Arkansas fires Bobby Petrino for ‘reckless behavior’

Arkansas fired football Coach Bobby Petrino on Tuesday, saying he engaged in reckless behavior that included hiring his mistress and then intentionally misleading his bosses about their relationship and her presence at the motorcycle accident that ultimately cost him his job.

“He made the decision to mislead the public, [and it] adversely affected the university and the football program,” Athletic Director Jeff Long said at an evening news conference, choking up at one point as he discussed telling players the news. There was a “pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior to deceive me.”

The 51-year-old Petrino was injured in an April 1 motorcycle accident. He was put on paid leave last week after admitting he lied about the presence of the 25-year-old employee, Jessica Dorrell, who had been riding with him.

Long said his investigation found that Petrino had even given Dorrell $20,000 at one point, though he wouldn’t disclose what it was for. He also said Petrino was fired “with cause,” meaning he will not receive a multimillion-dollar buyout.

Petrino finishes his tenure at Arkansas with a 34-17 record in four seasons.

ETC.

Drew Brees might skip Saints’ first workout

The New Orleans Saints will open their off-season workouts Monday and won’t have their head coach.

They might not have their star quarterback, either.

Asked Tuesday whether he plans to sign his franchise tender so he can be at those workouts, Drew Brees said, “We’re continuing to work on a long-term deal.”

Asked again if that means he’ll be there Monday, Brees gave an identical answer.

Brees was at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad to promote the 2012 Drew Brees Celebrity Championship, a golf tournament that supports the Brees Dream Foundation and benefits several San Diego charities.

In his first public comments since NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspensions of Saints Coach Sean Payton, General Manager Mickey Loomis and assistant coach Joe Vitt, the quarterback said he was disappointed yet confident the team can rebound.

“Obviously, we’re all very disappointed; this is a shock to all of us,” he said. “But whatever is thrown at us, we’re just going to have to find a way to get through it, deal with it, stick together and stay strong. We’ll see how this moves on as we go, but we have a job to do and that’s to play football games, win football games.”

—Sam Farmer

Bill Parcells is unlikely to become the Saints’ interim coach, according to multiple reports.

Parcells prefers to remain retired and not replace his protege and friend, Payton, who will serve a season-long suspension for his role in New Orleans’ bounty system, the reports said.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel declined Tuesday to confirm Parcells has been ruled out as a possible Payton replacement, saying the team “has nothing to report” concerning the search for an interim coach.

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Jerome Williams completed his final tuneup Tuesday night before rejoining the Angels’ rotation, giving up two earned runs and six hits, striking out four and walking none in six innings for Class-A Inland Empire against Lake Elsinore.

Williams, who missed more than three weeks of spring training because of a left hamstring strain, was told by team officials that he will start Sunday night against the New York Yankees in a game that will be nationally televised by ESPN.

—Mike DiGiovanna

San Diego Padres pitcher Dustin Moseley’s right shoulder has “extensive damage,” Manager Bud Black said.

Moseley was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of a strained right shoulder.

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The Galaxy, in need of help after giving up a Western Conference conference-worst eight goals in four games, acquired Brazilian defender David Junior Lopes from Chivas USA in exchange for midfielder Paolo Cardozo. Lopes has not appeared in a game this season, and Cardozo started once for the defending league-champion Galaxy, mired in the conference cellar a month into the season.

—Kevin Baxter