Packers Sign Linebacker Joyner

Free-agent linebacker Seth Joyner agreed to a $4-million, four-year contract with the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers on Wednesday, filling a void left by the loss of George Koonce because of a knee injury.

Joyner, who was scheduled to make $2.75 million with Arizona this season, was released by the Cardinals last month in a cost-saving measure.

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Shannon Sharpe signed a $7.2-million, three-year contract with the Denver Broncos that will make him one of the highest-paid tight ends in the NFL.

Sharpe’s base salary in 1996 was $1.35 million. The new agreement is similar to a three-year, $7.5-million contract that Ben Coates signed with New England in May.

Sharpe led NFL tight ends a year ago in receptions (80) and reception yards (1,062) and tied Carolina’s Wesley Walls for most touchdown catches (10).

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The Cardinals signed former Iowa cornerback Tom Knight, their No. 1 draft pick, to an $8.22-million, five-year contract.

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Cornerback Michael Booker of Nebraska, the Atlanta Falcons’ top draft pick, agreed to a five-year contract. Booker, the 11th player chosen in the NFL draft, reportedly will receive a $2.2-million signing bonus and a guaranteed base salary of $800,000 this year, $1 million next year and $1.2 million in 1999.

Tennis

Andre Agassi’s comeback from a wrist injury got off to a slow start when he double-faulted his way out of the Legg Mason Classic at Washington.

Playing for the first time since May 1, Agassi cruised early, but a faltering serve that resulted in 15 double faults let 174th-ranked Doug Flach come back for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 second-round victory.

Agassi’s current ranking of No. 31 will fall even further.

Thomas Muster, playing for the first time in a month, failed to shake his clay-court slump, losing to Albert Portas, 6-4, 7-5, in the second round of the Mercedes Cup at Stuttgart, Germany.

Muster went 111-5 in 1995 and 1996 on clay, but has lost eight consecutive clay-court matches.

Seventh-seeded Boris Becker, who has never won a tournament on clay, edged Karim Alami of Morocco, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-5).

Becker, who is dropping Grand Slam tournaments from his schedule next year, said he will play Davis Cup for Germany in 1998.

Basketball

The Boston Celtics waived Dino Radja, who played 25 games last season before undergoing knee surgery on Jan. 8. Radja is expected to sign a contract with Panathinaikos AC in Greece.

Seattle SuperSonic owner Barry Ackerley said he’d be happy to talk to Shawn Kemp if the disgruntled all-star forward asks for a meeting.

Kemp has demanded to be traded, saying he would never play for the Sonics again. On Tuesday, his agent said Ackerley had not returned calls seeking a meeting.

Former Clipper guard Doc Rivers announced his retirement after 13 seasons to become an NBA commentator for Turner Broadcasting. Rivers, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs, said back problems prompted his decision to retire.

The Denver Nuggets signed first-round draft picks Danny Fortson and Bobby Jackson. Fortson, the 10th overall pick from Cincinnati, will earn $6.7 million for three years. Jackson, the 23rd pick from Minnesota, signed a $2.4-million, three-year deal.

Paul Westhead, former coach of the Lakers, the Chicago Bulls, Loyola Marymount and the Nuggets, was hired as an assistant by the Golden State Warriors.

J.R. Reid signed with the Charlotte Hornets as a free agent, more than four years after the club traded away the player they once made a first-round draft pick. Reid played last season in France.

Doug Christie has signed a $22-million, seven-year contract with the Toronto Raptors. . . . Forward Bryon Russell, who made $350,000 last season, signed a $20-million, five-year contract with the Utah Jazz. . . . Bob Weinhauer, who joined the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant to Coach Chris Ford last August, was appointed general manager.

Soccer

Cobi Jones, Greg Vanney and Guillermo Jela scored in a shootout to break a tie and lead the Galaxy to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Thunder in an intra-league game at Blaine, Minn. The Thunder plays in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues.