Linebackers Coach

Angels: Assigned P Mike Freehill outright to Triple-A Vancouver.Cardinals: Signed P Armando Almanza, P Mike Busby, P Rich Croushore, P Rick Heiserman, P Curtis King, P Sean Lowe, P Brady Raggio, IF Luis Ordaz, IF Placido Polanco, 1B Chris Richard, OF Scarborough Green and OF Juan Munoz to one-year contracts.Expos: Agreed to terms with former Orioles P Shawn Boskie, P Mike Campbell and OF Chuck Carr on minor-league contracts and invited them to spring training.Mariners: Agreed to terms with P Bob Wells on one-year, $450,000 contract.

BaseballBrewers: Signed C Mike Matheny and IF Ron Belliard to one-year contracts.Yankees: Agreed to terms with P David Weathers on a one-year contract.BasketballClippers: Placed C Stanley Roberts on injured list, activated C Kevin Duckworth.Hornets: Activated F Scott Burrell. Placed G Anthony Goldwire on the injured list. Announced F Earl Cureton has retired and accepted job of assistant strength and conditioning coach.Jazz: Signed Jerry Sloan, coach, to a one-year contract extension, through 1998-99.

BaseballAthletics: Signed 1B-3B Dave Magadan to minor-league contract and invited him to major-league camp.Orioles: Agreed to terms with P Jason Bullard, P Rodney Steph and OF Jason Robertson on minor-league contracts.Rangers: Signed P Duane Ward to Triple-A contract with invitation to major-league camp.Twins: Named Bill Springman coach for Triple-A Salt Lake.BasketballBulls: Activated G Ron Harper from injured list. Placed F Dennis Rodman on suspended list.Raptors: Signed F-C Clifford Rozier to 10-day contract.

BaseballChicago White Sox -- Named Mike Rojas manager, Bill Ballou pitching coach and Dave Keller hitting coach at Single-A Hickory.New York Mets -- Will give nearly 67 percent rebates on their regular ticket prices for home games in which the club uses replacement players.Oakland Athletics -- Sold 1B-DH Troy Neel's contract to the Orix Blue Wave of the Japanese League Pacific Division, reportedly for $1 million. He batted .280 in 230 games over three seasons, including .266 in 1994.BasketballDallas Mavericks -- Signed G-F George McCloud to a 10-day contract.

Baseball Detroit Tigers -- Placed manager Sparky Anderson on leave of absence. Named Tom Runnells interim manager.Philadelphia Phillies -- Signed P Larry Andersen to a minor-league contract. Signed P Billy Phillips as a replacement player.San Francisco Giants -- Former Giants P Masanori Murakami, the only Japanese native to play in the majors, will be a guest coach during spring training.Basketball New York Knicks -- G John Starks is day-to-day with a partially dislocated left shoulder.Philadelphia 76ers -- Signed G Jerome Harmon to a 10-day contract.

Auto racingIndianapolis Raceway Hall of Fame -- Named following candidates for induction: Roger Penske, Mark Donohue, Gordon Johncock, Rene Thomas, Louis Schneider, Lee Wallard, Eddie Sachs, Pat Flaherty, Chet Miller, Roger McCluskey, Arthur Chevrolet, Frank Wheeler, Leon Duray, Jack Brabham, Tom Carnegie and Colin Chapman.BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Signed 2B Lance Robbins from the independent Northern League.Florida Marlins -- Announced a one-year working agreement with the Campeche Piratas of the Mexican Summer League.

BaseballSan Francisco Giants -- Signed P Ed Vande Berg to a minor-league contract.BasketballDetroit Pistons -- Activated G Lindsey Hunter from the injured list. Released G Johnny Dawkins.Golden State Warriors -- Placed F Carlos Rogers on the injured list. Signed G Tim Legler to a 10-day contract.Miami Heat -- Suspended F Kevin Willis for one game without pay for failing to comply with the team's rehabilitation program.Minnesota Timberwolves -- Signed G Darrick Martin for the rest of the season.

BaseballChicago White Sox -- Agreed to terms with 2B Craig Grebeck on a one-year contract.Florida Marlins -- Signed OF Jerry Browne.Minnesota Twins -- Agreed to terms with P Mo Sanford on a minor-league contract.New York Mets -- Traded OF Vince Coleman and cash to the Kansas City Royals for OF Kevin McReynolds.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Agreed to terms with OF Gary Varsho. Signed P Ravelo Manzanillo, P Mike Dyer and P Paul Miller to minor-league contracts.St. Louis Cardinals -- Agreed to terms with former Orioles P John Habyan on a minor-league contract.

Auto racingFormula One -- Simtek Grand Prix team signed Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger for at least the first five races of the season.NASCAR -- Driver Bobby Hillin Jr. resigned from the Winston Cup team owned by Junie Donlavey.BaseballNew York Mets -- Sent SS Tito Navarro, SS Aaron Ledesma and Joe Vitko to their minor-league camp for reassignment.New York Yankees -- Sent SS Derek Jeter and OF Jason Robertson to their minor-league camp for reassignment.San Francisco Giants -- Assigned P Kurt Peltzer, P Steve Soderstrom, C Rob Taylor, C Dan Fernandez and OF Chris Singleton to the minors.

BaseballOrioles -- Announced the resignation of VP of personnel Calvin Hill.Cincinnati Reds -- Signed 1B Doug Jennings and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.Florida Marlins -- Named Donald Smiley president. He had been VP of sales and marketing.Houston Astros -- Agreed to terms with P Darryl Kile (15-8, 3.51 ERA) and C Eddie Taubensee (.250, 9 HRs, 42 RBIs) on one-year contracts.Los Angeles Dodgers -- Signed P Jose Parra to a one-year contract.Milwaukee Brewers -- Agreed to terms with P Marshall Boze, P Tyrone Hill, P Francisco Gamez, OF Duane Singleton, OF Derek Wachter and C Mike Stefanski.

It appears as though Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is finally going to become an NFL head coach, either with the New York Jets, the St. Louis Rams or somebody. When an NFL owner comes to town and spends five hours in an interview, as Jets owner Woody Johnson did with Ryan on Sunday, then it's pretty serious business, and now it becomes only a matter of time. But Ryan's loss could have major ramifications for the Ravens. Throughout the franchise's time in Baltimore, there have been two constants.

After the Ravens made their biggest decision by hiring a new head coach, John Harbaugh now has his own hiring to do. Harbaugh has started the search for a coaching staff, a pivotal process, especially for a rookie head coach. It is believed that the front-runners are Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur for offensive coordinator and Rex Ryan for defensive coordinator. "There are a lot of good football coaches inside this building right now, and there are a lot of really good football coaches outside this building who want to coach for the Baltimore Ravens," Harbaugh said.

Moves Baseball DEVILS RAYS: Designated P John Webb for assignment. DODGERS: Agreed to terms with former Orioles P Scott Erickson on minor league contract. Named Jon Debus bullpen coach and promoted Jim Lett to bench coach. MARLINS: Agreed to terms with 1B Carlos Delgado on multi-year contract. TWINS: Agreed to terms with P C.J. Nitkowski on minor league contract. Basketball GRIZZLIES: Placed F Pau Gasol (foot) and G Andre Emmett (ankle) on injured list. Activated F Ryan Humphrey and F/G Mike Miller from injured list.

The Ravens hired former Miami Dolphins assistant Clarence Brooks as defensive line coach yesterday, a day after he interviewed for the job. Brooks, 53, comes to the Ravens after five years in the same capacity in Miami, where he was not retained by new Dolphins coach Nick Saban. In Miami, Brooks mentored four Pro Bowl players, including three-time selection Jason Taylor. He also received credit for developing undrafted end Adewale Ogunleye, who led the AFC with 15 sacks in 2003 . Brooks will take over a Ravens defense that registered 39 sacks this season and allowed 3.6 yards a rush, which tied for the second-lowest average in the league.

Pro soccer MISL standings Eastern Division W L Pct. GB Philadelphia 8 5 .615 - Cleveland 4 6 .400 2 1/2 Blast 5 8 .385 3 Central Division W L Pct. GB Milwaukee 9 4 .692 - St. Louis 8 5 .615 1 Chicago 6 8 .429 3 1/2 Western Division W L Pct. GB Kansas City 5 3 .625 - San Diego 4 6 .400 2 Monterrey 1 5 .167 3 Today's game Philadelphia at Blast, 6:05 p.m. Moves Baseball ROYALS: Agreed to one-year contract with free-agent P Jose Lima, who...

Question: Brian, is Zeus [Orlando Brown] back? He didn't practice much. Coach Billick: We'll see, he's having to deal with a personal issue, some serious things going on that he has to attend to. I think he should be ready to go for Thursday night but we're going to have to respect what he's dealing with at home. Q: Good to see Todd [Heap] back? Billick: Yeah, running around, we'll decide what he's going to do Thursday night M-{ a series or two. Right now we seem fairly healthy we'll all get a better feel for it once we get through the practice and see where some of the pulls and aches and pains are going.

Describing his style as fast, Ravens outside linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald said he looks forward to his new job with a team he believes can contend for the Super Bowl. FitzGerald, who is at the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., comes to the Ravens after four seasons on the defensive staff of the Arizona Cardinals and will work with linebackers coach Mike Singletary. The team's outside linebackers include a Pro Bowl player (Peter Boulware) and the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year (Terrell Suggs)

Ravens secondary coach Donnie Henderson interviewed for the defensive coordinator position with the New York Jets yesterday. Henderson became the second person to meet with Jets officials, following former New York Giants defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn. Former Buffalo Bills coach Gregg Williams was considered the front-runner, but he accepted the offer to become defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins on Wednesday. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach Ron Rivera, Tennessee Titans linebackers coach Gunther Cunningham and possibly former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Tim Lewis likely will interview with the Jets over the coming weeks.

A YEAR AGO, Ravens coach Brian Billick said he wouldn't let a truck back up to the Owings Mills complex and haul away several of his assistant defensive coaches. The truck is warming up for a possible return visit in 2003. Six NFL head coaches have been fired or have resigned since the season started, including the bizarre resignation of Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier yesterday. There could be more soon. Fortunately for Ravens defensive assistants Donnie Henderson, 46, and Rex Ryan, 41, the openings could lead to jobs as defensive coordinators.

Moves Baseball ATHLETICS: Announced retirement of OF David Justice. CARDINALS: Agreed with IF Wilson Delgado, P Rick Ankiel, P Chance Caple, P Jimmy Journell, P Jeremy Lambert, P Scotty Layfield, P Josh Pearce and P Les Walrond on one-year contracts. DEVIL RAYS: Signed 1B Travis Lee, who had been with Phillies, to one-year contract with mutual option for 2004. Agreed with SS Hector Luna, P Gerardo Garcia, P Seth McClung and P Matt White on one-year contracts. INDIANS: Signed P Paul Rigdon, P Rafael Betancourt, IF Ron Wright and OF Brant Brown to minor-league contracts.