Injured Reserve

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins found another hurdle in their difficult obstacle course yesterday.The Redskins, already coping with the burden of being defending champions, lost another starter when center Jeff Bostic was placed on the injured-reserve list with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.When Bostic suffered the injury late in the second period Sunday, the Redskins thought it was just a sprained shoulder.By Tuesday, they upgraded it to a sprained rotator cuff and said he'd be out for at least a game.

The Ravens cut Chris McAlister yesterday, a move that was expected by everyone except the former Pro Bowl cornerback. McAlister, 31, said he sat down with coach John Harbaugh for 15 minutes yesterday, talking about coming back to the team and the offseason conditioning program. Then, McAlister said, he walked across the hall to meet with general manager Ozzie Newsome, who told him that he was getting released. "This is a blind shot to me," McAlister told local radio station 105.7 FM, which airs a show featuring the cornerback.

Flyers: Center Rod Brind'Amour was placed on injured reserve Friday, ending a string of 484 straight regular-season games, the longest consecutive-game streak in the NHL. Brind'Amour, who suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot on Sept. 25, missed the Flyers' opener against Ottawa last night.Quotable: "I really like it. I think it's going to be a great asset, once teams learn to play it. If you skate the way we do and move the puck like we do, you're going to create chances." -- Edmonton coach Kevin Lowe on the new overtime format, which features four skaters per side, after the Oilers played the Rangers to a 1-1 tie Friday night.

BasketballNets: Placed G Sherman Douglas on the injured list. Activated C Evan Eschmeyer from the injured list.BayRunners (IBL): Signed C Brent Dabbs. Waived F Sean Tyson.CollegeWestern Michigan: Suspended men's basketball G Tony Barksdale, G Virgil Singleton and F Robert Watson for one game for a violation of team rules.Field hockeyUnited States Field Hockey Association: Named Tracey Griesbaum women's national assistant coach.FootballBears: Signed CB Cordell Taylor.Packers: Waived DE Roy Barker.

FootballGiants: Placed CB Andre Weathers on injured reserve. Signed LB O. J. Childress.HockeyAvalanche: Recalled D Dan Smith from AHL Hershey.Capitals: Assigned D Nolan Baumgartner to AHL Portland.Stars: Activated C Roman Lyashenko and D Alan Letang from injured reserve and reassigned Letang to IHL Michigan. Waived C Derek Plante. Lifted suspension of C Pavel Patera and assigned him to Czech League.

BaseballRed Sox: Optioned RHP Juan Pena to Triple-A Pawtucket.Cubs: Optioned OF Roosevelt Brown and IF Chad Meyers to Double-A West Tennessee.BasketballBulls: Activated G Charles Jones and G Rusty LaRue from injured list. Placed F Corey Benjamin and C Andrew Lang on injured list.Clippers: Activated G Sherman Douglas from injured list. Waived G James Robinson.Hornets: Signed G Corey Beck to 10-day contract.Nets: Named Mike O'Koren assistant coach.Wizards: Signed C John Coker to 10-day contract.

BasketballWizards: Placed G Laron Profit (Maryland) on the injured reserve. Activated G Richard Hamilton from injured reserve.CBA: Suspended Grand Rapids coach Mark Hughes one game for player dress code violations.CollegesSouthern Conference: Suspended College of Charleston F Derrick Miller for one game because he received a flagrant technical foul during Dec. 21 game.North Carolina: Named Rick Steinbacher assistant to the athletic director.Radford: Suspended basketball players Jamar Betz, Byron Hall, Lamar King, Camara Mitz and Jason Williams for three games for failing to return to the team on time after a holiday break.

Bears: Released G Mike Zandofsky, DE Martin Harrison, QB Rick Mirer, DT Carl Simpson, TE Hayward Clay, CB Clyde Johnson, WR Eric Smith, FB Tremayne Allen, LB Chris Draft and S Greg Williams. Signed LB Jim Schwantz.Bengals: Placed G Scott Brumfield on injured reserve. Waived LB Canute Curtis, RB Brandon Bennett, QB Eric Kresser, DL Harry Deligianis, OT Mike Doughty, G-C Brock Gutierrez and TE Damian Vaughn. Signed G Scott Shaw.Bills: Released WR Fred Coleman, LB Joe Cummings, LB Dwayne Sabb, DT James Grier, CB Ray Hill, OT David Mudge and C Dan Williams.

BaseballRangers: Assigned P Eric Moody outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City.Royals: Named Tim Maxey strength and conditioning coach and Gary Blaylock, Carlos Pascual and Paul Faulk scouts. Named Tom Poquette manager of Single-A Charleston and Andre David manager of the Gulf Coast Royals.Twins: Named Scott Ulger hitting coach, Ron Gardenhire third base coach, Jerry White first base coach, Wayne Krivsky assistant general manager, Larry Corrigan special assistant to the GM and Steve Liddle minor-league field coordinator.

This is the year. For Sale Isaia, this is the year he buries theinjuries that have buried him as a young player. This is the year Isaia establishes himself as a presence on the Ravens' offensive line, the year he gets through training camp healthy, has a sparkling preseason, then enjoys his first productive fall as a pro.Or so he hopes.Since joining the franchise in Cleveland as a rookie free agent out of UCLA in 1995, Isaia has learned plenty about life in the big leagues. Trouble is, nearly all of his education has been absorbed off the field and in the training room.

Each Wednesday we'll bring you a Q&A with a Ravens player to help you learn a little more about the team. Today's guest is defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, who is tied for fourth on the team in tackles with nine and is part of a defense that ranks first in the NFL against the run. Gregg chatted about playing in his first regular-season game in more than a year, matching up against one of the toughest offensive lines in NFL history and "noodling." Question: The season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept.

The Ravens cut Chris McAlister yesterday, a move that was expected by everyone except the former Pro Bowl cornerback. McAlister, 31, said he sat down with coach John Harbaugh for 15 minutes yesterday, talking about coming back to the team and the offseason conditioning program. Then, McAlister said, he walked across the hall to meet with general manager Ozzie Newsome, who told him that he was getting released. "This is a blind shot to me," McAlister told local radio station 105.7 FM, which airs a show featuring the cornerback.

Each week, Baltimore Sun reporter Jamison Hensley will answer questions about the Ravens. To submit a question, e-mail sports@baltsun.com. Give your name and phone number so we can verify the e-mail. : HEY, JAMISON: : The Ravens have a stable of young talented linebackers in Antwan Barnes, Prescott Burgess and rookies Tavares Gooden and Jameel McClain. How has this group progressed over the season? Jordan Tucker, Baltimore HEY, JORDAN: : This is a group that has quietly impressed the coaching staff and could collectively make more of an impact next season.

On the same day the Ravens officially placed cornerback Chris McAlister on injured reserve, the club ended the season for strong safety Dawan Landry by putting him on IR as well. McAlister, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has not played since the Ravens' 27-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 19, when he was benched by coach John Harbaugh and relegated to limited snaps. McAlister underwent surgery Monday in Coral Gables, Fla., to repair his posterior cruciate ligament and cartilage damage on his right knee, according to the Associated Press.

New Orleans Saints starting cornerback Tracy Porter will miss the rest of his rookie season after dislocating his right wrist during Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Porter had surgery on the wrist and the Saints decided yesterday afternoon to place him on injured reserve, team officials told the Associated Press. Porter hurt the wrist while attempting to defend a desperation heave by Minnesota's Gus Frerotte. Bernard Berrian caught the pass for the tying touchdown as he collided with teammate Aundrae Allison, Porter and Saints safety Josh Bullocks near the goal line.

Quarterback Steve McNair will have surgery on his partially torn rotator cuff today, ending one of the worst seasons of his 13-year NFL career and perhaps concluding his run with the Ravens. McNair, 34, who was placed on injured reserve yesterday, will have his left (nonthrowing) shoulder repaired at a Baltimore hospital. Kyle Boller, who started his third straight game last night, is expected to remain the starter for the rest of the season. This is the earliest McNair's season has ended - despite his history of injuries, he surprisingly had never been placed on injured reserve - but it's unknown whether his time with the Ravens is over.

Moves Baseball ATHLETICS -- Purchased contract of LHP Jerry Blevins from Triple-A Sacramento. Transferred SS Bobby Crosby from 15- to the 60-day DL. BRAVES -- Purchased contract of OF Brandon Jones from Triple-A Richmond. Designated OF T.J. Bohn for assignment. DEVIL RAYS -- Recalled LHP J.P. Howell and Jeff Ridgway from Triple-A Durham. DIAMONDBACKS -- Activated INF Chad Tracy from 15-day DL. METS -- Activated C Ramon Castro from 15-day DL. Recalled RHP Joe Smith, RHP Brian Lawrence, INF Anderson Hernandez and former Orioles OF David Newhan from Triple-A New Orleans.

Moves Baseball CUBS: Activated former Orioles IF Jerry Hairston from 15-day DL. Optioned OF Matt Murton to Triple-A Iowa. Basketball NBA: Announced that Steve Belkin will sell his 30 percent stake in Atlanta Spirit, owner of the Atlanta Hawks, and resign as team's governor. Announced Michael Gearon, Jr. has been named governor for Hawks. BOBCATS: Re-signed G Brevin Knight to a multi-year contract extension. CELTICS: Signed G Will Bynum. HAWKS: Traded G Boris Diaw and two conditional first-round draft picks to Suns for G Joe Johnson.

Moves Baseball YANKEES: Agreed with 1B Tino Martinez on one-year contract. Basketball BUCKS: Activated G Erick Strickland from injured list. Colleges INDIANA: Named Gerald Brown running backs coach, Troy Douglas cornerbacks coach, Matt Canada quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator; Brian George defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator, Billy Lynch wide receivers coach, Joe Palcic co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, Bobby...

Moves Baseball METS: Agreed with SS Chris Woodward, P Manny Aybar and P Joe Nelson on minor league contracts. Basketball BUCKS: Placed F Keith Van Horn on injured list. NETS: Signed F Jerome Moiso. Placed G Ron Mercer on injured list. NUGGETS: Fired coach Jeff Bzdelik. Named assistant coach Michael Cooper interim coach. Colleges CAL-IRVINE: Announced resignation of women's basketball coach Mark Adams. Named Molly Tuter interim women's basketball coach. HOOD: Named Barbara Leishman assistant coach cross country and club track teams.