Rams Cut Bruce but Hope He Returns

Wide receiver Isaac Bruce is a free agent for the first time in his career after the St. Louis Rams released him with the hopes of eventually bringing him back.

The team cut its longest-tenured player Sunday night. The sides weren’t talking Monday, but the Rams remained optimistic about an agreement that would bring Bruce back for a 13th season.

Coach Scott Linehan called the release a temporary setback. He blamed the lack of a collective bargaining agreement.

Bruce, 33, had a salary cap figure of $10 million for next season. He was due a $1.5-million roster bonus Monday, the first day of the free-agency period, as part of an $8.1-million salary. But the free-agency signing period has been delayed for three more days. Bruce was entering the final year of a seven-year, $42-million contract he signed in 2000.

The Rams reportedly offered a three-year deal worth about $9 million, including $5 million in the first season.

Bruce is the Rams’ career leader in receptions (813), yards receiving (12,278) and touchdowns receiving (77). He caught the winning touchdown pass in the Rams’ lone Super Bowl win in 2000. His yards receiving rank 12th in NFL history.

Last season, Bruce sat out five games because of turf toe and had 36 receptions for 525 yards.

In other news, the Rams signed defensive tackle La’Roi Glover, 31, to a three-year deal after he was released last week by the Dallas Cowboys.

Linebacker Junior Seau, 37, was released by the Miami Dolphins, saving the team $2.92 million against the salary cap by cutting ties with the 12-time Pro Bowl player.

Seau missed 17 games the last two years because of injury, finishing both seasons on injured reserve. Seau, who said he wants to play next season, spent the last three seasons with Miami after being acquired from San Diego.

Unhappy Washington Redskin linebacker LaVar Arrington, 27, reportedly agreed to a buyout that relinquished more than $4 million rather than restructure his contract to remain with the team.

Arrington, who according to a team source was the only Redskin to refuse to rework his deal, was disgruntled over playing time last season and wanted a chance to pursue free agency.

The Green Bay Packers re-signed running back Ahman Green to a one-year contract. Green, 29, missed most of last season because of a leg injury.

Linebacker Derek Smith, 31, re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers, staying with the team he has led in tackles for five consecutive seasons.... Pittsburgh Steeler safeties Mike Logan, 31, and Russell Stuvaints, 25, were released in salary-cap moves.

BASEBALL

Former Giant Rueter Ends 13-Year Career

Kirk Rueter retired, ending a 13-year major league career during which he became the winningest left-handed pitcher in San Francisco Giant history.

Rueter, 35, finished with a 130-92 record and a 4.27 earned-run average. He won 105 games as a Giant, surpassing Mike McCormick last year as the winningest left-hander in team history.

Rueter was 2-7 with a 5.95 ERA in 2005 and was designated for assignment Aug. 14.

Washington National catcher-first baseman Robert Fick had surgery to remove loose bones in his right elbow but is scheduled to return to spring training today and should begin hitting and throwing within a week.

SOCCER

Houston Team Gets Renamed the Dynamo

The MLS renamed its Houston franchise the Dynamo, dropping another nickname deemed offensive by many Latinos.

The franchise was nicknamed Houston 1836 in reference to the city’s founding but some critics felt the name was anti-Mexican because that was also the year Texas gained its independence by defeating Mexico.

The franchise moved from San Jose in December.

Players from the 32 countries that have qualified for the World Cup will undergo cardiovascular and electrocardiogram tests to reduce the chances of cardiac arrest, FIFA said.

Franz Beckenbauer insisted that Germany’s World Cup Coach Juergen Klinsmann spend more time in the country, angry that the coach flew home to Los Angeles instead of attending a workshop of Cup coaches that started Monday.

Germany lost, 4-1, to Italy last week.

Argentine striker Luciano Figueroa will miss at least six months and the World Cup after damaging ligaments in his left knee in a River Plate match in Buenos Aires, the team said.

JURISPRUDENCE

Vick Resolves Cases With Plea Bargains

Former Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick resolved his recent legal problems, pleading guilty to disorderly conduct charges in a court in Hampton, Va., and speeding and driving without a valid driver’s license later in Suffolk.

Vick, 21, was sentenced to six months in jail and a $500 fine. His jail time was suspended on condition of good behavior for one year.

Vick was originally charged with three counts of brandishing a firearm after he was accused of pulling a gun on three teenagers in January.

Charges against Tennessee Titan cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, 22, over a July 13 nightclub scuffle were dismissed in Nashville when the men who brought the case asked prosecutors to drop it.

Under a plea agreement, Dr. James Shortt, 59, pleaded guilty in Columbia, S.C., to a federal conspiracy charge after being accused of writing illegal steroid prescriptions to some Carolina Panther players.

Shortt faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced in several months.

MISCELLANY

NASCAR Hall of Fame Is Awarded to Charlotte

NASCAR’s first Hall of Fame will be built in downtown Charlotte, N.C., ending a yearlong bidding war featuring four other cities for the $107.5-million hall expected to open in 2009.

The other finalists were Daytona Beach, Fla., Atlanta, Richmond, Va., and Kansas City, Kan.

Tom Boonen of Belgium won a mass sprint at the finish in Saint-Amand-Montrond, France, to take the overall lead after the first stage of the Paris-Nice cycling race in 4 hours 56 minutes 1 second.

Five-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Ian Thorpe pulled out of this month’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, because of a virus.

Outback Steakhouse Inc. signed a three-year contract to become title sponsor of a new seniors tennis tour featuring John McEnroe and Jim Courier.

Iditarod dog teams headed toward a cabin on Finger Lake, Alaska, on the second day of the 1,100-mile race, with rookie Bryan Bearss leading.

PASSINGS

Longtime NFL Assistant Sandusky Dies at 80

John Sandusky, an NFL player in the 1950s and a former longtime assistant coach with Baltimore, Philadelphia and Miami, died Sunday of complications from internal bleeding, said his son, Gerry. He was 80.