PHILADELPHIA — Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick signed a one- year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday.
Vick was designated as the team’s franchise player Feb. 15. Under rules of the collective bargaining agreement that expires at 10 o’clock tonight, a team must pay a franchise player the average of the top five salaries at his position. Vick would make an estimated $20 million under this tag.
• The Green Bay Packers released linebacker A.J. Hawk from the final year of his six-year deal because they did not want to pay a $10 million guaranteed base salary. But the fifth overall pick of the 2006 draft agreed to terms on a new five-year deal and will sign it today.
• The New York Jets waived defensive end Vernon Gholston, the sixth pick of the 2008 draft out of Ohio State who didn’t record a sack in 45 regular-season games.
• New England Patriots offensive lineman Stephen Neal retired after a 10-year NFL career.
• Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata signed his $12.5 million, one-year franchise tender.
Serena Williams treated for clot
LOS ANGELES — Serena Williams’ absence from tennis could stretch to almost a year after two new health scares — a blood clot in her lungs followed by a hematoma — have added to her injury woes.
Williams was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism last week and later needed treatment for a hematoma. The 13-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played an official match since winning Wimbledon last July because of a foot injury she suffered at a restaurant.
“While I can’t make any promises now on my return, I hope to be back by early summer,” she said.
Billups out with bruised thigh
NEW YORK — New York Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups is day to day with a bruised left thigh.
• Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith is out indefinitely because or a right knee injury.
• Memphis Grizzlies rookie guard Xavier Henry will be sidelined at least four weeks with a right knee sprain.
Lodwick takes fifth in combined
OSLO, Norway — Lamy Chappuis, the Olympic normal hill champion, held off Johannes Rydzek and Eric Frenzel in the 10K cross country race to win the combined event at the nordic skiing world championships. Steamboat Springs resident Todd Lodwick, a two-time champion at the last worlds, finished fifth.
Footnotes.
Middle Tennessee junior guard Tina Steward was stabbed to death at her apartment close to campus and police have two people in custody and were searching for a third, authorities said. Steward was 21.
• Kansas point guard Tyshawn Taylor‘s suspension for an unspecified violation of team rules has been lifted after two games.
• Former Michigan State guard Korie Lucious will join Iowa State, where he will use his final year of eligibility in 2012-13.
• Former Alabama receiver Julio Jones will have a pin inserted to repair a stress fracture in his foot Saturday, with a recovery period expected to take six to eight weeks.
The Associated Press
