FOOTBALL

Former UMaine player Owens cut by the Jaguars

Montell Owens, a two-time Pro Bowler who played college football at the University of Maine, was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday after seven seasons in the NFL.

Owens played for Maine from 2002-2005 before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Jaguars in 2006. He became Jacksonville’s franchise leader in special teams tackles with 118 and last season started four games at running back.

His career totals include 56 carries for 292 yards and 12 catches for 132 yards. He scored three touchdowns.

NFL: A warrant was issued for the arrest of former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson in South Florida.

The state attorney’s office confirmed Thursday that a Broward circuit judge issued a warrant May 7 against Johnson for failing to report to his probation officer.

Johnson received a year of probation last September after pleading no contest to a domestic violence charge involving his former wife, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada.

HOCKEY

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Paul Stastny had two goals and two assists and Craig Smith had five assists to give the United States a spot in the hockey world championship semifinals with an 8-3 pounding of Russia in Helsinki.

It was the first time Russia or the Soviet Union had let in eight goals in the worlds or Olympics.

David Moss also scored, and five players other players — Ryan Carter, Nate Thompson, Jacob Trouba and the two late additions of T.J. Oshie and Alex Galchenyuk — all had their first goal in the tournament.

SOCCER

U.S. NATIONAL TEAM: Landon Donovan has been left off the 29-man U.S. roster for a training camp ahead of a trio of World Cup qualifiers next month. The move was not unexpected, with Coach Jurgen Klinsmann saying last month that Donovan had work to do to reclaim his spot with the national team. Donovan could still be added to the roster for the three qualifiers if there are injuries.

TENNIS

ITALIAN OPEN: Six-time champion Rafael Nadal overcame one of the worst opening sets of his career to edge Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 in Rome and reach the quarterfinals. Nadal will next face fourth-seeded David Ferrer, who advanced when Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany withdrew because of dizziness.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic had a far easier time than Nadal, beating Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-4 to improve his clay-court record this season to 8-1.

Also, Serena Williams routed 14th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-1 for her 21st consecutive win, matching the best streak of her career.

CYCLING

GIRO D’ITALIA: Sprinter Mark Cavendish won the rainy 12th stage that finished in Treviso, Italy, for his 100th career victory, while Vincenzo Nibali maintained his overall lead.

In the overall standings, Nibali remained 41 seconds ahead of 2011 Tour winner Cadel Evans of Australia.

– From news services