Lane of Panthers Is Arrested

Fred Lane of the Carolina Panthers was arrested Thursday on drug and weapons charges in Jackson, Tenn.

The reserve running back was released on $1,000 bail and told to return to court March 2.

The 24-year-old Lane, who attended Lane College in Jackson, was arrested early Thursday when officers found 1.3 grams of marijuana and a .22-caliber rifle in his car, police said. He was charged with possession of a deadly weapon and marijuana.

Undercover narcotics officers searched the car after noticing suspicious behavior by Lane and three other men, Jackson police Chief Richard Staples said.

The officers were passing Lane’s Mercedes when three of the men got out of the car and opened the trunk. The three other men also were arrested.

*

Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis was unaware two men had been killed in a brawl when he and others left a Super Bowl party in a limousine, his lawyer said.

The Baltimore Ravens’ star didn’t know about the stabbings until he heard news reports hours later, lawyer Ed Garland said.

But an arrest warrant drawn up by Atlanta police said Lewis “repeatedly stabbed” the two victims. Garland said that was inaccurate.

“He did not have a knife, he did not use a knife, he did not engage in a fight, he did not promote in any way a fight,” Garland said.

Lewis is charged with two counts of murder in the slayings early Monday of Richard Lollar, 24, and Jacinth “Shorty” Baker, 21, outside a lounge in Atlanta’s Buckhead entertainment district. He is being held until a Feb. 14 bond hearing.

Police said Thursday they were looking for two men they believe were riding in the 40-foot-long limousine rented by Lewis.

*

Jim Haslett was officially hired as coach of the New Orleans Saints, receiving a three-year contract believed to be less than $1 million a year but more than $600,000.

Haslett, 44, defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh since 1997, was the Saints’ defensive coordinator in 1996 and coached linebackers in 1995. He was selected over Denver offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, according to Saint General Manager Randy Mueller.

Haslett and Mueller know each other well. When Mueller was vice president of football operations in Seattle, Haslett was a candidate to become coach of the Seahawks. Mike Holmgren left Green Bay to become Seattle’s coach and general manager, displacing much of Mueller’s authority.

“Some may think our friendship had something to do with this hiring,” Mueller said. “I can promise you it had zero to do with it.”

*

Mike Shula was fired as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator barely a week after Coach Tony Dungy said a change of leadership wasn’t necessary to jump-start a sputtering attack.

The St. Petersburg Times reported that ownership made the decision to fire Shula, whose conservative game plans were the target of criticism the last two years. The Buccaneers ranked 30th in passing and 28th overall in offense last season.

General Manager Rich McKay was not available for comment.

*

Marcus Robinson, who set a Chicago Bear franchise record for receiving yards with 1,400 last season (on 84 receptions), agreed to a four-year, $14.4-million contract. . . . The New England Patriots won’t play in their planned new stadium until 2002, a year later than they previously wanted.