Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested Wednesday on aggravated assault charges in connection with two altercations at his home in July involving a woman and their 18-month-old child, the latest in a string of such cases involving NFL players.
The Cardinals said they became aware of the situation Wednesday and are cooperating with the investigation.
The NFL said the case will be reviewed under the league's personal-conduct policy.
One of the counts was "aggravated assault causing a fracture" involving the unidentified 27-year-old victim. Police said they were carrying out a search warrant of Dwyer's residence in pursuit of more evidence.
Police said that in interviews with detectives, the 25-year-old player denied committing any assault.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Panthers finally made a decision on Greg Hardy: the Pro Bowl defensive end won't play for Carolina until his domestic violence case is resolved.
The team removed Hardy from its active roster Wednesday, ending three weeks of indecision regarding his playing status. He played Week 1 and sat out Week 2.
The Panthers placed Hardy on the exempt-commissioner's permission list just hours after the Vikings took a similar disciplinary approach with Adrian Peterson. The Minnesota running back is addressing child abuse charges in Texas.
Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats after the victim said the 6-foot-4, 275-pound player threw her in the bathtub and onto a sofa covered with guns before threatening to kill her. Hardy is appealing the ruling, and a jury trial is set for Nov. 17.
He will continue to be paid his weekly salary of $770,588.23. Hardy also is allowed to be at the team facility, but won't practice.
Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said he expects Hardy to be out at least through November.
The NFL Players Association released a statement Wednesday saying, "Today, Greg Hardy made a decision to take a voluntary leave of absence to resolve his pending legal issue. The NFLPA and NFL worked with Greg, his representatives and the Carolina Panthers on this matter. We support this decision and hope the best for him and his family."
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL will have HGH testing, perhaps as early as the end of this month.
And of more immediate impact — this weekend — the new performance-enhancing drug policy the league and players' union agreed to Wednesday will allow the Broncos' Wes Welker and two other suspended players to return to the field.
Welker, Dallas Cowboys defensive back Orlando Scandrick and St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey had been suspended for four games. All can return Sunday under the new rules in which players who test positive for banned stimulants in the offseason will no longer be suspended. Instead, they will be referred to the substance abuse program.
Players who test positive for banned stimulants during the season will continue to get four-game suspensions.
The league and union are also nearing an agreement on changes to the substance abuse policy. That could reduce Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon's season-long ban.
The new rules also change the length of suspensions. Previously, all first-time violations of the performance-enhancing drug policy resulted in at least a four-game suspension.
Now, use of a diuretic or masking agent will result in a two-game suspension. The punishment for steroids, in-season use of stimulants, HGH or other banned substances is four games. Evidence of an attempt to manipulate a test is a six-game suspension.
A second violation will result in a 10-game ban, up from a minimum of eight games. A third violation is at least a two-year suspension. Before, the ban was at least a year.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim's Pegula's bid to buy the Buffalo Bills for an NFL-record $1.4 billion was unanimously approved by the league's finance committee.
The vote conducted Wednesday clears the way for NFL owners to formally approve the sale at league meetings next month. The Pegulas will require three-quarters majority approval from the 32 owners, including the trust overseeing late Bills owner Ralph Wilson's estate.
NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman provided the update shortly after the Pegulas' bid was approved at the meeting in New York.
BASEBALL
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels clinched the AL West title Wednesday night, getting seven dominant innings of one-hit ball from C.J. Wilson in a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
C.J. Cron hit a three-run homer for the major league-leading Angels (95-57), who wrapped up their first division crown since 2009 when Oakland lost to Texas about an hour after Los Angeles' game ended.
The Angels stayed in their clubhouse while the Rangers rallied in the ninth inning, but they stormed onto the Angel Stadium field after the final out in Oakland for a champagne party with several thousand fans who stuck around.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Jameis Winston will be a spectator in the first half of Florida State's showdown against Clemson on Saturday after the quarterback made "offensive and vulgar" comments about women — the latest embarrassment in a growing list of poor decisions off the field.
Florida State interim President Dr. Garnett S. Stokes and athletic director Stan Wilcox announced in a joint statement Wednesday that Winston also will undergo internal discipline, but didn't provide details of the punishment.
Several students tweeted Winston stood on campus Tuesday and shouted a lascivious comment about female anatomy that may have derived from an internet meme.
The 20-year-old Winston addressed his inappropriate comments before Wednesday's practice at his weekly press conference, saying: "I have to tone it down."
GOLF
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Tallent and Bryan Norton each won two matches Wednesday in the U.S. Senior Amateur to advance to the final at Big Canyon.
The 61-year-old Tallent, from Vienna, Virginia, beat Michael Turner of Sherman Oaks, California, 6 and 5 in the quarterfinals and topped Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, South Carolina, 3 and 1 in the semifinals.
Tallent, the runner-up in 2010, survived a 15-for-13 playoff Monday to advance to match play in the event for players 55 and older. He played basketball at George Washington and was drafted by the Washington Bullets.
Norton, a 55-year-old reinstated amateur from Overland Park, Kansas, beat Peter Wegmann of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals and edged Randal Lewis of Alma, Michigan, 2 and 1 in the semifinals
In the other quarterfinals, Cloninger beat Frank Dial of Auburn, Alabama, 3 and 2, and Lewis topped Jack Hall of Savannah, Georgia, 2 and 1.
DEAL, N.J. (AP) — Joan Higgins and Canada's Judith Kyrinis advanced to the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur final, winning two matches Wednesday at Hollywood Golf Club.
The 58-year-old Higgins, a former University of Wisconsin tennis player who lives in Glendora, California, beat Canada's Helene Chartrand 1 up in the morning quarterfinals and topped Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho, 2 and 1 in the semifinals.
The 50-year-old Kyrinis, a registered nurse in Toronto, had two 3-and-2 victories over past champions. She beat 2010 winner Mina Hardin of Mexico in the quarterfinals and 2011 winner Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Oregon, in the semifinals.
In the other quarterfinals, Markle routed Susan West of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 7 and 6, and Frohnmayer edged Kim Eaton of Tempe, Arizona, 2 and 1.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
