Cincinnati Bengals

BaseballMilwaukee Brewers -- Released P Juan Nieves, P Mike Birkbeck and P Tom Filer. Assigned P Don August's contract to Class AAA Denver.*BasketballDetroit Pistons -- Agreed to terms with G Vinnie Johnson.Los Angeles Lakers -- Released G Steve Bucknall and F Michael Young.*CollegesArizona State -- Announced FB Jeff Simoneau has quit team.Grand Canyon -- Announced G David McDaniel, G Anthony Steward, F Andre Edwards and C Gijs Geerders have left basketball program.New Mexico -- Signed football coach Mike Sheppard to new three-year contract.

BasketballPhiladelphia 76ers -- Activated C Dave Hoppen from the injured list. Placed F Jayson Williams (4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) on the injured list with inflammation of the right foot.Sacramento Kings -- Fired coach Dick Motta (856-863 in 22 seasons as a head coach, 48-114 in 1 full and parts of 2 seasons with Sacramento), the day after Motta said he would retire at the end of the season. Named Rex Hughes interim head coach and Mike Bratz assistant coach.FootballCincinnati Bengals -- Fired coach Sam Wyche (61-16, 2-3 in playoffs)

BASEBALL American League * Cleveland Indians -- Released Keith Hernandez (first baseman) and Mike York (pitcher).* Milwaukee Brewers -- Fired Tom Trebelhorn (manager).* Texas Rangers -- Exercised its option on Nolan Ryan (pitcher) for the 1991-92 season.National League * Philadelphia Phillies -- Assigned John Morris (outfielder) and Tim Mauser (pitcher) to Scranton-Wilkes-Barre of the International League. Announced that Darrel Akerfelds (pitcher) and Sil Campusano (outfielder) have opted to become free agents.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Released Triple-A 3B Gary Scott.Colorado Rockies -- Placed P Marvin Freeman on the 15-day DL with a strained left side. Recalled P David Nied from Triple-A Colorado Springs.Montreal Expos -- Double-A Harrisburg activated P Scott Gentile from the DL, placed P Antonio Grissom on the DL, retroactive to Aug. 10, and added P Ralph Diaz from Triple-A Ottawa.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Added P Matt Ryan and P Brian Shouse to Double-A Carolina roster. Sent P Sean Lawrence from Carolina to Single-A Lynchburg.

CINCINNATI -- Officials working to keep the Cincinnati Bengals from moving to Baltimore yesterday expressed a growing optimism they would achieve their objective before a deadline of next week imposed by the Maryland Stadium Authority."

BASEBALL (AL) * Milwaukee Brewers -- Named Brian Small director of baseball administration.* New York Yankees -- Named Clete Boyer third base coach; Ed Napoleon first base coach; Tony Cloniger bullpen coach; and Monk Meyer bench coach.* Toronto Blue Jays -- Named Larry Hisle hitting instructor and Bob Bailor first base coach.BASKETBALL (NBA) * League -- Announced that Los Angeles Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss has been elected chairman of the league's board of governors.FOOTBALL (NFL) * Cincinnati Bengals -- Claimed Daniel Stubbs (defensive lineman)

BaseballOrioles -- Promoted P Rick Krivda from Double-A Bowie to Rochester.Cincinnati Reds -- Double-A Chattanooga placed C Jon Fuller on the DL and acquired C Greg Hammond from Single-A Winston-Salem.Detroit Tigers -- Optioned P Buddy Groom to Triple-A Toledo. Recalled P Kurt Knudsen from Toledo.Minnesota Twins -- Placed 1B Gene Larkin on the 15-day DL with a strain of his left Achilles' tendon, retroactive to Thursday. Recalled OF David McCarty from Triple-A Portland.CollegesOC Ursinus -- Named Larry Morris men's assistant basketball coach.

BaseballNew York Mets -- Signed P Hipolito Pena to a minor-league contact and assigned him to Triple A Tidewater.Oakland Athletics -- Activated P Dave Stewart from the 15-day DL. Placed P Goose Gossage on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 19.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Placed P Zane Smith on 15-day DL. Unconditionally released former Orioles P Jeff Robinson and P Jerry Don Gleaton. Purchased contract of P Paul Wagner of Double-A Carolina and P Steve Cooke and P Blas Minor from Triple-A Buffalo.

The Leffler Agency Inc., a Baltimore advertising and marketing firm, has won the $1.2 million account for AmeriLife, described as America's largest senior life insurance company.The television advertising campaign for the Clearwater,Fla.-based company, rolled out this week in markets in Florida, Virginia and North Carolina. Using direct-response, the campaign focuses on the Ameri-Plus benefit program through which seniors receive a coupon book of discounts on items including prescriptions, airline tickets and groceries.