Only Here For A Cup Of Coffee

Bengals sign DT Myers, re-sign LB Johnson

2007-04-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Bengals on Friday signed free agent defensive tackle Michael Myers to a two-year contract.

The Bengals also re-signed linebacker Landon Johnson, a restricted free agent. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed.

Myers, 31, appeared in 32 games with Denver the last two seasons. Last season, the 6-2, 300-pounder led Denver's line last season with 80 tackles to go with two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

A starter at weakside linebacker, Johnson led the Bengals with 132 tackles last season. He has registered 289 tackles, 18 sacks and two interceptions since being drafted in the third round in 2004.

Cubs to move Soriano back to LF

2007-04-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

Alfonso Soriano is expected to rejoin the Chicago Cubs' lineup Monday and when he does, he'll be switched from center field back to left field, where he played last season with the Washington Nationals.

Soriano was out of the lineup Saturday for a fifth straight game after straining his left hamstring last Monday. After running in the outfield, he said he was ready to play but was advised by trainer Mark O'Neal to give the injury two more days to heal.

Manager Lou Piniella said putting Soriano in left would take some of the strain off the hamstring. Soriano, who signed an eight-year, $136 million contract in the offseason, said he was all for the move.

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Santo misses game with irregular heartbeat

2007-04-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Cubs broadcaster and former All-Star Ron Santo remained hospitalized Sunday while underdoing tests for an irregular heartbeat. The 67-year-old Santo was admitted to the hospital Saturday night and his return to the radio booth is undetermined.

Santo was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when he was 18, and both legs were amputated below the knee in recent years. He had a heart bypass in 2000 and was diagnosed with bladder tumors four years ago.

Santo was a nine-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner at third base for the Cubs.

Soriano strains hamstring

2007-04-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

Chicago Cubs center fielder Alfonso Soriano left Monday night's game against the San Diego Padres with a strained left hamstring after attempting a diving catch in the fifth inning.

The Cubs were leading 3-0 when, with a runner on third and one out, Clay Hensley lofted a fly to shallow center. Soriano raced in, dove and rolled over as he trapped the ball.

Soriano then got up and slipped while attempting a throw. Trainer Mark O'Neal tended to him, and Soriano walked off under his own power. He is day to day.

Henry gone for first half of season

2007-04-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

True to his tough words, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed out two of the toughest suspensions ever for off-field misbehavior Tuesday as the billboard for his new player conduct policy when he suspended Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry without pay for the first eight games of the 2007 season and Titans cornerback Pacman Jones for the entire season.

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Zambrano extends contract deadline

2007-04-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Pitcher Carlos Zambrano extended his deadline to reach a contract extension with the Chicago Cubs beyond opening day, a sign the sides are nearing agreement.

Zambrano and the Cubs are thought to be discussing a five-year deal worth about $80 million. He had said he didn't want to negotiate past Monday's opener against the Reds.

"Our discussions have progressed to a point where we are extending the deadline for an indefinite period of time," Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, said Sunday.

At $80 million, Zambrano would be getting the largest deal for a pitcher who wasn't eligible for free agency. The current high is held by Pedro Martinez, who received $75 million, six-year contract from the Boston Red Sox that ran from 1998-2003. Last August, Roy Oswalt agreed to a $73 million, five-year extension with the Houston Astros.

Zambrano and the Cubs agreed in February to a $12.4 million, one-year contract. He currently is eligible to become a free agent after the season.

Tribune plans to sell Chicago Cubs after '07 season

2007-04-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

Tribune Co. said it plans to sell the Chicago Cubs at the end of the 2007 baseball season, putting one of its most valuable assets on the block as it simultaneously announced Monday that real estate magnate Sam Zell was acquiring the media conglomerate. Analysts have estimated that the Cubs could fetch $600 million or more. Tribune bought the team in 1981 for $20.5 million.

"The Cubs have been an important part of Tribune for more than 25 years and are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports," said Dennis FitzSimons, Tribune chairman, president and chief executive officer. "In our last season of ownership, the team has one mission, and that is to win for our great fans."

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Cubs demote Mark Prior to minors

2007-03-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

Mark Prior was sent to the minors Wednesday where the Chicago Cubs hope he can regain the form that made him an 18-game winner and All-Star selection four years ago.

Prior, whose career has been slowed by an assortment of injuries, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa right after his final spring training start.

"It wasn't easy. But at the same time, this is good for his career," new Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. Prior had left the Cubs' clubhouse and wasn't available for comment after pitching just three innings in Chicago's 4-4 tie with the Colorado Rockies. "He handled it OK. He wasn't happy. He wasn't pleased. But you don't expect that," Piniella added.

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Wood will be sidelined for opener

2007-03-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood will not be ready by Opening Day and was to be examined Monday after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, while Mark Prior's fate will likely be determined Wednesday.

"For the most part, he'd been doing what everybody else did," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Monday of Wood. "He had a couple setbacks, but truthfully, one wasn't throwing-related. We felt that by bringing him along slowly and not pushing him, that it was a reasonable expectation that he'd be ready by Opening Day."

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Cedeno will make Cubs roster

2007-03-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Ronny Cedeno struggled last year after being handed the starting shortstop job in the off-season and was considered a long shot to make the Chicago Cubs when camp opened in mid-February.

But after working with former shortstop Alan Trammell, Cedeno's fielding has improved this spring and he's considered a cinch to make the final roster next week.

TE Kelly stays with Bengals

2007-03-09T13:38:00.000-08:00

Tight end Reggie Kelly signed a three-year contract Thursday with the Cincinnati Bengals, choosing to stay with one of the NFL's top offenses rather than leave as an unrestricted free agent. The 30-year-old Kelly played his first four seasons with Atlanta, his last four with Cincinnati. He caught 21 passes for 254 yards last season, his best totals with the Bengals.

Quarterback Carson Palmer called Kelly and lobbied for him to stay with the Bengals. "He told me I was a large ingredient to our success, and that he wanted me back for leadership as well as football," Kelly said.

Bengals release LB Simmons

2007-02-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-28T09:44:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-20T14:33:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-15T13:59:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-14T09:40:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

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

2007-02-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

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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Prior signs deal to avoid arbitration

2007-01-31T14:42:00.000-08:00

The Cubs and rehabbing right-hander Mark Prior came to terms on Wednesday on a one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration and leaving Carlos Zambrano as the only arbitration-eligible Cub left unsigned for 2007.

Prior, 26, is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he was 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts. He was asking for $3.875 million in arbitration, while the Cubs countered with an offer of $3.4 million.

According to SI.com, Prior took a pay cut and will reportedly make $3.575 million in '07. If he reaches some incentives, the right-hander could also make an additional $300,000.

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Cubs part ways with Rusch

2007-01-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

The Cubs announced Thursday that they have released left-handed pitcher Glendon Rusch, whose 2006 season ended early because of a life-threatening blood clot in his lung.

Rusch, 32, has compiled a 60-94 record and 5.01 ERA in his nine big-league seasons, including a 3-8 record and 7.46 ERA last season for the Cubs. He needs four more appearances to reach 300 games in his career. Of his 296 appearances, he made 211 starts.

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Cubs, Floyd reach agreement

2007-01-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

Free agent outfielder and first baseman Cliff Floyd agreed Wednesday to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs after spending four seasons with the New York Mets. The deal includes a mutual option for 2008.

Floyd, a Chicago native, was limited to 332 at-bats last year because of an injured Achilles' tendon and will likely serve as a backup with the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano is expected to start in center, with Matt Murton in left and Jacque Jones in right.

The 34-year-old Floyd had surgery on his left foot in October, after hitting .244 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs. The Mets replaced him in left field with Moises Alou, a free agent who agreed to a contract in October.

An All-Star with the Florida Marlins in 2001, Floyd batted .273 with 34 homers and 98 RBIs for the Mets in 2005. He has a .279 average, 213 home runs and 781 RBIs during a career that began with the Montreal Expos in 1993.

Bengals CB Joseph arrested for marijuana possession

2007-01-22T11:11:00.000-08:00

Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph was arrested early Monday and charged with possession of marijuana, the ninth Cincinnati player arrested in the last nine months.

The arrest came three weeks after coach Marvin Lewis promised to get tougher on player misconduct, hoping to stop a series of arrests that has embarrassed the team and drawn the attention of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Joseph was arrested on U.S. Route 42 in northern Kentucky. He lives nearby in Union, Ky. The Boone Country sheriff's office arrest report said Joseph was the passenger in a vehicle driven by a woman who had a suspended license, was driving slowly and weaving.

When a Boone County sheriff's deputy asked Joseph to get out of the vehicle, he smelled marijuana. The deputy searched Joseph's black backpack with a Super Bowl logo and found a bag of marijuana in a pouch, the arrest report said.

Joseph was released Monday morning, and his first court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 5. Marijuana possession is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum of one year in jail and a maximum $500 fine. He was the team's first-round draft pick last season and had positioned himself to take over a starting job next season.

Cubs, Floyd closing in on contract

2007-01-22T06:07:00.000-08:00

Cliff Floyd and the Chicago Cubs are nearing agreement on a one-year contract, a deal that may include an option for 2008 that the outfielder can control.

Floyd, who was born in Chicago, is likely to make a decision this week. Several AL West teams and Pittsburgh also have shown interest in the 34-year-old left-handed hitter -- Pirates manager Jim Tracy managed Floyd at Double-A.

Limited to 332 at-bats last year with the New York Mets because of an injured Achilles' tendon, Floyd likely would be a backup with Chicago. Alfonso Soriano probably will wind up in center, with Matt Murton in left and Jacque Jones in right.

Samardzija passes up NFL to sign with Cubs

2007-01-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija will take his talents to the baseball diamond rather than the football field. Opting to pass up a chance at the NFL, Samardzija on Friday signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs.

ESPN 1000 in Chicago reported Samardzija's deal is worth less than pitcher Mark Prior's first contract with the Cubs. When Prior was selected second overall in 2001, his deal was worth $10.5 million.

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