TEMPE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner wound up right where he wanted to be, with a hefty pay raise to return to the Arizona team he led to the Super Bowl. The 37-year-old quarterback agreed to terms Wednesday on a two-year, $23 million contract with the Cardinals.
“I love what we’ve been doing,” Warner said. “I love what we’ve been building here.”
The deal includes a $15 million signing bonus. Combined with a $4 million salary for the first year of the contract, $19 million is guaranteed.
• The Baltimore Ravens signed linebacker Ray Lewis to a multiyear deal and also reached an agreement on a three-year deal with Minnesota Vikings six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk.
• Receiver Laveranues Coles agreed to a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. ESPN reported the deal was worth $28 million.
• The New Orleans Saints re- signed receiver Devery Henderson and former Buffalo Bills cornerback Jabari Greer to four-year deals.
• The St. Louis Rams re-signed cornerback Ron Bartell to a four-year contract, with $13.6 million guaranteed.
• The Detroit Lions signed defensive tackle Grady Jackson to a three-year contract and cornerback Phillip Buchanon to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million.
• Linebacker Takeo Spikes re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers, who also signed veteran quarterback Damon Huard.
• Kicker Mike Nugent left the New York Jets for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• The Jets agreed to terms with kicker Jay Feely.
Iverson to miss two weeks
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson will miss at least two weeks because of a sore back. Then he will be assessed again.
• Portland Trail Blazers forward Martell Webster will miss the rest of the regular season because of the stress fracture in his left foot that has kept him sidelined for nearly the entire season.
• Forward Stromile Swift signed a free-agent contract with Phoenix, giving the Suns another big man to replace the injured Amar’e Stoudemire (eye surgery).
Arizona basketball program under investigation
TUCSON — The NCAA is investigating Arizona’s basketball program for alleged recruiting violations, according to a notice of inquiry sent to the school’s president.
The Arizona Daily Star reported the allegations stem from initially self-reported violations involving a recruiting event at the McKale Center, where the Wildcats play.
Penalties for violations could include loss of scholarships and recruiting visits.
Footnotes.
Winter Park’s Ryan St. Onge edged Canada’s Steve Omischl to win the men’s aerials event at the World Freestyle Championships in Inawashiro, Japan. Two-time defending world champion Li Nina won the women’s event.
• Tina DiMartino scored her first international goal to help the defending champion United States defeat Denmark 2-0 in soccer’s Algarve Cup in Lagos, Portugal.
The Associated Press
