SPORTS digest

Smith, Breeland fined for hits

NEW YORK

Baltimore linebacker Za’Darius Smith and Washington cornerback Bashaud Breeland have been fined $18,231 by the NFL for hits last weekend.

Smith was called for roughing the passer after hitting Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in the Ravens’ loss to the Steelers.

Breeland made a horsecollar tackle of Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt in the third quarter of the Redskins’ loss to the Chiefs last Monday night.

Oakland punter Marquette King was docked $9,115 by the league after he threw a football at a Denver Broncos player following a failed fake punt. He was penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny was fined $9,115 for taunting Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue after Donahue got hurt during a punt when he hit the Jaguars veteran.

Philadelphia’s Vinny Curry and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Hankins were also fined $9,115 — both for unnecessary roughness.

Newton’s apology necessary, Rivera said

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera says Cam Newton’s apology for a sexist remark to a female reporter was “something that was needed to be said.”

“I think it was well said and well put,” Rivera said Friday. “I think it was well said and well put. I just it something we can move forward .. and start again. It’s a tough set of circumstances and hopefully this can settle things so we can go forward.”

Newton made his remarks during a news conference Wednesday when Charlotte Observer reporter Jourdan Rodrigue asked the 2015 NFL MVP about wide receiver Devin Funchess’ route running. The quarterback laughed and said, “It’s funny to hear a female talk about routes. It’s funny.”

Newton issued a nearly two-minute apology on Twitter Thursday night, saying, “What I did was extremely unacceptable” and that he has “really learned a valuable lesson from this.”

He hasn’t directly apologized to Rodrigue.

Newton issued his apology more than 24 hours after making his remarks, during which time he lost an endorsement deal when Dannon severed ties with him.

USA soccer team routs Panama

ORLANDO, Fla.

Christian Pulisic burst up the field, scoring with a brilliant touch to complete an 11-second, breakneck, field-length attack just eight minutes in.

Then his cross found Jozy Altidore’s right foot like an arrow striking a bull’s-eye , leading to a two-goal lead in the 19th minute.

Exhale, U.S. fans.

Altidore converted a penalty kick with a chip in the 43rd after Bobby Wood was fouled, Wood added a goal in the 63rd and the United States routed Panama 4-0 on Friday night to put the Americans back on track to reach next year’s World Cup.

“We needed a win, but the job’s not done,” Pulisic said.

The U.S. ended a three-match winless streak in qualifying and with 12 points moved two ahead of Panama into third place — the last automatic berth — in the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Gymnast Hurd wins

MONTREAL

American Morgan Hurd won the all-around title in the world gymnastics championships Friday night, spoiling Ellie Black’s bid to become the first Canadian winner.

The 16-year-old Hurd edged Black by 0.101 points, finishing with 55.232 points in her world championships debut. Russia’s Eremina Elena was third at 54.799.

“It’s crazy that I was even competing here,” said Hurd, from Middletown, Delaware. “To think that I won is just the most surreal feeling in the world.”

American Ragan Smith, the favorite to win the gold medal, was forced to withdraw from the final after injuring her ankle during the vault warm up at Olympic Stadium.

Black is a five-time Canadian champion.

Associated Press