CHICAGO DETROITSTATE COLLEGE, Pa. BRISTOL, Tenn. — Restricted free-agent forward Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a six-year contract that could be worth as much as $80 million, with $71 million in guaranteed money.
Deng averaged 17 points and 6.3 rebounds last season, while shooting 47.9 percent. That marked a drop from 2006-07, when he scored 18 points a game with 7.1 rebounds.
Red Wings re-sign Filppula
Forward Valtteri Filppula signed a $15 million, five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Filppula, 24, had career highs with 19 goals and 36 points last season.
• The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed goalie Pascal Leclaire to a three-year contract through the 2010-11 season. Leclaire, 25, is coming off his best season, going 24-17-6 with a 2.25 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and nine shutouts in 54 games.
Penn State kicks two off team
Penn State defensive tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor, who were involved in off-field fights last year, have been kicked off the team by coach Joe Paterno.
Team spokesman Jeff Nelson said no information was available on why they were dismissed.
• UCLA senior running back Kahlil Bell, recovering from a knee injury, was cleared for full practice when preseason workouts begin Tuesday.
• Connecticut defensive tackle Jarrell Miller, one of the highest-rated recruits the Huskies’ have landed, has left the school.
• Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger, 74, received a contract extension through the 2010 season.
Johnson to drive for Moss
Jimmie Johnson, coming off his victory in last Sunday’s Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, will make his Truck Series debut in Bristol on Aug. 20 — driving for NFL star Randy Moss. Johnson will drive the No. 81 Kobalt Tools Silverado fielded by Randy Moss Motorsports.
Johnson also will drive the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet fielded by Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) on Aug. 9.
• The Indy Racing League will make its debut in Long Beach, Calif., and Toronto next season.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach will be run April 19, while the Streets of Toronto race is scheduled for July 12.
Footnotes.
Lava Man was retired as thoroughbred racing’s richest claiming horse after X-rays revealed changes in the horse’s front ankles. The 7-year-old gelding finished his career with earnings of $5,268,706, and 17 wins in 46 starts.
• The Chicago Fire acquired former United States striker Brian McBride from Toronto FC for Chad Barrett, its first-round pick in the 2009 draft and future considerations.
• Children aren’t at risk for lead exposure from synthetic athletic fields, according to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The commission evaluated synthetic athletic fields after lead was detected on some New Jersey fields.
