CYCLING: Lance denies charge

Lance Armstrong’s attorney has lashed out at a report that a former teammate of the seven-time Tour de France champion told investigators Armstrong knew of widespread performance-enhancing drug use on the U.S. Postal Service team.

Attorney Bryan D. Daly said there are hundreds of former Armstrong teammates who would deny he broke the rules to win.

The New York Times reported in yesterday’s editions that a cyclist, identified only as a former Armstrong teammate, backed up claims by Floyd Landis that the Postal Service team engaged in systematic doping with Armstrong’s knowledge and approval. Armstrong has strongly denied any allegations that he doped.

NFL: No change on Big Ben ban

Ben Roethlisberger got a thumb’s up from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and praise for the way he’s reshaping his life. What’s missing for now is a reduction of his six-game suspension.

Goodell met with Roethlisberger but, while saying the quarterback is going beyond what the league is mandating, didn’t cut his suspension for bad behavior to four games. The NFL will continue to monitor Roethlisberger’s progress.

* NFL sacks king Elvis Dumervil has an injury to the pectoral area of his chest and surgery might be an option.

* Shaun Rogers and Robaire Smith of the Browns remain in limbo with Goodell after their arrests for carrying weapons through airport security.

* All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson signed a two-year extension that will keep him in Houston through the 2016 season. The Houston Chronicle and KRIV-TV reported that Johnson’s extension had a maximum value of $38.5 million, including $13 million guaranteed.

* Packers safety Atari Bigby will have surgery on his troublesome left ankle today and hopes to heal within a month.

* Vikings coach Brad Childress said there is no timetable for Percy Harvin’s return from mourning the death of his grandmother.

GOLF: Teen debuts on Tour

Fifteen-year-old Gavin Hall made his debut on the PGA Tour, shooting a 6-over-par 78 in the first round of the Turning Stone Championship in Verona, N.Y. This comes two weeks after he shot a 10-under-par 62 to set a scoring record at the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Rory Sabatini and Omar Uresti were tied for the lead with 7-under 65s before the first round was suspended because of rain.

* Cassy Isagawa won the 35th Junior PGA Championship with a par putt on the third playoff hole.

* The LPGA Tour Championship will be played Dec. 2-5 at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando after the tour didn’t feature an event in Florida last year.

TENNIS: Roddick ousted

Gilles Simon beat second-seeded Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-3 in the third round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.

Roddick, a three-time champion of this U.S. Open Series event, came out flat against the 13th-seeded Frenchman in a match that started just before 11 p.m. because of a 4½-hour weather delay.