Titans Release Mason, Rolle and Four Others

Receiver Derrick Mason and cornerback Samari Rolle were among six players released Monday by the Tennessee Titans in an effort by the team to get under the NFL salary cap.

The Titans also released starting defensive lineman Kevin Carter, right tackle Fred Miller, fullback Robert Holcombe and kicker Joe Nedney.

Team owner Bud Adams said everyone on the team knew this day was coming.

“At this point, I believe this is the best option for our franchise and know it will make us stronger for the future,” Adams said in a statement. “To our fans, this is not an ending. I believe in this team and I look forward to seeing them grow.”

General Manager Floyd Reese said the Titans want to mimic Baltimore’s approach to the salary cap -- slash large salaries in one lump and, they hope, limit any damage to one season.

Reese said the cuts will clear 80% of the $27 million that the team is over the cap.

“We’re done manipulating. Now we’re going to fix this,” Reese said.

Mason led the NFL last season with a career-high 96 catches for 1,168 yards and seven touchdowns.

Rolle, considered among the league’s top cover cornerbacks, was arrested last week on a domestic assault charge. A Pro Bowl selection in 2000, Rolle played in 12 games last season before having surgery on his left knee.

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Indianapolis signed right tackle Ryan Diem to a seven-year contract, another step in keeping the Colts’ high-scoring offense together for one more season. The next move could come today, with the Colts expected to place the franchise designation on running back Edgerrin James.

Diem’s deal kept him from becoming an unrestricted free agent in March. Salary figures were not immediately available, but the salary-cap-friendly deal was believed to include a signing bonus of about $12 million.

The biggest question left on offense is James, who has not spoken with the Indianapolis media since the Colts’ 20-3 second-round playoff loss at New England. The Colts have not commented.

On Dec. 9, one day after re-signing record-setting receiver Marvin Harrison, Colt owner Jim Irsay said he would franchise James if a deal wasn’t completed before today’s 4 p.m. Eastern deadline. That move would guarantee James a salary of slightly more than $6 million next season.

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Green Bay designated tight end Bubba Franks as its transition player. The Packers can try to negotiate a long-term deal with Franks. Until a deal is reached, Franks will receive a one-year contract at a tender rate set by the NFL for tight ends.

The Packers will have the right of first refusal to match any offer Franks receives.

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Washington receiver Laveranues Coles has met with Coach Joe Gibbs twice to state his desire to leave the Redskins, including a forthright conversation the day after the season ended, an NFL official told Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The Redskins have told Coles they want him to have surgery on the chronic toe injury that has plagued him the last two seasons, a procedure that Coles has been reluctant to undergo, the source said. Gibbs said Monday he had talked with the receiver, but that the conversations would remain private. Last month, the Redskins granted receiver Rod Gardner’s request to seek a trade. Coles and Gardner accounted for a combined 141 catches and 1,600 yards last season but were disenchanted with a conservative offense that produced few big plays downfield and ranked 30th overall.

Tennis

Andre Agassi defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 7-5, in the American’s first appearance in the Dubai Open, earning a standing ovation from the largest crowd to see a tennis event in the United Arab Emirates.

The fourth-seeded Agassi delighted the capacity crowd of 5,000, winning the first-round match in two hours and apologizing for not playing the tournament earlier in his career.

Agassi was in control for nearly the entire match, despite 12 aces by Stepanek. After breaking Agassi in the seventh game of the second set to go ahead, Stepanek gave away the advantage with three double faults.

Fifth-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Olivier Rochus of Belgium, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6). Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, who won the tournament in 2001, defeated Florian Mayer of Germany, 6-3, 6-4.

Sixth-seeded Irakli Labadze of Georgia and eighth-seeded Lars Burgsmuller of Germany advanced in three-set, first-round matches at the Tennis Channel Open at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Argentina’s Juan Monaco upset fourth-seeded countryman Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the Mexican Open at Acapulco. Another Argentine, third-seeded Guillermo Canas, and fifth-seeded Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic also advanced.

Sixth-seeded Elena Bovina of Russia returned to the court for the first time in 3 1/2 months and defeated Shinobu Asagoe of Japan, 7-5, 7-6 (6), in the first round of the Qatar Open at Doha.

Bovina battled a variety of injuries last season and had not played since reaching the final at Linz, Austria, in October.

Seventh-seeded Silvia Farina Elia of Italy lost to compatriot Francesca Schiavone, 6-1, 6-3, and eighth-seeded Paola Suarez of Argentina lost to Marion Bartoli of France, 6-1, 6-1.

Miscellany

Fox’s broadcast of the Daytona 500 tied the highest overnight rating for a NASCAR race, Nielsen Media Research said.

Jeff Gordon’s victory Sunday received an overnight rating of 10.9 with a 23 share, matching NBC’s broadcast of the 2002 Daytona 500. The race was seen by 18.7 million viewers, second only to the 18.8 million who watched the race in 2002.

Fox’s 10.9/23 was up 3% from last year’s broadcast on NBC (10.6/24).

A convicted soccer hooligan was jailed for five months for going on the field and confronting Blackburn striker Robbie Savage during an FA Cup match Sunday at Burnley, England.

Michael Lewis, 42, went on the field and tried to start a fight with Savage. He also swung at two police officers who tried to restrain him.

In December 2002, Lewis was given a three-year ban from every soccer stadium in England and Wales. In addition to his jail sentence, Lewis was banned for 10 more years from attending any soccer games.