News » d. "It was not an easy match. Shes a good player and

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Citing a pattern of behaviour and off-field issues, San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke informed defensive lineman Ray McDonald that he was released Wednesday amid a sexual assault investigation by San Jose police.Baalke spoke with McDonald and his agent by phone around 11:30 a.m. PST to let them know the defender is terminatedAfter the recent allegations concerning Ray McDonald, we as an organization notified him and his agent that he will be terminated, released immediately, effective immediately, Baalke said. While this organization has a strong belief in due process and has demonstrated that over time, Rays demonstrated a pattern of poor decision-making that has led to multiple distractions to this organization and this football team that really can no longer be tolerated.Baalke said CEO Jed York and coach Jim Harbaugh also were involved in the decision.We expect a lot from our players, hold them accountable for their actions, Baalke said. This is a situation that we can all learn from.Baalke said the 49ers notified the NFL of the allegations against McDonald, saying: This is a team decision. This is not a league decision.San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol said Wednesday that the department is investigating McDonald on suspicion of sexual assault and had searched his San Jose home.Randol said an area hospital notified police late Tuesday night that a woman was seeking treatment.The victim alleged she was possibly sexually assaulted a day prior, Randol said. Based on preliminary investigation, detectives secured a search warrant and served it at the alleged suspects residence in San Jose.Randol didnt immediately respond to follow up questions seeking to clarify the reference to the alleged victim saying she was possibly sexually assaulted.No arrests have been made nor charges filed. McDonalds agent, Tom Condon, didnt immediately return a call seeking comment.McDonalds mother, Labrina McDonald, told the San Jose Mercury News the allegation was laughable and not true.She said her son warned her not to talk to the media, but she told the paper that theres no truth to that stuff.NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is looking into the case.York spoke to the 49ers players about two weeks ago about conduct before NFL owners unanimously approved changes last week to the leagues personal-conduct policy — and it was clear what the expectations are with the 49ers, linebacker Dan Skuta said.You just really dont know what to believe, so Im not getting mad at Ray, Skuta said. Obviously you want him here with you and youre a little upset hes not here. I have no business getting upset with him for something that he may or may not have done.This is the second time in recent months that McDonald has been the subject of a police investigation.Last month, the Santa Clara County district attorneys office announced that it declined to file charges against the defensive lineman in a domestic violence investigation. He was arrested Aug. 31 while celebrating his then-upcoming 30th birthday at his home.Following the arrest, York, Baalke and Harbaugh repeatedly said they have zero tolerance for domestic violence. The 49ers stuck by McDonald throughout the investigation, with Harbaugh regularly saying that due process would play out. He played despite outside pressure on Harbaugh and the organization to bench him.Prosecutors cited conflicting versions of what happened, a lack of verifiable eyewitnesses and a lack of co-operation by the alleged victim, McDonalds fiancee, in explaining their decision not to pursue charges in the domestic violence investigation.McDonald received a five-year contract in July 2011 and he was one of the top players Baalke had wanted to bring back long term.Like you would expect, extremely disappointed, Baalke said. We drafted Ray in the third round. Hes been an awful good football player and for the most part, has been a tremendous asset to this organization and this community. He has made some poor decisions. Hes aware of that. This is a case of being accountable for those decisions.McDonald was signed through the 2015 season. He had 26 tackles and three sacks in 14 games this season.Harbaugh notified the players Wednesday of McDonalds dismissal. An eight-year NFL veteran, McDonald has been a key member of one of the NFLs fiercest front seven units.Not a situation you want to hear about, very unfortunate, quarterback Colin Kaepernick said. He just brought us together and let us know what the situation was and why he was released. Its tough. He was a good friend to a lot of people on this team. No one around him ever thought bad of him. He was always a good person to everyone around here. Hopefully its just a misunderstanding.___Elias reported from San Francisco.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Sami Vatanen Devils Jersey . -- All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and the New Orleans Saints met Tuesday for arbitration on his contract. Jesper Bratt Jersey . Kevin Martin and Kevin Love paced the Timberwolves like they do so often. Martin had 27 points with some key baskets down the stretch, Love had his usual double-double, and the Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 112-106 victory Saturday night over the suddenly slipping Dallas Mavericks. http://www.devilssale.com/customized/ . Saskatchewans Darian Durant is expected to miss the rest of the Roughriders season with a torn tendon in his right elbow. The 32-year-old, who will undergo surgery in the next couple days to repair the injury, was added to the teams six-game injury list Tuesday. Martin Brodeur Jersey .2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted. Miles Wood Jersey . Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth against former teammate Justin Verlander, helping the Kansas City Royals beat the Tigers 11-8 Monday night. LONDON -- Canadas Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon on Monday after defeating Frances Alize Cornet 7-6 (5), 7-5. Bouchard, the No. 13 seed from Westmount, Que., continued her romp through the 2014 Grand Slam draws after breakthrough semifinals at the Australian Open and French Open. The 2012 junior Wimbledon winner will next play the winner of a match between fifth seed Maria Sharapova and ninth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany. Sharapova defeated Bouchard in the French Open semifinal before going on to win the tournament. Bouchard won the last four games of the Centre Court match which was interrupted for less than an hour by rain, with the moveable roof being closed. The 20-year-old Canadian made the most of her return after trailing 3-2 in the first set, improving her Grand Slam record to 14-2. "Im really proud of how I fought," Bouchard said. "It was not an easy match. Shes a good player and gets a lot of balls back. "I tried to finish off the points, which I manaaged.ddddddddddddIt was my first time under the famous roof. Its quite humid, not a lot of air circulating. "Conditions were tough but they were the same for both of us." Bouchard won the opening set after nearly an hour of play with a backhand winner in the tiebreaker. She went down 4-2 and later 5-3 in the second set, but calmly levelled for 5-all, breaking when Cornet fired a forehand wide. Bouchard held serve to go up 6-5 and won the tight concluding game with another break of Cornet, advancing on the first match point when Cornet hit her forehand long. "Im very excited, but I need to stay focused," Bouchard said. "it can only be one march at a time. I need to keep from being distracted. "This what Ive world so hard for. I want to take another step, I want to keep going." Mens eighth seed Milos Raonic, Thornhill, Ont, will play for the quarter-finals on Tuesday against Japans 10th seed Kei Nishikori, who defeated Simone Bolelli of 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4. ' ' '