SPORTS N STUFF

Wide receiver Greg Little is getting an opportunity right away with the Cleveland Browns.

On the second day of practice Sunday, new coach Pat Shurmur saw three key receivers on the sideline while watching Little snag passes in the Browns new West Coast offense.

Josh Cribbs missed the second half of drills, his left knee wrapped in ice. Ben Watson watched after sustaining a concussion Saturday. Mohamed Massaquoi still had his right foot in a cast.

Meanwhile, Little made plays and showed little rust from what for him was much more than the 4 1/2-month NFL lockout endured by most teammates. The 59th pick in the 2011 draft missed all of last season at North Carolina, too, after being declared ineligible by the NCAA because of improper dealings with an agent.

Peyton Manning has a new contract and a chance, he hopes, to win more Super Bowl rings.

One day after signing a new five-year, $90 million contract, the only four-time MVP in league history reported to Anderson University on time along with his teammates, new and old. Players were scheduled to report Sunday morning, though they wont practice until Monday, and not surprisingly, Mannings deal was the talk of the town.

“Everybodys excited to be back working, and it looks like Peyton signed a small contract, so were happy hes here,” punter Pat McAfee said, drawing laughter.

About 10 minutes later, Manning arrived and was greeted by cheering fans lined up across the street from one of the players dorms. Manning waved to them and later went over to sign autographs but did not take any questions. Manning, team owner Jim Irsay and Colts vice chairman Bill Polian are all scheduled to speak at a 2 p.m. news conference.

The deal, Irsay said on Twitter, was cap-friendly. Irsay wrote Manning would get $69 million in the first three years, and that it would lower Mannings salary cap figure from the $23.1 million he would have been paid had he played under the franchise tag to $16 million this season. The savings should allow Indy to keep some of its own veteran free agents, and it didnt take long for the first beneficiary to appear: running back Joseph Addai, who signed a three-year deal worth $14 million Saturday night, his agent confirmed.

That means Manning will have his best blitz protector still in the Indy backfield.

In addition to Addai and Manning, the Colts have re-signed safety Melvin Bullitt and kicker Adam Vinatieri. All of the deals, except Mannings, were for three years, and league rules prevent any free agents from practicing until Thursday.

Manning is likely to miss far more time. Team officials have put the franchise quarterback on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to rehabilitate from the neck surgery he had to repair a bulging disc in May. Its unclear when Manning will return.

This is not the first time Manning has missed the start of training camp. He sat out one week in 1998, his rookie season, while negotiating his first NFL contract and missed all of camp in 2008 when he had two surgeries for an infected bursa sac in his left knee. But this time, unlike the other two, he showed up on reporting day.

Teammates are not concerned about Mannings absence.

“Unfortunately, weve been down that road before, too,” defensive captain Gary Brackett said. “If theres one guy you dont have to worry about rehabbing, thats Peyton. You know hes working hard to get ready for Week 1.”

Although Indy has traditionally been more focused on re-signing its own players, the Colts could still pluck a defensive tackle or another receiver off the free agent market thanks to a cap-friendly contract that could make them Super Bowl contenders for the rest of Mannings career.

“I think for him, its all about winning. He wants a winning legacy and he wants to go out a winner,” Brackett said. “He could have taken as much money as he wanted, but he didnt do that because he wants to win.”

CINCINNATI — The San Francisco Giants optioned rookie shortstop Brandon Crawford to Triple-A Fresno on Sunday to make room on the roster for new shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

The 24-year-old Crawford hit .190 with two home runs and 17 RBI in 50 games with the Giants this season after being called up from Single-A San Jose on May 26.

The Giants acquired the 36-year-old Cabrera from Cleveland for Triple-A outfielder Thomas Neal after their 7-2 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday.

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have recalled infielder Jason Donald from Triple-A Columbus.

Donald will take the roster spot of Orlando Cabrera, who was traded to San Francisco on Saturday. Donald was batting .310 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 47 games at Columbus. He began the season on the disabled list because of a broken hand and later was sidelined with a sprained left knee.

Donald hit .253 with four homers and 24 RBI in 88 games with the Indians last season. He was acquired from Philadelphia in 2009 as part of the trade that sent pitcher Cliff Lee to the Phillies.

The San Francisco Giants may have secured the NL West pennant by bringing on Carlos Beltran, but the Arizona Diamondbacks are not about to go away quietly. The sports betting baseball world was a bit surprised to see the Diamondbacks in or near first place in the NL West for most of the season. But the Diamondbacks have shown that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with right to the very end. As Arizona sits four games out of first place in the NL West, a first place spot occupied by the San Francisco Giants, the Diamondbacks are handed the perfect opportunity to make up some ground as they travel to San Francisco to take on the Giants.

National League Series Betting Pick:

Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Francisco Giants – Monday, August 1 10:15 PM ET

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There is no speculation as to who will start this game on the mound for the Giants because San Francisco is still adjusting its rotation because of injuries. MLB betting experts are speculating that Tim Lincecum may start for the Giants, and that would be fine for the Diamondbacks because Arizona is putting their ace on the mound for this game.

Ian Kennedy and his 12-3 record take the mound for the Diamondbacks. He is 6-1 in his last 10 starts and has a 3.28 ERA in that stretch. The last time he faced San Francisco was a no-decision on June 16th. But the Giants, with Beltran in the line up, are better equipped to handle Kennedy this time.

Diamondbacks Giants Betting Pick: San Francisco Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Francisco Giants Tuesday, August 2 10:15 PM ET

There is no logical reason for saying that the San Francisco Giants will have problems in this game other to say that the Giants have troubles in the second game of a series. In June, the Giants lost the second game of the first two series of the month, and both of those series were at home.

The Diamondbacks will put Daniel Hudson on the mound, and Hudson has had problems his past few starts. In his last two starts, Hudson is 0-2 and has given up a total of nine earned runs in those games. But prior to that streak, Hudson was 4-0 in his previous eight starts. If the Diamondbacks are going to be part of the World Series betting, then they need Hudson to get back on track. That is what he will do in this game.

Diamondbacks Giants Betting Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Francisco Giants Wednesday, August 3 3:45 PM ET

The Arizona Diamondbacks will put up an exceptional fight in this series, but there is too much working in favor of the Giants to allow the Diamondbacks to pick up ground in this series. Tim Lincecum is pitching like the World Series champion that he is, closer Brian Wilson and his beard remain all powerful in saving games and Carlos Beltran has snapped in perfectly with the Giants batting order. In the end, it will be pure talent that rolls over the Diamondbacks.

For their part, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a lot to look forward to for next season. They need to pick up some middle relief for the bullpen and a couple of more prolific bats, but there is the core of a good team in Arizona. The only thing is that it will be next season before the Diamondbacks can really put together an impressive run. For now, Arizona will have to watch the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants make another run at the title.

Diamondbacks Giants Betting Pick: San Francisco Giants

MLB baseball betting gurus spend a lot of time analyzing pitching and catching. Thats just what the Oklahoma State Cowboys focus on whenever each and every season begins. In the 1980s, Oklahoma State devoted its energy to the running game, thanks to a fellow named Barry Sanders. Now, though, OSU places its trust in the propelled pigskin, an aerial show that lights up skies in the Central Plains region.

Head coach Mike Gundy has won at least nine games in three consecutive seasons for the Cowboys. Moreover, hes done so while finishing two of those years in the top 20. An 11-win 2010 and the return of two prime players – All-Big 12 First Team quarterback Brandon Weeden and All-American wide receiver Justin Blackmon – have the locals excited in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Stratospheric hopes might not be in order for this team, but one couldnt blame OSU fans for being very excited about their teams potential. The margin for error is small, though, in a balanced league with many teams that share Oklahoma States larger overall position.

The Cowboys return 10 total starters from an offense which finished second in the nation in passing and 29th in rushing last year. There is, however, a large question mark: Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, the mastermind of the Cowboys spread attack, is no longer on the job after taking the head coaching gig at West Virginia. Holgorsen delivered lights-out results at Houston and then Oklahoma State. He rose quickly in the coaching profession for a reason, so his absence is likely to matter even though Gundy, the head coach, is an appreciably solid play-caller in his own right. Will the Cowboys see a drop in production under new coordinator Todd Monken? Its likely, but the extent of the decrease in production is really the only salient issue. If the drop-off is not substantial, Monken will have done quite well.

The Cowboys defense returns six starters. This new group will have a little leeway to grow when one considers the dominant returning talent on the offensive side of the ball. Make no mistake, though: one should place a considerable amount of emphasis on the word “little.” Even when the Pokes rang up 41 points last year against Nebraska and Oklahoma they lost at home because their defense gave up 51 and 47 points, respectively. Oklahoma State must play better defense if it wants that breakout season. Any reputable sports betting expert could tell you that.

Interestingly enough, the Cowboys first test of the season will be in week two when they play Arizona in Stillwater. Thats the same Arizona squad which was torched by Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. Road trips to Texas A&M, Texas, and Missouri will be difficult tasks as well. The Big 12 title may very well come down to the final week of the season when the Cowboys take on heated rival Oklahoma in the Bedlam Series. If things go as planned for Oklahoma State, there would be no better way to put the program on a higher plane than by defeating Oklahoma to win the league. With that said, the Bedlam game might obviously receive more publicity than any other contest on Oklahoma States schedule, but the ability to win every other Big 12 game  will define the successfulness of this season. A strong second-place showing behind Oklahoma with an 11-1 record is a realistic goal OSU fans should have in mind. A properly-calibrated sports bet would ultimately settle on 10-2 as the ultimate landing point for this team in 2011.

A person with direct knowledge of the number of votes cast has told The Associated Press that there enough votes from NFL players to recertify the union. This is one of the last steps in completing the collective bargaining agreement.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the union has not made an announcement.

Recertifying the union must be done to conclude the labor agreement reached last week. The union would be required to negotiate with the NFL several outstanding items, such as drug testing, player discipline, disability and pension programs.

Players from at least nine teams have already voted overwhelmingly in favor of recertification.

NEW YORK — A person familiar with the deal says the Jets have re-signed safety Eric Smith to a three-year contract, keeping the key backup in New York.

Smith, also a hard-hitting special teams player, has been with the Jets since they drafted him in the third round out of Michigan State in 2006. The signing comes after New York lost out Friday night to the Philadelphia Eagles in its pursuit of free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadnt announced the move.

The 28-year-old Smith has 201 career tackles, along with four interceptions, 17 passes defensed and a sack.

The signing was first reported by the .

NEW YORK — Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen has been placed on the paternity leave list, opening a roster spot for right-hander Chris Tillman.

Tillman was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start the first game of Saturdays day-night doubleheader against the New York Yankees.

Baltimore will need to make a roster move between games as well in order to create a spot for Zach Britton. The left-hander is slated to start the nightcap against Yankees rookie Ivan Nova, also coming back from the minors.

Bergesen left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. He can remain on the paternity leave list for a maximum of three days.

The right-hander is 2-7 with a 5.79 ERA in 20 games, including 12 starts.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brad Bergesen has been placed on the paternity leave list, opening a roster spot for right-hander Chris Tillman.

Tillman was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start the first game of Saturdays day-night doubleheader against the New York Yankees.

Baltimore will need to make a roster move between games as well in order to create a spot for Zach Britton. The left-hander is slated to start the nightcap against Yankees rookie Ivan Nova, also coming back from the minors.

Bergesen left the team to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. He can remain on the paternity leave list for a maximum of three days.

The right-hander is 2-7 with a 5.79 ERA in 20 games, including 12 starts.