Packers’ Green Gets Five-Year Deal

Ahman Green, who rushed for 1,175 yards last season after stepping in for the injured Dorsey Levens, has re-signed with the Green Bay Packers for five seasons.

Green ranked fourth in the NFC in total yardage at 1,734 and was fourth in the conference among nonkickers in scoring with 78 points.

He had 73 receptions, second in team history among running backs to the 78 by Edgar Bennett in 1994.

“This is a young, talented player who works hard at his job and will only get better,” Packer Coach and General Manager Mike Sherman said.

Green was acquired from Seattle in an April 2000 trade and became a starter in the sixth game when knee injuries sidelined Levens. Levens renegotiated his contract last season, making it likely that the Packers can afford to keep him as a complement to Green.

Carolina Panther receiver Patrick Jeffers underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will sit out at least three weeks of practice. Doctors removed a flap of cartilage from his right knee. The surgery could sideline Jeffers for the opener against Minnesota on Sept. 9. . . . Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback Brad Johnson is expected to miss the start of training camp after cutting his left leg in an accident at his Tallahassee, Fla., home. The quarterback was moving furniture when he was hurt and the injury required 15 stitches.

Denver Bronco running back Terrell Davis has agreed to restructure his contract, saving the team money on its salary cap, according to the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. . . . Agent Eugene Parker told ESPN that cornerback Deion Sanders’ decision about whether to report to the Washington Redskins’ training camp this weekend could depend upon whether the Toronto Blue Jays make any trades by Tuesday’s waiver deadline. Sanders is playing for triple-A Syracuse and apparently is hoping to be promoted to the major leagues if the Blue Jays trade an outfielder. His football contract permits him to miss Redskin functions if he is playing baseball in the major leagues.

New England Patriot running back Robert Edwards passed his conditioning test, one day after failing it, and was cleared to practice after missing the last two seasons because of a knee injury. . . . The Detroit Lions signed first-round pick Jeff Backus, a left tackle from Michigan, to a five-year contract.