Steussie Is Added to Panthers’ Line

Todd Steussie, a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle, and the Carolina Panthers, who surrendered a league-high 69 sacks last season, agreed to a six-year, $28-million deal Thursday.

Steussie, 30, is Carolina’s third major free-agent acquisition on the offensive line in as many weeks, joining center Jeff Mitchell and guard Kevin Donnalley.

Steussie was released by the Minnesota Vikings in a salary-cap move.

“We think he’s one of the better left offensive tackles in football,” Panther Coach George Seifert said. “He brings experience at that position and that’s something that we’ve been looking for. Aside from that, he’s also been a very durable player throughout his career.”

*

An armed robber forced his way into Yancey Thigpen’s home in Charlotte, N.C., and tied up the NFL receiver and two women before fleeing with cash and jewelry.

Police said the robbery happened just after 8 a.m. No one was injured and a search was begun for the suspect.

Police said the suspect forced his way into the house, tied up Thigpen, his sister and his girlfriend, and forced them into a closet with an infant child.

Thigpen, 31, was able to free himself and call police.

Thigpen, a North Carolina native, caught 15 passes for the Tennessee Titans last season and was waived.

*

The trade sending defensive end Kevin Carter from the St. Louis Rams to the Titans likely will not be finalized for a few more days.

The last details still were being worked out, then the NFL will review the entire package, which was designed to let both the Rams and Titans escape a $5.4-million salary cap hit this season.

*

Quarterback Troy Aikman is weighing job offers from NFL teams and broadcast networks and probably will make a decision in the next few weeks, his agent said.

Networks have long been interested in Aikman, but the fact he’s taking their offers seriously is a shift that indicates he may be ready to call it a career after 10 concussions.

“I think he’s had a few second thoughts about if he wants to play football at all,” agent Leigh Steinberg said. “Although we’re looking at those options, media is attractive to him and we’re exploring those options too. That has now become an active factor on the agenda.”

Aikman, 34, is a free agent for the first time after 12 seasons in Dallas. Although he led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles, he was waived March 7 to avoid a $7-million bonus and extension through 2007 due if he was on the roster the next day.

*

Fans and memorabilia seekers picked over the estate of the late Derrick Thomas in Independence, Mo., with some waiting hours to buy hats, autographed pictures and clothing.

One man said he paid $75 for a silver bedpan containing the name of the Kansas City Chiefs’ all-pro linebacker who died after an automobile accident last year. Asked by a television reporter why he bought it, he answered, “It was kind of a gag. I thought it was humorous.”

*

Cincinnati Bengal quarterback Akili Smith will stand trial next month on charges of drunken driving.

Smith was pulled over Feb. 8 for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in downtown San Diego, his hometown.

*

The Washington Redskins re-signed free agent Kevin Mitchell, a career special-teams player who could become a starter at linebacker because of the team’s salary purge. . . . Lineman Ed Ellis and receiver Rodney Williams agreed to terms with the San Diego Chargers. Ellis agreed to a three-year deal, and Williams was signed to a one-year contract.