JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders agreed in principle Monday night to a six-year contract that will guarantee the quarterback more than $30 million in the richest contract ever for a rookie. The two sides met in person Monday for the third time in four days and were hashing out final details of the contract, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity…
What was left of the Bengals held on for a win that hurt so good. With wounded players shuffling off the field in waves, Cincinnati pulled off the kind of victory Monday night that could set the tone for a season — that is, assuming no one else gets hurt. Carson Palmer threw his second touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, and a suspect defense pulled off a goal-line stand in the closing seconds…
St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder suffered in the season opener Sunday. The injury is Pace’s second season-ender in two games, after tearing his left triceps last November. Coach Scott Linehan said this one could be career-threatening.
Oprah Winney rolled to an easy win Sunday in the $104,700 Schenectady Handicap at Belmont Park in her final tuneup before the Breeders’ Cup. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. has targeted the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park as the next start for the 4-year-old. “This race served its purpose,” Dutrow said.
Point guard Ramon Sessions, a second-round draft pick out of Nevada, signed a multiyear contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Sessions played four games for the Bucks at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in July, averaging 5.8 points and 2.5 assists. “Ramon was an excellent college point guard and we think he can develop into a solid pro,” Bucks general manager Larry Harris said Tuesday.
Shortstop John McDonald and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed Tuesday to a $3.8 million, two-year contract extension through the 2009 season. McDonald began Tuesday with a .252 batting average, 16 doubles and 28 RBIs, and his .985 fielding percentage led AL shortstop who had played 100 or more innings. He has a $750,000 base salary this season, earned $25,000 in performance bonuses and entered Tuesday…
Browns starting quarterback Charlie Frye, benched before halftime in the season opener, was traded to Seattle for an undisclosed draft pick on Tuesday, a stunningly swift move as Cleveland clears the way for rookie Brady Quinn. The teams have an agreement in place, said a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not finalized.
Free safety Will Demps has agreed to a one-year contract with the Houston Texans, his agent said Tuesday. The Texans needed another safety after losing starter Jason Simmons for the season with a torn patellar tendon on Sunday. They were already without Glenn Earl, who fractured his foot in the exhibition opener.
