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PANTHERS-RUNNING GAME

Newton says Panthers RBs need to be more involved

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Quarterback Cam Newton says if Carolina Panthers are to be successful this season their running backs need to be more involved in the offense.

Newton says that means a concerted effort to get the backs involved early in games and "let those guys do what they do."

The Panthers once invested nearly $80 million in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and brought in free agent Mike Tolbert last season. Yet, it was Newton who led the team in rushing with 741 yards in 2012.

Carolina's backs were an afterthought at times last season under ex-offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, touching the ball on only 38% of offensive plays.

Newton says "for us to be successful, we have to run the football. We will run the football."

HOWARD'S ROCK

Clemson: Howard's Rock at stadium vandalized

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) - Clemson University officials say that the famed Howard's Rock at Memorial Stadium has been vandalized.

Football players touch the rock before they run down the hill during the team's entrance into "Death Valley" stadium.

A university statement says the rock was vandalized sometime June 2 or 3. Police are investigating.

The statement says a small part of the rock was broken off of its pedestal after vandals broke the casing that protects it.

Athletics Director Dan Radakovich says the incident is being taken very seriously because the rock is an important part of the school's history.

The rock is dubbed "Howard's Rock" because former football coach Frank Howard began the tradition of the pre-game ritual.

NASCAR-LEFFLER KILLED

Leffler remembered as friend, teammate, father

SWEDESBORO, N.J. (AP) - Tony Stewart remembered Jason Leffler as a friend, teammate and doting father to 5-year-old son Charlie Dean a day after the NASCAR driver was killed in a crash at a dirt track.

The 37-year-old Leffler, a 2-time winner on the NASCAR Nationwide Series, died Wednesday night after the crash in a heat race in a 410 Sprint Car event at Bridgeport Speedway, a 0.625-mile, high-banked dirt oval about 15 miles southwest of Philadelphia.

A spectator, 40-year-old Chris Taitt, said Leffler had been in second place, apart from other cars when his winged car slammed into a wall at the fourth turn. Taitt said the wing was "flattened like a pancake" and the seat appeared to be displaced.

NATIONALS-ROCKIES

Zimmerman homers, Nationals beat depleted Rockies

DENVER (AP) - Ryan Zimmerman homered and drove in three runs, Ian Desmond got four hits and the Washington Nationals beat the depleted Colorado Rockies 5-4 on Thursday.

The Rockies lost four players and a coach, as well as the rubber match of the 3-game series.

Outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler were injured early and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki left for an undisclosed reason in the eighth. Reliever Wilton Lopez and pitching coach Jim Wright were ejected in the seventh.

Craig Stammen (4-2) threw two scoreless innings. Rafael Soriano got his 17th save after giving up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Todd Helton with two outs.

ALL-STAR-COACHES

Collins, Johnson picked as NL All-Star coaches

NEW YORK (AP) - Current Mets manager Terry Collins and former skipper Davey Johnson have been selected as coaches for next month's All-Star game at Citi Field.

Johnson, currently Washington's skipper, managed the Mets to their last World Series title in 1986. They were picked Thursday by San Francisco's Bruce Bochy, the NL's manager

Detroit's Jim Leyland, the AL manager, also chose coaches with Mets' ties: Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox and John Gibbons of the Toronto Blue Jays. Ventura played for the Mets' last NL pennant winner in 2000 and Gibbons is a former Mets player and minor league manager.

The All-Star game is July 16.

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