Penn State dismisses two players

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State defensive tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor, two of a handful of players with off-field troubles over the past year, have been kicked off the team.

There was no information on why the players were dismissed, team spokesman Jeff Nelson said Wednesday.

Coach Joe Paterno had previously suspended Baker and Taylor. At Big Ten media day last week in Chicago, Paterno said that he still had not made a final decision on their fates.

Baker was sentenced to two years’ probation in May as part of a plea deal in Centre County court covering two cases. One was an off-campus altercation in April in which authorities said two people were hurt, the other a fight at the student union in October in which police said one man was injured.

Baker, who was placed on team probation, was allowed to work out with the squad again in April.

The school barred Taylor from campus, including team activities, from the end of the spring semester to Aug. 15. He was sentenced to one year probation and 100 hours of community service in May as part of a plea deal for his role in the student union fight.

Paterno indicated last week that he was waiting for summer grades on suspended players before deciding whether they would play this season.

“Some I may just let come out and run around a little bit, depending on the status of their grades,” Paterno said in Chicago. “I haven’t gotten rid of anybody yet until I get the grades ... some things they got to do academically.”