In Brief

football

'Steeler for life' Ward retires
after 14 years with Pittsburgh

Hines Ward believes he still can play football. But the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver couldn't stomach the thought of doing it for another team, so on Tuesday he announced his retirement rather than play for a 15th season.

"I can say I'm a Steeler for life, and that's the bottom line, that's all I've really ever wanted," said Ward, released three weeks ago in a salary cap maneuver. He added that he was contacted by several clubs but never had any formal discussions.

Ward, 36, has every significant franchise receiving record, including receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083) and touchdowns (85). His 1,000 career catches rank eighth all time.

Also: Quarterback Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers are working to finalize a three-year contract, and an announcement could come today. Smith, 27, met with Miami on Sunday but ultimately decided to stay with the team that drafted him first overall in 2005.

NFL Network first reported the sides had agreed on a new deal. Earlier, Peyton Manning formally was introduced in Denver after the 49ers pursued the four-time NFL Most Valuable Player.

The Philadelphia Eagles acquired two-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012. The 27-year-old is the Texans' all-time leader in tackles (637).

Safety LaRon Landry signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. The former Washington Redskin finished each of the past two seasons on injured reserve and played in just 17 games.

The Arizona Cardinals agreed to terms of a two-year contract with wide receiver Early Doucet, who has played for the team since being drafted in 2008. Terms weren't released.

Linebacker Stephen Tulloch agreed to terms on a five-year contract to remain with the Detroit Lions. Terms were not immediately known. Tulloch made a team-high 111 tackles last season.

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms on a multiyear deal with Kamerion Wimbley, who played linebacker the past two seasons for the Oakland Raiders but will switch back to defensive end, the position he played at Florida State. Terms were not announced.

baseball

Tigers' Cabrera to miss at least
one week with broken bone

Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera has a broken bone below his right eye after being struck by a bad-hop grounder in Monday's spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Lakeland, Fla., sidelining him for at least a week. Detroit opens the season April 5 against the Boston Red Sox.

"I am confident I can play on Opening Day," Cabrera said.

Cabrera had little chance on a hard shot by Philadelphia's Hunter Pence that caused a bloody gash and required eight stitches. The Tigers shifted Cabrera across the diamond this year to make room for new first baseman Prince Fielder.

Also: The Kansas City Royals acquired catcher Humberto Quintero and outfielder Jason Bourgeois from the Houston Astros for minor league reliever Kevin Chapman and a player to be named. Quintero, 32, is known more for his defense than his bat in nine major league seasons with the San Diego Padres and Houston. He will replace projected starter Salvador Perez, who had knee surgery last week and is not expected back before July.

Pitcher Derek Holland agreed to a $28.5 million, five-year contract with the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old left-hander was 16-5 last season for Texas.

Catcher Nick Hundley and the San Diego Padres agreed to a $9 million, three-year contract. He hit .288 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 82 games last season.

miscellaneous

Tar Heels preparing to play
without injured guard Marshall

North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams said the Tar Heels are preparing to play in the NCAA Tournament without point guard Kendall Marshall, who had surgery Monday for a broken right wrist. North Carolina plays Ohio on Friday in the Midwest Region semifinals in St. Louis.

"You've got me between a rock and a hard place," Williams said. "I cannot give you any answers. I've given everybody all the answers I can give, because I've said honestly, I do not know."

The left-handed sophomore broke his wrist on a drive in the second half Sunday against Creighton. If Marshall can't play Friday, freshman Stilman White might get the start.

Also: The Memphis Grizzlies signed point guard Gilbert Arenas for the remainder of the season. The oft-injured 30-year-old had not played since finishing last season with the Orlando Magic.

NASCAR's chief appellate officer overturned the bulk of the penalties levied against five-time championship winning crew chief Chad Knaus, who still must pay a $100,000 fine because Jimmie Johnson's car failed the opening-day inspection of the Daytona 500.

Chief appellate officer John Middlebrook overturned the six-race suspensions NASCAR handed down to Knaus and car chief Ron Malec, and ruled both instead will be on probation through May 9. Middlebrook also reinstated the 25 points that Johnson had been docked, moving him to 11th in the Sprint Cup standings.

Lionel Messi broke Cesar Rodriguez's 57-year-old Barcelona career scoring record, getting his eighth hat trick of the season in a 5-3 Spanish league win over Granada in Barcelona, Spain, to increase his goals total to 234. Messi, 24, who made his Barcelona debut in 2004, has a career-best 54 goals this season.

Sidney Crosby had four assists in his first home game in more than three months as the Pittsburgh Penguins ripped the Winnipeg Jets, 8-4. Crosby has nine assists in four games since returning from a 40-game layoff because of concussion-like symptoms.

Disgraced junior hockey coach Graham James was sentenced in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to two years in prison for sexually preying on two of his former players. James pleaded guilty in December to repeatedly sexually abusing NHL star Theo Fleury and his cousin, Todd Holt, when they played for him in the Western Hockey League in the 1980s and 1990s.

The UNLV women's golf team finished eighth in the 16-team Battle at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, shooting 18-over-par 306 in the second round for a 33-over 609 total. Southern California shot a second straight 7-over 295 to win at 590, two shots ahead of Arizona State.

UNLV's Mayko Chwen Wang shot 2-over 74 to land in a five-way tie for fourth at 2-over 146, four shots behind winner Sophia Popov of Southern Cal.