PRESS BOX: No racing for Edwards in 2017

[January 16, 2017]  The Sports Xchange

Driver Carl Edwards confirmed Wednesday that he is leaving Joe Gibbs Racing immediately and will not compete in NASCAR in 2017, announcing he has no regrets and is lucky enough to be "100 percent healthy."

The 37-year-old Edwards, who spent the last two years at JGR and had one year remaining on his contract, did not use the word "retirement." He won three races in 2016 and finished fourth in the Sprint Cup standings.

Edwards will be replaced by Daniel Suarez, the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, in the No. 19 JGR Toyota Camry for the season. He is the first full-time Mexican-born driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Duke guard Grayson Allen appeared to shove a Florida State assistant coach as he was falling into the seats chasing a loose ball during the Blue Devils' 88-72 loss on Tuesday night.

No. 7 Duke was trailing ninth-ranked Florida State 75-61 with 6:00 to play in the second half when Allen raced toward the sideline to try to grab a loose rebound near the Seminoles bench. As Allen was in mid-air and about to fall into the Florida State bench, he shoved Florida State assistant Dennis Gates with two hands.

The game was Allen's third and first on the road since serving a one-game suspension for intentionally tripping Elon's Steven Santa Ana on Dec. 21. Allen tripped three players over the past two seasons. In another incident, the Atlantic Coast Conference reviewed video footage to determine whether Allen attempted to trip a player last Saturday during the Blue Devils' game against Boston College but said there was no conclusive proof.

GOLF

Jim Furyk, who played on nine consecutive American teams, was named the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup captain on Wednesday.

PGA of America president Paul Levy announced the selection of Furyk for the 42nd Ryder Cup, which will be played Sept. 28-30, 2018, at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France.

Furyk was a vice captain under Davis Love III last fall when the United States reclaimed the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008 in the biennial event by defeating Europe 17-11 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. The 46-year-old Furyk is the 28th U.S. captain since the Ryder Cup began in 1927.

MLB

The Seattle Mariners acquired left-hander pitcher Drew Smyly from the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-player trade on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Mariners acquired right-handers Shae Simmons and outfielder Mallex Smith from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league left-handers Luiz Gohara and Thomas Burrows. Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto completed his 11th trade this offseason by acquiring Smyly for Smith, infielder Carlos Vargas and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough.

Smyly, 27, established career-highs last season with 30 starts, 175 1/3 innings and 167 strikeouts in 2016. He finished the season 7-12 with a 4.88 ERA for the Rays.

--The World Series champion Chicago Cubs will break from tradition and visit President Barack Obama on Monday during his last week in the White House.

Normally, the World Series champions don't make their traditional visit to the White House until the following season, but NBC Chicago reported that the Cubs wanted to make the trip before Obama left office.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson wide receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott declared for the 2017 NFL draft on Wednesday, two days removed from helping the Tigers' win the national championship.

Williams is projected as the top wide receiver off the board by NFLDraftScout.com and Scott is viewed as 14th on the list.

The duo joins quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Wayne Gallman as Tigers underclassmen entering the draft.

--Ohio State sophomore cornerback Marshon Lattimore took to social media on Wednesday to announce his decision to enter the NFL draft.

Lattimore, who played his first healthy season as a full-time starter in 2016, is joining fellow Ohio State defensive backs Malik Hooker and Gareon Conley in forgoing their eligibility and turning to the professional ranks.

Lattimore is projected as a first-round pick and the fourth cornerback off the board by NFLDraftScout.com. He was selected first-team All-Big Ten after collecting four interceptions and 13 passes defended last season with the Buckeyes (11-2).

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