Sharks' Blake will end 20-year career
6/15/2010SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose Sharks captain Rob Blake is retiring from the NHL after a 20-year career as one of the league's top defensemen.
Blake, who played collegiately at Bowling Green State University, will make the retirement official at a news conference on Friday.
Blake's decision is not a surprise as he hinted at it after the Sharks were swept in the Western Conference finals by the Chicago Blackhawks last month. He said at the time he had decided his future plans but wanted to wait a few weeks before announcing them.
Blake, 40, was one of the league's best defensemen over his career with Los Angeles, Colorado, and San Jose, making seven all-star teams and winning the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman for Los Angeles in 1998.
NASHVILLE - Vince Young apologized to the Titans, his teammates, his family, and fans for his role in a fight early Sunday morning at a Dallas strip club. Young said he hopes commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't come down hard on him with a suspension because he has owned up to his mistake.
The Titans' second game of the 2010 season Sept. 19 is against Pittsburgh, which will be without Ben Roethlisberger because of his own suspension.
Young was in Dallas Sunday for an autograph session. He said he was headed back to his hotel when he decided to go out on the town with a friend. They went to Club Onyx, which Young said was a bad decision.
"Just made a mistake, made a mistake even being there and let that guy provoke me into doing what I did," Young said. "Fell into his hands, what he wanted me to do so he could do what he's doing now. At the same time, let my lawyers take care of it."
• CLEVELAND - Running back Jerome Harrison is one of five restricted free agents to sign one-year tenders with the Cleveland Browns.
A team spokesman said Harrison, linebackers D'Qwell Jackson and Matt Roth, safety Abram Elam, and fullback Lawrence Vickers signed their deals. The players had until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday to sign the tenders or the team could reduce their base salaries by 10 percent.
Roth was the only one of the five not to have a $1.759 million base salary. His is $1.809 million because he has five accrued seasons, instead of four.
Harrison ran for 561 yards in Cleveland's final three games.