MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB: Suspended LHP Dan Serafini 50 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Houston: RHP Doug Brocail agreed to 1 year deal.
Pittsburgh: Named Don Long hitting coach.
Tampa Bay: C Hector Gimenez, INF/OF Chris Richard and OF Jon Weber agreed to minor league deals.
FOOTBALL
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
BEARS: Put RB Cedric Benson on IR. Signed OL Ryan Gibbons to and released S Brandon Sharp from practice squad.
NFL: Suspended Vikings DT Fred Evans 2 games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy during a pair of offseason problems.
Arizona: Placed CB Eric Green on injured reserve. Released P Mike Barr and TE Tim Euhus. Re-signed DE Bo Schobel.
Cincinnati: Signed LB Jim Maxwell. Put S Herana-Daze Jones on IR.
Den.: Signed G Isaac Snell. Waived FB Kyle Johnson.
Indianapolis: Released DE Simeon Rice. Re-signed RB Luke Lawton.
Jacksonville: Signed LB Marquis Cooper. Released LB Jorge Cordova. Transferred DE Brian Smith from physically-unable-to-perform list to IR.
Kansas City: Signed PK John Carney.
New England: Activated WR Troy Brown from physically-unable-to-perform list. Placed LB Rosevelt Colvin on injured reserve. Waived DL Kareem Brown.
N.Y. Giants: Signed LB Torrance Daniels from practice squad. Released RB Patrick Pass.
San Francisco: Signed CB Markus Curry to and waived TE Zac Alcorn from practice squad.
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
RUSH: Signed FB/LB Dan Alexander and OL/DL Vince Amey.
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
BLACKHAWKS: Sent F Petri Kontiola and Kris Versteeg to Rockford (AHL).
NHL: Suspended Flyers F Scott Hartnell 2 games after game misconduct during Nov. 26 game against Boston.
Carolina: Activated F Scott Walker from IR.
Columbus: Placed D Duvie Westcott on IR.
Ottawa: Recalled LW Nick Foligno from and sent C Alexander Nikulin to Binghamton (AHL).
COLLEGES
DePaul: Dismissed sophomore F Thijin Moses from men’s basketball team for undisclosed violations of team rules and university policies.
Florida: Granted sophomore WR Jarred Fayson a release from scholarship, allowing him to transfer.
Indiana: Suspended freshman G Jordan Crawford 3 games for violating team rules.
Mississippi: Named Houston Nutt football coach.
Virginia: Exercised 1-year option on Al Groh, football coach.
W. Illinois: Named Brock Bainter asst. baseball coach.
ORAL COMMITMENT
FOOTBALL
Illinois: Russell Ellington, DB/QB, Homewood-Flossmoor.
LETTERS OF INTENT
BASEBALL
Eastern Illinois: Josh Wilson, OF/P, Charleston; Daniel Bracken, OF, Louisville; Danny DeLong, P, Olathe, Kan.; Chris Ulrey, OF, Greenfield, Ind.
Illinois: Adam Davis, C, Driscoll; Bryan Roberts, RHP, Benet; Corey Kimes, LHP, Ottawa, Ill.; Josh Parr, SS, Illinois Valley Central, Chillicothe, Ill.
Illinois State: Matt Mirabal, C/2B, Mt. Carmel; Jake Thornton, CF, St. Charles North; Landinn Eckhardt, C-INF, St. Joseph, Mo.
Northern Illinois: Alex Beckmann, IF, Batavia; Chuck Lukanen, P, Lombard; P Zach Badgley, P, McHenry; Brett Frantini, C, Minooka; Chris Wakefield, P/IF, Cherokee, Ga.; Jake Hermsen, OF/P, New London, Wis.
Southern Illinois: Chris Serritella, 1B, Loyola; Jordan Sivertsen, OF/RHP, Carmel; Jimmy Cornell, LHP, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Owen Mackedon, SS, Fallon, Nev.; Andrew Bever, RHP, Lafayette, Ind.; Nathan Forer, RHP, Brampton, Ontario, Canada; Cyle Rasmus, SS, Phenix City, Ala.
