Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin agrees to contract extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Coach Mike Tomlin agreed to an extension on Tuesday that will keep him on the sideline through at least 2016. Financial terms were not disclosed. Tomlin’s previous deal expired at the end of the 2013 season.

The 40-year-old Tomlin, a surprise choice to replace Bill Cowher after the 2006 season, is 55-25 with the Steelers, winning three AFC North titles, two AFC championships and the 2009 Super Bowl.

“Mike is one of the top head coaches in the National Football League and we are thrilled he will continue to lead our team as we pursue another Super Bowl title,” team President Art Rooney said in a statement.

Under Tomlin’s guidance the Steelers have consistently been among the best teams in the league. Pittsburgh has ranked first in defense three times during his tenure and averaged seven Pro Bowl selections a year.

The Steelers begin camp on Wednesday and will probably be without wide receiver Mike Wallace, who has yet to sign his one-year tender.

ETC.

Predators match offer sheet to keep Shea Weber

The Nashville Predators matched the staggering offering sheet made by the Philadelphia Flyers for defenseman Shea Weber.

The Predators made sure they will keep their star defenseman when they decided to pay him $110 million over 14 years. Weber, 26, is the Predators’ captain and played on a $7.5-million arbitrator’s award last season. He had 19 goals and 49 points along the way.

Nashville lost free-agent defenseman Ryan Suter to Minnesota this summer, and losing Weber would have been an unexpected blow to a defense-first team that had 104 points last season.

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The Boston Bruins announced that it is has signed coach Claude Julien to a contract extension, a reward for leading the team to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship. Julien’s contract had been set to expire after next season.

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The Houston Rockets announced that Turkish center Omer Asik will join the team after the Chicago Bulls decided not to match their three-year, $25-million offer sheet.

The 7-foot Asik averaged 3.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and one block in 66 games last season.

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The Washington Wizards signed free agent guard A.J. Price.

Price, who played three seasons with the Indiana Pacers, will give the team depth in the backcourt, team President Ernie Grunfeld said.

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Marco Belinelli is the latest member of a revamped bench for the Chicago Bulls. General Manager Gar Forman announced the signing. A five-year veteran guard from Italy, Belinelli averaged 11.8 points and played in all 66 games for the New Orleans Hornets last season.

The Bulls will be Belinelli’s fourth NBA team. Best known for his perimeter scoring, Belinelli has shot 39.3% from three-point range.

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David Beckham will have a role in the opening ceremony at the Olympics.

The English football star had hoped to play for Britain’s team at the games, but he was not included in the squad by Coach Stuart Pearce. There will, however, be a spot for him Friday at Olympic Stadium.

“It is some kind of role in the opening ceremony, which I am honored to be involved in because obviously I was involved in the start process with this seven years ago,” Beckham told the Associated Press. “And for Seb [Sebastian Coe] to have kept me involved, I’m very proud of that.”

But in keeping with the national “save the surprise” campaign, Beckham wouldn’t divulge any further details about his role.

One obvious role would be to serve as one of the final torchbearers to help complete the 8,000-mile (12,900-kilometer) relay around Britain in the stadium, although it is expected a former Olympian will be given the honor of lighting the cauldron.

There was speculation Muhammad Ali could also play a role in the opening ceremony after the boxing great came to London to appear Tuesday alongside Beckham at an event in London.

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NASCAR has suspended driver A.J. Allmendinger indefinitely after a test of his backup urine sample came back positive Tuesday.

Allmendinger originally was suspended July 7 after failing a random drug test taken in late June. His backup B urine sample was tested Tuesday by Aegis Analytical Laboratories in Nashville, Tenn. NASCAR officials announced the results and subsequent suspension Tuesday night.

Officials did not say what substance for which Allmendinger tested positive. Allmendinger has said he tested positive for a stimulant he has not revealed, but denied knowingly taking a banned substance.

Earlier Tuesday, NASCAR Chief Executive Brian France said he is confident in the series’ drug testing program.