Wednesday's Sports in Brief
NFL
WASHINGTON (AP) The Redskins plan to start quarterback Colt McCoy over Robert Griffin III on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Washington coach Jay Gruden told Colts reporters on a conference call that Griffin ''just needs a little more time'' to master the team's offensive scheme.
Griffin's benching is the latest development in a stunning slide for the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Redskins are 0-3 since Griffin returned from an ankle injury and have scored only one touchdown in each of the last two games.
HOUSTON (AP) - Ryan Fitzpatrick is getting a second chance to be Houston's quarterback on Sunday at Tennessee with Ryan Mallett out for the season with a chest injury.
Coach Bill O'Brien said the team wasn't sure if Mallett would need surgery. Mallett was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Fitzpatrick started the first nine games before being benched during the bye week in favor of Mallett, who went 1-1 as the starter.
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Jets announced that Geno Smith will start at quarterback over Michael Vick against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night.
Vick started the Jets' past three games, but struggled against Buffalo before being replaced by Smith in a 38-3 loss in Detroit.
Smith, in his second season, last started on Oct. 26 in a 43-23 loss to the Bills in which he threw interceptions on three consecutive possessions and was benched.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Colts claimed outside linebacker Shaun Phillips off waivers from Tennessee.
Team officials said they waived linebacker Victor Butler to clear room on the 53-man active roster.
Phillips has 554 tackles, 81 1/2 sacks and seven interceptions during his 11-year career. He played nine seasons with San Diego, then signed with Denver last season and joined the Titans this year. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2010.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - NFL Players Association records show New England special teams captain Matthew Slater has signed a two-year contract extension.
Slater called the extension ''humbling'' but declined to go into details. The Patriots don't announce contract extensions. The total value of the deal is $4 million.
NEW YORK (AP) - Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola was fined $10,000 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness for a striking an opponent at New England on Sunday.
The play came on a third-and-9 from the Detroit 35 with 57 seconds remaining. Raiola struck the Patriots' Zach Moore.
BASEBALL
Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas is in the process of agreeing to a $68.5 million, six-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been completed. The person said several additional steps were necessary but the agreement was likely to be finalized in the next few days.
Tomas, 24, went 6 for 16 for Cuba with two homers and five RBIs in last year's World Baseball Classic.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Relief pitcher Ernesto Frieri and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract.
The 29-year-old right-hander was 1-4 with a 7.34 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41 2-3 innings over 48 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh.
To clear a roster spot, the Rays designated infielder Sean Rodriguez for assignment. Tampa Bay also released catcher Jose Molina and second baseman Cole Figueroa.
NBA
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Spurs coach Gregg Popovich missed San Antonio's 106-100 victory over the Indians Pacers after undergoing what the team called a minor medical procedure.
Popovich also is expected to miss Friday's home game against Sacramento. Assistant Ettore Messina is running the team in Popovich's absence.
Messina became the first European-born coach to run an NBA team in the regular season. Referred by many as the ''Coach Pop of Europe,'' Messina is in his first season with the Spurs after a successful international career.
HOCKEY
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Martin Brodeur will practice starting Friday with the St. Louis Blues, who have lost goalie Brian Elliott indefinitely with a lower-body injury.
The 42-year-old Brodeur said earlier this month he's been working out and hoped to land a job. The team announced the invitation on its website, and general manager Doug Armstrong said in a brief release that Brodeur had agreed to practice through early next week.
Brodeur is the NHL leader in wins (688) and shutouts (124) and won three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils (1995, 2000 and 2003). He posted save percentages of .901 the past two seasons, split time with Cory Schneider his final year in New Jersey, and wasn't re-signed by the Devils.
HORSE RACING
DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome is going to try turf for the first time.
The 3-year-old colt was entered in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby, where he will face five rivals in 1 1/8-mile race Saturday at Del Mar. Trainer Art Sherman said that having California Chrome try the turf will give the horse more options when he runs next year as a 4-year-old.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Mike London will return as Virginia's football coach next season.
Athletic director Craig Littlepage made the announcement, citing improvement in the Cavaliers' performance on the field and success in recruiting as key factors in the decision. London has two years remaining on his contract.
The announcement ends questions about whether the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) would be playing for London's future at rival Virginia Tech on Friday night.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - Georgia said tailback Todd Gurley had successful surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Georgia director of sports medicine Ron Courson said Gurley started rehabilitation following Tuesday's surgery.
Gurley, a junior, suffered the season-ending injury in a win over Auburn on Nov. 15. Freshman Nick Chubb has taken over the starting role for No. 8 Georgia, which faces No. 16 Georgia Tech on Saturday in the final regular-season game for both teams.
Before the injury, Gurley passed Garrison Hearst for second place on Georgia's career rushing list, behind Herschel Walker.
AUTO RACING
HOUSTON (AP) - Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt remained in a Houston hospital, more than two weeks after he had triple-bypass surgery on his heart.
Anne Fornoro, the spokesman for Foyt's two-car IndyCar team, said in a release there was a post-surgical complication, but that has now been resolved. She did not elaborate on what the complication was.
Larry Foyt, the team director and Foyt's youngest son, says his father is doing ''really well,'' though doctors have not said when the elder Foyt might be released. Larry Foyt also says his father is improving each day and is expected to make a full recovery.