NFL

Lions cut Berry after arrests

The Detroit Lions have been trapped in an unpleasant cycle this offseason: A player is arrested, the team expresses disappointment and the process repeats itself.

On Monday, the Lions took an additional step after Aaron Berry's second arrest of the summer. They terminated the defensive back's contract.

"We have repeatedly stressed to everyone in our organization that there will be appropriate consequences when an expected standard of behavior is not upheld," Lions President Tom Lewand said.

The team said it cut Berry, 24, because of "personal conduct which adversely affects the club."

Berry was arrested twice this offseason in Pennsylvania. Cpl. Kyle Gautsch of the Harrisburg Police Department said he was taken into custody Saturday on three charges of simple assault. Gautsch said there "was a weapon allegedly brandished during the incident."

Berry, who is from Harrisburg, was also arrested in that area June 23 on suspicion of DUI, failure to stop and render aid from an accident and other counts. He was set to enter a diversionary program as a result of that case.

"Words cannot describe how embarrassed I am right now," Berry said in a statement Monday night.

Audie Attar, Berry's agent, said the defensive back is heading to Chicago on Tuesday to enter the league's substance-abuse program.

2 Saints, league lawyers talk

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith met with league lawyers and a federal magistrate, but the closed-door settlement conference didn't resolve lawsuits spawned by the players' suspensions after the league's bounty investigation.

Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season and Smith has been suspended for four games for their alleged roles in a bounty program the NFL says targeted opposition players for three seasons.

WR is Chad Johnson — again

Chad Ochocinco is officially no more. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver has changed his name back to the original Chad Johnson.

Johnson, 34, legally changed his name in an appearance at the Broward County Courthouse. He was known as "Ochocinco" for the past four seasons; the name was a reference to the No. 85 on his jersey.

NHL

Rangers trade for Nash

The New York Rangers acquired forward Rick Nash from Columbus in a trade, sending the Blue Jackets three players and a 2013 first-round draft pick.

Nash, 28, is a five-time All-Star who has scored as many as 41 goals in a season. The Rangers also get defenseman Steven Delisle and a conditional 2013 third-round pick.

Columbus receives forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov and defenseman Tim Erixon.

Boston coach gets extension

The Boston Bruins signed coach Claude Julien, who guided the team to the 2011 Stanley Cup, to a multiyear contract extension.

Julien, 52, is 228-132-50 in five seasons with Boston.

College basketball

Jury finds Williams guilty

Suspended Oklahoma State player Darrell Williams, 22, accused of sexually assaulting two women at a house party, was convicted of sexual battery and rape by instrumentation, but jurors acquitted him on two other counts.

Payne County prosecutors accused Williams of groping the women and reaching inside their pants without their consent during a party in December 2010.

Smith agrees to new deal

Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, 61, agreed to terms on a contract extension with the university through the 2016-17 season by adding three more years to his original deal.

Smith has a 103-68 record and zero NCAA tournament victories in five seasons with the Golden Gophers.

Elsewhere

• Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees, 20, apologized to police, the school and fans after pleading guilty to misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor in connection with his arrest outside an off-campus party May 3.

Rees was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and 11 months of probation. He was given a suspended sentence of 30 days in jail.

• Michigan tailback Fitz Toussaint, 22, is indefinitely suspended from the football team after he was charged Saturday with operating a vehicle while impaired. He rushed for 1,041 yards last season.

• Ex-Miami coach Randy Shannon reportedly has agreed to terms to become Texas Christian's linebackers coach.

Shannon, 46, was fired by Miami at the end of the 2010 regular season after going 28-22 in four seasons with the Hurricanes.

• One day after Ernie Els won the British Open to become the third major champion using a belly putter, the Royal & Ancient said long putters were "firmly back on the radar" and that a decision could come soon on whether golfers can keep using them.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said discussions with the U.S. Golf Association about longer putters anchored to the body began before Els, 42, holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win.

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