Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EST on Thursday, Feb. 12

Feb. 12 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2015 Scouting Combine primer Who, what and when of the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. (FBN-DRAFT-COLUMN/, expect by 9 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Dane Brugler, 800 words) Note: Coming Friday: Washington CB Butler ultimate boom-or-bust prospect // Red-flag prospects - - Broncos will lose roster roulette Future is a scary word in Denver these days, and the Broncos will soon feel the sting of salary-cap roulette. (FBN-BRONCOS-COLUMN/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Jeff Reynolds, 850 words) - - Released QB McCown drawing interest Josh McCown was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but plans to continue playing in the NFL. A reunion with ex-Bears coach Marc Trestman in Baltimore, or the chance to compete for a job with the Titans are plenty of motivation for McCown to keep working. (FBN-FREEAGENTS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 325 words) - - Packers complete staff; Clements to call plays Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy finalizes his staff and hands off play-calling duties to new associate head coach/offense Tom Clements. (FBN-PACKERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 322 words) - - CB Terrell Thomas, 30, retires Thrice felled by a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, former New York Giants second-round pick Terrell Thomas is retiring from the NFL at age 30. (FBN-GIANTS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 333 words) - - Vikings promote Warren to COO Minnesota Vikings executive vice president Kevin Warren was promoted to chief operating officer. (FBN-VIKINGS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 415 words) - - NFL roundup News and notes from around the league. (FBN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 7:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Karl, Kings complete deal George Karl agrees to a four-year deal worth more than $14 million to return to the NBA as coach of the Sacramento Kings, who will oust Tyrone Corbin this week. Following funeral proceedings for Dean Smith and the All-Star break, Karl will become the Kings' third head coach in a span of 60 days. (BKN-KINGS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 306 words) - - It's all about the playoffs for The Brow NEW YORK - Anthony Davis is sorry to miss this weekend's All-Star Game, but the third-year pro is setting his sights on leading the New Orleans Pelicans' push to the playoffs in the tough Western Conference. (NBA-PELICANS/DAVIS, expect by 6 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 350 words) - - Rockets' Harden in a stratosphere of his own LOS ANGELES - Houston Rockets guard James Harden has evolved into the NBA's most lethal scorer, his offensive arsenal growing as full as his rampant beard. Watching Harden attack a defense is a study in variety: there are step-back jumpers, quick dribble drives and frequent trips to the free-throw line. (NBA-ROCKETS/HARDEN, moved, by Jahmal Corner, 409 words) - - Pistons hold on to Lucas III Guard John Lucas III signs a second 10-day contract with the Detroit Pistons. (BKN-PISTONS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 155 words) - - TSX covers all NBA games, highlighted matchup below - - Cleveland at Chicago CHICAGO - Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls (33-20), winners of three straight and sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference, host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers (33-21) in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break. (BKN-BULLS-CAVALIERS-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 8 PM ET scheduled tip-off, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NBA schedule at a glance Cleveland at Chicago, 8 PM ET - - NBA Roundup The latest moves and news from the NBA. (BKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL Top 25 roundup Capsule recaps of all Top 25 games on Thursday's schedule. (BKC-ROUNDUP/, expect periodically throughout the day, 700 words, The Sports Xchange) See also: Ohio, Duke ADs named to NCAA Tournament selection committee (BKC-NEWS/) - - Kansas assistant admits pot possession Kansas assistant coach men's basketball coach Jerrance Howard pleads guilty to unlawful possession of marijuana. (BKC-KANSAS-NEWS/, moved; will be led, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - TSX covers all Top 25 games. Top matchups highlighted below. - - (3) Gonzaga vs. Loyola Marymount SPOKANE, Wash. - Third-ranked Gonzaga (24-1, 12-0) puts a 17-game winning streak on the line against Loyola Marymount, which enters having lost 26 consecutive road games. (BKC-GONZAGA-LOYOLAMARYMOUNT-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 9 PM ET start, The Sports Xchange, by Howie Stalwick, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Pebble Beach Walker sets out for Pebble Beach repeat Defending champion Jimmy Walker will be among a field that includes Australian world No. 4 Jason Day, Jim Furyk and Jordan Spieth in the opening round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, Calif. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 7:30 PM ET, 350 words) - - Europe's new Ryder Cup captain may be announced next week LONDON - Paul McGinley's successor as European Ryder Cup captain could be announced next Wednesday, with Northern Irishman Darren Clarke and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain leading the chase for the coveted role. (GOLF-RYDER/CAPTAIN, moved, by Tony Jimenez, 224 words) - - Hoey sizzles on low-scoring day in Thailand Michael Hoey makes the best use of tranquil conditions at the Black Mountain Golf Club to post a course record eight-under-par 64 and lead the Thailand Classic by a stroke after the opening round. (GOLF-EUROPEAN/, moved, 298 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Brewers, Phillies break off Papelbon talks Closer Jonathan Papelbon is still with the Philadelphia Phillies after trade talks with the Milwaukee Brewers break off. Papelbon joins a long list of disgruntled Phillies reporting to spring training with the team that tried, but failed, to pull off offseason trades. (BBO-PHILLIES-BREWERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) - - 2B Weeks to join Mariners Free agent Rickie Weeks is close to a deal with the Seattle Mariners, but the one-year deal could mean a move to the outfield, where the 11-year veteran second baseman has never played. (BBO-MARINERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 175 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Stars' Roussel suspended two games Dallas Stars forward Antoine Roussel is suspended for two games, without pay, for cross-checking Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid. (HKN-STARS-BRUINS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) - - TSX covers all NHL games, highlighted matchup below - - St. Louis at Tampa Bay TAMPA, Florida - Two of the NHL's finest teams take to the ice at Amalie Arena when the surging St. Louis Blues, sitting in third place in the West, visit the East-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, who are a jaw-dropping 22-5-1 at home this season. (HKN-LIGHTNING-BLUES-FIRSTLEDE-WRITETHRU/ (PIX), expect ASAP after 7:30 PM ET scheduled start, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Today's NHL schedule at a glance Toronto at New York Islanders, 7 PM ET Anaheim at Carolina, 7 PM ET Edmonton at Montreal, 7:30 PM ET Pittsburgh at Ottawa, 7:30 PM ET St. Louis at Tampa Bay, 7:30 PM ET Winnipeg at Nashville, 8 PM ET Florida at Minnesota, 8 PM ET New York Rangers at Colorado, 9 PM ET Calgary at Los Angeles, 10:30 PM ET - - NHL Roundup The latest moves and news from the NHL. (HKN-NOTEBOOK/, expect by 6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) - - - - TRACK & FIELD Millrose Games features masterful milers NEW YORK - Saturday's 108th Millrose Games boasts masterful mile races with eight-time Wanamaker Mile winner Bernard Lagat and New Zealander Nick Willis in the men's race, and defending champion Mary Cain and her training mate Shannon Rowbury, who ran a year's best two weeks ago, in the women's field. (ATHLETICS-MILLROSE/ (PREVIEW), expect by 5 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 350 words) - - - - ALPINE SKIING Alpine ski world championships (to Feb. 15) Fenninger fastest in opneing leg, Maze fourth BEAVER CREEK, Colo. - Austria's Anna Fenninger has the fastest opening leg of the women's giant slalom at the alpine ski world championships, while Slovenia's Tina Maze sets herself up for a fourth medal. (ALPINESKIING-WORLDS/WOMEN-GSLALOM (PIX), moved; expect end-of-day lead by 6 PM ET, by Steve Keating and Mark Lamport-Stokes, 400 words) - - Giant slalom last chance for Ligety to defend gold BEAVER CREEK, Colo. - The giant slalom will represent the last chance for American Ted Ligety to defend one of his three alpine ski championship gold medals as he gets set for a battle with Austrian Marcel Hirscher, who earlier claimed his combined crown. (ALPINE SKIING-WORLDS/MEN-GS, (PREVIEW, PIX), moved, by Steve Keating, 412 words) - - Early Austrian medal haul a bonus, says Klammer BEAVER CREEK, Colo. - Expectations are always high for Austrian teams competing at the elite level but even alpine skiing great Franz Klammer has been taken aback by their early medal haul at Beaver Creek. (ALPINESKIING-WORLDS/KLAMMER (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved, by Mark Lamport-Stokes, 544 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Appeals court to hear arguments on moving Boston bombing trial BOSTON - A U.S. appeals court says it will hear arguments on whether to move the trial of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect out of the city that was the site of the largest mass-casualty attack on U.S. soil since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. (BOSTON BOMBING-TRIAL/ (UPDATE 2), moved, by Scott Malone, 398 words) - - - - TENNIS Canada's Pospisil bounced by Murray in Rotterdam Top seed Andy Murray reaches the quarter-finals of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Canada's Vasek Pospisil. (TENNIS-MEN/ROTTERDAM, moved, 150 words) - - - - OLYMPICS Paris mulling potential $7 billion bid for 2024 Games PARIS - The mayor of Paris says the French capital has the "heart" for a potential 2024 Olympics bid but further reflection is needed as a feasibility study puts the potential cost at $7.05 billion. (OLYMPICS-PARIS/ (PIX, TV), moved, by Alexandria Sage, 403 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)