Jay Neal
Jacksonville Daily Progress
JACKSONVILLE —
Cowboys’ No. 1-pick Bryant hits the ground running
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Dez Bryant was more than on time for the start of the Dallas Cowboys training camp on Saturday. The first-round pick was the first player on the field Saturday as the Cowboys opened training camp at the Alamodome in downtown San Antonio. “I’m just ready to play, that’s my message,” Bryant said. “I’m ready to do whatever they ask me to do. I’m here to work hard, I’m here to give 100-percent, just bring my A-game.” Wearing the No. 88 jersey assigned to him right after being drafted, Bryant emerged from the Alamodome tunnel about 45 minutes before the Cowboys’ first workout. The receiver from Oklahoma State then caught passes from an undrafted-rookie quarterback. He was also one of the last players to leave after the two-hour practice. He talked to several waves of reporters and signed autographs, even obliging one man’s request to sign the back of an outfit being worn by a 9-month-old boy before posing for a picture holding the baby. Dallas is the first NFL team to have its full squad on the field, and no other teams are scheduled to have that until Wednesday.
Report says Rangers have interest in Cantu and Wiggington
ARLINGTON — According to a report by MLB.com’s T. R. Sullivan, the Texas rangers are making a push to acquire Florida Marlins infielder Jorge Cantu or Orioles infielder Ty Wigginton before the July 31 trading deadline to bolster their bench. Cantu and Wigginton are both right-handed hitters with power who can play multiple positions. Sullivan reports Texas is looking for someone to primarily back up first baseman Chris Davis (Longview), a left-handed hitter that has struggled at the plate this year.
Hurricanes-Fighting Irish to renew rivalry
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami and Notre Dame have agreed to renew a football rivalry that during the 1980’s helped define each program and decide several national championships. The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish will play Oct. 6, 2012, at Soldier Field in Chicago, then play a home-and-home starting in 2016 at South Bend, Ind. They will play in Miami the following season. The rivalry dates back to the 1950s and Notre Dame leads the series 15-7-1. The series was stopped after the Irish scored a 29-20 victory in 1990 which knocked Miami out of the national title hunt and helped Notre Dame go to the Orange Bowl.
Hendrick to keep Martin in the No. 5 car
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Team owner Rick Hendrick won’t force Mark Martin out of his seat next year to make room for Kasey Kahne at Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne has signed to take over the No. 5 Chevrolet in 2012, and Martin is slated to drive the car through the end of next season. He’s remained adamant that he won’t get out of the car a year early, and Hendrick said before Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that he’s planning on Martin driving the No. 5 next season. “We have a deal with Mark, and we’re going to honor that,” Hendrick said. “We want to honor that. Kasey’s known that. That’s kind of where we are.”
