Dec 15, 2017 4 min read

Pitt’s O’Neill

enters draft

Pitt redshirt junior offensive tackle Brian O’Neill announced Friday that he will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.

“After careful consideration over the last few weeks, I have decided to enter the 2018 NFL draft. I do not take this decision lightly; therefore, I took an extensive amount of time discussing the situation with my family and coaches. Ultimately, I believe this is the best course of action to achieve my ultimate goal,” O’Neill said.

“Looking back on the past four years, I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world. As an incoming freshman, I was welcomed with open arms into this team, school and community. I am extremely proud to have earned my degree and will always call the University of Pittsburgh home.”

Pitt’s left left tackle joins teammates Quadree Henderson and Jordan Whitehead in entering the draft with one season of eligibility remaining. O’Neill is a 6-6, 305-pound All-ACC player.

In baseball

All-Star infielder Zack Cozart has agreed to a $38 million, three-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels and is likely to shift from shortstop to third base.

Cozart gets $13,666,000 next season and $13,667,000 in each of the final two years of the deal announced Friday.

The 32-year-old was a first-time All-Start this year. He hit .297 with 24 homers and 63 RBIs.

Cozart has a .254 average in seven big league seasons, all with Cincinnati.

Gold Glove winner Andrelton Simmons is at shortstop for the Angels. Yunel Escobar is not expected to return at third after struggling with injuries this year.

• The Minnesota Twins announced the signing of right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney to a one-year contract.

The deal brings an experienced, three-time All-Star closer to a bullpen in need of a ninth-inning specialist. The contract, with a club option for the 2019 season, is worth $4.5 million.

Rodney turns 41 on March 18 and will be in his 16th major league season.

Pete Rose defamation lawsuit dismissed

A defamation lawsuit filed by Pete Rose last year against the lawyer who got him kicked out of baseball was dismissed Friday, federal court documents show.

Rose said in the lawsuit that John Dowd damaged his reputation and endorsement deals during a July 2015 interview on an AM radio station in Pennsylvania where he accused Rose of “statutory rape.” Rose’s lawyers said he “never did any such thing.”

On Friday, lawyers for both sides said the parties had reached an agreement.

“Pete Rose and John Dowd have agreed, based on mutual consideration, to the dismissal with prejudice of Mr. Rose’s lawsuit against Mr. Dowd. I am not permitted to comment further regarding the resolution of the matter,” Dowd’s lawyer, David C. Tobin, said in an emailed statement.

Rose’s lawyer, Martin Garbus, said by phone Friday he could not comment further.

The lawsuit stated Dowd said during the radio appearance in West Chester Rose associate Michael Bertolini told investigators he “ran young girls” to Rose during spring training, which Dowd called “statutory rape every time.” Bertolini’s lawyers issued a categorical denial.

As part of the lawsuit, a woman gave testimony for the defense that she had a sexual relationship with Rose in the 1970s, starting when she was 14 or 15 years old.

Rose acknowledged he did have a relationship with the woman, but he said it started when she was 16, the age of consent in Ohio. He also states they never had sex outside Ohio. His lawyer had said the woman’s claims were unverified.