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Marvin Lewis gets two-year extension as Bengals coach

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Cincinnati Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season on Tuesday, giving him more chances to pursue the elusive goal of winning a playoff game.

Lewis already holds the club record for tenure as a head coach, entering his 10th season. Owner Mike Brown offered the extension even though the Bengals (are 69-74-1 under Lewis with only three winning records and an 0-3 mark in the playoffs.

When he arrived in 2003, the Bengals were in the midst of one of the worst streaks of futility in league history — no winning record since 1990. They broke the streak by reaching the playoffs in 2005, only to lose to Pittsburgh in a first-round playoff game when quarterback Carson Palmer tore up his knee.

They reached the playoff again in 2009, then lost to the Jets. They made the playoffs as a wild card last season with a 9-7 mark and lost to Houston.

Lewis is third in the NFL in current tenure with one team, behind Philadelphia’s Andy Reid and New England’s Bill Belichick.

The Seattle Seahawks signed veteran wide receiver Braylon Edwards, adding an experienced pass catcher to the training camp competition for the No. 2 receiver spot.

New York Giants safety Tyler Sash was suspended four games for violation of the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.

Former NFL and Arizona State running back Art Malone died Friday at 64, Arizona State announced.

Malone played seven seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the second round by Atlanta. He played five seasons with the Falcons and two with Philadelphia, rushing for 2,457 yards and 19 touchdowns, with 1,465 yards and six touchdowns on 161 receptions.

Malone played for the Sun Devils from 1967 to 1969. He later worked for 22 years in the Arizona State athletic department.

ETC.

NCAA sanctions Central Florida

Central Florida will have to sit out the postseason for a year in men’s basketball and football under sanctions the NCAA handed down Tuesday, adding to penalties the school self-imposed after major recruiting violations were uncovered last year in both programs.

UCF also was cited for “a lack of institutional control” and fined $50,000.

The penalties added two years to UCF’s previously proposed three years’ probation. And they leave in place other sanctions: vacating basketball victories; a reduction in basketball scholarships; and, tighter limits on football recruiting visiting days.

Greg Sankey, the executive associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and an NCAA infractions committee member, said that the lack of control UCF had on outside entities was the most egregious finding.

“Part of what was troubling here is there was knowledge of the representatives or third parties being involved in the recruiting process and (UCF officials) facilitated that,” he said Tuesday.

In a news conference to respond to the NCAA’s findings, Central Florida President John Hitt said though he “generally accepts” the penalties levied, the school will appeal the postseason ban in football.

UCF has 15 days to file its notice of appeal, and Hitt said his understanding is the appeals process should carry beyond the 2012 football season. Should the NCAA deny the appeal, Central Florida would serve the bowl ban in 2013.

All the punishments stem from a 2011 investigation that found the programs were involved with runners for sports agents and made cash payments to recruits.

Former athletic director Keith Tribble and assistant football coach David Kelly were cited for unethical conduct by the NCAA last year and resigned.

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Notre Dame suspended quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese for the Sept. 1 season opener against Navy in Ireland because of their arrests in May after an off-campus party. The two were charged with resisting arrest.

Coach Brian Kelly said his players “understand that it’s a privilege” to be at Notre Dame and Rees and Calabrese, both upperclassmen, failed to live up to their responsibilities.

Rees was pepper-sprayed and arrested after he ran away from an off-campus party on May 3 and knocked the wind out of a police officer who caught up to him. Calabrese, a senior, was charged with a misdemeanor count of intimidation.

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J.B. Williams of Danville, Ky., shot a seven-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Junior PGA Championship at Fort Wayne, Ind. Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand had a 66 to top the girls’ division.

Williams, 17, had eight birdies and one bogey at Sycamore Hills. The 16-year-old Jutanugarn had seven birdies and a bogey.

Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., and Cameron Champ of Sacramento were tied for second in the boys’ competition at 67. Beau Hossler, the 17-year-old Mission Viejo player who tied for 29th in the U.S. Open in June, opened with a 68.

Jutanugarn had a one-stroke lead over Samantha Wagner of Windermere, Fla.

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