Colts, Manning agree on $98 million deal
INDIANAPOLIS. March 3 (UPI) -- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has agreed to a 7-year, $98 million deal making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection got a deal that includes a record $34.5 million signing bonus.The $14 million annual salary easily surpasses the contracts signed by Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles and Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers in recent years.
"I don't even like to use the word 'money,'" Manning said. "I've never felt comfortable talking about it and I'll continue that policy."
On Feb. 24, the Colts designated Manning their franchise player and were seeking a long-term deal. If the Colts had failed to sign Manning to a multi-year contract, they would have been forced to pay him a whopping $18.4 million for the 2004 season alone.
The deal is expected to drop Manning's salary cap number for 2004 to $8.3 million.
The NFL's co-Most Valuable Player, Manning passed for a league-high 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 2003.
Broncos McCaffrey announces retirement
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 3 (UPI) -- Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey has announced his retirement Tuesday 13 NFL seasons, the last nine of which were with with the Broncos.
McCaffrey was a key member of the Broncos' Super Bowl championship teams in 1997 and 1998.
The 35-year-old joined the Broncos in 1995 and emerged as one of the favorite targets for quarterback John Elway. McCaffrey ranks fourth in receptions (462), fourth in receiving yardage (6,200) and third in receiving touchdowns (46) in franchise history.
McCaffrey had more than 1,000 receiving yards each season from 1998-2000 and reached his only Pro Bowl in 1998.
Injuries plagued McCaffrey, who suffered a broken leg in the 2001 season opener. He suffered a pair of concussions last season and was limited to 19 catches for 195 yards.
McCaffrey also played for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers and ended his career with 565 catches for 7,422 yards and 55 touchdowns.
Roddick cooled off by rain in Arizona
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 3 (UPI) - An Arizona rainstorm defused Andy Roddick's well-known temper at the $380,000 Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic Tuesday.
Roddick was two points from victory following a controversial line call before two rain delays suspended play and left the top seed leading Dutchman John van Lottum 6-3, 6-5.
The reigning U.S. Open champion grabbed the opener by firing an ace at 138 miles per hour on set point, but the fireworks started when he went berserk over a changed line call in the second set.
Roddick was set to return Van Lottum's forehand deep in the right hand corner but the lineswoman called the ball long.
Chair umpire Enric Molina of Spain overruled the call, giving the point and a 2-0 lead to van Lottum. Roddick went wild, quickly walking toward Molina to protest the call.
He was given a delay of game warning by Molina. When Roddick walked back on court to resume, he shattered his racket, resulting in a racket abuse call and penalty point.
Van Lottum held serve for a 3-0 lead before rain delayed play for 44 minutes, and officials suspended play until Wednesday afternoon.
Canadiens obtain Kovalev from Rangers
NEW YORK, March 3 (UPI) -- The New York Rangers traded former All-Star right wing Alexei Kovalev to the Montreal Canadiens for right wing Jozef Balej and a 2004 second-round draft pick.
Kovalev emerged as one of the NHL's elite players during a four-year stint in Pittsburgh but became a highly paid underachiever after he was reacquired by the Rangers in February 2003.
A three-time 30-goal scorer, the 31-year-old Russian has just 13 goals and 29 assists in 66 games this season.
The Rangers boast the NHL's highest payroll but are on their way to missing the playoffs for a team-record seventh straight season.
After adding high-priced players like Kovalev, Pavel Bure and Jaromir Jagr before the trade deadline in recent years, they took the unusual step of dealing an established veteran for a prospect.
Kovalev goes to Montreal, which is just two points behind sixth-place New Jersey in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Balej, a 22-year-old Slovakian, was scoreless in four games with the Canadiens in his NHL debut this season but was the leading scorer at Hamilton of the American Hockey League with 25 goals and 33 assists in 55 games.
