Policy, Lerner Announce They Will Bid for Browns

Former San Francisco 49er President Carmen Policy and billionaire banker Alfred Lerner, a minority owner in the old Cleveland Browns franchise that moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season, said they are applying to purchase the Browns expansion franchise that will start play next year.

Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White said he would lobby NFL owners to pick the two men as the new leaders of the Browns when they choose an owner by mid-September.

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Greg Lloyd, 33, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who was cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, agreed to a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers that sources said includes a base salary of $500,000 and incentives that could push the total to about $1.5 million.

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Safety Donovin Darius, the 25th overall pick in this year’s draft, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. . . . All-pro wide receiver Herman Moore was a no-show for the start of Detroit Lions training camp. . . . Offensive tackle Kyle Turley, the New Orleans Saints’ No. 1 draft pick, reported to training camp at La Crosse, Wis., and is expected to sign a six-year contract worth $12 million. . . . The Tennessee Oilers are expected to sign their No. 1 draft pick, Kevin Dyson, to a five-year contract that includes a signing bonus of just under $3.5 million, the Tennessean newspaper reported. . . . The Indianapolis Colts terminated the contract of linebacker Tony Bennett after he failed a physical. . . . Miami Dolphin guard Randy Wheeler underwent surgery to stabilize spinal injuries suffered in a car crash as he was driving to Florida to begin training camp.

Golf

Willie Wood and P.H. Horgan III were each seven under par when darkness suspended play in the rain-delayed first round of the final CVS Charity Classic at Sutton, Mass. Mike Springer was the leader in the clubhouse, shooting a six-under 65 on the 7,110-yard, par-71 Pleasant Valley Country Club course. Sixty players in the field of 158 did not finish because of a 3-hour 42-minute delay for rain, wind and lightning.

Jurisprudence

Pernell Whitaker, a former world boxing champion in four weight classes, was convicted of reckless driving in Virginia Beach, Va., and was sentenced to jail time on the first of three driving-related charges.

Whitaker was found guilty Wednesday and sentenced to 90 days in jail, with 88 days suspended. Judge William C. Bunch also suspended Whitaker’s license and fined him $500.

Whitaker is also scheduled to be tried Aug. 26 on a December reckless driving charge, and then again Oct. 21 on a June 4 charge of driving under the influence.

Four lawsuits against former Nebraska football players Lawrence Phillips, who plays for the Miami Dolphins, and Clinton Childs have been dismissed in Omaha. The lawsuits stemmed from an Omaha hotel-room party in February 1997.

A man accused of punching former 49er coach Bill Walsh in the mouth has pleaded not guilty in Stateline, Nev. Kurt Allen Lewis of Bakersfield is charged with misdemeanor battery for hitting Walsh, 66, while he played blackjack early in the morning of July 1 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.

Tennis

The U.S.-Italy Davis Cup World Group semifinal will be played indoors at the 10,900-seat Milwaukee Arena from Sept. 25-27. . . . Marcelo Rios of Chile beat Hendrik Dreekman of Germany, 6-3, 6-4, and Boris Becker of Germany defeated Felix Mantilla of Spain, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, in second-round matches at the Mercedes Cup at Stuttgart, Germany. . . . Top-seeded Michael Chang cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Martin Damm of the Czech Republic in the third round of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at Washington. Second-seed Andre Agassi, a three-time Legg Mason champion, also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Christophe Van Garsse of Belgium.

Miscellany

Tony Stewart turned in the fastest qualifying lap in the 38-history of Charlotte Motor Speedway (220.498 mph) to take the pole for this weekend’s Indy Racing League VisionAire 500 at Concord, N.C. . . . Center Joe Juneau, who scored four game-winning playoff goals for the Washington Capitals, re-signed with the team. Terms were not disclosed . . . . Muzz Patrick, a former player, coach and general manager for the New York Rangers, died of a heart attack at his home in Riverside, Conn. He was 83. . . . Wendel Suckow and Duncan Kennedy, two of the top American luge racers in recent seasons, were appointed to the sport’s national coaching staff. . . . Susantika Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka, who won a silver medal in the 200 meters at the World Track Championships last year, has been cleared of a charge that she took a banned performance-enhancing drug at the championships. . . . USC’s football game Sept. 12 against San Diego State at the Coliseum will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Trojans’ game against Oregon State on Sept. 19 will begin at 7 p.m.