Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EDT on Thursday, March 13

March 13 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Revis to Patriots: two years, $32 million Former New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis signs a contract with the New England Patriots that includes a second-year team option worth $20 million. His $16 million annual average matches the deal the Buccaneers tore up when he was released last night. (FBN-BUCCANEERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Eagles acquire RB Sproles, CB Carroll Darren Sproles leads all running backs in receiving yards since 2009, which foretells his role in the Philadelphia Eagles offense behind LeSean McCoy. The Eagles trade a fifth-round pick for Sproles and sign cornerback Nolan Carroll. (FBN-EAGLES-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 475 words) - - Panthers part with WR Steve Smith Drafted in 2001 by the Carolina Panthers, wide receiver Steve Smith is released by the team but expected to be scooped up quickly by interested contenders. (FBN-PANTHERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Jets land WR Decker Free agent wide receiver Eric Decker is done in Denver, signing a five-year, $36.5 million contract to join the New York Jets. (FBN-JETS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 425 words) - - Bucs keep spending, sign OT Collins Free agent left tackle Anthony Collins signs a $30 million deal and will be introduced today alongside expected starting quarterback Josh McCown at One Buc Place. (FBN-BUCCANEERS-NEWS/, moved; will be led, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Saffold stays in St. Louis; fails physical with Raiders Oakland was set to push $21 million guaranteed and a $42.5 million contract across the table to free agent offensive tackle Rodger Saffold before a medical issue - concern over a shoulder injury - voids the deal. Stumped, Saffold and his agents quickly choose to re-sign with the St. Louis Rams. (FBN-RAMS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Draft: Big Board The best available players in the 2014 NFL Draft regardless of position, as ranked by NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang. (FBN-DRAFT/, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by Rob Rang, 2,000 words) - - Draft: Defensive line class will bring instant impact With three defensive ends projected to go in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and multiple overlooked interior linemen, NFLDraftScout.com's Frank Cooney goes in depth to break down the best of the bunch. (FBN-DRAFT/, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 2,000 words, players listed in capsule form) - - Open season: Tracking free agency moves Tracking the movers on the third day of NFL free agency. (FBN-NEWS/, updates as necessary, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Sharper ordered held without bail in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES - Former NFL safety Darren Sharper, who faces accusations in several states of drugging and raping women, is ordered held without bail by a Los Angeles judge. (USA-NFL/DARRENSHARPER, moved; may be led, 150 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION *The Sports Xchange covers all NBA games. Key matchups highlighted below - - Rockets at Bulls CHICAGO - MVP matchup at United Center? Joakim Noah is drawing high praise around the league for his play of late and could be working his way into All-NBA - even MVP - chatter. James Harden and Dwight Howard are sure to tax Chicago's defense in an early tipoff on Chicago's home court. (BKN-BULLS-ROCKETS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2300 GMT/7 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 800-word writethru) - - Lakers at Thunder OKLAHOMA CITY - Kevin Durant's streak of 29 games with at least 25 points is on the line but the Thunder will focus on squashing a repeat performance from Jodie Meeks, who exploded for 42 points in Sunday's Lakers victory over Oklahoma City. (BKN-THUNDER-LAKERS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0130 GMT/9:30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 800-word writethru) - - Clippers contemplate Redick's future J.J. Redick was a coveted addition who arrived via sign-and-trade to play the Ray Allen role in coach Doc Rivers' offense. But injuries have kept him on the sideline for more than half of the season, including the past six weeks. (BKN-CLIPPERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 200 words) See also: Lakers' Nash shut down for season (BKN-LAKERS-NEWS/) - - NBA Wrap: Rockets get set for clash with Bulls The Houston Rockets, who have lost consecutive games once all season, will try to recover from Tuesday's loss to Oklahoma City when they visit a Chicago Bulls team also hoping to avoid a rare set of back-to-back losses in one of three games on the NBA schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL Big East tournament: Seton Hall vs. Villanova (3) NEW YORK - Villanova went 16-2 in the Big East during the regular season but fell behind by double-digits in today's matchup with Seton Hall. Will the Wildcats recover? (BKN-VILLANOVA-SETONHALL-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1700 GMT/1 PM ET scheduled game, The Sports Xchange, by Everett Merrill, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Pac-12 tournament: Utah vs. Arizona (4) LAS VEGAS - Pac-12 tournament quarterfinal play begins with fourth-ranked Arizona against pesky Utah (21-10). (BKN-ARIZONA-UTAH-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 19-- GMT/3 PM ET scheduled game, The Sports Xchange, by Anthony Gimino, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Mountain West Conference tournament: Utah State vs. San Diego State (8) LAS VEGAS - San Diego State (27-3) looks to close out the season by continuing to dominate the Mountain West Conference in the league's postseason tournament opener against Utah State. (BKN-SANDIEGOSTATE-UTAHSTATE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU, expect ASAP after the 1900 GMT/3 PM ET scheduled game, The Sports Xchange, by Steve Guiremand, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Big 12 tournament: Oklahoma State vs. Kansas (10) KANSAS CITY - Marcus Smart and the Oklahoma State Cowboys aim to shoot down the Kansas Jayhawks for the second time this month and secure a bid in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas will play without 7-foot freshman center Joel Embiid (back). (BKN-KANSAS-OKLAHOMASTATE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1900 GMT/3 PM ET scheduled game, The Sports Xchange, by David Smale, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Big East tournament: DePaul vs. Creighton (14) NEW YORK - Surprise first-round winner DePaul upset Georgetown and awaits Creighton (24-6), which lost to the Hoyas last week to spoil a regular-season conference championship. (BKN-CREIGHTON-DEPAUL-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2300 GMT/7 PM ET scheduled game, The Sports Xchange, by Everett Merrill, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Tampa Bay Championship (to March 16) American Streelman looks to defend Tampa Bay title Defending champion Kevin Streelman returns to the site of his only PGA Tour win where he will face a full field that includes U.S. Open champion Justin Rose and PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. (GOLF-PGA/, expect by 0030 GMT/8:30 PM ET, 350 words) - - Griffin shows no restraint on Asian Tour return Australian Matthew Griffin moves into contention with an opening round three-under-par 68 at the Solaire Open, his first event on the Asian Tour since overturning a suspension imposed by the circuit for playing on a rival tour. (GOLF-ASIA/BAN, moved, 375 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Cubs look to Olt for stability Mike Olt looks like he's stepping up and winning the third-base job. That would solve a lot of problems for the Chicago Cubs, who will be able to slot other players into utility roles and enable them to allow prospect Kris Bryant to continue his development in the minor leagues. (BBO-CUBS-NEWS/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Brewers' bullpen impacted by Gorzellany DL stint With left-handed starter Tom Gorzellany starting the season on the disabled list, the Milwaukee Brewers are shuffling arms in the bullpen to compensate. (BBO-BREWERS-NEWS/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Cuban shortstop Diaz could to Cardinals Newly signed Cuban infielder Aledmys Diaz appears to be the shortstop of the future for the St. Louis Cardinals. How soon he fills that role depends on many factors, including finalizing his work visa. (BBO-CARDINALS-NEWS/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - Pirates measuring prospect Polanco Jose Tabata and Travis Snider continue to battle for the right field job in the Pirates' camp while top prospect Gregory Polanco waits in the wings. (BBO-PIRATES-NEWS/, expect by 2345 GMT/7:45 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, by John Perrotto, 400 words) - - Yoshinori Sato: the man behind the Japanese arms race KURASHIKI, Japan - Texas Rangers starter Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka, the New York Yankees' latest big-money signing, have much in common. They enjoyed hugely successful careers in Japan before signing mega-deals in Major League Baseball. They also have Yoshinori Sato in common. (BASEBALL/TANAKA (INTERVIEW, PIX), moved, by Junko Fujita, 1,225 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE *The Sports Xchange covers all NBA games. Key matchups highlighted below - - Oilers at Blues ST. LOUIS - A lopsided season series wraps up with the third game between the Blues and Edmonton Oilers, who have been outscored by St. Louis 11-2 in two losses this season. (HKN-BLUES-OILERS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0000 GMT/8 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Maple Leafs at Kings LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Kings are undefeated since returning from the Olympic break and can extend their winning streak to nine games with eight of its next 11 games in Los Angeles. (HKN-KINGS-MAPLELEAFS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0230 GMT/10:30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NHL Wrap: Kings look to equal franchise mark for win streak The Los Angeles Kings can match their longest win streak in franchise history when they try for a ninth straight victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs in one of seven games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 750 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Streaking Suarez on fast track to stardom The story of NASCAR's hottest driver, K&N East Pro Series driver Daniel Suarez, is extraordinary even before considering his recent run of victories. (CAR-NEWS/FEATURE, moved, NASCAR wire service special to The Sports Xchange, 575 words) - - - - TENNIS Federer, Murray face tricky opponents at Indian Wells China's Li Na and Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkoka meet in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., in a repeat of this year's Australian Open final while big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic takes on Alexandr Dolgopolov in the men's quarters. (TENNIS-INDIAN/ (PIX), expect first copy by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, 500 words) - - - - OSCAR PISTORIUS Pistorius smashed toilet door with bat, expert says PRETORIA - Double amputee Oscar Pistorius was standing on his stumps when he smashed down a locked toilet door to reach his shot girlfriend, a South African police forensic expert says, countering the Paralympic star's assertion he was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time. (US-SAFRICA-PISTORIUS/ (PIX), moved; will be led, by John Mkhize, 675 words) - - - - UFC 171 preview: Hendricks goes for vacant belt Johny Hendricks meets veteran Robbie Lawler in a matchup to determine who will fill the vacant 170-pound championship in the main event of UFC 171 in Hendricks' adopted hometown of Dallas. (MSC-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Dave Doyle, 500 words) - - - - ALPINE SKIING Austria speeds towards World Cup double LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland - Austria is heading for a brilliant World Cup double as Anna Fenninger secures the women's alpine skiing World Cup title and Marcel Hirscher takes a giant step towards retaining the men's trophy. (ALPINE SKIING-FINALS/ (UPDATE 1, PIX), moved, 475 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)