FOOTBALL

Former Indianapolis running back Addai finds a new home with New England

Running back Joseph Addai, 29, a veteran of six NFL seasons who was released in March by the Indianapolis Colts, signed Thursday with the New England Patriots.

Terms of the contract weren’t revealed. Addai joined the Colts as a first-round draft pick (30th overall) out of Louisiana State in 2006.

Addai has played in 78 games with 60 starts, and has gained 4,453 yards on 1,095 carries with 39 rushing touchdowns. He also has 191 receptions for 1,448 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s played in 10 postseason games, gaining 621 yards on 158 attempts with four touchdowns.

VIKINGS: Minnesota is on the brink of getting a new stadium after the state Senate approved a plan that relies heavily on public financing. Gov. Mark Dayton said he’ll sign the measure for the nearly $1 billion stadium.

OFFICIALS SOUGHT: The NFL is looking for potential replacement officials while it negotiates with the officials’ association on a new contract.

TENNIS

MADRID OPEN: Rafael Nadal lost to Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, then threatened not to return if the new blue clay-court wasn’t discarded.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer eased into the quarterfinals with straight-set wins.

AUTO RACING

PATRICK WAITS: Danica Patrick isn’t sure if NASCAR will penalize her for wrecking Sam Hornish Jr. at Talladega.

Patrick was angry after Hornish ran her up the track on the last lap of the Nationwide Series race. She retaliated on the cool-down lap, but insisted she didn’t mean to wreck Hornish.

GOLF

PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Ian Poulter ran off four birdies around the turn and birdied all the par 5s for a 7-under 65 and a share of the first-round lead with Martin Laird at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Tiger Woods opened with a bogey and was never under par in a round of 74. Woods is in jeopardy of missing consecutive cuts for the first time in his career, and failing to make the cut at this event for the third straight year.

EUROPEAN: Alvaro Velasco of Spain shot an 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Madeira Islands Open at Santo Da Serra.

COLLEGES

MEN’S BASKETBALL: All three divisions will see their 2013 champions crowned at Final Four weekend in Atlanta.

The NCAA announced that for the first time, the Division II and Division III titles will be awarded in the same city and same weekend as the Division I tournament.

— From news service reports

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