Prosecutors charge Simpson, three others (CNN)

Prosecutors in Las Vegas, Nev., have filed eight charges against Orenthal James Simpson and three others in connection with an alleged armed robbery at a Las Vegas hotel last week.

The charges include conspiracy to commit a crime; conspiracy to commit kidnapping; conspiracy to commit robbery; and first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon.

Prior to his arrest, Orenthal James said he was merely retrieving items that belonged to him, and that no guns were involved.

Firm must pay fine, cooperate with ongoing investigations (AP/ESPN)

Specialty Distribution Services Inc., a subsidiary of Express Scripts Inc.,  distributed human growth hormone to “well known athletes and entertainers” has agreed to pay a $10.5 million penalty and cooperate with law enforcement in ongoing investigations, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.

Specialty Distribution Services “knowingly distributed human growth hormone to certain well known athletes and entertainers, including a well known athlete in Massachusetts, knowing that their intended use was athletic performance enhancement, cosmetic or anti-aging,” in violation of federal law, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release.

The company will not face prosecution for three years if it fully complies with terms of the agreement.

Tank Johnson reaches two-year deal with Cowboys (ESPN.com)

ESPN.com’s John Clayton reports that the Dallas Cowboys and troubled defensive tackle Tank Johnson have reached an agreement on a two-year deal.

Terms weren’t disclosed.

Johnson is expected to serve the entirety of his eight-game suspension, although he had the possibility of being able to play after six games if he stayed out of trouble. He was arrested in Phoenix in May for driving while impaired. Although his alcohol level wasn’t at an illegal level, the fact he was out late at night and had a few drinks probably is enough for commissioner Roger Goodell not to reduce the suspension.

The Cowboys signed Johnson to replace the injured Jason Ferguson, who suffered a season-ending biceps injury in Dallas’ season opener against the New York Giants.

The Atlanta Falcons have inked quarterback Byron Leftwich to a two-year, $7 million deal, ESPN News is reporting.

Leftwich was dumped by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this season in favor of David Garrard.

***UPDATED at 4:20 PM ET***
ESPN.com has the full details of the pact that Leftwich inked with Atlanta.

Kahne to drive Budweiser in Sprint Cup (ESPN.com)

NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne officially joined forces with Budweiser, unveiling a No. 9 Dodge emblazoned with the brand’s distinctive red and white logo.

It didn’t take long for the driver to address comparisons to the man he replaces, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who is expected to make an announcement of his own on Wednesday.

“You can’t compare me to Dale Jr.,” Kahne said of NASCAR’s most popular driver. “You can’t compare anybody to Dale Jr. That guy is in a league of his own. But as far as us, we can do everything possible to get better and bigger because of Budweiser than I’ve been before.”

Kahne recently joined Gillett Evernham Motorsports, a new joint NASCAR venture owned by George Gillett, owner of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and EPL’s Liverpool, and Ray Evernham.

News and notes while we avoid ever asking John Kerry a pointed question…

U.S. women down China, head to World Cup quarterfinals (SI.com) Lori Chalupny’s goal just 55 seconds in helped the U.S. women advance to the World Cup quarters.

Goldman family wants disputed memorabilia (AP/ESPN) Orenthal James might be running out of things he owns soon, anyway.

Missing in action: Gene Upshaw (FOX Sports) Mark Kriegel wonders: where in the world is Gene Upshaw when one of his own lays in a Buffalo-area hospital recuperating from a devastating spinal cord injury.  The commish made it for an hour, where are you?

Baseball’s individual races hold interest (USA Today) Bob Nightengale of USA Today notes milestones and races that are keeping things interesting in MLB.

AA reviews MNF week #2 (Awful Announcing) The good, the bad and the ugly from the MNF booth.

ESPN Radio: Tirico plus Stephen A. equals Dan Patrick (Deadspin) We agree: Scott Van Pelt would’ve been a better choice to succeed the big chair of DP.

Martin Prado’s magic bat trick (YouTube/TheFanHouse) Atlanta Braves infielder shows us something that isn’t likely to happen even if you tried it 100 times.

[youtube E3zO0ZxDS4c]

Report: McNabb says black QBs criticized more (ESPN News Services)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb feels that black quarterbacks face more scrutiny from the national media than their white counterparts, the quarterback says in an interview on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

In a sitdown interview with James Brown, McNabb claims that black quarterbacks such as himself face added pressure due to their race having fewer players in the high-profiled position.

“There’s not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra,” McNabb tells HBO. “Because the percentage of us playing this position, which people didn’t want us to play … is low, so we do a little extra.”

[…]

“I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, [mimicking] ‘Ah, he could’ve made this throw, they would have scored if he did this,’ ” McNabb tells HBO.

“Doesn’t every quarterback go through that?” Brown asks.

“Not everybody,” McNabb replies.

We’re at a loss for words on this one.

Fans suffer heat exhaustion at new stadium without water fountains (WKMG Orlando)

When Central Florida set out to build a $55 million, 43,323-seat facility for its football program in order to help turn it around, it forgot a subtle amenity.

They built it without installing water fountains.

With that in mind, it seems a bit of a coincidence that in the facilities’ first match, several people suffered from heat exhaustion.

More after the jump »

It’s Monday, so we only have one score and summary to share…

Redskins 20, Iggles 12 — The Washington Redskins jumped to an early 2-0 start this season after downing the Philadelphia Eagles 20-10 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley each scored touchdowns and Shaun Suisham made two field goals to power the Redskins offense. Washington’s defense stymied every Eagle except Westbrook, who rushed for 96 yards and caught eight passes for another 66 yards.

Jason Campbell tossed for 209 yards, completing 16 of 29 and connected with Cooley for his lone touchdown pass.  Philadelphia’s Donovan McNabb compiled 240 yards, but was shutout in both touchdown and interception categories.

Box score provided by NFL.com.  Some information compiled from outside sources.

The morning after Detroit stumbles in Cleveland…

Casey Blake clubbed his second game-winning home run in four days; the Fightin’ Phils crept within 3 1/2 games of the NL East lead in a high-scoring affer in St. Louis; the Yankees moved within 3½ games of first-place Boston with 12 to play and the Chicago Cubs win in exciting fashion against Cincinnati.

O’s 5, Yankees 8 — Hideki Matsui’s go-ahead home run in the third inning was enough to pace to New Yankees to a 8-5 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx. Phil Hughes won his second consecutive start.

Tigers 5, Indians 6 (11 innings) — Casey Blake’s extra-inning, walk-off home run capped a come-from-behind victory over the visiting Detroit Tigers, 6-5.

Red Sox 1, BlueJays 6 — Are the Red Sox hearing footsteps? Frank Thomas hammered three dingers in Toronto’s 6-1 blistering of the Red Sox at Rogers Centre. Thomas now sits at 512 home runs, even with Eddie Matthews and Ernie Banks on the all-time list.

D’Rays 7, Angels 10 — Three players for the Angels garnered two RBIs — Chone Figgins, Orlando Cabrera and Casey Kotchman — as Los Angeles and pitcher Darren Oliver stave off the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 10-7.

More after the jump »

News and notes while wondering when we might get our hands on a tape starring Elisha Cuthbert…

Rovell: No. 755 to be decided by public vote (SportsBiz) CNBC’s Darren Rovell reports that an Internet entrepreneur will let the public decide the fate of Barry Bonds’ record-tying home run ball.  Earlier on Monday, fashion designed Marc Ecko decided to do something similar with No. 756.

Titans extend Fisher’s deal (AP/SI.com) The deal through 2011 is thought to be worth $5.5 million to $6 million per year for Jeff Fisher.

New York Post adds asterisk to Patriots (SPORTSbyBROOKS) The New York Post has some fun at the expense of the New England Patriots.

Agassi sues Target over licensing issue (Bloomberg) The tennis great sued the retailer for using his name on a line of sandals without his permission (Tip o’ the cap to SbB).

Isiah denies calling former exec vulgar names (AP/USA Today) In the media circus that is the Isiah Thomas sexual harassment trial, the New York Knicks’ president and head coach shot down allegations that he called a former female team executive vulgar names.