Briefs-Matsui may need knee surgery, Yankees say
June 29 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world.
Baseball - The New York Yankees have acknowledged that knee surgery could be a possibility for Hideki Matsui if his ailing left knee does not improve.
"You can't rule that out down the line," general manager Brian Cashman told the New York Post. "
Matsui was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Friday, when he had his knee drained for the second time in 10 days. Cashman said surgery would be a last resort and manager Joe Girardi is confident the layoff alone will be sufficient for his recovery.
NFL - The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran running back Najeh Davenport on Saturday.
Davenport rushed for 720 yards and six touchdowns in the two seasons he spent with the Steelers, during which he served as backup to Willie Parker. Pittsburgh had this year drafted running back Rashard Mendenhall and signed free agent Mewelde Moore.
NFL - Tennessee Titans right tackle David Stewart has agreed to a six-year contract extension to remain with the Titans.
The deal is reportedly worth $38.9 million and comes just two months after the Titans locked up left tackle Michael Roos to his own six-year extension. The Titans are seeking to stabilise their protection of young quarterback Vince Young.
Basketball - United States center Dwight Howard has a stress fracture of his sternum and missed the team's one-day training camp in Las Vegas on Saturday, but still expects to play at the Beijing Olympics.
The Orlando Magic player sustained the injury during his team's second round playoff defeat by the Detroit Pistons in May. Howard expects to be fit for the U.S. team's pre-Olympic training camp on July 21. (Reporting by Jahmal Corner, editing by Martin Petty)
