Steelers receiver Hines Ward decides to retire

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward retired Tuesday rather than try extending his career with another team.

The decision comes three weeks after Ward was released by the Steelers in a salary-cap maneuver. The 36-year-old Ward is the franchise’s all-time leader in every major receiving category, including receptions, yards and touchdowns. Ward said following his release he believed he “still had some football in him,” but changed his mind.

Ward, a four-time Pro Bowler, saw his playing time decrease last season behind Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. He finished with 46 receptions, the fewest since his rookie year in 1998.

“I can say I’m a Steeler for life and that’s the bottom line, that’s all I’ve really ever wanted,” Ward said.

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The Philadelphia Eagles acquired two-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012.

ETC.

NASCAR’s chief appellate officer overturned the bulk of the penalties levied against five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus, who still must pay a $100,000 fine because Jimmie Johnson’s car failed the opening day inspection of the Daytona 500.

Chief appellate officer John Middlebrook overturned the six-race suspensions NASCAR handed down to Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, and ruled both instead will be on probation through May 9.

Middlebrook also reinstated the 25 points that Johnson had been docked. The decision moves Johnson to 11th in the Sprint Cup standings heading into the race Sunday at Fontana.

“It’s been a tough 30 days,” Knaus said. “It’s not about vindication. It’s time to move on.”

Johnson, who earned his first career victory at California in 2002, was ready to get on with the season. He was told by Knaus via text message about the ruling.

“I’m glad this is over; now it’s on to Cali,” he posted on Twitter.

Knaus and Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick have maintained the No. 48 Chevrolet was not illegal when it was presented for inspection Feb. 17 at Daytona. NASCAR used a visual inspection to determine the sheet metal between the roof and the side windows had been illegally modified to give Johnson an aerodynamic advantage.

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Lionel Messi hit a hat trick to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer and keep the defending Spanish champions in the title chase with a 5-3 win over Granada.

Less than two weeks after scoring a Champions League record five times in a game, Messi took his career club tally to 234 goals, beating a 57-year-old milestone held by Cesar Rodriguez by two goals.

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Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera will miss at least a week after being struck in the right eye by a hard grounder on Monday. Cabrera received eight stitches, but Tigers President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski said that Cabrera’s vision is “perfect” and he won’t go on the disabled list.

Catcher Nick Hundley and the San Diego Padres agreed to a $9-million, three-year contract.

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The Kansas City Royals acquired catcher Humberto Quintero and outfielder Jason Bourgeois from the Houston Astros for minor league reliever Kevin Chapman and a player to be named.

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Left-hander Derek Holland agreed to a $28.5-million, five-year contract extension with the Texas Rangers.