FOOTBALL
Cowboys release DT
The Dallas Cowboys released defensive tackle Dontari Poe on Wednesday, cutting ties with a veteran expected to play a key role for a disappointing defense now going through a midseason shakeup. Poe was also the first Dallas player to kneel during the national anthem in protest of issues of racial injustice and police brutality. Owner Jerry Jones has been outspoken against such protests, at one time threatening to bench any Dallas players who did. Jones softened his stance with the national reckoning over issues of race sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota. Poe was the only Dallas player to kneel in the first seven games. Poe and defensive back Daryl Worley were released a day after the Cowboys (2-5) traded defensive end Everson Griffen to Detroit for a conditional draft pick in 2021. All three were free agents added during the offseason and are now among five additions who won't make it to the end of the season in Dallas.
Seahawks trade for Dunlap
In dire need of defensive help, the Seattle Seahawks acquired defensive end Carlos Dunlap from the Bengals on Wednesday. Cincinnati announced the trade, but Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said he needed to wait before making a comment about the deal. But he did acknowledge the issues with Seattle's pass rush and the need for it to improve. Dunlap was unhappy with his situation in Cincinnati, to the point of briefly putting his house for sale on social media last weekend. The Bengals found a willing buyer in Seattle. The Seahawks have been in desperate need to solve their pass rush issues that have been a key part of a defense that ranks last in the league in yards allowed and passing yards allowed through the first six games of the season. Dunlap, 31, has spent his entire career with the Bengals and was a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and 2016. He had 46 sacks between 2015-19, including eight last year.
Pats put Copeland on IR
The Patriots have placed linebacker Brandon Copeland on injured reserve, the latest blow to a team that has lost three in a row. New England announced the move Wednesday. The Patriots also placed tight end Jake Burt on practice squad injured reserve. Copeland has appeared in six games with four starts this season, totaling 10 tackles. He signed with New England in March after two seasons with the Jets.
BASKETBALL
Rockets to hire Silas
The Houston Rockets and Stephen Silas have an agreement for the Dallas assistant to replace Mike D'Antoni as coach, multiple people with knowledge of the deal said Wednesday. The hiring of the son of former NBA player and coach Paul Silas completes a significant change in the leadership of the team with the league's longest active playoff streak after Daryl Morey decided not to return as general manager after D'Antoni's departure. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement has been made. The new combination of coach and general manager comes after eight consecutive trips to the playoffs for the Rockets, all since acquiring James Harden in an offseason trade with Oklahoma City in 2012. Morey was the architect of those rosters, and D'Antoni led the Rockets to a franchise-record 65 wins in 2017-18 before a Game 7 loss to Golden State in the Western Conference finals.
Raptors' rookie arrested
Toronto Raptors rookie Terence Davis was arrested in New York on charges including assault after police say he hit his girlfriend in the face. The incident occurred Tuesday night at a luxury high-rise in midtown Manhattan, where a 20-year-old woman told police she went to visit her boyfriend and the two got into a verbal dispute, a police spokesman said. Davis then hit the woman in the face, hurting her eye, and grabbed her phone and broke its screen, detective Sophia Mason said in a statement. According to a criminal complaint, the woman's son was standing next to her when Davis hit her, causing the son to fall. Davis was arraigned Wednesday on misdemeanor charges of assault, attempted assault, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, aggravated harassment and harassment.
BASEBALL
Cards decline Wong's option
The St. Louis Cardinals have declined Kolten Wong's $12.5 million option, making the Gold Glove second baseman a free agent. The 30-year-old Wong will receive a $1 million buyout. Wong, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, made his big-league debut in 2013 and spent his first eight seasons with St. Louis. Wong hit. 265 with a home run and 16 RBI in 53 games during the pandemic-shortened season, helping the Cardinals make the playoffs for the second consecutive year. They were eliminated by San Diego in the NL wild-card round. Wong won his first Gold Glove last year. He is a finalist again this season.
Murphy out in Colorado
The Colorado Rockies declined infielder Daniel Murphy's $12 million option on Wednesday, bringing a close to his two-year stint with the team. Murphy will receive a $6 million buyout. The 35-year-old never flourished at hitter-friendly Coors Field after signing a $24 million, two-year deal -- with a mutual option for '21 -- in December 2018. He hit .269 with 16 home runs and 94 RBI in 172 games with the Rockies. He dealt with a finger injury in his first season in Denver.
TENNIS
Djokovic advances in Vienna
Novak Djokovic saved four set points in a 7-6 (11), 6-3 win over Borna Coric on Wednesday in Vienna to reach the Erste Bank Open quarterfinals and move one step closer to sealing the year-end No. 1 ranking. Djokovic can lock up the top position by winning the title on Sunday. Otherwise Rafael Nadal could still mathematically overtake him, although the Spaniard would need to enter a tournament in Bulgaria next month in order to do so. Kevin Anderson, who won the event in 2018, also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Pablo Carreno Busta. Earlier Wednesday, third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas and No. 4 Daniil Medvedev won their first-round matches.