La Crosse Tribune Sports News

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — NFL coaches preach all summer about keeping the best 53 players on the roster. Sometimes, however, money gets in the way and decisions are made based as much on payroll as performance.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs left-hander Jon Lester hasn't allowed a hit through six innings against the San Francisco Giants.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Looking at the New York Giants' preseason statistics, wide receiver Tavarres King seemingly deserves a spot on the 53-man roster.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty has a bruised right shoulder, and coach Todd Bowles says an MRI exam revealed no structural damage.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Right-hander Mat Latos and lefty reliever Sean Burnett are among seven players added to the Washington Nationals' active roster as September call-ups.

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino rejoined the New York Yankees ahead of Friday night's game against Baltimore after three minor league appearances.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints coach Sean Payton foresees a comeback for the kickoff return in the NFL this season — and he's not alone.

New England Patriots starting defensive end Rob Ninkovich will serve a four-game suspension to start the 2016 season after testing positive for a substance banned by the NFL.

Mike Mularkey has made eliminating penalties a focus for the Tennessee Titans since the offseason program started. The coach already is seeing an early payoff.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Richmond coach Danny Rocco spent five years as an assistant coach at Virginia and probably knows Scott Stadium better than new Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall.

His plans for retirement? Run son Boomer's Instagram account.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky enters Saturday night's opener against Southern Mississippi with more urgency than usual.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers have hired former captain Chris Drury as their assistant general manager.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Brock Turner, whose six-month sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at Stanford University sparked national outcry, was released from jail Friday morning after serving half his six-month sentence.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Former Redskins defensive lineman Stephen Paea says he has signed with the Browns.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — A person with direct knowledge of the decision confirms to The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills have cut veteran linebacker Manny Lawson.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois coach Lovie Smith says he does not know much about Murray State.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — It's time to find out how Navy will fare without record-setting quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Heisman Trophy campaign for LSU's Leonard Fournette begins Saturday at Lambeau Field.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick says he'll do more than refuse to stand during the National Anthem to protest racial inequality in America, vowing Thursday night after his second week of boycotts to pledge $1 million to organizations supporting his cause.