dewayne Dedmon for their alleged roles in a fight.
"James Blasczyk and Dewayne Dedmon have been suspended indefinitely from all team activities because of a violation of a team rule," USC Trojans Coach Bob Cantu said in a statement released to the Los Angeles Times.
The move came after police in Spokane, Wash., said officers were called to a fight involving 20 to 30 people in the city's downtown early Sunday following the Trojans' loss to Washington State.
"Witnesses told us that they believe that it was USC basketball players that were involved, but we are still in the very preliminary portion of our investigation," Spokane Police Communications Director Cotton told the newspaper.
USC was "aware of the Spokane investigation into an alleged incident involving those players and we are cooperating with the authorities to determine the facts," Cantu said. "Until we learn all the facts, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
