Safety Lynch Agrees to Deal With Broncos

Safety John Lynch agreed to terms Monday with Denver, which continues to revamp its defense.

Denver also signed defensive end Raylee Johnson and agreed to terms with defensive tackle Luther Elliss.

Lynch has played his entire 11-year career with Tampa Bay, which released him last week.

The five-time Pro Bowl selection was a key part of Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl team two years ago but was scheduled to make $4.2 million next season.

Lynch, 32, can play either safety position.

Johnson, who spent his first 11 seasons in San Diego, signed a three-year, $3.3-million contract that includes a $1-million signing bonus.

Elliss spent his first nine seasons with Detroit and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1999 and 2000. He was released by the Lions on March 2.

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The New York Jets signed free-agent safety Reggie Tongue.

Tongue spent the last four seasons with Seattle. Last season, he had 63 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions, eight passes defended and two forced fumbles.

The Jets re-signed five players, including restricted free-agent linebacker Quincy Stewart. They kept wide receivers Lawrence Hamilton and Ken-Yon Rambo, safety Omare Lowe and linebacker Mark Brown.

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Veteran free safety Brent Alexander was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers cleared salary cap room by cutting Alexander and his $950,000 salary.

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Minnesota Viking defensive end Kenny Mixon faces a year in jail after being convicted of drunk driving in Minneapolis. A jury also found Mixon, 28, guilty of possessing an open container of alcohol and driving with a revoked license. Judge Regina Chu set a sentencing date of April 1.

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Former Pittsburgh tight end Mark Bruener signed with the Houston Texans.... The Minnesota Vikings released tight end Hunter Goodwin.

Miscellany

The International Swimming Federation criticized Olympic organizers in Athens for calling off plans to construct a roof over the main pool, calling the decision a “total surprise.”

FINA said an open-air facility would expose athletes and spectators to scorching summer heat and compromise the quality of television coverage during the Aug. 13-29 Games.

The government canceled the roof project after concluding construction deadlines were too tight.

Jimmy Cochran won the men’s giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships at Girdwood, Alaska, for his second national title in two days.

Cochran, who won Sunday’s slalom for his first championship, finished in a combined time of 2:08.38.

Jake Zamansky was second (2:08.97), followed by Tom Rothrock (2:09.26).

Former Indianapolis 500 winners Emerson Fittipaldi, Tom Sneva and the late Mark Donohue will be inducted into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame on May 21.

Sophomore Emily Quizon of Chino Hills, who plays for Middlebury (Vt.) College, was a second-team selection for the American Hockey Coaches Assn. All-America team

A memorial for former Indianapolis 500 crew chief and engine builder Louie Unser of Anaheim will be held Tuesday, March 30, at 5 p.m. at Joe’s Garage, 36 Auto Center Drive in Tustin.

Unser, eldest of the racing brothers, died March 2 in Bullhead City, Ariz.

T.J. Simers is on vacation.