Joe Bugel

Steelers' Long can practice, report saysPittsburgh Steelers guard Terry Long was granted NFL approval to return to practice with the team pending an appeal of his positive result on a steroids test, according to a published report.Long, who twice tried to kill himself twice after learning the test results, received notice from the NFL this week that he can rejoin the Steelers, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported today.The newspaper said Long can practice until commissioner Paul Tagliabue hears the case and delivers a ruling.

Five coaches who could be job-hunting by the end of the year:Cowboys' Barry Switzer: At least Barry can always say he won a Super Bowl.Bears' Dave Wannstedt: Unsettled quarterback situation and working on third personnel man in five years. (Got contract extension through 2000.)Raiders' Joe Bugel: The puppet coach for Al Davis.dTC Seahawks' Dennis Erickson: Paul Allen didn't put up all that money for mediocrity.Vikings' Dennis Green: After four playoff losses, he needs a postseason win desperately.

Quarterback Gary Hogeboom is doing his best to assure the Phoenix Cardinals that he didn't malign their organization this week.When Hogeboom arrived in Washington Tuesday to join the Redskins, he told reporters, "It's good to be here with a class organization because once you've been in the league -- this is my 11th year -- you find out what the class organizations are, ones that are a little different."That remark was interpreted by Phoenix coach Joe Bugel as meaning that the Cardinals are not a class organization.

Joe Bugel, the Phoenix Cardinals head coach and former coach of the Washington Redskins offensive line, is trying to lure another Hog to Phoenix.Bugel, who signed Mark May, a former Redskins lineman, from the San Diego Chargers' Plan B unprotected list, had offensive lineman Joe Jacoby in for a visit yesterday.Although the Redskins left him unprotected because, they said, he told them he wouldn't leave, Jacoby wouldn't rule out the possibility of signing with the Cardinals."I'm just looking out for my interests and my family," he told reporters in Phoenix.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- It had the makings of a heartwarming story.Stan Gelbaugh, the former Maryland quarterback who was selling copying machines in suburban Maryland a year ago before becoming the most valuable player in the World League of American Football, was within 30 minutes of the highlight of his short NFL career.Completing nine of 16 passes for 105 yards, Gelbaugh drove the Phoenix Cardinals to a 14-0 halftime lead over the Washington Redskins. He had the shot at pulling off the biggest upset of the season.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Joe Bugel blames himself.He also blames his former Phoenix Cardinals assistants, or anybody else who ever told him that Ivory Lee Brown wasn't ready to carry the ball in the NFL.Since watching Brown throw his 245 pounds around for the San Antonio Riders this spring, Bugel has been kicking himself up and down the NFC East cellar."

The Los Angeles Rams and the Phoenix Cardinals have become the first teams to say publicly that they would be interested in talking to defensive lineman Dexter Manley if he becomes eligible to play in the National Football League next week."

Moves Baseball ATHLETICS: Released former Orioles OF Chris Singleton after declining to exercise $1.8 million contract option for 2004. RANGERS: Agreed to terms with former Orioles P John Wasdin on minor-league contract. Re-signed P Erick Burke, C Danny Ardoin and former Orioles IF Manny Alexander to minor-league contracts. MARINERS: Extended working agreement with Inland Empire of Single-A California League through 2006. SHOREBIRDS (South Atlantic League): Named Stephen Yaros general manager.

BaseballAstros: Signed 3B Sean Berry for $995,000. He had sought $1.19 M in arbitration; club had offered $800,000.Athletics: Traded OF-DH Danny Tartabull to the White Sox for P Andrew Lorraine and minor-league OF Charlie Poe.Brewers: Designated P Marshall Boze for assignment.Cardinals: Traded OF Bernard Gilkey to Mets for three minor-leaguers: P Eric Ludwig, P Eric Hiljus and OF Yudith Ozorio. Gave OF Ray Lankford $12.5 million, three-year deal with option for fourth year; he was asking for $4.2 M in arbitration and club was offering $3.7 M.Phillies: Signed 2B Mickey Morandini for $1.75 million.

2/3 TC For the San Francisco 49ers, there's no quarterback question about it -- it's Steve Bono.With a three-game winning streak to his credit and the other Steve still slowed by a bum knee, Bono remains the 49ers' starting quarterback -- at least for another week -- as San Francisco suddenly finds postseason play no longer out of the question."