Ben Roethlisberger returns to practice for Steelers

A slimmed-down Ben Roethlisberger whistled practice passes to his receivers for the first time in five weeks, and a teammate didn’t need to watch video tape to know what he’d just seen.

“He’s been working hard at home,” defensive end Brett Keisel said. “He wants to be great this year. So, hopefully, he will (be).”

Even if considerable repair work needs to be done, on the field and off it.

The two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback didn’t talk to reporters after practicing Tuesday in Pittsburgh for the first time since drawing a six-game suspension April 21 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

The penalty resulted from a Georgia college student’s allegation that he sexually assaulted her in a nightclub, and though Roethlisberger does not face criminal charges in the case, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the quarterback’s drinking and carousing failed to meet the league’s expectations for player behavior.

Roethlisberger took part in voluntary practices April 19 and 20, but was barred from working out again until he underwent a league-ordered behavioral evaluation and was cleared by Goodell to resume team activities. The commissioner still hasn’t decided if Roethlisberger’s suspension will be reduced to four games.

Roethlisberger, wearing a white No. 7 jersey atop a yellow practice shirt, took all the snaps with the starters during the 90-minute practice, partly because Byron Leftwich had a previously scheduled commitment and missed the voluntary practice. Coach Mike Tomlin also departed early for the same reason and didn’t answer questions.

---

Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Marlin Jackson ruptured his right Achilles’ tendon in an indoor practice. A 2005 first-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts, Jackson signed a two-year deal with Philadelphia in March. He is coming off a pair of season-ending knee injuries.

---

The Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Anthony McCoy, their sixth-round draft pick, to a multi-year deal. McCoy played for Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll at USC.

---

The Denver Broncos claimed linebacker Bruce Davis ( UCLA) off waivers from New England.

---

PRO BASKETBALL

One month from the start of the NBA’s free agency frenzy, LeBron James has handicapped his field of suitors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the pack.

In his first interview since the Cavs’ season ended with a shocking, second-round loss to Boston, James told CNN’s Larry King that Cleveland has “an edge” to re-sign him when the greatest collection of free agents in league history hits the open market on July 1.

King, who interviewed James at the two-time MVP’s home near Akron, Ohio, on Tuesday, asked the superstar if Cleveland has “an edge going in?”

“Absolutely,” James said in a portion of the interview released by the network. “Because, you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it’s comfortable. So I’ve got a lot of memories here. And so it does have an edge.”

The interview will air Friday on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” capping the program’s 25th anniversary celebration on the network.

---

The trial pitting Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade against two former business partners who wanted $25 million after a restaurant deal went sour has come to a quick end, with the sides announcing a confidential settlement.

---

Sacramento Kings point guard Tyreke Evans is facing an August court date after being stopped for reckless driving. The California Highway Patrol cited the NBA’s rookie of the year on Monday evening after air patrol spotted him driving a 2010 black Mercedes S550 at more than 100 mph on Interstate 80.

HOCKEY

Monday night’s Game 2 in the Stanley Cup finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers earned the best overnight television rating on record for a Game 2 (data before 1975 is unavailable). The overnight rating for NBC is a 4.1 with a 7 audience share. That’s up 21% over last year’s Game 2 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The information from Nielsen Media Research indicates the game had its highest viewership between 7:30 and 8 p.m. PT. The Chicago market showed a 25.1 rating and a 39 share; in Philadelphia it was 18.5 and 29. The game also won the overall night in the rankings for NBC.

After Chicago and Philadelphia, the rest of the top 10 markets for NBC so far are, in order, Buffalo; Pittsburgh; Indianapolis; Detroit; Fort Myers, Fla., Las Vegas, with Orlando, Fla.; Columbus, Ohio and St. Louis all tied for ninth.

The Blackhawks and Flyers are also playing well in Canada, at least for Game 1, which had an average audience of 3.16 million on the CBC, an 83% increase over Game 1 in 2009.

-- Diane Pucin

Defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, 40, signed a one-year, $6.2-million contract and will return to the Detroit Red Wings for a 19th season instead of retiring.

---

Scott Mellanby has been hired as an assistant coach by the St. Louis Blues, where he spent four seasons during his playing career.

GOLF

Documents show police were looking for prescription medication when they searched a doctor’s house and office in the investigation into the death of LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg. Dr. Thomas Hess referred calls Tuesday about the May 13 searches at his home and business to his lawyer, who declined comment.

Henderson, Nev., police aren’t saying much about their investigation of the 25-year-old Blasberg’s death May 9 at her home in Henderson.

Police say a 911 call came from the house, and that Blasberg was alone when officers arrived.

Warrant documents show police were looking for alprazolam, an anti-anxiety medication also known as Xanax, plus samples of Hess’ handwriting.

The Clark County coroner says it could be four more weeks before a cause of death is known.

---

The Presidents Cup is coming to Muirfield Village in 2013, two officials told the Associated Press, giving the course Jack Nicklaus built in Dublin, Ohio, the distinction of hosting golf’s three biggest cup competitions. Muirfield Village held the Ryder Cup in 1987 and the Solheim Cup in 1998.

MOTOR SPORTS

IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay has had successful surgery on his left thumb and is being fitted for a carbon-fiber splint that will allow him to race Saturday at Texas. Hunter-Reay hurt the thumb on pit row during Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. He also was involved in the frightening crash with Mike Conway on Lap 199, but was not injured in that collision.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

A judge in Lubbock, Texas, says former football coach Mike Leach’s lawsuit over his firing from Texas Tech can move forward.

State District Judge William C. Sowder struck down Texas Tech’s claim of sovereign immunity from the lawsuit. The judge says Tech waived its immunity by its conduct.