Bears DT Tank Johnson to sit on sidelines
CHICAGO, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The Chicago Bears Friday decided not to play defensive tackle Tank Johnson in Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
On its Web site, the team noted that the three-year veteran is facing six misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm without a valid Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification card.
The charges stem from an incident on Thursday, when the Gurnee (Ill.) Police Department executed a search warrant at Johnson's home.
"We're disappointed in the situation that's come up right now," said Coach Lovie Smith upon learning about the incident. "It's a distraction for the (11-2) team and all of that. I'll get more details and go from there."
It is the second time this year that Johnson has been involved in a questionable situation.
Last March, prosecutors dropped battery and resisting arrest charges filed against him stemming from an incident the month before outside a Chicago nightclub.
That arrest violated his probation resulting from a guilty plea to a misdemeanor unlawful gun possession charge.
Wade Burton to rejoin the Nextel circuit
ABINGDON, Va., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Wade Burton will return to the Nextel Cup auto racing circuit in the 2007 season.
He will drive the No. 4 Chevrolet for Morgan-McClure Motorsports.
The five-time winner has not run a full Nextel Cup season since 2004, when he was released by Haas-CNC.
"We've still got some things we all are going to be doing as a team that we have to do to (right) the ship," he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "But Larry and Tim (Morgan) and all the people here are really good, sound people, and the kind of people I've been wanting to be around. There's finally a light at the end of the tunnel. I am committed to a season of success for State Water Heaters and Morgan-McClure Motorsports."
Burton has made 359 starts, earning the five wins and 82 top-10 finishes.
Boston acquires Brendan Donnelly
BOSTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox Friday acquired reliever Brendan Donnelly from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The 35-year-old right-hander primarily will be used as a set-up man for closer Mike Timlin.
In his five-year major league career, Donnelly is 23-8 with an ERA of 2.87 in 295 innings. In short relief, he has 295 strikeouts.
Last season, he was 6-0 with a 3.94 ERA in 64 innings. He won his last nine decisions, dating back to August of 2005, a club record for a relief pitcher.
Donnelly is the second major addition to the Red Sox staff in two days.
On Thursday, the team signed right-handed starter Daisuke Matsuzaka from Japan.
In return for Donnelly, the Angels got left-hander Phil Seibel, who was a combined 6-3 with a 1.24 ERA in 22 games (13 starts) for three Boston farm clubs last season.
Bagwell retires after 15 years with Astros
HOUSTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Jeff Bagwell, a four time All-Star who owns several Houston Astros records, Friday announced his retirement after 15 years with the National League team.
Bagwell, 38, missed most of the 2005 season and all of 2006 because of a shoulder problem. His retirement had been expected once he worked out a personal services arrangement with the team.
He is one of 10 players in major league history to hit more than 400 home runs and collect more than 200 stolen bases. He is also among just nine National League players to win the Rookie of the Year Award (1991) and Most Valuable Player Award (1994).
Bagwell is Houston's all-time leader in home runs (449), runs batted in (1,529) and walks (1,401). In 2,150 games, he hit .297 with 488 doubles, 32 triples, 202 stolen bases and 1,517 runs scored. He had 2,314 career hits, 969 of which went for extra bases.
Tiger Woods leads at Thousand Oaks
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods shot his second straight 4-under-par 68 Friday and has a one-stroke lead at the Target World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Woods is the tournament host and a two-time winner of the event.
He is 8-under 136 after two rounds and leads first-round front-runner Henrik Stenson (71) of Sweden.
"My iron game wasn't very good. I'm still struggling with my speed on the greens," admitted Woods, who had two major titles among his eight wins in 2006. "I kept blowing them by the hole today. Luckily a couple of them had train wrecks and went in. Otherwise, it was a little bit of a struggle."
Americans Chris DiMarco (68) and Geoff Ogilvy (70), this year's U.S. Open winner, are tied for third at 6-under 138.
England's Paul Casey (70) is alone in fifth place at 5-under 139.
