Patriots sign offensive lineman Doty

The Patriots yesterday signed free agent Jon Doty, a 6-foot-7-inch, 300-pound offensive tackle who played 10 games for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Carolina in April 2005, the Kansas State product was released in the Panthers' final cuts. He was signed to the Giants' practice squad in December before being released in May . . . Quarterback Steve McNair passed his physical and immediately jumped to the top of the Ravens' depth chart ahead of Kyle Boller a day after Tennessee traded the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback to Baltimore in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick next spring . . . The Buffalo Bills acquired linebacker Courtney Watson from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for reserve tight end Tim Euhus.

The Oakland Athletics placed Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list with a strained ligament in his right elbow. Harden had just come back from the DL with a torn oblique muscle and made only one start . . . Chicago Cubs righthander Kerry Wood, who has been bothered by stiffness in his pitching shoulder, was told it was a normal part of his recovery by Dr. Timothy Kremchek, who cleaned out his rotator cuff and reinforced his labrum last August . . . Matt Ginter allowed four hits over seven innings to lead the Pawtucket Red Sox to a 6-3 win over the host Indianapolis Indians.

The Toronto Raptors traded former first-round draft pick Rafael Araujo to the Utah Jazz for forward Kris Humphries and center Robert Whaley. Toronto drafted Araujo with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 draft, but he ended up a bust -- averaging just 2.9 points and 3 rebounds in 111 games . . . Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph was a passenger of a driver cited for racing in downtown Portland early yesterday, police said. Taquan Portis, 22, was cited for four traffic violations. Police found two loaded handguns in the car, but Randolph was not cited because he has a concealed weapons permit.

The second stripper at a Duke University lacrosse team party told police early in the investigation that she had been with a woman most of the night who accused team members of raping her and that the charges were a ``crock," according to a court filing. The statement by Kim Roberts is cited in a filing by lawyers for Reade Seligmann, 20, of Essex Falls, N.J., one of three team members charged with rape. According to a March 20 statement written by Durham Police Investigator Benjamin Himan that is attached to the filing, Roberts ``stated that she heard that [the accuser] was sexually assaulted, which she stated is a `crock' and she stated that she was with her the whole time until she left." . . . Boston University announced the signing of five men's basketball recruits, including two-time Globe All-Scholastic Corey Lowe, a 6-foot-2-inch guard from Newton North. Also signed were Scott Brittain, a 6-8 forward from Oakville, Ontario; 6-7 forward Valdas Sirutis of Gargzdai, Lithuania; Sherrod Smith, a 6-4 guard from Milwaukee; and Carlos Strong, a 6-3 guard from Portland, Maine.

Brian Vickers asked for and received permission from Hendrick Motorsports to look for a new ride, and Casey Mears was in line to replace him after informing car owner Chip Ganassi he won't be returning next year. Mears's decision comes after weeks of his steadfast claims that he wanted to extend his contract with Ganassi and was not interested in talking to other teams. Car owner Rick Hendrick has been committed to the 22-year-old Vickers, and recently gave him a multiyear extension that had not been previously announced. It's unclear why Vickers wants to leave one of NASCAR's super-teams . . . As expected, the New York Islanders named Neil Smith general manager and Ted Nolan coach. The team also announced former Islander Pat LaFontaine will join the team as a senior adviser . . . Ante Razov scored two early goals in a six-minute span to lift Chivas USA to a 2-1 MLS victory over host Los Angeles.