Agent: Sapp Is Close to Signing With Bengals

Warren Sapp is “very close” to signing a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said Friday night, potentially ending his nine-year run as one of the cornerstones of the Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense.

The defensive tackle had been in negotiations with at least seven other NFL teams, Rosenhaus said, since not being immediately re-signed by the Buccaneers.

“They’ve definitely become the front runner,” Rosenhaus said. “It could be just a matter of hours.”

The Buccaneers have been reluctant to sign a long-term deal with the 31-year-old Sapp, whose production has fallen off in recent seasons. Sapp had only five sacks last season and has not had more than 7.5 sacks since he had a career-high 16.5 in 2000.

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The acquisition of wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson by the Dallas Cowboys was settled when Joey Galloway accepted a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Galloway’s approval was the final hurdle in completing a trade that was discussed for nearly a month.

Johnson agreed more than three weeks ago to a $20 million, four-year deal with Dallas that includes a $4 million bonus. Then he waited for Tampa Bay and Galloway to strike a deal.

Everything stalled when Tampa Bay held firm at $1 million. The bid was increased to $2 million with an additional $600,000 in incentives, according to a source close to negotiations.

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The Chicago Bears released veteran quarterback Chris Chandler.

Motor Racing

Kasey Kahne, the 23-year-old NASCAR rookie, won his second Nextel Cup pole in five tries, adding the top spot for Sunday’s Carolina Dodge Dealers 400 at Darlington Raceway to the one he took two weeks ago at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

“I’ve always loved qualifying,” said Kahne, whose fast lap was 171.716 mph in a Dodge. “You have to really get up and go for it.”

This pole came on the treacherous 1.366-mile, egg-shaped oval made even trickier by the installation of the new SAFER barriers on the outside wall in all four turns.

Kahne’s closest competitor was Dale Earnhardt Jr., whose fast lap was 171.154 in a Chevrolet.

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Rookie Kyle Busch won the first pole of his NASCAR Busch Series career, edging Kahne for the top spot in qualifying for today’s Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway.

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Kenny Brack might recover from a devastating crash in time to drive in the Indianapolis 500.

Brack was at Phoenix International Raceway, visiting a race venue for the first time since he nearly died in a 220-mph crash last October at Texas Motor Speedway. He is consulting for Buddy Rice, his substitute driver with Team Rahal during his convalescence.

Winter Sports

Bryon Friedman won his first national skiing title, taking the men’s downhill by nearly two seconds in the U.S. Alpine Championships at Girdwood, Alaska.

Friedman finished in 1 minute 38.96 seconds, then watched as U.S. World Cup stars Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves failed to better his time.

Friedman, a senior at Dartmouth, set an unbeatable time by nailing the top half of the course and carrying the speed the rest of the way. Jeremy Transue finished second in 1:40.85.

Rahlves was third in 1:40.94. Miller, who didn’t arrive in Alaska until early Friday as he traveled from Italy, finished 10th in 1:42.34.

Jonna Mendes won the women’s race for her third national championship and first in a speed event.

Miscellany

The United States Olympic Committee announced that Michelle Kwan, the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, was voted the 2003 USOC Sportswoman of the Year. Among her accomplishments in 2003 were a first-place finish at the State Farm U.S. Championships, a first at the World Figure Skating Championships and a first at the International Figure Skating Challenge.

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Former Tour de France winner Marco Pantani’s death last month was caused by cocaine poisoning that appears to have been accidental, according to a coroner’s report in Rome.