Flutie Retires From the NFL

Doug Flutie never lost his passion for playing despite being labeled too short and too much of a scrambler. Now, after 21 years as a pro, he’s leaving the football field -- and maybe even his critics -- behind.

The local hero who won the Heisman Trophy, worked for Donald Trump and made the NFL’s first drop kick in 64 years, announced his retirement Monday after spending his final season as backup quarterback for the New England Patriots.

“To finish it up by getting back here was very special,” Flutie said. “There isn’t a single time when I’ll look back and say I wasn’t prepared for that game or I didn’t quite give it all I had. And that, to me, is one of the things I’m most proud of.”

Concern about his knees, which underwent two arthroscopic surgeries in two years, and the weekly “grind” of preparing during the week without the fun of playing games, led him to tell Coach Bill Belichick after last season he was considering retirement. Belichick told him to think about it.

Flutie, 43, isn’t leaving the game entirely. He will be a college football studio analyst for ABC on Saturdays and will appear on ESPN shows. He also may cover some college football games.

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Reggie Bush underwent an MRI exam on his left hamstring after he spent all three days of the New Orleans Saints’ rookie camp limited to watching or participating in half-speed drills.

“It feels good, but obviously not 100%,” Bush said.

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Marcus Vick, the brother of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, signed with the Miami Dolphins, agreeing to a free-agent deal after his many problems at Virginia Tech cost him a chance to be selected in the NFL draft.

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Detroit Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus agreed to the one-year offer he received when designated the team’s franchise player in February. That means his salary will be the average of the five top-paid players at his position from the previous season, or $6.98 million.... The Cincinnati Bengals waived quarterback Craig Krenzel.

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SOCCER

Italy Includes Buffon on World Cup Roster

Gianluigi Buffon was included on Italy’s World Cup roster despite recent allegations that the Juventus goalkeeper bet on soccer games.

Playmaker Francesco Totti, who returned to AS Roma’s lineup last week after having recovered from a broken leg, also was on the 23-man roster.

Italy plays the U.S. on June 17.

Teams had until Monday to finalize their rosters with FIFA.

In other World Cup news: The Czech Republic, which opens against the U.S. on June 12, included on its roster midfielder Vladimir Smicer, who hasn’t played since Feb. 25 because of a knee injury.... Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek, who started for Poland at the 2002 World Cup but has been a backup for the English club this season, was left off Poland’s roster.... Argentina selected a roster that included only four players from 2002 and left off notable standouts such as Inter Milan’s Juan Sebastian Veron and Javier Zanetti, Bayern Munich’s Martin Demichelis and Real Madrid’s Walter Samuel.... France Coach Raymond Domenech announced that veteran Fabien Barthez will be the starting goalkeeper ahead of Gregory Coupet.

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TENNIS

Williams and Hingis Win at Italian Open

Venus Williams and Martina Hingis won first-round matches at the Italian Open at Rome.

Williams beat qualifier Zuzana Ondraskova, 6-3, 6-2. Hingis eliminated qualifier Sara Errani, 6-0, 6-1.

Former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and 12th-seeded Nicole Vaidisova were also winners, but No. 14 Elena Likhovtseva was upset by Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 6-3.

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James Blake overcame thigh cramps to defeat Carlos Moya, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the first round of the Hamburg Masters at Hamburg, Germany.

Blake became a title contender after Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal withdrew, a day after their grueling five-set final at the Rome Masters. Marat Safin, who was unseeded despite being a two-time champion, lost to Flavio Saretta, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4, after struggling with his opponent’s backhand.

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Martina Sucha defeated Vania King, 7-5, 6-2, in the first round of the Grand Prix SAR at Rabat, Morocco.

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The United States will play at Moscow’s Olympic Stadium on indoor clay at the Davis Cup semifinals Sept. 22-24. Russia has won its last 11 Davis Cup matches at home.

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MISCELLANY

Harness Racing Driver Killed in Track Accident

Harness racing driver Hal Belote, 51, was killed when his horse stumbled and fell during the opening race at Harrington Raceway at Dover, Del.

Two other drivers were seriously injured in the accident, said Patti Key, chief financial officer for the track.

The other drivers involved were identified as 19-year-old Brandon Givens and 54-year-old Steve Warrington.

Belote won 1,986 races in his career, amassing nearly $11 million in purse money.

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Jeff Carter scored two short-handed goals, leading Canada past Finland, 4-2, and into first place in Group E at hockey’s world championships at Riga, Latvia. In Group F, Alexei Mikhnov scored his second goal of the game with 4 minutes 13 seconds left to give unbeaten Russia a 3-3 tie with Olympic champion Sweden.

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NASCAR points leader Jimmie Johnson signed a three-year contract extension committing him to Hendrick Motorsports through the 2010 season.

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Roy Jones Jr., will fight for the first time in nearly 10 months on July 29 when he faces Badi Ajamu for the North American Boxing Organization’s light-heavyweight title at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho.