Washington
Norman, one of the NFL’s top corners, became a free agent Wednesday after the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag, which would have paid him $13.9 million next season. The 28-year-old was holding out for a long-term contract.
Norman had a career-high four interceptions, 16 passes defensed and 56 tackles last season for the NFC champion Panthers.
He posted the hashtag “Hail” with several emojis on his verified Twitter account to announce he’d picked the Redskins over other suitors, and several new teammates congratulated him and welcomed him to Washington.
Norman visited the Redskins’ facility in Ashburn, Va., on Friday. After signing, he posed for pictures with family members and Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan.
Richmond, Va.
Harvick won the pole with a speed of 129.069 mph, edging Joey Logano for the top spot. Logano’s speed was 128.694. The top five also includes Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and hometown favorite Denny Hamlin.
The race, which traditionally has been run on Saturday night, was moved to Sunday afternoon this year and will be the second in a row in the spring at Richmond run on a Sunday. Last year’s race was rained out on Saturday night, and Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kurt Busch battled for the victory, with Busch prevailing. Harvick would love to see a repeat this time, with one modification.
Las Vegas
The Irish fighter was a no-show at a news conference Friday promoting the card, and UFC President Dana White said he would not meet Nate Diaz in a rematch on top of the July 9 card in Las Vegas.
“You have to show up to promote the fight,” White said. “It’s part of the job. It’s what we do here.”
Not to be outdone, McGregor tweeted that he respected the fact other fighters traveled to the press conference “but not everyone up there made the company ($)400 million the last 8 months.”
The dispute over promotional duties means UFC’s biggest card of the year will be without McGregor, the wildly popular fighter who lost to Diaz last month in a major upset. Diaz indicated he might not fight, either, though White said he was looking for an opponent for him.
White left a seat on the dais vacant at a news conference at the MGM Grand, though McGregor made it clear earlier this week that he wouldn’t be attending. McGregor posted on Facebook that he couldn’t afford the time he would need to leave his training camp in Iceland for a series of promotional appearances for the card.
San Antonio
The winner five years ago at TPC San Antonio for his lone tour title, Steele had a 10-under 134 total. Play was suspended because of darkness with 13 players left on the course.
Scott Langley, Stuart Appleby and Charley Hoffman were tied for second. Langley shot a 68,
At Ridgedale, Mo., Bernhard Langer and Tom Lehman teamed to shoot an 11-under 60 in better-ball play Friday to take the first-round lead in the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge.
Langer and Lehman had a 7-under 28 on the front nine on Buffalo Ridge’s Springs Course and added four birdies on the back nine. They teamed to win the 2009 event in Georgia.
At Daly City, Calif., Haru Nomura shot a 2-under 70 at Lake Merced to take the second-round lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
The 23-year-old Japanese player had a 9-under 135 total for a three-stroke lead over South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi and Australia’s Minjee Lee.
Nomura won the Australian Women’s Open in February, pulling away to beating top-ranked Lydia Ko by three strokes for her first LPGA Tour title.