Red Claws acquire former Delaware star
PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Red Claws have acquired Davon Usher from the available player pool. Usher, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, has joined the Red Claws and will wear No. 14.
Last season, Usher played overseas, playing 16 games for Keflavik (Iceland), averaging 23.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He also played five games for Roseto (Italy), averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Usher was the star of the University of Delaware Blue Hens for the 2013-14 season, averaging 21.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
The Red Claws return to action 1 p.m. Thursday for a New Year’s Eve matinee against the Texas Legends. Maine then plays Saturday against Santa Cruz and Sunday against Delaware. All games are at the Portland Expo.
Bills staying with Ryan
Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan will have at least one more year to turn around the team.
Owner Terry Pegula put an end to any speculation about Ryan’s job security in announcing that the coach will return in 2016, along with general manager Doug Whaley.
The Bills hired Ryan after he was fired by the New York Jets last offseason, but Buffalo has been highly inconsistent as it enters its season finale with a 7-8 record.
Pegula, along with wife Kim and team president Russ Brandon, will work with Ryan and Whaley to improve a franchise that will miss out on the postseason for the 16th consecutive season.
Ravens WR Smith Sr. not ready to retire
OWINGS MILLS, Maryland — Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. announced Wednesday that he changed his decision to retire and will be return for another season in 2016.
Smith, entering the final year of a three-year, $10.5 million deal and scheduled to make $3 million in 2016, said on Twitter: “Wit the blessing of My Family, Friends & Fans!! 2016 Let’s give’em Hell.”
The Ravens expected Smith to come back after he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on Nov. 1 against the San Diego Chargers. Smith had to be carried off the field with a towel over his face, unable to put any weight on his right leg.
The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Smith currently ranks No. 11 on the NFL’s all-time receiving list with 13,392 yards and he could finish in the top five if he exceeds 1,195 yards in 2016, according to ESPN.com.
Smith, 36, the oldest receiver in the NFL, announced four months ago at training camp that he would retire at the end of the 2015 season.
Titans Mariota won’t play finale
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota’s rookie season is over, interim coach Mike Mularkey confirmed.
Mularkey said it was “not worth the risk” to have Mariota play in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts because of his knee injury.
Mariota, the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, suffered a sprained MCL in the Titans’ 33-16 Week 15 loss to the New England Patriots on Dec. 20. He sat out the 34-16 loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday.
Devils sign goaltender
The New Jersey Devils signed goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a three-year entry-level contract on Wednesday.
Blackwood, 19, was selected by New Jersey in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2015 NHL draft.
Now in his third season with Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League, the native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, leads the league in save-percentage (.932), is second with a 2.36 goals-against average and is tied for fifth with 16 wins in 24 appearances.
The Devils also placed forward Jacob Josefson on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. The move is retroactive to Dec. 26.
