Associated Press
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. ó The Denver Broncos said they will grant quarterback Jay Cutler his request and try to trade him.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen released a statement saying both he and coach Josh McDaniels had been unable to get Cutler to call them back over the last 10 days. Bowlen said he spoke with Cutler’s agent, Bus Cook, on Tuesday and came away convinced “that Jay no longer has any desire to play for the Denver Broncos.”
* NEW YORK ó A gun possession case against Plaxico Burress was adjourned until June unless he reaches a plea agreement with prosecutors to resolve the matter sooner.
* FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. ó Michael Vick has agreed to pay the Atlanta Falcons at least $6.5 million as part of his bankruptcy case, clearing the way for the team to release him before training camp.
The settlement was reached ahead of Vick’s bankruptcy hearing in Virginia on Thursday. The suspended quarterback arrived in his home state Monday afternoon and was being held at Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, Va.n PHILADELPHIA ó Restricted free agent offensive lineman Nick Cole has agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles.
* EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. ó The Vikings have re-signed backup defensive lineman Otis Grigsby to a one-year deal.
* INDIANAPOLIS ó Former Colts coach Tony Dungy has been invited to join a White House faith-based advisory council.
HOCKEY
* COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Raffi Torres scored in the third period and Steve Mason made the go-ahead goal stand up as the Blue Jackets beat Nashville 2-1.
* BOSTON ó Manny Fernandez had 24 saves as Boston beat Tampa 3-1. Blake Wheeler and Chuck Kobasew scored ó becoming Boston’s seventh and eighth 20-goal scorers.
* SUNRISE, Fla. ó Richard Zednik and Bryan McCabe scored power-play goals late in the second period to lift Florida to a 5-2 win over Ottawa.
* MONTREAL ó Alex Kovalev scored for a fourth straight game and assisted on Andrei Markov’s power-play goal to lead Montreal to a 4-1 win over Chicago.
* ST. PAUL, Minn. ó Henrik Sedin scored with a minute left in overtime and Roberto Luongo stopped 33 shots, leading Vancouver over Minnesota 2-1.
* TORONTO ó The son of one of the Hanson brothers from the movie “Slap Shot” has joined the Maple Leafs.
Christian Hanson, the son of Dave from “Slap Shot” movie fame, signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the team. He recently completed his college career at Notre Dame and was an undrafted free agent.
* TORONTO ó The Hockey Hall of Fame is changing its rules in a move that signals it is ready to admit its first female player. Starting in 2010, the Hall will consider male and female candidates separately.
GOLF
MADRID ó Pale and thin but resilient as ever, Seve Ballesteros says he’s been give the mulligan of his life.
Speaking for the first time about his battle with cancer, Ballesteros appeared in photos in the sports daily Marca.
He has lost 33 pounds since being admitted to Madrid’s La Paz hospital in October. The 51-year-old golf great has had four operations and chemotherapy to destroy a malignant brain tumor.
“This is the most important shot of my life. I’m fighting to win my sixth major,” the five-time major winner said. “Life has given me a second chance.”
* MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. ó Dustin Johnson, 24, has been arrested on a charge of driving under the influence.
Johnson won at Pebble Beach in February, his second career PGA Tour win. He stands ninth in this year’s FedEx Cup race.
TENNIS
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. ó Novak Djokovic reached the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open by beating Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2.
Roger Federer beat Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-2 and will face Andy Roddick today in a quarterfinal. Roddick beat Gael Monfils 7-6 (2), 6-4.
In other fourth-round matches, Andy Murray drubbed Viktor Troicki 6-1, 6-0. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 against Gilles Simon.
* ROME ó Filippo Volandri’s three-month ban for using an asthma drug has been lifted following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
TRACK & FIELD
INDIANAPOLIS ó Usain Bolt and the rest of Jamaica’s sprint crew are ready to take on the best from the USA.
In a bid to boost track and field’s profile in non-Olympic years, the two countries will square off in the USA vs. Jamaica Challenge Series starting in 2010.
COLLEGES
KUTZTOWN, Pa. ó Kutztown University has cut its men’s soccer and swimming programs to save money.
OBITS
ROYAL OAK, Mich. ó Gus Cifelli, a star tackle who helped lead Notre Dame to three national championships and the Detroit Lions to the 1952 NFL title, has died. He was 84.
* SALT LAKE CITY ó Former Major League Baseball player and manager Herman Franks has died. He was 95.
Franks died Monday of congestive heart failure at his home in Salt Lake City, said Cyndy Wright, his daughter.