Page 2B
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Saturday, March 10, 2018
NFL
Seahawks to release star Richard Sherman
By TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer
The Seattle Seahawks cut ties on
Friday with star cornerback Richard
Sherman, who became one of the
NFL’s premier cornerbacks during
his seven seasons with the team.
The team informed Sherman
early in the day he would be released,
and he confirmed the decision in
a text message to The Associated
Press. The move appeared to be
building after he met with the team
Wednesday to discuss his future.
Sherman declined to comment after
the meeting.
“Thank you for helping win
championships, shape our culture
and define success in Seattle,” the
team said in a statement announcing
the decision.
“We love you and your unwav-
ering competitiveness, confidence
and fierce passion for football and
life. For that, you will always be a
Hawk!”
Sherman was an overlooked
fifth-round draft pick who went on
to become a two-time All-Pro who
helped anchor a defense that was
the league’s best for several years.
He will be 30 years old going
into next season and coming off an
Achilles tendon injury that cost him
half of the 2017 season.
But the biggest reason for his
release was financial. Sherman was
due $13 million for the 2018 season
and his release gives Seattle a salary
cap savings of about $11 million.
Sherman became a star in
Seattle, bringing a brash attitude
and willingness to speak out on any
topic to go along with his stellar
play. His best seasons came in 2013
and 2014 when Seattle made two
AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File
In this 2017 file photo, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sher-
man (25) runs after he intercepted a pass rom Houston Texans
quarterback Deshaun Watson (not shown) late in the second half
of an NFL football game, in Seattle. The Seahawks are cutting ties
with star cornerback Richard Sherman after seven seasons.
Super Bowl appearances and he has
32 interceptions.
This may not be an end for
Sherman and the Seahawks,
depending on what he finds in free
agency. Seattle could be open to
bringing Sherman back at a reduced
salary.
Sherman was open to the idea
of a new place to call home last
offseason when Seattle engaged
in trade discussions surrounding
Sherman, but said his preference
was to remain with the Seahawks.
What’s still to be answered is
how much of an impact the Achilles
injury will have. Sherman has never
been the fastest cornerback, often
using his exquisite technique and
smarts to make up for less than elite
speed. But recovery from Achilles
injuries can often be troublesome
and Sherman also had a cleanup
surgery on his opposite ankle during
the offseason.
The questions about Sherman’s
health account for Seattle’s posi-
tion. The Seahawks don’t want
to be paying a premium price for
a cornerback entering the final
year of his contract with an injury
concern. Seattle could be sacrificing
something greater, though. Sherman
has been a locker-room leader and
mentor to younger players. Shaquill
Griffin spoke regularly about Sher-
man’s influence last year.
But it’s clear the Seahawks are a
team in transition, although it also
remains to be seen how significant
this makeover will be. Seattle
already traded Michael Bennett
to Philadelphia for two late-round
draft picks and a little-used wide
receiver. Kam Chancellor and Cliff
Avril both have neck injuries, and
it’s uncertain if they’ll play again.
Earl Thomas said at the Pro Bowl
he wants a new contract and may
hold out.
About the only sure thing for
the defense is the return of All-Pro
linebacker Bobby Wagner. General
manager John Schneider, speaking
at the NFL combine, called it a
“constant puzzle.”
“You’re trying to put stuff
together all the time,” he said. “It’s
a big challenge.”
Men’s College Basketbal
USC thumps Oregon, will meet Arizona for Pac-12 title
By JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press
Pac-12 Semifinals
LAS VEGAS — Jonah
Mathews scored 27 points, No. 6 Oregon No. 2 USC
Elijah Stewart added 15
and Southern California
stormed its way into the
Pac-12 Tournament title of a longshot, taking the
game with a 74-54 rout over first step to a needed deep
run in the Pac-12 tourna-
Oregon on Friday night.
USC
(23-10)
took ment by beating Utah in the
advantage of the tired quarterfinals.
USC and Oregon met
Ducks at both ends. The
Trojans shot 50 percent and twice during the regular
made 10 of 23 from 3-point season, twice tight games,
range, while harassing both won by the Trojans.
Playing the day before
Oregon into turnovers and
seemed to take something
missed shots.
No. 2 seed USC moves out of the Ducks. They had
on to face No. 15 and some careless turnovers
top-seeded Arizona in the early and struggled offen-
Pac-12 title game Saturday sively, going scoreless for
nearly 6½ minutes before
night.
Oregon (22-12) labored another drought over the
in its third game in three final 4:47 of the first half.
days, unable to get shots Oregon shot 9 of 31 from
to fall or keep up with the field, 4 of 16 from the
the fresh-legged Trojans. 3-point arc, before the
The Ducks had two long break.
USC led 37-23 at half-
scoreless stretches, shot 33
percent from the field and 8 time behind Mathews’ 16
points.
of 30 from the 3-point arc.
It didn’t get any better
MiKyle McIntosh led
for the Ducks in the second
Oregon with 21 points.
Oregon and USC entered half. Oregon missed its first
the Pac-12 tournament on seven shots and USC kept
stretching the lead, to 53-25
the NCAA bubble.
The Trojans have the in the opening six minutes.
The Ducks caused USC
better resume with four
Quadrant 1 wins and kept some problems with their
their hopes alive with a quar- full-court press, cutting the
terfinal win over Oregon lead to 14 with 6½ minutes
State. The Ducks are more left, but got no closer.
54
74
AP Photo/Isaac Brekken
USC’s Jonah Mathews, left, passes the ball around Oregon’s Kenny Wooten
during the first half of the semifinals of the Pac-12 men’s tournament Friday in
Las Vegas.
BIG PICTURE
Oregon’s
longshot
NCAA Tournament bid
took a big hit with a loss to
another bubble team.
USC may have secured
its NCAA Tournament spot
with a dominating perfor-
mance at both ends.
UP NEXT
Oregon is likely headed
to a lower-tier postseason
tournament.
USC plays No. 15
Arizona in Saturday night.
Browns
make three
major trades
Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Maybe
the losing and laughing will
finally stop. The Browns aren’t
fooling around.
With three stunning trades
on the eve of free
agency, Cleveland
landed a proven
starting quarter-
back, a game-
breaking, three-
time Pro Bowl wide receiver
and a shut-down cornerback.
After 16 straight losses on
the field, victory.
Two months after a winless
season mercifully ended, new
general manager John Dorsey
addressed major roster needs
Friday by acquiring mobile
quarterback Tyrod Taylor in a
deal with Buffalo, wide receiver
Jarvis Landry from Miami and
cornerback Damarious Randall
from Green Bay, a person with
direct knowledge of the over-
haul told The Associated Press
on condition of anonymity.
Teams are not permitted to
announce any trades until next
week.
In exchange, the Browns
shipped quarterback DeShone
Kizer and swapped late-round
picks with the Packers, gave
the Dolphins a fourth-round
pick this season and a seventh
rounder in 2019 and sent the
Bills the No. 65 overall pick in
this year’s draft.
All in a day’s work for
Dorsey, who brought in major
talent without giving up any of
the team’s five picks in the first
two rounds this year.
The dynamic Taylor, who
finished with a 23-21 record
in three seasons with Buffalo,
can affect the game as a passer
or runner and he’s the type of
quarterback Browns coach
Hue Jackson has sought since
coming to Cleveland.
However, even with Taylor
around, the Browns are still
expected to select a quarterback
with the No. 1 overall pick in
this year’s draft and Dorsey and
his staff are in the process of
deciding if that’s Southern Cal’s
Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh
Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen
or Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield,
the Heisman Trophy winner
who scares some Cleveland fans
because of his Johnny Manziel-
like showmanship.
Cleveland’s next starting
quarterback will be the team’s
29th since 1999.
Landry is as good as they get.
The 25-year-old, who caught
a league-best 112 passes last
season, immediately upgrades a
Cleveland offense that finished
last in scoring and didn’t have
any player who threatened a
defense until wide receiver
Josh Gordon made his late
return from an indefinite NFL
suspension. With Gordon on
the outside, Landry in the slot
and Taylor behind center, the
Browns have the makings of a
potent attack.
Randall started 30 games
in three years for the Packers,
who drafted him with the No.
30 overall pick in 2015. He had
some injuries issues — and a
visible spat with the team — in
2017, but finished the year as
Green Bay’s best cover corner.
SCOREBOARD
Local slate
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Saturday
Shoreline at BMCC (DH), 11 a.m.
Sunday
Linn-Benton at BMCC (DH), 11 a.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Saturday
EOU vs. Northwest Christian (at BMCC,
Pendleton) (DH), 11 a.m.
Sunday
EOU vs. Northwest Christian (at BMCC,
Pendleton) (DH), 11 a.m.
PREP BASEBALL
Monday
Columbia White Salmon at Stanfield, 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Joseph at Weston-McEwen, Noon
Umatilla at Touchet (WA) (DH), 2 p.m.
Dufur at Riverside, 3 p.m.
Southridge (WA) at Pendleton (DH), 3:30 p.m.
Hermiston at Ridgeview, 4 p.m.
Heppner at Pilot Rock, 4:30 p.m.
PREP SOFTBALL
Monday
Irrigon at The Dalles, 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Umatilla at Touchet (WA) (DH), 2 p.m.
Stevenson (WA) at Riverside (DH), 2 p.m.
Ridgeview at Hermiston, 4 p.m.
Pendleton at Hanford (WA), 4 p.m.
Basketball
BOYS OSAA PLAYOFFS
Class 6A State Tournament
(at Chiles Center, University of Portland)
Friday Consolation Semifinals
No. 12 Tualatin 53, No. 8 Jesuit 49
No. 3 Southridge 79, No. 68 West Salem 68
Friday Semifinals
No. 1 Jefferson 80, No. 20 Barlow 60
No. 2 Grant vs. No. 11 Lincoln
Saturday’s Games
No. 1 Jefferson vs. No. 2 Grant, 6:45 p.m.
(championship)
No. 11 Lincoln vs. No. 20 Barlow, 6:45
p.m. (3rd place)
No. 3 Southridge vs. No. 12 Tualatin,
10:45 a.m. (4th place)
Class 5A State Tournament
(at Gill Coliseum, Oregon State University)
Friday
4th/6th Place Game
No. 1 Silverton 61, No. 7 South Albany 50
3rd/5th Place Game
No. 8 Churchill 58, No. 2 Crater 57
Championship Game
No. 4 Wilsonville 54, No. 3 Thurston 36
Class 4A State Tournament
(at Forest Grove High School)
Friday Consolation Semifinals
No. 5 La Grande 57, No. 8 Sisters 56
No. 3 Marshfield 56, No. 7 Mazama 49
Friday Semifinals
No. 5 Valley Catholic 41, No. 1 Banks 33
No. 2 Seaside 56, No. 6 Newport 52
Saturday’s Games
No. 2 Seaside vs. No. 5 Valley Catholic,
8:30 p.m. (championship)
No. 1 Banks vs. No. 6 Newport (3rd
place), 6:45 p.m.
No. 3 Marshfield vs. No. 4 La Grande (4th
place), 9:45 a.m.
OSAA GIRLS PLAYOFFS
Class 6A State Tournament
(at Chiles Center, University of Portland)
Friday Semifinals
No. 1 Southridge 54, No. 4 West Linn 38
No. 7 Benson 54, No. 3 Beaverton 53
Saturday’s Games
No. 1 Southridge vs. No. 7 Benson (cham-
pionship), 3:15 p.m.
No. 3 Beaverton vs. No. 4 West Linn (3rd
place), 1:30 p.m.
No. 2 Tigard vs. No. 9 Clackamas (4th
place), 9 a.m.
Class 5A State Tournament
(at Gill Coliseum, Oregon State University)
Friday
4th/6th Place Game
No. 9 Crescent Valley 44, No. 3 Central 42
3rd/5th Place Game
No. 5 Silverton 47, No. 6 Bend 29
Championship Game
No. 1 Marist Catholic 59, No. 2 La Salle
Prep 44
Class 4A State Tournament
(at Pacific University)
Friday Consolation Semifinals
No. 9 Valley Catholic 50, No. 4 Baker 48
No. 6 Stayton 50, No. 2 Hidden Valley 46
Friday Semifinals
No. 1 Marshfield 61, No. 5 Banks 50
No. 3 Cascade 41, No. 10 North Marion 39
Saturday’s Games
No. 1 Marshfield vs. No. 3 Cascade
(championship), 3:15 p.m.
No. 5 Banks vs. No. 10 North Marion (3rd
place), 1:30 p.m.
No. 6 Stayton vs. No. 9 Valley Catholic
(4th place), 8 a.m.
NBA
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
W
L Pct GB
x-Toronto
48 17 .738 —
x-Boston
46 20 .697 2½
Philadelphia
35 29 .547 12½
New York
24 42 .364 24½
Brooklyn
21 45 .318 27½
Southeast Division
W
L Pct GB
Washington
38 28 .576 —
Miami
35 31 .530
3
Charlotte
28 38 .424 10
Orlando
20 46 .303 18
Atlanta
20 46 .303 18
Central Division
W
L Pct GB
Cleveland
38 27 .585 —
Indiana
38 28 .576
½
Milwaukee
35 31 .530 3½
Detroit
30 36 .455 8½
Chicago
22 43 .338 16
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Southwest Division
W
L Pct GB
Houston
51 14 .785 —
New Orleans
38 27 .585 13
San Antonio
37 28 .569 14
Dallas
20 45 .308 31
Memphis
18 47 .277 33
Northwest Division
W
L Pct GB
Portland
40 26 .606 —
Minnesota
38 29 .567 2½
Oklahoma City
38 29 .567 2½
Denver
36 30 .545
4
Utah
36 30 .545
4
Pacific Division
W
L Pct GB
Golden State
51 15 .773 —
L.A. Clippers
35 29 .547 15
L.A. Lakers
29 36 .446 21½
Sacramento
21 45 .318 30
Phoenix
19 48 .284 32½
x-clinched playoff spot
———
Friday’s Games
Detroit 99, Chicago 83
Indiana 112, Atlanta 87
Toronto 108, Houston 105
Milwaukee 120, New York 112
Utah 95, Memphis 78
Washington 116, New Orleans 97
Denver 125, L.A. Lakers 116
Portland 125, Golden State 108
Sacramento 94, Orlando 88
L.A. Clippers 116, Cleveland 102
Saturday’s Games
Phoenix at Charlotte, 2 p.m.
Washington at Miami, 4:30 p.m.
Memphis at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 5:30 p.m.
Orlando at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
Toronto at New York, 10 a.m.
Chicago at Atlanta, 12:30 p.m.
Golden State at Minnesota, 12:30 p.m.
Utah at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Sacramento at Denver, 2 p.m.
Houston at Dallas, 4 p.m.
Indiana at Boston, 4:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m.
Cleveland at L.A. Lakers, 6 p.m.
NCAA Men
Top 25 Schedule
Friday’s Games
No. 8 Cincinnati 61, SMU 51
No. 15 URI 76, VCU 67
Alabama 81, No. 16 Auburn 63
Providence 75, No. 3 Xavier 72, OT
No. 11 Wichita State 89, Temple 81
No. 13 Tennessee 62, Miss St. 59
No. 9 Kansas 83, Kansas State 67
No. 15 Arizona 78, UCLA 67, OT
San Diego State 90, No. 22 Nevada 73
No. 2 Villanova 87, Butler 68
No. 12 UNC 74, No. 5 Duke 69
No. 21 Houston 84, UCF 56
Arkansas 80, No. 23 Flordia 72
No. 18 West Virginia 66, No. 14 Texas
Tech 63
Saturday’s Games
Memphis vs. No. 8 Cincinnati (AAC
Championship Semifinal), 10 a.m. (CBS)
Saint Joe’s vs. No. 25 URI (Atlantic 10
Championship Semifinal), 10 a.m. (CBSSN)
Pac-12 Tournament
at Las Vegas
Friday’s Semifinals
No. 15 Arizona 78, UCLA 67, OT
USC 74, Oregon 54
Saturday’s Championship
No. 15 Arizona vs TBD, 7 p.m.
Hockey
NHL
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
GP W
L OT
Tampa Bay 68 47 17
4
Boston
65 42 15
8
Toronto
68 39 22
7
Florida
65 33 25
7
Detroit
68 26 31 11
Montreal
67 25 31 11
Ottawa
67 23 33 11
Pts
98
92
85
73
63
61
57
GF GA
250 189
218 165
223 195
198 204
177 206
171 211
181 233
Buffalo
68 22 35 11 55 164 222
Metropolitan Division
GP W
L OT Pts GF GA
Pittsburgh 68 39 25
4 82 224 205
Washington 67 37 23
7 81 204 200
Philadelphia 68 34 23 11 79 201 201
Columbus 69 36 28
5 77 188 193
New Jersey 68 34 26
8 76 201 206
Carolina
68 30 27 11 71 181 206
N.Y. Islanders 68 29 29 10 68 217 243
N.Y. Rangers 68 30 32
6 66 192 217
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
GP W
L OT Pts GF GA
Nashville
67 44 14
9 97 220 170
Winnipeg 67 41 17
9 91 226 177
Minnesota 68 39 22
7 85 215 194
Dallas
68 38 24
6 82 197 177
Colorado
67 35 24
8 78 210 200
St. Louis
67 35 27
5 75 180 178
Chicago
68 29 31
8 66 192 199
Pacific Division
GP W
L OT Pts GF GA
Vegas
67 43 19
5 91 230 184
San Jose
67 36 22
9 81 198 184
Anaheim
69 34 23 12 80 193 189
Los Angeles 67 37 25
5 79 195 166
Calgary
69 34 25 10 78 195 201
Edmonton 67 29 34
4 62 189 220
Vancouver 68 25 34
9 59 183 224
Arizona
66 21 34 11 53 160 214
———
Friday’s Games
Columbus 3, Detroit 2
Calgary 2, Ottawa 1
Dallas 2, Anaheim 1
Minnesota 5, Vancouver 2
Saturday’s Games
Winnipeg at Philadelphia, 10 a.m.
Montreal at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m.
Vegas at Buffalo, 10 a.m.
Chicago at Boston, 10 a.m.
Arizona at Colorado, 12 p.m.
Washington at San Jose, 1 p.m.
St. Louis at Los Angeles, 1 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Florida, 4 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Toronto, 4 p.m.
New Jersey at Nashville, 5 p.m.
Minnesota at Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Sunday’s Games
Boston at Chicago, 9:30 a.m.
N.Y. Islanders at Calgary, 4 p.m.
Dallas at Pittsburgh, 4:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Arizona, 6 p.m.
Golf
PGA TOUR
Valspar Championship
Friday
At Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course)
Second Round
Corey Conners 67-69—136
-6
Paul Casey
70-68—138
-4
Brandt Snedeker 70-68—138
-4
Tiger Woods
70-68—138
-4
Ryan Palmer
72-66—138
-4
Kelly Kraft
68-70—138
-4
Sean O’Hair
71-68—139
-3
Jason Kokrak
72-67—139
-3
Justin Rose
70-69—139
-3
Webb Simpson 71-68—139
-3
Keegan Bradley 69-70—139
-3
Failed to make the cut
Jordan Spieth 76-71—147
+5
Rory McIlroy
74-73—147
+5
Auto Racing
NASCAR Cup Series
TicketGuardian 500
Friday’s qualifying; race Sunday
At ISM Raceway
Avondale, Ariz.
(Car number in parentheses)
1. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 136.945 mph.
2. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 136.643.
3. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 136.126.
4. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 136.080.
5. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 135.947.
6. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 135.900.
7. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 135.870.
8. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 135.864.
9. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota, 135.829.
10. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 135.522.
11. (24) William Byron, Chevrolet, 134.791.
12. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 134.776.
13. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 135.262.
14. (21) Paul Menard, Ford, 135.181.
15. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 135.074.
16. (38) David Ragan, Ford, 135.014.
17. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 135.008.
18. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 134.998.
19. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 134.700.
20. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 134.283.
21. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 134.238.
22. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 134.078.
23. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford, 133.764.
24. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 133.566.
25. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 133.274.
26. (95) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 133.215.
27. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Chevrolet, 133.052.
28. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 133.013.
29. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 132.920.
30. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 132.597.
31. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 131.844.
32. (23) Gray Gaulding, Toyota, 130.709.
33. (72) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 130.378.
34. (96) DJ Kennington, Toyota, 129.697.
35. (51) Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 128.889.