Oakley insisting he was innocentNEW YORK — Charles Oakley maintains he did nothing wrong before he was surrounded by Madison Square Garden security officials.Something has happened, though, to turn him from popular player to persona non grata within his former franchise.Oakley blamed his strained relationship with the Knicks and owner James Dolan on Thursday for the altercation that led to his ejection and arrest from New York’s 119-115 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.

Palmer returning for 15th NFL yearTEMPE, Ariz. — Carson Palmer is coming back for a 15th NFL season.The 37-year-old quarterback made the commitment in a statement.“My intent was to take some time after the (2016) season to get away and see where I was physically and mentally,” Palmer said. “On both fronts, I can say I’m ready to get back to work and prepare for the 2017 season.”

Placekicker Walsh signs with SeattleRENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have signed former Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh.Walsh spent five seasons with the Vikings before being released midway through last season.Walsh is infamously remembered for missing a 27-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds of a 2015 NFC wild-card game against Seattle that could have given Minnesota the victory. Walsh was 12 of 16 on field goals and 15 of 19 on extra points last season before being released.

NL’s Miami Marlins may have buyerMIAMI — The Miami Marlins are for sale, and owner Jeffrey Loria may have a buyer.Loria has a preliminary agreement to sell the team to a New York businessman, but the deal could fall through because the final purchase price hasn’t been determined, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Marlins have not commented publicly on the negotiations.The preliminary agreement was for a purchase price of about $1.6 billion.

Tirico taking reins of Olympic coverageNEW YORK — Mike Tirico is taking over from Bob Costas as the prime-time host of NBC’s Olympics coverage starting next winter in South Korea.Costas, who has been the on-air concierge to NBC’s Olympics 11 times starting in 1992, said he decided on his own a year ago that the time was right for a change.“This is entirely on my terms and I like it that way,” Costas said. “I’m not retiring, I’m just transitioning.”