NCAA will study summer recruiting changes

? Rather than banning summer recruiting just yet, the NCAA’s Board of Directors wants to take a longer look before making any changes.

On Thursday, the committee voted to support a yearlong study into the summer recruiting period rather than moving forward with a proposal from the Collegiate Commissioners Association that would have banned summer recruiting.

The reason for the decision, according to the governing body’s website, was the number of concerns raised since the CCA approved the proposal this summer.

“The initial flurry was to get everybody’s attention, and they got everyone’s attention,” Saint Joseph’s coach Phil Martelli said. “We just have to go through the process. Coaches will be heard. It’s not something that would be healthy for a large portion of the country.”

NCAA

Nevada, Fresno St. to move in 2012

Reno, Nev. — Nevada and Fresno State have agreed to play one more season in the Western Athletic Conference before transferring to the Mountain West Conference in 2012 and will pay significantly less to make the move than the WAC had demanded, the league said Thursday.

NFL

Favre without walking boot

Eden Prairie, Minn. — The signs of progress are small but noticeable for Brett Favre and his injured left ankle.

Favre missed his second straight day of practice for the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, but walked around the facility without the oversized boot which had been protecting an injury that is putting his league-record 291-straight starts streak in jeopardy.

Giants DE Kiwanuka on IR

East Rutherford, N.J. — Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka’s season is over, and there is a chance his career with the New York Giants could be at an end.

The Giants placed the five-year veteran on injured reserve Thursday due to a herniated cervical disk after waiting more than a month to see if rest would fix his neck.

MLB

Selig: Playoffs could expand soon

San Francisco — Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is willing to consider expanding the playoffs as early as next year.

Speaking on Thursday before Game 2 of the World Series, Selig said a larger postseason might not have to wait for collective bargaining with the players’ association.

Source: Girardi, Yanks close to deal

Joe Girardi and the New York Yankees have agreed on the outline of a $9 million, three-year contract for the manager, according to a baseball official familiar with the negotiations.

Although the agreement is not complete, the sides “are dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the t’s,’ the person said Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

Mets hire Alderson as GM

New York — Sandy Alderson was chosen as the New York Mets general manager and is now responsible for rebuilding a big-spending organization beset by problems on and off the field.

Alderson will be introduced today at a Citi Field news conference, the team announced Thursday.