Former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo has agreed to take over as defensive coordinator for the Saints, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The 52-year-old Spagnuolo, the Giants’ defensive coordinator before going to St. Louis, was fired last month after going 10-38 in three seasons.
Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy met again with the Dolphins as Miami wrapped up its second round of interviews.
Despite a rookie wage scale established in the new collective bargaining agreement, a record 65 underclassmen have declared for April’s NFL Draft.
Miami’s Dwyane Wade (ankle sprain) missed his second consecutive game when he sat out the Heat’s 98-87 win over the Lakers.
But teammate and ex-Knick Eddy Curry played in an NBA game for the first time since Dec. 17, 2009 and had six points and three rebounds in six minutes. LeBron James led the Heat with 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Thunder signed All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook to a multiyear contract extension.
MLB
Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona has been arrested for allegedly using a false identity in the Dominican Republic, where officials are contesting his real name and birthdate.
Carmona’s real name is apparently Roberto Hernandez
Heredia and he’s 31, three years older than the pitcher claimed.
NL MVP Ryan Braun’s appeal of his positive drug test began yesterday before baseball arbitrator Shyam Das. Braun is scheduled to appear at the annual Baseball Writers Association of America dinner in Manhattan tomorrow night to receive his MVP award.
TENNIS
Rafael Nadal moved into the fourth round of the Australian Open without dropping a set thanks to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko, the last qualifier in the draw. Meanwhile, four-time Australian Open champ Roger Federer also advanced with a 7-6 (6), 7-5, 6-3 over hard-serving Ivo Karlovic of Croatia.
An injury to his right leg late yesterday forced Andy Roddick to withdraw from his match with Lleyton Hewitt trailing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Hewitt goes to the third round against Milos Raonic. If Hewitt wins, he could face defending champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round. Djokovic beat Santiago Giraldo, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. On the women’s side, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki was a 6-2, 6-2 win over Monica Niculescu and third-seeded Victoria Azarenka beat Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-4. Also advancing was No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska.
Tomorrow, Serena Williams plays her third-round match vs. Hungary’s Greta Arn.
Jamal Olasewere scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead host LIU to its eighth consecutive victory, 77-62 over Mount St. Mary’s. . . . In Jersey City, Rakim Sanders had 19 points and 10 rebounds, to lead Fairfield to a 75-63 victory over Saint Peter’s.
David Toms and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas shot 9-under 63 to top the leaderboard in the opening round of the Humana Challenge in La Quinta, Calif.