Colts' Freeney gets new deal

By: Associated Press | Friday, July 13, 2007 11:40 PM PDT ∞

INDIANAPOLIS ---- The Indianapolis Colts have signed defensive end Dwight Freeney to a long-term contract that will make him among the NFL's most highly paid defensive players.

Freeney and the Colts agreed to a six-year, $72 million contract that includes a $30 million signing bonus, Freeney's agent, Gary Wichard, said Friday. The Colts also issued a statement saying they had reached an agreement with Freeney, but did not elaborate.

Carter to stay with the Nets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ---- The New Jersey Nets signed a deal with guard Vince Carter that will keep the eight-time All-Star in New Jersey at least through the 2010-11 season.

Carter will receive $66 million guaranteed ---- which includes four years plus a partial guarantee for a fifth year ---- and could make as much as $80 million, according to a person involved in the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Nets haven't announced the terms.

U.S. takes on Russia at Fed Cup

STOWE, Vt. ---- Fresh off her fourth Wimbledon title, Venus Williams will square off against Russia's Nadia Petrova after teammate Vania King plays Anna Chakvetadze in the singles opener of the Fed Cup semifinals today.

On Sunday, Williams plays Chakvetadze and King will face Petrova in singles before King and Lisa Raymond play Petrova and Elena Vesnina in doubles to wrap up the best-of-five event. It's being played on hard courts at the sold-out 4,000-seat Topnotch Resort.

Et cetera

NHL

The New Jersey Devils hired Brent Sutter to be the team's new coach. ... The Ottawa Senators signed free agent right winger Niko Dimitrakos to a one-year contract. ... The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent center Alexandre Giroux to a multiyear deal. ... The Phoenix Coyotes re-signed right wing Bill Thomas to a one-year contract and signed free-agent left wing Tomas Survoy to a one-year pact.

NFL

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers won't face criminal charges following a review of an exotic dancer's claims that he inappropriately touched her. ... Bengals linebacker David Pollack, who broke a bone in his neck during a game last season, isn't expected to play this year. ... Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Khalif Barnes has been sentenced to six months probation after pleading no contest to a drunken driving charge. ... Rams cornerback Fakhir Brown was suspended or the first four games next season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The league didn't reveal the specific nature of the violation.

NBA

Morris Peterson and the New Orleans Hornets agreed to terms on a four-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. ... The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward-center Darko Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft .

Track

Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius warmed up for his debut in a world-class able-bodied race by finishing second in an invitational 400-meter race at the Golden Gala meet at Rome. Pistorius charged from behind in the final straight to finish in 46.90 seconds, well off his personal best of 46.56. A double-amputee below his knees, Pistorius races on carbon fiber prostheses that resemble blades. Stefano Braciola of Italy won in 46.7.

Obituary

Larry Staverman, who was the first coach of the Indiana Pacers when they started as an ABA franchise in 1967, died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 70.

College football

Texas-El Paso coach Mike Price, 61, was released from a hospital after doctors implanted a stent to relieve a blocked artery in his heart.

Soccer

UEFA fined the Serbian soccer federation $33,000 for racist language by players and fans against England in an under-21 European Championship match last month. ... Real Salt Lake acquired defender Chris Wingert from the Colorado Rapids for two MLS draft picks. ... Sports giant Anschutz Entertainment Group has reached a preliminary agreement to sell its stake in the Chicago Fire soccer team to Los Angeles-based Andell Holdings.

College baseball

After a 26-year absence, the University of Oregon will bring back baseball for the 2008-09 season.

Tennis

Igor Andreev upset defending champion Richard Gasquet 7-5, 6-2 at the Swiss Open at Gstaad, Switzerland. ... Nicolas Mahut beat qualifier Prakash Amritraj 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships at Newport, R.I.

Cycling

Italian cyclist Michele Scarponi was suspended for 18 months for his involvement in the Spanish doping scandal known as Operation Puerto.

Boxing

Jermain Taylor and Kelly Pavlik are close to a deal to put their undefeated records on the line in a fight for Taylor's middleweight championship. The fight is expected to take place Sept. 29 in Atlantic City, N.J.

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