Alameda, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders signed former Jacksonville Jaguars safety Donovin Darius on Tuesday, bolstering a unit that was the strongest on the team during a difficult season last year.
The Raiders had the NFL’s third-ranked overall defense and No. 1 ranked pass defense last year, despite finishing with an NFL-worst 2-14 record.
Darius, who could challenge incumbent starter Stuart Schweigert for playing time, had been a mainstay in Jacksonville’s secondary since he was the club’s first-round pick in the 1998 draft. But the Jaguars released him in June as they try to get younger and faster on defense.
Darius finished his career in Jacksonville with 614 tackles, 14 interceptions, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and two sacks.
NFL
DUI charge against McNair dropped
A drunken-driving charge against Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was dropped because a related DUI charge against his brother-in-law was reduced to reckless driving.
The Buffalo Bills signed quarterback Trent Edwards, the team’s third-round draft pick out of Stanford.
Francis “Bucko” Kilroy, a six-time all-pro guard for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1940s and 1950s who later became a New England Patriots executive, died. He was 86.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Clemson’s McElrathbey has surgery
Ray Ray McElrathbey, a Clemson tailback who earned national awards after taking custody of younger brother Fahmarr last summer, had arthroscopic knee surgery in the past week that will limit his offseason workouts. He is expected to be ready when the Tigers open practice Aug. 4.
Oregon defensive end Dexter Manley II, the son of the former Washington Redskins star, is leaving the Ducks.
“I wish Dexter well and told him I would help him transfer to somewhere he could receive more playing time,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
Manley has one season of college eligibility left.
MOTORSPORTS
Hornish, Kanaan fined for fracas
Tony Kanaan and Sam Hornish Jr. have been fined unspecified amounts and placed on probation for the rest of the year for their roles in Sunday’s fight at Watkins Glen, N.Y., in the Indy Racing League.
Kanaan’s team, Andretti Green Racing, and Hornish’s team, Team Penske, were fined $25,000 each for unsportsmanlike conduct on pit road as the cars returned after the checkered flag. The teams are also on probation until Dec. 31.
Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. will plead no contest to a driving under the influence charge stemming from a January crash on a Nevada freeway, officials said. Lesser charges, including misdemeanor hit-
and-run, failure to render aid in an accident and failure to report an accident, will be dropped, according to the plea deal. Unser’s blood-alcohol percentage was almost three times the legal limit when he was arrested Jan. 25.
FOOTNOTES
Sharapova pulls out of Fed Cup
Russia’s Maria Sharapova withdrew from this weekend’s Fed Cup semifinals against the United States in Stowe, Vt., because of a right shoulder injury.
Brazil advanced to the Copa America final, eliminating Uruguay 5-4 on penalty kicks in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Brazil advanced to meet the winner of today’s semifinal between Mexico and Argentina.
The Toronto Blue Jays released right-hander Victor Zambrano, who went 0-2 with a 10.97 ERA in eight games.
Swin Cash scored 20 points and the Detroit Shock shot 69 percent in the second half to defeat the Chicago Sky 92-84 in Auburn Hills, Mich.
Iziane Castro Marques scored 19 points and Lauren Jackson had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the visiting Seattle Storm to an 82-47 rout of the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Indiana Fever held the host Houston Comets to 10 fourth-quarter points in a 79-77 victory.
Nakia Sanford had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Washington Mystics pulled away in overtime for a 91-83 victory over the visiting Minnesota Lynx.
Bobby Awrey scored on an 85-yard opening kickoff return, leading the United States to a 77-0 rout of South Korea in the American football World Cup in Japan.
