FOOTBALL

Two UMaine players to get tryouts with NFL teams

Two players from the University of Maine accepted invitations to free-agent tryouts at NFL minicamps next month.

Linebacker Donte Dennis, who led the Black Bears in tackles with 86, will work out for the St. Louis Rams.

Cornerback Darlos James will work out for the Detroit Lions.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” said James, who received calls of interest from NFL teams other than Detroit prior to the draft. He said other Black Bears who participated in Pro Day are “still waiting for calls.”

• Tennesse Tech receiver Da’Rick Rogers signed with the Buffalo Bills after being passed over in the NFL draft following a troubled college career.

Projected by some to be a third-round draft selection, Rogers’ stock dropped because of off-the-field issues during his first two seasons at Tennessee.

He transferred to Tennessee Tech in August after being suspended indefinitely by the Volunteers for violating team rules. Rogers said multiple failed drug tests prompted his move to the Football Championship Subdivision.

TENNIS

BARCELONA OPEN: Rafael Nadal won the Barcelona Open for the eighth time, defeating Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-3 for his fourth title of the year.

After trailing 3-0 in the first set, Nadal found his form and broke his fellow Spaniard in three of his next four service games.

The title was the 54th of his career and came one week after his eight-year reign at Monte Carlo ended with a loss to top-ranked Novak Djokovic.

WTA Porsche grand prix: Maria Sharapova beat Li Na 6-4, 6-3 to successfully defend her title in a final between the last two French Open champions at Stuttgart, Germany.

The top-seeded Russian swept to her second title of the year after winning in Indian Wells, Calif. She became the first player to retain the Stuttgart title since Lindsey Davenport in 2005. This was her 29th career title.

Grand prix sar: Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone won her first title in nearly a year Sunday, beating Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-1, 6-3 in the final at Marrakech, Morocco.

CYCLING

TOUR OF ROMANDIE: Chris Froome of Britain completed a start-to-finish victory on Sunday, enhancing his status as the Tour de France favorite.

Froome placed third in the closing time trial won by Germany’s Tony Martin and extended his advantage over Slovakia’s Simon Spilak in the overall standings.

The Sky team leader was seven seconds faster than Spilak on the 11.6-mile route on lakeside roads in Geneva. He won the six-day race by 54 seconds. His total time was 19 hours, 24 minutes, 51 seconds.

SOCCER

MLS: Giles Barnes scored an unassisted goal in the 56th minute and the Houston Dynamo extended their MLS-record home unbeaten streak to 36 games with a 1-1 tie with the Colorado Rapids.

Houston has not lost at home since falling to Columbus 2-0 on June 18, 2011. The previous record was set by Real Salt Lake from 2009-11.

— From staff and news services