Petersen declines comment on former player's exit from Boise St.

Washington coach Chris Petersen has declined to address the circumstances surrounding his conversations with Baylor coach Art Briles over the 2013 transfer of former Boise State star defensive end Sam Ukwuachu.

The issue came to a head on Friday, one day after Ukwuachu was convicted of second-degree rape in Texas, when Briles said emphatically that no one at Boise State had told him about Ukwuachu's violent history in Boise before Ukwuachu transferred to Baylor.

Petersen, then the coach at Boise State, dismissed Ukwuachu in May 2013 and said in a statement Friday that he "thoroughly apprised Coach Briles of the circumstances surrounding Sam's disciplinary record and dismissal."

On Tuesday, his first media availability since last Thursday, Petersen was asked if he could private clarity on his conversations with Briles.

"I really appreciate that question because I think it's an important one. But I don't have anything more to add than what my statement was. I really don't," Petersen said. "This is about our football team and that's really where I'm at on that whole thing."

Ukwuachu was a freshman All-American at Boise State. His former girlfriend in Boise testified that he had physically abused her. He was sentenced to six months in jail and put on 10 years of probation Friday for sexually assaulting a former Baylor women's soccer player.

Steelers sign QB Michael Vick

PITTSBURGH - Michael Vick needed a job. The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a backup quarterback.

One solid workout solved both problems.

The Steelers signed the four-time Pro Bowler to a one-year deal on Tuesday night, hopeful there's enough game left in the 35-year-old's still dangerous legs to provide the defending AFC North champions some insurance should something happen to Ben Roethlisberger.

"There's not a throw on the field he can't make from an arm strength standpoint," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "He's a very experienced guy at what he does at this point in his career and the mobility is still unique even at 35."

Vick spent 2014 with the New York Jets, engineering an upset over the Steelers on Nov. 9 by throwing for two touchdowns in a 20-13 victory, his lone triumph during an otherwise forgettable season. The Jets made no move to retain him and with backup Bruce Gradkowski on injured reserve after hurting his left (non-throwing) hand in last Sunday's preseason win over Green Bay, Pittsburgh didn't hesitate to reach out to Vick.

Source: Scandrick out for year

Orlando Scandrick's season is over before it started after the Dallas cornerback tore two ligaments in his right knee in practice at training camp Tuesday.

A person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press that an MRI exam revealed tears to the anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the injury.

Video showed Scandrick's leg bending awkwardly under rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead at the end of a play in Oxnard, Calif. Scandrick, who was carted off the field, had recently returned to practice after sitting out with soreness in his left knee.

"He said immediately, 'It's my ACL. I know it. It's gone,' " secondary coach Jerome Henderson said.

NBA fines Clippers $250,000 for their pitch to DeAndre Jordan

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Clippers were fined $250,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for violating the league's rules while trying to re-sign DeAndre Jordan last month.

The league said the Clippers made a presentation to the then-free agent on July 2 that improperly included a potential third-party endorsement opportunity. League rules prohibit teams from arranging for others to provide compensation for a player unless it is included in a contract or is otherwise permitted by the collective bargaining agreement.

The NBA said the endorsement opportunity didn't impact Jordan's decision to re-sign with the Clippers. He received an $88 million, four-year contract after initially verbally committing to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks.