Sports shorts
Football Slaton has surgery
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia running back Steve Slaton had surgery on his right wrist and will miss spring practice, coach Rich Rodriguez said.
Slaton injured the wrist during the 2005 season. A pin was inserted in the wrist during surgery this week, Rodriguez said. Slaton also hurt his left elbow and wrist in a Nov. 2 loss at Louisville and played sparingly in the Gator Bowl after suffering a deep thigh bruise in practice.
Despite the injuries, Slaton set a school record with 1,744 yards as a sophomore and was named a first team All-American.
Rodriguez said Slaton is expected to resume workouts by the end of the spring.
Michael Vick in trouble?
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) – For the third time in nine months, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that smelled like marijuana and contained a substance in a hidden compartment. He was not arrested and was allowed to board an AirTran flight that landed in Atlanta before noon Wednesday.
Baseball
Braves ink Craig Wilson
ATLANTA (AP) – Craig Wilson, who could contend for playing time or a starting job in left field or first base, agreed Thursday to a $2 million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. The 30-year-old hit .251 with 17 homers and 49 RBIs last season for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees, who acquired him July 31 for pitcher Shawn Chacon.
Wilson could platoon with left-handed hitting Scott Thorman at first base.
The 25-year-old Thorman played for Triple-A Richmond and Atlanta in 2006.
Wilson has a .265 career batting average in six seasons. He has played 314 games in the outfield and 262 games at first base and has experience as a catcher.
In addition to his salary, he can earn $100,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 400, 425, 450 and 475 plate appearances.Meanwhile, Rodriguez said former running back Jason Gwaltney has returned to school and will try to regain a spot on the team as a walk-on. Gwaltney played in five games in 2005 but sprained a knee, failed to show up for rehabilitation, stopped going to class and soon left the program.
“He wanted a second chance and we’re going to give it to him,” said Rodriguez, who termed Gwaltney a “long shot” to return to the field.
Also, the coach said Wednesday that linebacker Marc Magro and offensive lineman Greg Isdaner will miss spring practice to recover from surgeries.