Before Johnny Manziel was found ‘‘safe and in no danger,’’ police in Texas used a helicopter to locate the Cleveland Browns quarterback, who is being investigated by police in Fort Worth and Dallas following a disturbance early Saturday during which he may have assaulted his ex-girlfriend. Manziel was identified by police after they were called at about 2 a.m. to investigate a report of a possible assault at an apartment complex. The officers didn’t find the caller, but they spoke to an unidentified 23-year-old woman who said she was involved in a disturbance with her ex-boyfriend earlier that night in Dallas. Sergeant Steve Enright later identified him as Manziel, the 23-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner. There were no arrests, and it’s not clear if Manziel has yet been questioned. Police didn’t say if the ex-girlfriend was injured. Fort Worth police are working with Dallas police to determine if a crime occurred. According to Fort Worth police, they used their Air One Unit helicopter to locate Manziel after his unidentified ex-girlfriend said she was concerned about his well-being. Police called Manziel’s cellphone while searching for him before determining he was safe. The Browns had no immediate comment. Beyond the legal matter, Manziel could face discipline from the league. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email the league is ‘‘aware and looking into it.’’ This is the second time Manziel has been investigated by police in four months. In October, police in Avon, Ohio, received an emergency call after Manziel and ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley were spotted fighting as they drove near the quarterback’s home . . . Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN.com he had knee surgery days after Green Bay was eliminated from the playoffs in a 26-20 loss to Arizona in the divisional round Jan. 16. Rodgers said Friday night that he was ‘‘doing well’’ and ‘‘recovering on schedule.’’ Rodgers pulled out of the Pro Bowl, citing an unspecified injury, after the Packers’ playoff loss.
The University of Utah extended the contract of football coach Kyle Whittingham two years, keeping Whittingham in Salt Lake City through 2020 . . . The football Johnny Unitas threw to Raymond Berry for a touchdown in the historic 1958 NFL Championship game is being sold at auction. Berry’s 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was followed by a conversion kick, and the ball was caught by a fan in the stands. Estimates on the value of the football ranged between $40,000 and $75,000.
Soccer
Messi, Suarez combine to bolster BarcelonaBarcelona took a big step toward successfully defending its Spanish league title when Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led a 2-1 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid. Messi and Suarez scored first-half goals to respond to Atletico’s great start, when Jorge ‘‘Koke’’ Resurreccion scored 10 minutes into the match . . . Manchester City remained in the hunt for a record trophy quadruple after 19-year-old striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored a hat trick to lead a 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Bookmakers have already installed City as the favorite to win the English Premier League, where it is second in the standings behind surprise leader Leicester City, and also to beat Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium Feb. 28. That leaves the Champions League, where City has a place in the last 16, and the FA Cup.
Juan Antonio Pizzi, who hails from the Mexican club Leon and has also coached the Spanish club Valencia, was named Chile’s new coach, contracted through the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Jorge Sampaoli resigned this month, just six months after Chile won the Copa America for the first time.
MiscellanyPole vaulter Suhr tops own world indoor mark
Jenn Suhr, the women’s pole vault champion in the 2012 London Olympics who is set to return to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston on Feb. 14, broke her own world indoor record with a vault of 5.03 meters (16 feet 6 inches) at the Golden Eagle Multi and Invitational in Brockport, N.Y. Her previous world indoor record of 5.02 meters (16-5) came March 2, 2013, in Albuquerque . . . The Arizona Diamondbacks traded righthander Chase Anderson and veteran infielder Aaron Hill to the Milwaukee Brewers for former All-Star shortstop Jean Segura and righty Tyler Wagner. The Brewers also got minor league shortstop Isan Diaz and cash in the deal . . . Sunny Ridge, trained by Jason Servis and ridden by Manny Franco, moved into the Kentucky Derby picture with a win over Vorticity by three-quarters of a length in the $250,000 Withers Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct in New York . . . Car owner Chip Ganassi will field four cars and 14 drivers to race in two different classes at the Rolex 24 at Daytona endurance race this weekend. It is part of a shift in strategy for Ganassi as he attempts to lead Ford’s return to Le Mans 50 years after the automaker swept its class. Returning to defend last year’s win in the No. 02 ‘‘star car’’ Prototype are reigning IndyCar champion Scott Dixon, Indy car driver Tony Kanaan, and NASCAR drivers Jamie McMurray and Kyle Larson . . . Kenny Sailors, the college basketball Hall of Famer credited as being the first to use the modern jump shot, died Saturday in Laramie, Wyo. He was 95.
