CORTLAND, N.Y. (AP) – It was Tebow Time for the New York Jets in goal-line drills.

The Jets provided a glimpse into their plan for Tim Tebow on offense Thursday, as the backup quarterback ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to Josh Baker in a four-play sequence that had the crowd at SUNY Cortland fired up.

On one wildcat-style play, Tebow took a snap from the shotgun, quickly faked a handoff to Joe McKnight and zipped into the end zone nearly untouched. Coach Rex Ryan yelled “Tebow’s live!” to the defense before the drills.

Tebow had previously only been used in regular plays and as the punt protector on special teams.

Tebow says it “looks like there’s gadgets and gizmos,” but it’s more of a “power play” that can stretch defenses.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Kicker-punter Anthony Fera is the latest player to leave Penn State following harsh NCAA sanctions against the program for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

A team spokesman says Thursday that Fera is no longer on the roster. The junior was one of the top specialists in the Big Ten.

Penn State also confirms that incoming freshman Jamil Pollard, who had yet to play for coach Bill O’Brien, is no longer with the squad.

Six players have left the program this week in the wake of NCAA penalties including a four-year postseason ban.

Fera is the second starter to go. The biggest loss is 1,200-yard rusher Silas Redd, who departed for Southern California.

A seventh player, quarterback Rob Bolden, was given his release before the NCAA sanctions.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Texas Rangers have brought up top hitting prospect Mike Olt and optioned utility player Brandon Snyder to Triple-A Round Rock.

Olt’s contract was selected Thursday from Double-A Frisco, where the corner infielder was hitting .288 with 28 homers and 82 RBIs in 95 games. Olt’s homer total is tops in Double-A.

Olt was prominent in trade speculation before Tuesday’s deadline for deals without waivers, but the Rangers ended up sending two lower-level prospects to the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Ryan Dempster.

Snyder, a corner infielder and outfielder, is hitting .281 with three homers in 38 games with the Rangers.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rangers transferred pitcher Colby Lewis to the 60-day disabled list. Lewis is out for the season with a torn elbow tendon.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota at Boston 6:10 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Texas 7:05 p.m.
Cleveland at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Toronto at Oakland 9:05 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
San Diego at Cincinnati 11:35 p.m.
N-Y Mets at San Francisco 2:45 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington 6:05 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
St. Louis at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE on ESPN Radio 1410)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – The music stopped at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach after a minor league umpire ejected the music DJ for playing “Three Blind Mice” during the game.

The ejection came in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game between the Daytona Cubs and the Fort Myers Miracle.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports Cubs manager Brian Harper was arguing a call at first base when he heard home plate umpire Mario Seneca bellow “you’re out.”

Harper says he thought he was being kicked out of the game. Instead, the umpire ejected the music man.

The public address system at the stadium was shut down for the rest of the game. The newspaper reports fans took it upon themselves to announce players as they approached the plate.

NEW YORK (AP) – Cincinnati catcher Devin Mesoraco has been suspended for three games and fined by Major League Baseball for making contact with an umpire during an argument. He’s also been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list after being injured Monday night.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Penske Racing has released suspended driver A.J. Allmendinger, three weeks after he tested positive for a banned stimulant. Penske says that Sam Hornish Jr. will drive the No. 22 Dodge at Pocono this weekend and “for the foreseeable future.”
Allmendinger was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR last week for a positive drug test in late June.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Penn State top reserve linebacker Khairi Fortt is heading to California, the latest Nittany Lion to transfer in the wake of tough NCAA sanctions against the program. Fortt is the fourth player to leave Penn State following the NCAA penalties for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees 12, Baltimore 3
Chicago White Sox 3, Minnesota 2
Tampa Bay 4, Oakland 1
Detroit 7, Boston 5
Texas 11, L.A. Angels 10, 10 innings
Kansas City 5, Cleveland 2
Seattle 5, Toronto 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee 13, Houston 4
Pittsburgh 8, Chicago Cubs 4
Arizona 4, L.A. Dodgers 0
Philadelphia 3, Washington 2
Miami 4, Atlanta 2
Cincinnati 6, San Diego 4
St. Louis 9, Colorado 6
N.Y. Mets 2, San Francisco 1

Another Phelps vs Lochte showdown and the women’s gymnastics all-around competition highlight the action on in prime time tonight from London. It was Ryan Lochte who came out on top in his first duel with Michael Phelps at these Games. Lochte won gold in the 400 IM while Phelps failed to medal. Tonight, they’ll race in the 200 IM. Lochte turned in the top qualifying time in the semifinals yesterday, with Phelps swimming the second-fastest time. The men’s 200 backstroke and the women’s 200 breaststroke and 100 free are also contested today. At the East Greenwich Arena, Americans Gabby “The Flying Squirrel” Douglas and Aly Raisman try and add to their team gold medal with a podium-worthy performance in the all-around. Medals are also awarded today in table tennis, archery, canoe, rowing, shooting, and judo events. In men’s basketball, Team USA looks to go to 3-0 in pool play as they face Nigeria.

While yesterday was a day of change off the field for the Colorado Rockies, the on-field results remained the same as ever. A mid-inning lead was shortlived as the Rockies lost 9-6 to the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. That’s now five straight losses for the Rockies and seven in a row at home. The Rockies were trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning when they erupted for four runs on four consecutive extra base hits. But their 5-3 lead didn’t even make it through the next half-inning, as Matt Holliday’s three-run homer gave the Cardinals the lead back for good. A one-hour, twenty-six minute rain delay prior to the eighth inning served only to prolong the inevitable outcome. The Rockies and Cardinals conclude their three-game set in Denver tonight. ESPN Radio 1410 has the action with pregame coverage at 7:05 and the first pitch at 7:40.

POOL A

Bridgeview Redbirds 9, Trojanettes 1
BNGSA Angels 6, Angels 5

Today: Bridgeview Redbirds vs BNGSA Angels, 10 AM (Field A); Trojanettes vs Angels, 4 PM (Field B)

POOL B

Cubs Fastpitch Blue 8, NORTH PLATTE JR. BELLES 0
Wisconsin Bandits Black 9, Orland Park A’s BB 6

Today: Cubs Fastpitch Blue vs Wisconsin Bandits Black, noon (Field A); JR BELLES vs Orland Park A’s BB, 2 PM (Field A)

POOL C

Jr. Phoenix 7, Frankfort Flames 6
Xplosion 6, Echoes Adrenaline 4

Today: Jr. Phoenix vs Xplosion, 10 AM (Field E); Frankfort Flames vs Echoes Adrenaline, 4 PM (Field A)

POOL D

Lake County Freedom 8, NORTH PLATTE EXPRESS 2
Wisconsin Bandits White 8, Plainfield Twisters 2

Today: Lake County Freedom vs Wisconsin Bandits White, 10 AM (Field B); NP EXPRESS vs Plainfield Twisters, 2 PM (Field E)

POOL E

Lamont Sizzlers 16, Colorado Dirt Devils 3
Worth Prospects 7, QC Firebirds 6

Today: Lamont Sizzlers vs Worth Prospects, 8 AM (Field E); Colorado Dirt Devils vs QC Firebirds, noon (Field E)

POOL F

Naperville Diamonds Aces 7, NORTH PLATTE SENSATIONS 2
Richmond Rockets 10, St. Louis Fusion “Kedroski” 7

Today: Naperville Diamonds Aces vs Richmond Rockets, 8 AM (Field B); NP SENSATIONS vs St. Louis Fusion “Kedroski”, noon (Field E)

POOL G

St. Louis Fusion “Goff” 7, Orland Park A’s FY 3

Today: St. Louis Fusion “Goff” vs St. Peter’s Royal, 8 AM (Field A); Orland Park A’s FY vs St. Peter’s Royal, 2 PM (Field B)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning is discovering that one of the biggest benefits to joining the Denver Broncos is their star-studded secondary.

It’s helping him gauge his progress in his comeback, sharpen his timing with his new targets and scrape away the rust after his lost 2011 season.

The Broncos restocked their defensive backfield over the winter after seeing Pittsburgh’s four-wide receiver sets and New England’s big tight ends torch them in the playoffs.

They added veterans Tracy Porter, Drayton Florence and Mike Adams along with rookie Omar Bolden, released Andre’ Goodman and wished Brian Dawkins well in his retirement.

With Quinton Carter sidelined, fellow second-year safety Raheem Moore is turning heads again, as is second-year cornerback Chris Harris, who will prove hard to bump out of his nickel back spot.

LONDON (AP) – IOC President Jacques Rogge says the Olympic body could take further action against the eight badminton players disqualified for discrediting the sport by trying to lose on purpose.

Rogge tells The Associated Press the IOC is waiting to see what action is taken by the national Olympic committees of the four women’s doubles teams from China, South Korean and Indonesia.

Rogge applauded the international badminton federation for disqualifying the players but said the IOC will also intervene “if needed.”

The IOC has the power to formally expel athletes from the games, taking away their accreditation and kicking them out of the athletes village.

Check out the video of the badminton players who intentionally lost!

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is comfortable with the idea of using replacement officials in preseason games.

The Hall of Fame Game is coming up Sunday and there is no end in sight to the labor dispute between the NFL and its officials.

Speaking to reporters at the Green Bay Packers’ training camp Wednesday, Goodell says he doesn’t think using officials with less experience will represent a safety risk to players. He says player safety is “obviously such a focus for us, they’ve been training on that basis.”

Members of the NFL Referees Association were locked out June 3 after talks broke down.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy says he doesn’t have any concerns about the league using replacement officials in preseason games.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Authorities say a group of men attacked star Wisconsin running back Montee Ball early Wednesday morning, knocking him to the ground and causing injuries that sent him to the hospital.

Police said five men jumped Ball around 2:15 a.m. near campus They knocked him down and kicked him.

Ball, a finalist for the Hesiman Trophy last season, was taken to a hospital with head injuries. Coach Bret Bielema said Ball has been released and is under the care of the school’s sports medicine staff. Bielema says he expects Ball will make a full recovery, but did not address Ball’s availability. The season opens Sept. 1 against Northern Iowa.

Police say Ball apparently didn’t know who the men were.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore at N-Y Yankees 12:05 p.m.
Chi White Sox at Minnesota 12:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Oakland 2:35 p.m.
Detroit at Boston 6:10 p.m.
L.A. Angels at Texas 7:05 p.m.
Cleveland at Kansas City 7:10 p.m.
Toronto at Seattle 9:10 p.m.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Houston at Milwaukee 1:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Chi Cubs 1:20 p.m.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers 2:10 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington 6:05 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta 6:10 p.m.
San Diego at Cincinnati 6:10 p.m.
St. Louis at Colorado 7:40 p.m. (LISTEN LIVE TONIGHT on ESPN Radio 1410)
N-Y Mets at San Francisco 9:15 p.m.

DENVER (AP) – The Colorado Rockies have restructured front office responsibilities with assistant general manager Bill Geivett being given more day-to-day duties with the major league club while general manager Dan O’Dowd focuses on player development.

Geivett will still report to O’Dowd, who has been GM since September 1999. The Rockies have reached the playoffs twice in his tenure and are on pace for the worst season in franchise history.

Owner Dick Monfort said in a statement, “We are constantly looking for ways to improve our organization, and we feel that Bill’s influence and leadership on a daily basis is an important addition to our major league club.”

Geivett joined the Rockies as assistant GM in 2000 and was named senior vice president of scouting and development in January 2011.

UNDATED (AP) – Texas won the Ryan Dempster sweepstakes, acquiring the Chicago Cubs ace for two minor leaguers moments before the trade deadline. The AL West leaders fortified their rotation for the stretch run, sending infielder Christian Villanueva and pitcher Kyle Hendricks to Chicago. Dempster was 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 16 games for the Cubs and can become a free agent after the season.

In other moves:
– The last-place Phillies sent two-time All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Philadelphia gets relief pitcher Josh Lindblom, minor league pitcher Ethan Martin and other considerations in the deal.
– Philadelphia also shipped two-time All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence to San Francisco for three players. The Phillies get outfielder Nate Schierholtz, minor league catcher Tommy Joseph and minor league right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin in the deal.
– St. Louis has acquired reliever Edward Mujica from Miami for 2010 first-round pick Zack Cox. The Marlins also send All-Star first baseman Gaby Sanchez to Pittsburgh for minor league pitcher Kyle Kaminska.
– The Red Sox traded outfielder Scott Podsednik and right-hander Matt Albers to the Arizona Diamondbacks for left-hander Craig Breslow.
– The Yankees have obtained third baseman Casey McGehee from Pittsburgh for reliever Chad Qualls, a move that followed injuries to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Star tailback Silas Redd is bolting Penn State for Southern California. The 1,200-yard rusher has opted to leave a Nittany Lions program facing stiff sanctions handed down by the NCAA in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago Bulls say they have agreed to a contract with point guard Nate Robinson, who regained his form while averaging 11.2 points and 4.5 assists with Golden State last season. Robinson joins veteran Kirk Hinrich as insurance for Derrick Rose, the 2011 NBA MVP who is expected to miss a big portion of the season while recovering from knee surgery.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore 11, N.Y. Yankees 5
Boston 4, Detroit 1, 6 innings
L.A. Angels 6, Texas 2
Chicago White Sox 4, Minnesota 3
Kansas City 8, Cleveland 3
Tampa Bay 8, Oakland 0
Seattle 7, Toronto 2

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 8, Washington 0
Atlanta 7, Miami 1
Cincinnati 7, San Diego 6
Pittsburgh 5, Chicago Cubs 0
Milwaukee 10, Houston 1
St. Louis 11, Colorado 6
Arizona 8, L.A. Dodgers 2
San Francisco 4, N.Y. Mets 1

The Fab Five lived up to their pre-Olympic hype. The US women’s gymnastics team was magnificent on the vault and floor exercise as they took the gold medal yesterday It’s the second time the US has won the competition, and the first time since 1996. There’s still more gymnastics action in prime time tonight, as John Orozco and Danell Leyva represent the US in the men’s all around competition. History was made in the pool last night as Michael Phelps won two more medals, one of them gold, to become the most decorated Olympic competitor ever. Phelps won’t swim in either the men’s finals tonight – the 100 free and the 200 breaststroke. The women’s finals tonight are the 4×200 free relay and the 200 butterfly. Elsewhere, American flag-bearer Mariel Zagunis goes for her third straight gold in women’s sabre fencing; the US women’s volleyball team looks to go 3-0 as they face China, and US women’s basketball takes on Turkey.