LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL
Foster has surgery
A person with knowledge of the procedure said Houston Texans Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2010, has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Foster nor the team has publicly disclosed the details, called Wednesday’s procedure “minor” and said Foster was already walking again. Foster, 24, rushed for 1,616 yards in his first full season starting for the Texans. The undrafted free agent who signed with the Texans in May 2009 also led the league in yards from scrimmage (2,220), rushing touchdowns (16) and first downs gained (123), all single-season franchise records.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed a franchise tag on Pro Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis. The Jaguars and Lewis will continue to negotiate a long-term deal, but the non-exclusive tag essentially assures both sides at least another season together. For now, they have until March 4 to agree on a contract. That’s when the current collective bargaining agreement expires, ending all negotiations. Lewis, a first-round draft pick in 2006, was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2010. He caught 58 passes for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He ranked seventh in the NFL in touchdown receptions.
Linebacker LaMarr Woodley has signed Pittsburgh’s one-year franchise tender offer, the Steelers announced Wednesday. In the final season of his rookie contract, Woodley, 26, made $550,000. But next season, he’ll stand to make more than $10 million because of the tag and his position. The Steelers could also sign him to a long term contract. Woodley, a former second-round pick out of Michigan, had 50 tackles, 10 sacks and 2 interceptions last season, helping the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game.
BASKETBALL
Hawks acquire Hinrich
The struggling Atlanta Hawks acquired guard Kirk Hinrich from the Washington Wizards in a five player trade Wednesday, upgrading their back court for the playoff run. The Hawks also received forward Hilton Armstrong in exchange for guard Mike Bibby, rookie guard Jordan Crawford, swingman Maurice Evans and a first-round pick in this year’s draft. Hinrich was averaging 11.1 points and 4.4 assists as on off-and-on starter, frequently playing alongside rookie star John Wall. Bibby was averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 assists. Evans averaged 4.5 points, while Crawford averaged 4.2.
The Golden State Warriors have traded Brandan Wright and Dan Gadzuric to the New Jersey Nets for Troy Murphy and a 2012 second-round pick. The teams made the announcement Wednesday night. Golden State is expected to buy out Murphy’s contract to make him a free agent. Wright’s and Gadzuric’s contracts - worth about $11 million combined this year, close to the same as Murphy’s - also expire at the end of the season and help New Jersey clear salary cap space.
The New Orleans Hornets and Sacramento Kings have agreed on a trade, with the Kings sending forward Carl Landry to the Hornets in exchange for shooting guard Marcus Thornton and cash considerations. The 6-9 Landry, a fourth-year pro out of Purdue, has averaged 11.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this season. He was acquired by the Kings in the middle of last season but has started only 16 games this season while vying for playing time with rookie DeMarcus Cousins. Thornton is averaging 7.8 points in 16.2 minutes per game.
TENNIS
Federer, Djokovic advance
Four-time champion Roger Federer and third-ranked Novak Djokovic reached the quarterfinals of the Dubai (United Arab Emirates) Championships. Federer defeated Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-3, 6-4 in just over an hour, while Australian Open champion Djokovic overcame the net play of Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Federer’s next opponent will be Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine while Djokovic will play German Florian Mayer in the quarterfinals. Also, Tomas Berdych beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 7-6 (5). Eighth-seeded Ernests Gulbis of Latvia was upset by Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.
Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki defeated 2006 champion Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha. Wozniacki joined No. 2 Vera Zvonareva and No. 5 Jelena Jankovic as the remaining seeded players in the tournament. Zvonareva downed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2, and Jankovic defeated Sania Mirza of India 6-0, 6-1. Wozniacki will play Flavia Pennetta of Italy, who earned a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.
BASKETBALL
Nets acquire Williams from Jazz
SALT LAKE CITY - The New Jersey Nets finally landed a big-name All-Star in a blockbuster trade that gives them point guard Deron Williams and sends rookie Derrick Favors and point guard Devin Harris to the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz also will receive the Nets’ first-round pick in 2011,which could be a lottery pick, cash and Golden State’s 2012 first-round draft pick.
“I feel Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA,” Nets General Manager Billy King said in announcing the blockbuster deal Wednesday afternoon. “I spoke with Deron and he’s excited about it. He understands where we are and where we want to go.
“In this league, you win with point guards. Jason Kidd turned this franchise around when he came, and we feel Deron can do the same thing.”
The Nets hope Williams will sign a contract extension with them, which they can offer this summer. If so, he would become the face of their franchise when they move into their new arena in Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season.
Williams, 6-3, was selected third overall in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft by Utah from Illinois. He is in his sixth NBA season and holds career averages of 17.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists.
In 439 career games, including 406 starts, he has shot 46.6 percent from the field, 35.8 from three-point range and 80.8 from the free throw line. In 44 career postseason games, Williams has averaged 21.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.2 steals.
The deal comes two days after the Nets failed to land Carmelo Anthony, who was acquired bythe New York Knicks as part of a blockbuster deal with the Denver Nuggets.
King said the deal was discussed weeks ago with Utah General Manager Kevin O’Connor but was brokered after the Knicks officially acquired Anthony from the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
Harris, a former All-Star point guard, and Favors, the No. 3 pick in the draft, were part of the package the Nets were offering the Nuggets all season for Anthony.
Sports, Pages 20 on 02/24/2011