SPORTS DIGEST || Harding’s Daniels signs with Patriots

Harding’s Daniels signs with Patriots

Warren Harding graduate LeShun Daniels Jr. has signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. The Iowa running back rushed for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season.

Sharon Speedway cancels racing

HARTFORD

Sharon Speedway canceled racing action scheduled for tonight due to cold and rainy weather. The “Steel Valley Thunder” opener will be on May 13.

The Junior Sprints for kids have been rescheduled to May 20. The Mini Stocks have been rescheduled to June 3, which will also include their 2016 “Apple Festival Nationals” make-up feature.

For more information, go to sharonspeedway.com or call 330-772-5481.

Phantom Fireworks sponsors Derby horse

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Phantom Fireworks is sponsoring the horse “Tapwrit,” who is competing in today’s Kentucky Derby.

Jockey Jose Ortiz will wear the Phantom Fireworks colors during the race.

Correction

In Thursday’s story in The Vindicator about the Ursuline and Girard softball game, Irish pitcher Jordyn Kenneally is a junior.

Ex-Penguin Stevens gets probation

BOSTON

A former NHL player who was on two Stanley Cup championship teams has been sentenced to probation for his role in the illegal sale of prescription painkillers.

Kevin Stevens was sentenced Thursday in U.S District Court in Boston to three years’ probation and fined $10,000. He pleaded guilty in December.

The 52-year-old Massachusetts native was arrested in 2015 after a traffic stop and was found to be in possession of 175 pills. Prosecutors say he would supply the pills for another man to sell.

Stevens apologized in court Thursday. His lawyer said he was prescribed oxycodone after a serious on-ice injury in 1993 from which he has still not recovered.

Stevens was on the Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup-winning teams. He also played for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.

Cutler to join Fox broadcast crew

NEW YORK

Another former NFL quarterback is headed to the broadcast booth as Jay Cutler joins Fox.

Cutler was hired Friday by the network as an analyst to work on its No. 2 NFL team with Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis.

Last month, CBS replaced Phil Simms as its top game analyst with Tony Romo.

Unlike Romo, who would have been in demand to play quarterback had he chosen not to leave the field, Cutler drew little interest as a free agent. So, at age 34, he heads to the booth. He’s hardly old for quarterbacking considering the slew of QBs still starting who are older. But his inconsistency, penchant for turnovers and the negative vibes he gave out caused teams to steer away from Cutler this offseason.

Cutler spent the last eight seasons as a Chicago Bear after breaking into the NFL with Denver. He was 68-71 as a starter with a career passer rating of 85.7, 208 touchdowns and 146 interceptions.

Messi wins FIFA appeal

ZURICH

Argentina captain Lionel Messi was cleared by FIFA on Friday to play in the next three World Cup qualifiers after a ban for insulting a referee’s assistant was lifted.

Messi already served one match of the four-match ban that was imposed when the FIFA disciplinary committee gave its ruling hours before Argentina’s 2-0 loss in Bolivia in March.

FIFA said its appeal committee considered Messi’s behavior “reproachable” for verbally abusing a linesman late in a 1-0 win over Chile on March 23. But the panel concluded the “evidence available was not sufficient to establish to the appropriate standard.”

Staff/wire report