Drew Brees files affidavit supporting New Orleans teammate Jonathan Vilma | NFL

Drew Brees files affidavit supporting New Orleans teammate Jonathan Vilma | NFL

NFL

Brees supports Vilma

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees defended teammate Jonathan Vilma in a court document filed Saturday to support Vilma's fight against the league over his seasonlong suspension.

The affidavit was entered in New Orleans federal court as evidence for Vilma's motion to dismiss the 2012 suspension imposed by commissioner Roger Goodell for the linebacker's alleged involvement in a program offering bonuses to players who injure opponents.

Vilma has sued Goodell, claiming defamation.

Brees, who signed a five-year, $100 million contract this month to stay with the Saints, also swears he wasn't aware of a bounty program.

"I have no knowledge of a pay-to-injure program existing, and yet to personally see any evidence that would substantiate these allegations," Brees said in the affidavit.

Vilma and Saints coach Sean Payton have been suspended for the 2012 season for their roles in the bounty program the league says went on for three seasons.

Ex-Vikings GM dies

Mike Lynn, a longtime Minnesota Vikings executive, has died, team officials said. He was 76.

Lynn was the team's general manager from 1975 to 1990.

NBA

Stiemsma gets offer

Center Greg Stiemsma and the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to terms on an offer sheet.

The Boston Celtics can keep Stiemsma, 26, by matching Minnesota's offer to the restricted free agent.

Auto racing

Hunter-Reay wins pole

Ryan Hunter-Reay, the IndyCar Series points leader, had a pole-winning run for the Edmonton Indy in Alberta.

Hunter-Reay went into the qualifying session knowing he would be penalized 10 spots on Sunday's starting grid for an unapproved engine change. He will start 11th.

Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti qualified second but will start in first.

Buescher prevails

James Buescher won the American Ethanol 225, a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

Tennis

Cibulkova, Bartoli win

Second-seeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia beat Nadia Petrova of Russia 7-6 (10-8), 6-1 to reach Sunday's final of the Mercury Insurance Open in Carlsbad, Calif.

Cibulkova, looking for her first title of the season, will face top-seeded Marion Bartoli of France. Bartoli beat qualifier Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals.

Roddick to face Muller

Andy Roddick will face Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in Sunday's Atlanta Open final.

Roddick, seeded No. 4, knocked off top-seeded John Isner 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 in a semifinal matchup of Americans. Muller beat eighth-seeded Go Soeda of Japan 6-4, 6-3.

Elsewhere

• Ex-Gonzaga standout Adam Morrison scored a team-high 18 points for the Los Angeles Clippers in a 77-74 loss to the Chicago Bulls in an NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas.

Morrison, 28, has averaged 21 points over his last three summer games.

• Renan Barao of Brazil won by unanimous decision over Urijah Faber of Sacramento, Calif., in an interim bantamweight-title bout at UFC 149 in Calgary, Alberta. Barao is 31-1, with one no contest.

• Kallie Myers, 17, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, won the Super Stock Division of the 75th All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, a few hours after winning her first heat of the day — and getting rammed after crossing the finish line by a competitor who lost control of his car.

• In $300,000 Grade I horse races, Questing won the Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and 6-year-old Acclamation led all the way in the Eddie Read at Del Mar, near San Diego.

Questing, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., ran 1-1/8 miles on dirt in 1 minute, 50.30 seconds and beat Zo Impressive by 4 ¼ lengths. Questing paid $9.80 to win.

Acclamation, trained by Don Warren and ridden by Pat Valenzuela, ran 1-1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.86 and beat Interaction by 2 ¾ lengths. Acclamation paid $3.

• Royal Delta defeated Tiz Miz Sue by a neck in the Grade II Delaware Handicap, a $750,250 race at Delaware Park.

Royal Delta, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Mike Smith, ran 1 ¼ miles on dirt in 2:03.51. The 4-year-old filly paid $3 to win.

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