DENVER — A 25-year-old man was indicted Wednesday on first-degree murder charges in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams on New Year’s Day 2007.

Willie D. Clark faces 39 counts, including murder, attempted murder, assault, crimes of violence and a weapons violation, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said.

Clark is in federal custody in a separate case. He was long considered a “person of interest” in Williams’ slaying but is the first suspect to be indicted.

Williams, a former Oklahoma State standout, was shot and killed while riding in a rented limousine early on Jan. 1, 2007, after leaving the Safari Club, a Denver nightclub. He was 24.

The indictment said Williams and Clark were at the club with separate groups of friends and there was an altercation between the two groups. Quoting witnesses, it said Clark got into an SUV, followed the rented limo carrying Williams and opened fire.

Jones involved in fight

DALLAS — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was involved in a fight with one of his bodyguards, according to Dallas police, the night before attending a previously scheduled team meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

No one was arrested and no one will be charged in connection with the fight late Tuesday night at The Joule, an upscale downtown hotel.

Jones missed all of last season for Tennessee while serving an NFL suspension for off-field incidents. Goodell fully reinstated the cornerback, acquired by Dallas in a trade in April, just before the season opener.

Henry might be released

DENVER — Former Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry could be released from jail today after posting a $400,000 bond on federal drug charges.

Henry and another suspect were arrested Sept. 30 in Denver after federal drug agents said they met to buy cocaine from a man who was cooperating with authorities.

The U.S. attorney’s office said Wednesday that Henry is expected to be released after a phone line is installed in his house for electronic monitoring. Prosecutors said that could be today.

Henry’s case has been transferred to Montana, where authorities say they found marijuana and cocaine that Henry helped supply.

Henry has not entered a plea. His attorney did not immediately return a call.

BASEBALL

Ceremony scrubbed

NEW YORK — Plans for a closing ceremony at Yankee Stadium have been scrapped.

The team had discussed organizing an event on the weekend of Nov. 8-9 that would have included remembrances of many of the non-baseball events at the 85-year-old ballpark, such as football and boxing.

“The Yankees were considering having a charitable event at Yankee Stadium for BAT (Baseball Assistance Team), however, the Yankees realized that the final event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game, which in fact took place on Sept. 21,” spokesman Howard Rubenstein said Wednesday. “Accordingly, rather than having a fundraiser, the Yankees will be donating $500,000 to BAT.”

CYCLING

Armstrong allowed to compete early

GENEVA — Cycling’s governing body is relaxing its rules to allow Lance Armstrong to make his comeback at a road race in Australia in January.

The International Cycling Union said the seven-time Tour de France champion can compete in the Jan. 20-25 Tour Down Under, his first race since coming out of retirement after three years.

A strict application of testing rules would not have allowed the 37-year-old Texan to compete until Feb. 1, 2009, six months after he filed paperwork with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

But the UCI said Wednesday that Armstrong could return early because its drug-testing standards have improved since the rule was drawn up four years ago.

Armstrong’s comeback is meant to draw attention to his global campaign to fight cancer, a disease he survived before winning seven straight Tours from 1999-2005.

OLYMPICS

IOC to test samples

LONDON — The International Olympic Committee will retest doping samples from the Beijing Games to check for traces of a new blood-boosting drug and other banned substances.

The move, announced Wednesday, is designed to search in particular for a performance-enhancer that was only recently detected during retesting of samples from the Tour de France.

The Beijing samples — across all sports — are being sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory in Lausanne, IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said.

The IOC conducted more than 5,000 drug tests during the Beijing Games, including nearly 1,000 blood screenings.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Auburn fires coordinator

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin on Wednesday just seven games into his tenure, pulling the plug after the Tigers’ rocky transition to his spread offense.

The 20th-ranked Tigers have struggled offensively all season after entering as the favorites to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division. They have dropped league games to LSU and Vanderbilt after beating Mississippi State by a score of 3-2.

Tuberville said Wednesday he’s not satisfied with progress being made on offense and felt it was best to make a change. He said he will take a larger role in working with the offense the rest of the season.

Franklin brought a spread offense to the 20th-ranked Tigers (4-2) that was a big departure from the more smashmouth style Tuberville had long favored.

It never clicked. Auburn is ranked 104th in total offense and quarterbacks Kodi Burns and Chris Todd have alternated and are still battling for the starting job.