Sports briefs: New Orleans Saints cut former Utah cornerback Ryan Lacy

NFL • Former Utah cornerback Ryan Lacy was among three players waived by the New Orleans Saints on Monday. The Saints also cut ex-West Virginia running back Shawne Alston, and 2012 practice squad center Ryan Lee. Lacy had joined New Orleans as an undrafted free agent last month.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said Monday that the club has signed six players who received tryouts at rookie camp last weekend, including Brent Leonard, who was Louisiana-Monroe's leading receiver last season.

• Buddy Nix is stepping down after three seasons as the Buffalo Bills' general manager, the team announced. Nix, 73, will remain with the team as special assistant. Assistant GM Doug Whaley, entering his fourth season in Buffalo, is expected to take over.

Venus Williams falls in first round

tennis • Venus Williams lost in the first round of the Italian Open to Laura Robson. Now sister Serena Williams will get a chance to even the score. Robson, a quickly improving 19-year-old British player, beat Venus Williams 6-3, 6-2 on Monday in Rome to set up a second-round match with top-ranked Serena.

Riot cuts party for Paris team short

soccer • The celebration to honor Paris Saint-Germain's first French league title in 19 years was cut short following fights between fans and riot police in which 30 people were injured.

Paris police commissioner Bernard Boucault said three police officers were among the injured from the clashes, a huge embarrassment to a club that has been trying to restore its image following years of fan violence.

• Manchester City fired manager Roberto Mancini, a year after he delivered the club's first English league title in 44 years. With the club set to end this season without a trophy, the Italian paid the price.

From wire reports