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Esks give Jyles the boot

EDMONTON -- Quarterback Steven Jyles, who came to Edmonton in the trade that sent all-star pivot Ricky Ray to Toronto, has been released by the Eskimos.

Jyles played in 10 games for the Eskimos last season, including nine starts.

He was unable to infuse much life into Edmonton's offence, completing 129 of 220 passes (58.6 per cent) for 1,756 yards. Jyles had six touchdowns, but just as many interceptions.

Jyles was traded to Edmonton in December 2011 with non-import kicker Grant Shaw and Toronto's first selection (second overall) in the 2012 CFL Canadian draft in exchange for Ray.

The trade, agreed to by then-Eskimos general manager Eric Tillman, was largely panned in Edmonton. Ray went on to lead Toronto to a Grey Cup victory last fall.

Als sign 3 including Bruce

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Alouettes signed three veteran players on Monday, adding receiver Arland Bruce III, defensive back Byron Parker and quarterback Quinton Porter.

Porter and Bruce inked three-year deals while Parker signed a two-year contract.

The Alouettes snapped up all three players after they were released by their former teams last week. Bruce and Parker are former CFL all-stars who were released on Friday by B.C., a day after the Lions signed quarterback Travis Lulay to a new deal.

Porter, who backed up Henry Burris in Hamilton last season, was released last Tuesday.

Parker is a nine-year CFL veteran, and has 236 career defensive tackles and 29 interceptions with B.C., Toronto and Edmonton since 2005.

Seattle feeling SuperSonic

SEATTLE -- Nearly five years after their colours, banners and history were packed away into storage and their franchise relocated, the SuperSonics are one significant step closer to returning to Seattle.

And the Kings are on the edge of leaving Sacramento.

All that appears to stand in the way now is approval by NBA owners.

The Maloof family has agreed to sell the Kings to a Seattle group led by investor Chris Hansen, the league confirmed in a statement Monday morning. The deal is still pending a vote by the NBA Board of Governors.

A person familiar with the decision said that Hansen's group will buy 65 per cent of the franchise, which is valued at a total price of $525 million, and move the team to Seattle and restore the SuperSonics name. The deal will cost the Hansen group a little more than $340 million. The Maloofs will have no stake in the team.

The sale figure works off a total valuation of the franchise, which includes relocation fees. Hansen's group also is hoping to buy out other minority investors.

The Maloofs will get a $30-million, non-refundable down payment by Feb. 1, according to the deal, the person said. They will still be allowed to receive other offers until the league approves the sale. The Kings sale price of $525 would surpass the NBA record $450 million the Golden State Warriors sold for in 2010.

Fighter's bloody gift

TORONTO -- Thanks to UFC president Dana White, lightweight Joe Lauzon has a unique souvenir of his bloody UFC 155 loss to Jim Miller.

The 28-year-old from Bridegwater, Mass., tweeted that White had given him the blood-stained canvas from the Dec. 29 card in Las Vegas.

"It's going on the wall," he tweeted, referring to his Lauzon MMA gym.

-- from the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 22, 2013 C4