Vick’s guilty plea may speed release

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday at Sussex, Va., to a state dogfighting charge, a move that could make him eligible to leave prison early and potentially speed up a return to pro football.

Vick, 28, arrived wearing wrist and ankle shackles with his gray suit, but the restraints were removed by the time he entered his plea. The one-time Atlanta Falcons star also pleaded not guilty to a count of cruelty to animals, but that charge was dropped under his plea deal. He received a three-year suspended sentence -- far less than the maximum of 10 years he could have faced.

“I want to apologize to the court, my family, and to all the kids who looked up to me as a role model,” Vick told the judge.

Vick is scheduled for release on July 20, 2009, and will serve three years of probation. His latest plea is important because it resolves the remaining charges against him, which is required under federal law if he is to move into a halfway house.

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Roger Clemens’ former trainer gave samples of his DNA to federal investigators trying to ascertain whether the star pitcher committed perjury before Congress, two New York newspapers reported.

The request for a DNA sample from trainer Brian McNamee suggests that investigators found readable DNA on the syringes, needles and gauze pads McNamee turned over to federal prosecutors in January, the New York Times and Daily News reported.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Ball State wins, remains undefeated

MiQuale Lewis ran for three touchdowns, and Nate Davis threw for one and ran for another to keep No. 15 Ball State among the nation’s four unbeaten teams with a 45-22 victory over Western Michigan at Muncie, Ind.

The Cardinals, 12-0 overall and 8-0 in the Mid-American Conference, have their first perfect regular season since 1949.

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Quarterback Ricky Dobbs ran for 124 yards to lead Navy (7-4) to a 16-0 victory over Northern Illinois (6-6) at Dekalb, Ill.

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Oregon State running back Jacquizz Rodgers is doubtful for Saturday’s game against Oregon because of a shoulder injury. . . . Missouri and Gary Pinkel have agreed to terms on a seven-year contract that guarantees the Tigers’ coach $2.3 million a season through 2015. . . . Penn State Coach Joe Paterno was released from the hospital two days after undergoing hip replacement surgery. . . . North Carolina linebacker Mark Paschal won’t play college football again because of a spinal injury he sustained last week.

PRO FOOTBALL

Browns’ Quinn is out for the season

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn will miss the remainder of the season with a broken right index finger he made worse by playing Sunday, according to several reports.

Citing unnamed sources, FOXsports.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer said the break on Quinn’s finger worsened after he tried to play through the injury on Sunday in a loss to the Houston Texans.

Quinn flew to Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday to have the injury examined by noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. The second-year QB was then advised by Andrews as well as specialists brought in by the Browns to end his season before the tendon tore from the bone.

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Former NFL MVP Shaun Alexander was released by the Washington Redskins after getting only 11 carries in five games. . . . Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker is questionable for Sunday’s game against New England because of a sore left knee.

SOCCER

Manchester United, six others advance

Defending champion Manchester United led a sweep of seven more teams into the last 16 of the Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Villarreal. Nine-time winner Real Madrid, four-time champion Bayern Munich, two-time winner FC Porto, Lyon, Arsenal and Villarreal also advanced to the knockout phase with a game to spare.

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FIFA suspended Peru from international soccer because the government is feuding with the national federation. FIFA rules prohibit political interference in soccer.

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Irving Garcia scored two second-half goals to lead UC Irvine to a 3-0 victory over visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the second round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament. Irvine will next play third-seeded St. John’s.

GOLF

FedEx Cup points system is altered

The PGA Tour revamped its FedEx Cup race to help make sure the winner of the $10-million prize is decided at the Tour Championship.

Under the new formula, points that previously had been reset at the start of the four-tournament playoffs will not be changed until the Tour Championship, meaning all 30 players who qualify for the finale will have a chance to win.