NFL teams go shopping
By United Press Ingternational
After many of the NFL's teams spent the past month getting under the $71.1 million salary cap, some were busy again Friday bargain-hunting as the free agency period got under way.
This year's cut hit teams harder than ever and though a lot of prominent names were thrown into the free agent hopper, observers believe business will be slow. Most teams simply do not have the cash available for a lot of dealing.
Among the top free agents available were running backs Warrick Dunn, Garrison Hearst and Antowain Smith, quarterback Trent Dilfer, receivers Cris Carter and Az-Zahir Hakim, tight end Shannon Sharpe, defensive end Leonard Little, linebackers Jessie Armstead and London Fletcher and safeties Tony Parrish and Shaun Williams.
NFL said planning midweek opener
NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) --The National Football League is expected to open its 2002 season with a midweek game, the New York Times reported Friday.
If the game is set, it would be on Sept. 5 with the New York Giants hosting the San Francisco 49ers, the report said.
The NFL schedule is still tentative and will not be completed for several weeks. But, the league and ESPN, which would telecast the game, are said to be planning to announce the Thursday opener next week.
Sunday has been the NFL's traditional opening day but the league agreed a Thursday game would give the season a primetime sendoff.
Packers keep Henderson in the fold
GREEN BAY, Wis., March 1 (UPI) -- The Green Bay Packers re-signed William Henderson, the team's starting fullback for the past six seasons, to a four-year contract Friday.
With the signing, the Packers locked up their starting backfield of
Ahman Green, who is to enter the second season of a five-year
contract, and the 31-year-old Henderson through 2005.
An imposing presence at 6-1, 253 pounds and a superb blocker,
Henderson has led the way for more 1,000-yard rushing seasons -- two
by Green and two by Dorsey Levens -- than any starting fullback in
the NFC since 1997.
Henderson supplemented his blocking with 21 catches for 193 yards,
but carried just six times for 11 yards last season.
Rangers' Messier out indefinitely
NEW YORK , March 1 (UPI) -- New York Rangers center Mark Messier
was expected to be out indefinitely after his planned shoulder operation Friday.
The surgery is designed to ease pain in the rotator cuff of the
41-year-old NHL star.
"With Mark unable to perform effectively in his current
condition, we feel that this common orthopedic procedure is the
most appropriate form of treatment," team physician Dr. Andrew
Feldman said.
Messier has been hampered by his shoulder for weeks and missed
15 of 18 games before returing for the final five before the
NHL's Olympic break. He had just one assist in those five
games and is just seventh on the team in scoring with seven
goals and 16 assists in 41 games.
Mets agree to terms with Payton
NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) -- The New York Mets Friday agreed
to terms with starting center fielder Jay Payton on a one-year
contract worth $362,500.
Payton, 29, played in just 104 games due to injuries last
season and hit .255 with eight home runs and 34 RBI.
After elbow and shoulder injuries kept him from reaching the
major leagues sooner, Payton finished third in National League
Rookie of the Year voting in 2000 after hitting .291 with
17 home runs and 62 RBI in 149 games.
The Mets also agreed to terms with outfielder Gary Matthews
Jr., first baseman-outfielder Jorge Toca and righthander Kane
Davis on one-year deals.
Pirates sign five to one-year contracts
PITTSBURGH, March 1 (UPI) -- Righthander Kip Wells, acquired for Todd
Ritchie during the winter meetings and expected to be one of the Pirates' top
three starters this season, agreed to a one-year contract with Pittsburgh Friday.
The 24-year-old Wells was 10-11 with a 4.79 ERA in 40 appearances,
including 20 starts, with the White Sox in 2001. He threw two scoreless innings
in his first spring training appearance on Thursday.
Pitchers Ryan Vogelsong, Tony McKnight and Mike Gonzalez as well as
outfielder Tike Redman also agreed to one-year contracts Friday, one day
after the Pirates signed third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a three-year deal.
Faldo falls out of Malaysian Open
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 1 (UPI) -- Nick Faldo faltered in the
second round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open Friday and failed to make
the cut.
Faldo shot a 68 on Thursday, kindling comeback chances for his
first European Tour victory since 1999.
But, he staggered through a miserable 79 and a five-over-par 147 over
the heat-seared Royal Selangor course Friday, a whopping 17 shots back of the
leader, Miguel Angel Martin of Spain.
Korea's Anthony Kang waqs one stroke back of Martin and one ahead of
another Spaniard, Ignacio Garrido.
Colbert defending seniors title
VALENCIA, Calif., March 1 (UPI) -- The SBC Senior classic got under way
Friday with defending champion Jim Colbert figuring that winning again would be
a suitable birthday present.
Colbert turns 61 on March 9. A 20-time winner on the elder circuit, he became the
oldest player to capture a Senior Tour event in 2001 when he won here last year with
a score of 12-under-par 204.
Only 11 players in the 60-plus age bracket have won Senior tournaments.
