Sharpe, Woodson, Ismail Will Be Raven Casualties

The Baltimore Ravens said Tuesday they will cut eight key players, including tight end Shannon Sharpe, free safety Rod Woodson and receiver Qadry Ismail.

Ozzie Newsome, the team’s personnel director, said Elvis Grbac won’t be the team’s quarterback unless Grbac restructures the $30-million, five-year contract he signed last year.

The cuts are expected Thursday.

“We knew that we would be facing some serious cap issues in 2002, but the opportunity to win two Super Bowls in a row was overwhelming to us,” Newsome said.

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Two sources told the Associated Press that Danny Wuerffel will be traded by the expansion Houston Texans to Washington, rejoining Coach Steve Spurrier, under whose guidance he won the 1996 Heisman Trophy at Florida.

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Denver extended the contract of Rod Smith, who led the league with 113 receptions last season. The deal, worked to give the Broncos more cap room, is worth $40 million over seven years, including an $11-million signing bonus.

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Bronco linebacker Bill Romanowski, who earned two Super Bowl rings with Denver, is headed to Oakland to play for the Raiders, two television stations reported.... Linebacker Marvin Jones, whose $6-million contract would have counted against the salary cap, was released by the New York Jets.... Detroit announced that Herman Moore, their leading career receiver, agreed to renegotiate his contract.

Jurisprudence

The Minnesota Vikings argued in court that a lawsuit over lineman Korey Stringer’s death should be heard in Blue Earth County because that’s where he died of heatstroke Aug. 1 after collapsing in training camp at Mankato, Minn.

His widow, Kelci Stringer, and family are suing the Vikings in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis, where they want the case heard.

Giuseppe Colucci, a 21-year-old soccer player with Italy’s Serie A Verona, won’t have to perform military service after a court in Lazio ruled he can benefit from a 1997 law allowing draft exemptions for those with “artistic” talents.

Olympics

Spain’s Johann Muehlegg, the German-born cross-country skier stripped of his 50K gold medal for doping, learned that the “B” sample of his urine test also had proved positive.

Despite a serious shortage of accommodations for the 2004 Summer Olympics, the Greek government said that no new hotels will be built. About 90% of Athens’ 21,000 hotel rooms will be reserved for IOC officials and guests.

Miscellany

The International Boxing Federation approved a request by heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis to fight former champ Mike Tyson in his next fight but ordered the winner to fight Chris Byrd, the No. 1 contender, in a title defense.

NASCAR fined Robbie Reiser, Matt Kenseth’s crew chief, $30,000 because the car was found to be about a quarter-inch lower than the minimum 51 inches off the ground during an inspection after Kenseth won the Subway 400 on Sunday at Rockingham, N.C.

Lonesome Glory, winner of a record five Eclipse Awards for steeplechasing in the 1990s, was euthanized Monday after fracturing his left hind leg in a paddock accident at a farm in Cochranville, Pa.

Canadian kick boxer Derek Clements remained in a coma after brain surgery in a hospital at Grand Rapids, Mich., the Grand Rapids Press reported.

Clements was injured Sunday in a super-middleweight world title bout.