The New York Jets have traded linebacker Jonathan Vilma to the New Orleans Saints on Friday for an undisclosed draft pick. Vilma, who missed the last nine weeks of last season with an injured right knee, saw his production decline the last two seasons after coach Eric Mangini took over and installed a 3-4 defensive scheme.

Linebacker Kawika Mitchell reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills on Friday, cashing in on the first day of NFL free agency after playing for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The five-year veteran started all 16 games for the Giants last season after being the team’s only notable free-agent addition a year ago.

Kentucky freshman Patrick Patterson will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his left ankle. Patterson, a blue chip recruit out of West Virginia who leads all Southeastern Conference freshman scorers with 16.4 points a game, had the injury confirmed after an X-ray Friday. He will be out approximately eight weeks and is wearing a cast on his foot, the school said.

Roger Clemens was a no-show when Houston Astros minor leaguers went through their usual drills at spring training on Friday. The Rocket flew home to Houston instead of working with the young prospects for a third straight day, said his oldest son, Koby, a catcher in the Astros’ system. Clemens departed the day after the FBI said it opened an investigation into whether he lied in sworn testimony…

The Detroit Pistons are expected to add center Theo Ratliff next week, a person familiar with the upcoming transaction told The Associated Press on Friday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal couldn’t yet be finalized, said the move will be made on Tuesday. The Minnesota Timberwolves requested waivers on Ratliff after reaching agreement on a buyout of his contract.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez has a broken knee. Team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek examined Gonzalez on Friday and said the infielder has a compression fracture on his left knee. Gonzalez will be evaluated again in three weeks. Cincinnati said this week that Gonzalez was expected to miss the first few spring training games because the knee was sore.

Two men charged in a betting scandal involving disgraced basketball referee Tim Donaghy have pleaded not guilty to conspiring to defraud the NBA. Prosecutors said James Battista, a professional gambler with nicknames “Baba” and “Sheep,” and Thomas Martino entered the pleas during a brief appearance Friday in Brooklyn.

San Francisco Giants owner Peter Magowan met with baseball commissioner Bud Selig about the club’s prominent mention in the Mitchell Report. Magowan, in the desert to watch the Giants’ first few Cactus League games this weekend, declined to give further details about the session with Selig in order to keep the focus on his young, rebuilding Giants team.

The Carolina Panthers traded three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins to the New York Jets on Friday for third- and fifth-round draft picks. The Jets then came to terms with Jenkins on a new five-year contract worth $35 million, including $20 million in guaranteed money. The deal on Friday ends a tumultuous year for Jenkins.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson wasn’t a free agent for long. Anderson has agreed to a multiyear contract to stay with the Browns, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been completed. General manager Phil Savage believed if Anderson had gotten an offer from another team, the Browns…