The Patriots today released TE Aaron Hernandez "less than two hours after he was arrested by police at his home." Hernandez has already earned about $10.15M from a seven-year, $40M contract he signed prior to the '12 season, including $9.25M in signing-bonus money. He has another $3.25M signing bonus payment due in March '14, but it is "unclear at this time whether the Patriots will be able to avoid paying it."

Also unclear is "whether the Patriots will be able to recoup some or all of the signing bonus money already paid to Hernandez," whether they can avoid paying him $2.5M in guaranteed base salary due in '13 and '14 and "if they can get salary cap relief in the future." Hernandez will still count $4.073M against the salary cap in '13, and as much as $9M against the cap in '14 (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/26).

Social media was filled with reaction to the charges. Forbes’ Alicia Jessop wrote on her Twitter feed, “Aaron Hernandez being led away in handcuffs in front of media is a PR nightmare. His attorney should've negotiated him turning himself in.” Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel wrote, “If there is one truism in the world it's this: if Roger Cossack is talking about you on TV, you're having a bad day."

The Outback Bowl today announced that title sponsor Outback Steakhouse has agreed to renew its deal with the game for six additional years through the '20 game. The new contract, which begins after the '14 game, will extend the Tampa-based company's sponsorship to a total of 25 years, the longest college bowl game title sponsorship in history. The bowl is in talks with TV partner ESPN and officials from the Big Ten and SEC about extending those relationships as well (Outback Bowl).

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday turned down a request from EA to have the full court hear its appeal of a recent adverse ruling in favor of former Rutgers QB Ryan Hart suing over the alleged improper use of his image. Last month, a three-judge panel overturned a lower court decision dismissing Hart’s case against EA. Hart alleges his image was used in the video game maker’s products without his permission and the case is set now to proceed in the lower court.

EA earlier this month filed a petition to have the case heard before the whole circuit court, known as an en banc appeal. Several major media companies filed briefs supporting EA’s appeals, including Dow Jones, ESPN and Advance Publications. Advance is the corporate parent company of THE DAILY.

The Third Circuit notice turning down the appeal noted two judges, Thomas Ambro and Julio Fuentes, supported the appeal. The motion did not say how many judges turned down the appeal. The court’s web site lists 25 judges. EA, which contends the use of Hart’s and other collegians’ images in its video games are protected by the First Amendment, could appeal to the Supreme Court. It could also await the outcome of two similar cases brought against it by Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown and former Arizona State QB Sam Keller, currently waiting decision in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Maria Sharapova described the conditions of Wimbledon’s Court 2 during her second-round loss to Michelle Larcher de Brito as “dangerous,” but did not blame that for her early exit. Sharapova in her post-match press conference said it was a "bit slippery on the outside" of the court. Sharapova: “The first couple of days they're always a bit like that, but I don't think I've seen as much as I have in the last few years." She added, “I don't think I've ever fallen three times in a match before in my career, so that was a little strange.”

Many players slipped while playing today and women’s No. 2 seed Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the event due to injury from a slip in the first round. ESPN’s Chrissie Evert said, "I'm sure all these other injuries and slippages of these players are just ingrained in these players' minds right now." She noted weather “has a lot to do with it" because the area "had a rainy fall, a very, very cold winter" (“Wimbledon,” ESPN2, 6/26).

The Mets and Aramark today held a tasting to preview concession offerings for the July 16 MLB All-Star Game at Citi Field and unveil a new meatball hero that has been added to the menu for the event. The meatball hero hails from a three-century-old family recipe of Robert Flowers, Aramark's executive chef at Citi Field. The four-year-old ballpark has frequently been hailed as one of the top destinations in baseball for food enthusiasts, raising the spotlight and pressure for the Mets and Aramark during All-Star week. But execs for both entities said they were prepared for the heightened scrutiny.

Citi Field's kitchens are fully equipped for the demands of All-Star week, as compared to last year at Kauffman Stadium in K.C. where Aramark also utilized the neighboring Arrowhead Stadium to help meet infrastructure demands. "Being in New York, we're already held to a different standard," said Mets Senior VP/Venue Services & Operations Mike Landeen. "We've had the opportunity to take the best of the best and put it into our menu for All-Star."

Trek Bicycle Corp. has agreed to "take over the RadioShack Leopard cycling team from Luxembourg real-estate developer Flavio Becca next year." Trek, a sponsor of the team since its inception in '10, said that it is "in talks with 'several marquee athletes' and will start seeking partners immediately." Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/26).

Meanwhile, News Corp. has agreed to a new sponsorship deal with cycling's Team Sky, which "will add the 21st Century Fox brand to the riders' kit and support vehicles when the Tour de France begins this weekend" (REUTERS, 6/26).

UEFA today unveiled the logo for the Euro 2016 soccer tournament in France. The mark was conceived by Brandia Central, Lisbon, which also created the UEFA Euro 2012 insignia (UEFA). See Brandia Central's video announcing the logo and its meaning.

The Army Athletic Association and multimedia rights holder Army Sports Properties today announced a three-year marketing and sponsorship deal with Navy Federal Credit Union (Learfield Sports).

SI this week features Heat F LeBron James on the cover with the header, "LeBron On His MJ Moment." An action shot from Blackhawks-Bruins Game 6 graces a Midwest regional cover with the copy, "Stanley Cup Champs ... First City" (THE DAILY).

Sports Illustrated	Sports Illustrated

“He played on the highest level of any player in this draft” – ESPN analyst Chad Ford, on G Glen Rice Jr. possibly becoming the first NBA D-League player to be selected in the first round of the draft. Rice played in the D-League after being kicked off the Georgia Tech team in '12 (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/26).

"I can't tell you how many times opportunities come up. Brands and people want her, but she's just not able to do it because she's not in the country" – WMG's Lee Melchionni, agent for WNBA Sparks F Candace Parker, on his client missing out on endorsement opportunities because she also plays for Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg (GRANTLAND.com, 6/26).

"Not only are we pleased to be able to extend our storied series with Notre Dame, but we were able to keep the game on the traditional dates of Thanksgiving weekend in Los Angeles and mid-October in South Bend" – USC AD Pat Haden, on signing an extension for the school's football series against Notre Dame through '23 (LATIMES.com, 6/26).

SI.com's Jimmy Traina: "Aaron Hernandez arrested, Paula Deen on Today, STFU ARod, Texas Filibuster, Mark Sanchez's bare ass ... what a 12 hours for Twitter."

North American Soccer Network Founder Trevor Hayward: "Great to see @beINSPORTUSA pick up rights to the Russian Premier League. Highly underrated and entertaining league."

CBS Sports' Seth Davis: "First thing Big East commish Val Ackerman should do is hire John Paquette as media coord. Dude is a pro's pro."

LAGalaxy.com's Adam Serrano: "@robbierogers on the #doma ruling: 'I feel like this year has been a real special year.'"

If you see a tweet we will not want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

MLB Rangers fans will audition at 5:30pm CT at Rangers Ballpark to have their photographs appear on the team's Fan Express bus.

This video, titled "Change," was produced by Univ. of Oregon students and promotes the school's upcoming football season. The change it refers to includes a new head coach and a recent spate of facility upgrades. The video was released before this morning's announcement that the NCAA placed the school on three years' probation.

Heat F Chris Bosh will appear on TBS' "Conan" at 11:00pm ET.

Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane will appear on CBS' "Late Show" at 11:35pm ET.

29 – Number of arrests of NFL players since the Super Bowl, including today's arrests of Aaron Hernandez and Browns LB Ausar Walcott, according to Elias Sports Bureau. ESPN's Bram Weinstein: "It's been a long off-season for the NFL" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/26).