Raiders, Woodson Cut Ties

The Oakland Raiders declined to use the franchise tag on cornerback Charles Woodson for a third season in a row, making the Heisman Trophy winner an unrestricted free agent next month.

Woodson, who hasn’t played a full season since 2001, was limited to six games last season before breaking his right leg Oct. 23 against Buffalo. He made $10.537 million last season and would have been guaranteed more than $12.6 million if he didn’t sign a long-term contract.

The Carolina Panthers protected former UCLA running back DeShaun Foster from free agency by naming him their transition player.

Foster is now guaranteed $5.13 million next season if he doesn’t sign a long-term contract. Foster can talk to other teams when the NFL’s free agent period starts Thursday, but the transition tag gives Carolina the right to match any offer.

The San Francisco 49ers decided to let Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson become an unrestricted free agent by not making him their franchise player.

The 49ers also released nine players, including former USC receiver Johnnie Morton, cornerback Ahmed Plummer and defensive end Chris Cooper.

TENNIS

Davis Cup Returning

to Southern California

The United States will play its Davis Cup quarterfinal against Chile on the grass courts at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, April 7-9. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale the week of March 6.

“Obviously, playing on grass was the primary concern of myself and the majority of the team,” U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said on a conference call. “We had some other very good options out there, but we felt that in this particular match against Chile the grass gives us the best possible chance to win the match.”

Chile’s top players are Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu, who combined to win the Olympic doubles title in 2004. Massu also took the gold medal in singles at Athens. Neither is considered a force on grass, although Gonzalez reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year. Massu has made the third round only once in six trips to Wimbledon.

The last time the U.S. played at Mission Hills was in the 1978 Davis Cup final, a victory against Britain. Earlier this month, the U.S. beat Romania in the first round at La Jolla.

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-- Lisa Dillman

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Robin Soderling eliminated defending champion Kenneth Carlsen, 7-6 (3), 6-4, in the second round of the Regions Morgan Keegan championships at Memphis, Tenn.

Soderling will face Andy Murray in the quarterfinals. Murray defeated Rik De Voest, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-5. In the featured night match, Tommy Haas defeated Vincent Spadea, 7-6 (7), 6-1.

Olivier Rochus joined his brother Christophe in the quarterfinals of the ABN Amro by ousting third-seeded David Ferrer, 6-4, 6-4, at Rotterdam, Netherlands. Three-time finalist Tim Henman was eliminated by qualifier Novak Djokovic, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Amelie Mauresmo led Svetlana Kuznetsova, 3-2, in a first-set tiebreaker before rain washed out the quarterfinals of the Dubai Women’s Open.

BASEBALL

Ramirez Reportedly

Out of World Classic

Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez will not play for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, the Boston Globe reported.

Pedro Martinez also might drop off the Dominican Republic’s team. Martinez has a toe injury. Texas Ranger closer Francisco Cordero has a sore shoulder and won’t play.

Washington National second baseman Jose Vidro, citing a desire to concentrate on the major league season, will not play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

Roberto Kelly has quit as manager of Panama’s team in the World Baseball Classic, complaining he didn’t get enough support from local officials.

MISCELLANY

Coveted Receiver

Plans to Attend USC

USC received a letter of intent from receiver Vidal Hazelton, sources said, adding more depth to what was already regarded as perhaps the nation’s top recruiting class.

Hazelton, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, played last season at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.

He orally committed to the Trojans during the fall but his father reportedly refused to sign a letter of intent on Feb. 1. Hazelton visited Penn State a few weeks ago.

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-- Gary Klein

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Forward Alexander Frolov will be unavailable to the Kings when they resume play Thursday night now that he is listed as week-to-week with a shoulder injury.

Frolov, who was injured playing for Russia during the Olympics at Turin, Italy, underwent an MRI exam Wednesday, and no structural damage was detected.

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-- Chris Foster

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A Little League baseball clinic to raise money for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assn. will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. at Dorsey Field in Manhattan Beach. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Information: (310) 937-7586 or jcgd@aol.com.