Rivers named to FCS defensive POY watch list

July 16, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Less than a week after being named a preseason All-American, junior defensive end Derek Rivers has been named to the 2015 STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.

Rivers was selected to the preseason STATS FCS All-America Third-Team. Last year, Rivers was a first-team all-conference selection. He had 14 sacks, the third-most by a player in school history and the most by a Penguin in the regular season. Of his 14 sacks, 10 came in Missouri Valley Football Conference action. He had 50 tackles on the season, 41 of which came in league play.

Cowboys, Dez Bryant agree to new deal

A person close to the negotiations says Dez Bryant has agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys.

The deal with the All-Pro receiver broke a stalemate that lasted months, and ended about an hour before the Wednesday deadline to get a multiyear deal done. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced, provided the terms to The Associated Press.

Bryant had threatened to skip training camp and regular-season games without a contract to replace the $12.8 million offer for one year he had under the franchise tag.

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas signed an identical five-year $70 million contract with the Denver Broncos just before the deadline

UK, Stoops aim for bowl game in 3rd year

Kentucky coach, and Cardinal Mooney High School graduate, Mark Stoops said he’s learned a lot of “valuable lessons” during his first two years leading the Wildcats and feels the program will keep moving forward in year three.

Kentucky fell one win short of bowl eligibility in 2014, losing its final six games after starting the season with a 5-1 record. The Wildcats return 14 starters from that team, including seven on both sides of the ball.

Junior quarterback Patrick Towles is back after throwing for 2,718 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, but Stoops says Wednesday at SEC Media Days that he’s still competing for this year’s starting job with freshman Drew Barker.

Saban: NFL evals hurt Alabama chemistry

Alabama coach Nick Saban thinks something happened to the team’s chemistry from the Southeastern Conference championship game to the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State.

Saban said Wednesday at SEC media day one factor was that six juniors received their evaluations for the NFL draft during that period. He wants that date pushed back until after the final game to prevent possible distractions.

Pens sign F Bennett, rookie Simon to deals

Beau Bennett is sticking in Pittsburgh. The Penguins signed the restricted free-agent forward to a one-year, $800,000 deal Wednesday.

Bennett had four goals and eight assists in 49 games last season for the Penguins, but the 23-year-old has struggled to stay healthy or play with any real consistency during his brief career. He played 26 games during his rookie season in 2012-13 and 21 in 2013-14. He has 10 goals and 23 assists in 96 career games while spending an extensive amount of time on injured reserve with various injuries.

The Penguins also signed rookie forward Dominik Simon to a three-year entry deal. Pittsburgh took Simon in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.

Staff/wire report