Top draft pick Clowney signs deal with Texans

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NFL • Jadeveon Clowney has his rookie contract with the Houston Texans. Now he needs to learn a new position. The top overall choice in last month's draft, Clowney signed a four-year contract with the Texans on Friday. Houston has an option for a fifth year, as in all NFL contracts with first-round picks under the current collective bargaining agreement.

A star defensive end since entering South Carolina in 2011, Clowney will become an outside linebacker with the Texans. Rest assured he will have plenty of pass rushing duties, but Houston plans to use him in a stand-up position.

The Texans are moving to a 3-4 alignment and have 2012 Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt as one of their ends.

• New York, Los Angeles and Chicago were invited this week to make presentations for next spring's draft. But the league stresses that no finalists have been selected and many other cities are in the running. The draft has been held in New York since 1965, with Radio City Music Hall the venue since 2006. But the Music Hall will not be available for the league's preferred dates next year.

For the 2015 draft, the NFL is seeking proposals for April 22-25 or April 29-May 2.

Hamlin wins poleat Pocono Raceway

auto racing • Denny Hamlin turned a track-record lap of 181.415 mph to win the pole at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., on Friday.

Hamlin is a four-time winner at Pocono and won his third pole at the track. Kurt Busch joins Hamlin on the front row for Sunday's race.

Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon round out the top five.

Hamlin swept two Pocono races from the pole in 2006. He also won races on the 21/2-mile track in 2009 and 2010.

Portugal defeats Mexico on late goal

soccer • Bruno Alves scored on a header in extra time to give Portugal a 1-0 win over Mexico in a World Cup tuneup Friday night in Foxborough, Mass.

Mexico had dominated play in the second half before Joao Moutinho's direct kick from about 35 yards was headed past goalkeeper Jesus Corona.

The Associated Press