Bengals release LB Simmons

Linebacker Brian Simmons was released Wednesday by the Cincinnati Bengals, a surprising move by a team trying to improve one of the NFL's worst defenses while emphasizing character in the locker room.

Simmons, 31, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bengals, who made him a first-round draft pick in 1998. He had two years left on his contract for $7 million.

Coach Marvin Lewis said the decision came down to the money. "This was not an easy decision to make," he said in a statement. "Brian has been a fine player on the field, and he has been a great example to all of our players as a team leader and a citizen. "But a new NFL year is about to begin with the start of free agency, and this allows us to best position our team under the salary cap to move forward for 2007. It will afford us options for signing other players who are a better overall fit, given the strengths and needs of our current roster."

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Prior to start spring training game Monday

Oft-injured Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior was pushed up to start next Monday in a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners.

After the team worked out Monday, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Prior will pitch in Chicago's fifth exhibition game. Only 24 hours earlier, Piniella said the right-hander would not make an appearance until the second time through the rotation late next week. Originally, Piniella had planned to start left-hander Ted Lilly against the Mariners on March 5.

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Zambrano, Cubs deftly avoid arbitration

The Cubs and Carlos Zambrano reached agreement Tuesday on a one-year, $12 million contract and avoided arbitration. The Cubs had hoped to settle before a 2 p.m. MST hearing at the Phoenix Hyatt. On Feb. 15, the Minnesota Twins and Michael Cuddyer settled on a one-year deal minutes before his arbitration hearing began.

Zambrano, 25, who made $6.5 million last year, was seeking $15.5 million. The Cubs countered with an offer of $11.025 million before the deal was reached.

The right-hander posted a 16-7 record and 3.41 ERA in 33 starts last season, matching his career high in wins. Cubs manager Lou Piniella has named Big Z his Opening Day starter.

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Bengals designate DE Smith

Defensive end Justin Smith has never made the Pro Bowl in his six-year NFL career. But coach Marvin Lewis considers him to be indispensable.

The Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday designated Smith as their franchise player. NFL teams have until February 22 to designate eligible unrestricted free agents as franchise or transition players.

"We are pleased to designate Justin as our franchise player," Lewis said. "He has been a consistent performer and worker. This move helps us keep our core players together, and it gives us an opportunity to continue negotiating for a longer-term contract with Justin."

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Sign me before season or I'll leave

Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano has a new message for the team: sign him to a new contract before the season starts or he'll leave and become a free agent after it's over.

"I'm ready to sign and I would do my job anyway with the Cubs this year," Zambrano said in an interview with WGN-TV that was reported Tuesday by the Chicago Tribune.

"Whatever happens, I don't want to know about a contract during the season. I want to sign with the Cubs before the season starts. If they don't sign me, sorry, but I must go. That's what Carlos Zambrano thinks."

Zambrano, 16-7 with a 3.41 ERA and 210 strikeouts last season, asked for $15.5 million in arbitration. The team offered $11.025 million. He made $6.5 million last season.

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Cubs trade Ryu to Devil Rays

The Chicago Cubs traded right-hander Jae Kuk Ryu to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday for two minor leaguers, outfielder Andrew Lopez and right-hander Gregor Reinhard.

Ryu, 23, was originally signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on June 1, 2001, and is 0-1 with an 8.40 ERA in 10 games. He spent several stints with the Cubs last season and made his major league debut May 14. He was also 8-8 with a 3.23 ERA in 24 appearances for Triple-A Iowa.

Lopez, 20, was the Devil Rays eighth-round selection in the 2005 draft. He batted .256 at Class A Princeton last season. Reinhard, 23, was picked by the Devils Rays in the sixth round in 2005. He was 6-10 last season with Class A Southwest Michigan.

Carson Palmer named MVP of Pro Bowl

Carson Palmer never stopped being a fan during his first Pro Bowl week, from getting a Vince Young autographed helmet right down to winning the game’s MVP when he directed the last-minute drive that lifted the AFC to a 31-28 victory over the NFC Saturday in Hawaii.

“It was a thrill just being on the sidelines with a guy like Coach (Bill) Belichick and going down the field in the last two minutes,” Palmer said via phone after becoming the Bengals’ first postseason MVP. “Just handing off to a guy like LaDainian Tomlinson. It was the best of the best.”

But a lot of it was old hat, like hooking up with teammate Chad Johnson for a touchdown as well as the key play in the final drive that led to Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding’s 21-yard field goal with no time left.

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Tyson checks himself into rehab

A lawyer for Mike Tyson said Wednesday the former heavyweight champion has checked himself into an in-patient treatment program for "various addictions" as he awaits trial on drug charges.

"He needed to get involved in something that would help him with his addiction," said David Chesnoff of Las Vegas. Chesnoff wouldn't describe Tyson's addictions, but police said the boxer told officers that he used cocaine frequently.

Chesnoff said Tyson checked himself into an undisclosed facility shortly after appearing in a Phoenix courtroom.

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