Chandler Is Released by Falcons

The Michael Vick era began Monday when the Atlanta Falcons released Chris Chandler, their starting quarterback the last five seasons.

Receiver Terance Mathis and free safety Ronnie Bradford also were cut in a purge of high salaries. NFL teams have until Friday to get under the $71.8-million salary cap for the 2002 season.

Chandler, 36, led the Falcons to the Super Bowl in January 1999, when they lost to Denver. It was one of the few seasons in his 14-year career when Chandler stayed healthy.

Last season, Chandler started 14 games and finished with 2,847 yards passing.

Vick, the top pick in last year’s draft, was Chandler’s backup.

“We think that Mike Vick is going to make great strides for us this season,” Coach Dan Reeves said. “The gap between Chris and Mike is getting narrower, and this move will force us to get him more playing time. It is a tough decision because I think that Chris can still play in this league.”

Owner Arthur Blank, who took charge of the franchise Feb. 2, wants Atlanta to be competitive in the free-agent market. Releasing the veterans and restructuring the contracts of other players probably will put the Falcons more than $10 million under the salary cap.

Chandler’s release appeared imminent when Atlanta made him one of five players available in the Houston Texans’ expansion draft Nov. 18. He was due a $5.8-million salary next season.

Keeping Chandler, though, would have resulted in an $8.5-million cap charge because his contract was restructured twice to give the Falcons flexibility to sign free agents.

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Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jason Gildon and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a five-year, $23-million contract that will keep intact the core of one of the league’s top defenses.

Gildon has led the Steelers in sacks the last four seasons and is third on the team’s all-time sack list.

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The New York Jets rewarded Coach Herman Edwards for the team’s first playoff berth in three seasons, giving him a one-year contract extension.

Edwards, who led the Jets to a 10-6 record in his first season as coach, is signed through the 2005 season. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

The Jets released punter-quarterback Tom Tupa, receiver Matthew Hatchette and safety Chris Hayes to clear $1.5 million in salary-cap room.

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New England cut receivers Curtis Jackson and Charles Johnson and cornerback Terrence Shaw, and signed defensive tackle Jayce Saylor.... Cleveland released offensive lineman Roman Oben, citing the need for changes on its line.

College Football

North Carolina quarterback Darian Durant, who last year set freshman season passing records for the Tar Heels, said he will transfer after the spring semester for personal reasons.

Durant, who shared time with senior Ronald Curry, had 1,843 yards passing, 17 touchdowns and 142 completions.

Horse Racing

Gourmet Girl, a $3,500 yearling who went on to earn $1.2 million and win an Eclipse Award, has been retired. She probably will be bred to a top Kentucky stallion in the coming weeks.

A California-bred daughter of Cee’s Tizzy--who also sired Tiznow, the 2000 horse of the year and winner of the last two Breeders’ Cup Classics--Gourmet Girl won the Apple Blossom and Vanity handicaps last year and was voted the best older filly or mare in North America.

Gourmet Girl’s last race was a second-place finish to Tranquility Lake in the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar in August. The 7-year-old mare retired with nine victories, seven seconds and 10 thirds in 33 starts.

An investigation into a barn fire at Ocala (Fla.) Stud Farm has not turned up any indications of arson.

Twenty-two horses, mostly 2-and 3-year-olds in training, died in the Saturday afternoon fire. The casualties included two horses sired by 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled.

On Saturday, insurance agent Rhonda Mack said the cause of the fire may have been electrical. But authorities later said the cause had not been determined.

Miscellany

Former Laker and Cal State Fullerton forward Cedric Ceballos has signed with the first-year Las Vegas Slam of the American Basketball Assn.

NASCAR officials said they will wait until today to take action against Roush Racing for failing a postrace inspection after driver Matt Kenseth won the Subway 400 on Sunday at Rockingham, N.C.

Kenseth’s Ford was found to be about a quarter-inch lower than the minimum 51 inches off the ground in the inspection about three hours after the race.

NASCAR said Kenseth’s victory and championship points are likely to stand.

Twelve-year-old Michelle Wie claimed one of two qualifying spots for the LPGA Tour’s season-opening $900,000 Takefuji Classic.

Wie shot an 83 in windy conditions at Waikoloa Beach Resort in Hawaii, finishing second to fellow amateur Sally Soranaka, who shot a 79.

The 132-player tournament begins Thursday.

Alexi Lalas scored after volleying in his own rebounded header early in the second half as the Galaxy defeated Universidad Catolica reserves, 1-0, at Santiago in the fourth game of a five-game Chilean exhibition tour.

Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic lost to Nicholas Keifer, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the Dubai Open at United Arab Emirates.

Defending champion Greg Rusedski of England beat Germany’s Lars Burgsmuller, 6-4, 7-5, in the first round of the Siebel Open in San Jose. Australian Wayne Arthurs defeated Michael Chang, 6-3, 6-4.

Passings

Ellis Jones, a standout offensive lineman at Tulsa despite having only one arm, died Sunday at Sterling, Colo. He was 80.