Jason Taylor returns to Miami Dolphins

Jason Taylor’s newest step has him back where he started. The dancing linebacker signed a $1.5-million, one-year contract Wednesday with the Miami Dolphins.

Taylor played his first 11 seasons with Miami before being traded a year ago to the Washington Redskins -- a fallout from his stint on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars.” He was released by Washington in March after one injury-plagued season.

Taylor, 34, made the Pro Bowl six times with Miami and was NFL defensive player of the year in 2006.

The Redskins released Taylor after he turned down a chance to play another season with them for $8.5 million. Taylor didn’t like being away from his wife and three children last season and wanted to rejoin the Dolphins regardless of how much money they offered, said his agent, Gary Wichard.

Running back Fred Jackson signed a four-year contract extension with the Buffalo Bills. . . . Baltimore Ravens right tackle Willie Anderson is retiring. Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome announced in a one-sentence press release that Anderson had been placed on the reserve-retired list.

TENNIS

Nadal advances in Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal powered into the third round of the Madrid Open in Spain with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over Jurgen Melzer.

In the women’s event, Dinara Safina beat Li Na, 6-3, 7-6 (2), and Amelie Mauresmo defeated Elena Demetieva, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Pitt linebacker Gunn suspended

Pittsburgh senior middle linebacker Adam Gunn has been suspended indefinitely from the team after being charged with public drunkenness and several other offenses resulting from a dispute outside a Pittsburgh nightclub.

Freshman quarterback Emmanuel Yeager, the star of Coach Mike Locksley’s first recruiting class at New Mexico, is leaving school because of an undisclosed family issue.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

WSU gives Bone seven-year deal

New Washington State Coach Ken Bone signed a seven-year contract with starting pay of $650,000 per year, plus incentives. The contract was released Wednesday after the Associated Press requested it under the state’s open records laws.

University of New Orleans guard Darrian McKinstry has lost his scholarship and will not be returning to the Privateers. McKinstry, a junior who transferred from Fullerton Junior College, averaged 10 points last season but was suspended three times for a total of six games for violating team rules.

Marko Cukic, a 6-foot-9 power forward who moved to the United States from Serbia in 2007, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball next season at Nevada.

Arkansas’ Michael Washington has officially removed his name from the NBA draft. The 6-9 Washington will return to the Razorbacks for his senior season.

Wake Forest Coach Dino Gaudio has hired former NBA player Rusty LaRue as an assistant coach.

ETC.

Sparks’ Parker has baby girl

The Sparks’ Candace Parker, the WNBA’s most valuable player and rookie of the year last season, gave birth to a girl Wednesday in Los Angeles. It is the first child for Parker and her husband, Shelden Williams, who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The baby weighed 7 pounds 6 ounces and is 20 inches long. Parker plans to rejoin the team in midseason, once she has received clearance from her doctor.

-- Mark Medina

Lance Armstrong finished nearly three minutes behind the leaders in the grueling uphill finish that concluded the fifth stage of his first Giro d’Italia in Alpi di Siusi, Italy. Armstrong dropped from sixth to 22nd overall, 3 minutes 34 seconds behind new race leader Danilo Di Luca.

JURISPRUDENCE

Former Laker Blount sentenced

Former Laker and University of Cincinnati star Corie Blount was sentenced in Hamilton, Ohio, to one year in prison in a plea arrangement resulting from drug charges.

Blount was a first-round draft pick by the Chicago Bulls in 1993. He played for seven teams during an 11-year career, averaging 3.6 points.

A woman accused of trying to extort millions of dollars from Louisville men’s basketball Coach Rick Pitino pleaded not guilty in Louisville, Ky.

The oldest son of Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid has returned to prison. Garrett Reid’s attorney said the 26-year-old Villanova man was in an altercation at a Philadelphia halfway house.