Off the wire

FOOTBALL Falcons sign Jackson

The Atlanta Falcons have found their replacement for Michael Turner by agreeing to terms with free agent Steven Jackson on a three-year deal. The Falcons announced the agreement Thursday, but did not release the terms. The 30-year-old Jackson had 1,042 yards rushing and four touchdowns with the Rams last season. It was his eighth consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards rushing. Jackson has 10,135 yards rushing, the most of any active player. He set career highs with 1,528 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns with St. Louis in 2006.

The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel on Thursday, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been officially announced.Cassel agreed to terms with the Vikings, a deal first reported by Fox Sports, on the same day he was formally released by the Chiefs with two years left on his contract. He spent the past four years in Kansas City, making the Pro Bowl in 2010 after throwing for 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,796 yards with 6 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in nine games last year.

The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with receiver Danny Amendola on a deal that would reportedly pay him $31 million over five years, moving quickly after the loss of five-time Pro Bowl selection Wes Welker to Denver. Amendola, 27, is a 5-11, 188-pound former rookie free agent from Texas Tech - the same school as Welker. After signing with the Rams in 2009, Amendola led the NFL with 66 kickoff returns, 1,618 kickoff return yards and 1,978 total return yards. The following season, he led the NFL with 2,364 all-purpose yards, catching 85 passesfor 689 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed cornerback Cary Williams and safety Kenny Phillips in free agency, two days after the they released cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. They also added linebacker Connor Barwin.Williams agreed to a three-year deal, and is coming off a big season with the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. He started all 16 games, posting four interceptions and 67 tackles. A first-round selection of the Giants in 2008, Phillips, 26, had four interceptions and 72 tackles in 2011, as New York won the Super Bowl. Phillips has battled knee injuries throughout his career. In four seasons with Houston, Barwin, who signed a six-year deal Thursday, had 109 tackles, 19 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.

Detroit Lions tackle Jeff Backus is retiring, ending a 12-year career in which he missed only one game. Backus played for the Lions his whole career after being drafted in the first round out of Michigan in 2001.

The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms with cornerback Sean Smith on a three-year deal Thursday, helping to shore up their secondary opposite cornerback Brandon Flowers. Smith has spent his entire career with the Miami Dolphins, starting every game each of the past two years, and has 177 tackles and five interceptions in his four-year career.

The New York Giants have taken steps to improve their defensive backfield, agreeing to deals with safety Ryan Mundy and cornerback Aaron Ross in free agency. Ross, a former New York No. 1 draft choice, played for the Giants from 2007-2011 and started in two Super Bowl victories. He played last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mundy arrives by way of Pittsburgh, where he played four seasons for the Steelers. He played in all 16 regularseason games in each of those seasons, with five starts, and also played in four Pittsburgh postseason games.

MOTOR SPORTS

Hamlin won’t appeal fine

Denny Hamlin will not appeal the $25,000 fine levied against him for criticizing the Gen-6 car, and NASCAR will take the money out of his race winnings. Hamlin announced his decision Thursday on Twitter, saying he did not want to drag his Joe Gibbs Racing team through the appeals process but still is refusing to pay the fine. NASCAR in its own statement said the finewill be settled per the rule book, which says a drivers’ winnings can be garnished to collect fine money. Hamlin was fined a week ago for comments made following his thirdplace run at Phoenix. It was the second race for NASCAR’s new car, and Hamlin said he didn’t think it drove much better than the old car.

The Grand-Am Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series said they have merged Thursday, becoming United SportsCar Racing. The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) was retained as the sanctioning body for United SportsCar Racing.

GOLF Ridings tied for third

Former Arkansas Razorback Tag Ridings overcame cold and windy conditions to birdie his last two holes for a 3-under par 68 Thursday, which gave him a tie for third place behind Shawn Stefani (65) and Brian Harman (67) at the Tampa Bay Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla. “I had a short rain vest that really wasn’t warm enough,” Ridings said of facing windy and cool conditions. “But I got it done on the first couple of holes, and after about six holes I was OK.” Ridings, who finished with five birdies and two bogeys, is tied with Brendan Steele. Vijay Singh was in the group at 69 that included K.J. Choi, Chez Reavie, Dicky Pride and Peter Tomasulo. John Daly (Dardanelle, Razorbacks) had a 72 with two birdies and three bogeys, along with Bryce Molder (Conway), who had one birdie and two bogeys.Scott Gardiner (Farmington) was another stroke back and had four birdies and six bogeys. David Lingmerth (Razorbacks) shot a 74 with four birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey, and Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot a 76 with a birdie, four bogeys and a double bogey.

Ai Miyazato took the LPGA Founders Cup lead on a hot afternoon in the desert, playing a late four-hole stretch in 5 under par for a tournament-record 9-under 63 in Phoenix on Thursday. Returning from a whiplash injury suffered in a five-vehicle crash in Thailand, the Japanese star birdied the par-3 14th, made a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th and birdied thepar-4 16th and par-3 17th to open a two-stroke lead. South Korea’s Jee Young Lee was second, opening with a 65 in her first tournament since September. Former Arkansas Razorbacks Stacy Lewis opened with a 68. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) had a 69 while Karen Stupples (Arkansas State) opened with a 70.

Chinnarat Phadungsil of Thailand made eight birdies on the back nine Thursday to shoot an 11-under-par 61 for a five-stroke lead in the first round of the Avantha Masters in Greater Noida, India. The leader was followed by a group of five at 6 under, including compatriots Chapchai Nirat and Chawalit Plaphol. Colin Montgomerie had a 76 and is tied for 148th.

HOCKEY Realignment approved

The NHL announced Thursday that its board of governors approved a realignment plan that will go into effect next season. The new format will feature two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference, and two seven-team divisions in the West. That means Detroit and Columbus will switch conferences by moving into the East, while the Winnipeg Jets will move into the Western Conference. Realignment will also create changes in determining the 16-team playoff field. The top three teams in each division will qualify for the postseason. The next two teams with the best records in each conference will then earn wild-card berths.

BASKETBALL Bobcats sign Pargo

The Charlotte Bobcats have signed guard Jannero Pargo to a 10-day contract. The move was announced Thursday by Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins. It comes after backup point guard Ramon Sessions injured his knee and will be out 2-4 weeks. Pargo, a former Arkansas Razorback, is in his ninth NBA season and has career averages of 6.4 points, 2.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 443 games played with the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto, Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta and Washington.

Sports, Pages 18 on 03/15/2013

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