‘Madden NFL 10′ cover to feature Steelers’ Troy Polamalu, Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald

WASHINGTON — For the first time in its storied (some say cursed) history, the cover of EA Sports’ “Madden NFL” video game will feature two cover athletes: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Ex-Colts P Hunter Smith reaches terms with Redskins

INDIANAPOLIS — Longtime Indianapolis Colts punter Hunter Smith will join the Washington Redskins next season, his agent said Thursday.

After winning big gamble on Ryan last year, Atlanta doubles down with Gonzalez trade

The NFL draft hasn’t even begun, but we already know who won.

2009 NFL Free Agent Signings List

ARIZONA CARDINALS_Signed Dominque Byrd, TE; Oliver Ross, OT; Anthony Becht, TE; Mike Leach, LS; Rodney Leisle, DT; Keith Lewis, S; Bryant McFadden, CB; and Donovan Raiola, C. Re-signed Ben Graham, P; Clark Haggans, LB; Brian St. Pierre, QB; Kurt Warner, QB; and Dan Kreider, FB. Agreed to terms with Bertrand Berry, DE; Elton Brown, OL; Ralph Brown, CB; and Jason Wright, RB.

US Soccer gets interest from 58 stadiums for hosting World Cup games in ‘18 or ‘22

NEW YORK — The operators of 58 stadiums have expressed interest in hosting games in the 2018 or 2022 World Cup if the United States wins the bidding for either event.

NFL DRAFT: ‘All those massive critics shut up’ _ ESPN, hyper Kiper reach silver anniversary

BALTIMORE — For a guy who makes a living critiquing others — created a cottage industry out of it, even — Mel Kiper Jr. sounds a little thin-skinned when it comes to how others perceived him way back when.

A sampling of Mel Kiper’s NFL draft hits and misses over the years

A small sampling of some hits and misses for Mel Kiper Jr., who began analyzing college football players and NFL drafts in the 1970s and made his ESPN draft-day debut in 1984:

Garber: MLS to receive $10 million for extension of Beckham loan

NEW YORK — Major League Soccer will be receiving $10 million for its agreement to extend David Beckham’s loan to AC Milan through the end of the season.

Falcons acquire 10-time Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez from Chiefs for 2010 pick

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons boosted their hopes for another trip to the playoffs by acquiring tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday for a draft pick next year.

Obituaries in the news

Frederick Wirth Jr.

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Dr. Frederick “Fred” Wirth Jr., the physician to America’s first test-tube baby, has died, his family said Friday. He was 68.

La. House speaker: State shouldn’t rush on Saints deal even if it means losing Super Bowl

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana’s House speaker says he doesn’t want the state to rush a deal to keep the Saints in New Orleans, even if it means Louisiana could miss hosting the 2013 Super Bowl.

Sanchez on Redskins’ radar as latest quarterback-of-future, but he carries huge price tag

ASHBURN, Va. — Dan Snyder has selected seven quarterbacks in his nine drafts as the owner of the Washington Redskins.

Person familiar with talks: New NFLPA exec DeMaurice Smith yet to agree to contract with union

New executive director DeMaurice Smith has been working for the NFL Players Association without a contract for six weeks while a deal is being negotiated.

NFL Commish says Vick has paid a significant price for his mistakes and hopes he has remorse

LEXINGTON, Va. — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says Michael Vick has paid a significant price for doing an “egregious thing” and will have to show genuine remorse and that the experience has changed him in order to get a chance at resuming his career in the league.

Carroll names Aaron Corp as USC’s quarterback out of spring practice

LOS ANGELES — Southern California coach Pete Carroll says sophomore Aaron Corp will be the Trojans’ starting quarterback through the summer and into fall camp.

NFL DRAFT: Falcons GM hopes to pull off another fruitful draft, but it’s tougher this time

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — What will Thomas Dimitroff do for an encore?

Cards’ schedule violates Fiesta contract, parties try to resolve issue

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals violated terms of their University of Phoenix contract by scheduling their final home game in the upcoming season one day before the Fiesta Bowl.

NFL Draft: Lions say chances are ‘very good’ they will have deal with No. 1 pick before draft

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Lions general manager Martin Mayhew says the chances are very good Detroit will have a deal done with the No. 1 pick before the NFL draft begins Saturday.

Actors Guild reaches tentative deal with studios after year of talks over issues like Internet

Actors union relents in tentative studio deal

LOS ANGELES — The Screen Actors Guild and the Hollywood studios said Friday they have reached a tentative deal on movie and prime-time TV show productions, capping a yearlong battle that ended with the Guild giving up its fight for better Internet compensation.

Kendra Wilkinson wants a priest to solemnize her wedding at Playboy mansion

MELBOURNE - Former Playboy bunny Kendra Wilkinson desperately wants a priest to solemnize her wedding at the Playboy mansion.

Brady is ‘very naive, almost like a child’, says Bundchen

WASHINGTON - Gisele Bundchen says Tom Brady, her new husband, is “very naive, almost like a child.”

Video games can erode ties with family and friends

WASHINGTON - Video games can erode young adults’ ties with family and friends.

The finding, based on information from 813 college students, shows that as they devoted more time to video games, the quality of relationships with peers and parents went down.