Clark gets six-year contract from Colts

One day after the Colts announced they designated Dallas Clark their franchise player, the team signed its star tight end to a six-year contract. Terms were not disclosed, but a source close to the negotiations said the deal will make Clark (58 catches, 11 TDs last season) the NFL's highest-paid player at his position even though he's never been selected to the Pro Bowl. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because of a clause in the contract. The Colts also signed starting guard Ryan Lilja to a five-year deal that was worth about $19 million and included a signing bonus of roughly $4.5 million . . . The Titans tagged All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth as their franchise player to keep him from leaving as a free agent . . . The Packers designated defensive tackle Corey Williams as their franchise player and cut veteran tight end Bubba Franks . . . The Raiders placed the franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Another Raiders cornerback, Fabian Washington, was released on bond after being arrested late Tuesday at the Bradenton, Fla., home he shares with his girlfriend and charged with domestic battery . . . The Vikings released veteran safety Dwight Smith after two seasons.

Detroit Red Wings star Nicklas Lidstrom expects to be out three weeks with an injured right knee. Lidstrom said his knee is sore, but it felt better than he thought it would be after being slammed into the boards by Colorado's Ian Laperriere Monday night. The five-time Norris Trophy winner said Laperriere's hit was not dirty. Goaltender Dominik Hasek and defenseman Brian Rafalski were put on injured reserve with groin injuries, adding to Detroit's woes . . . The Philadelphia Flyers must continue their playoff push without forward Simon Gagne, who was told by a concussion specialist he should sit out the rest of the year because of lingering symptoms of three concussions suffered this season. Gagne has been limited to 25 games this season, and hasn't played since Feb. 10 . . . Dallas Stars center Stu Barnes will miss 7-10 days following surgery to repair a partially torn retina . . . NHL general managers wrapped up three days of meetings in Naples, Fla., without making any major trades or significant rule changes. In one announced deal, the Calgary Flames acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer from the Flyers for a 2009 third-round draft pick.

Devin Harris said it could be two more weeks before he makes his debut with the New Jersey Nets. Harris, part of the eight-player trade that sent Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks, will replace Kidd at point guard but a nagging ankle injury has kept him sidelined for three weeks. "It's just not really responding," Harris said . . . The San Antonio Spurs acquired veteran forward Kurt Thomas from the Seattle SuperSonics for guard Brent Barry, center Francisco Elson, and a 2009 first-round draft pick . . . The Philadelphia 76ers and coach Maurice Cheeks agreed to a one-year contract extension. Cheeks is in the final season of a three-year deal . . . Having lost its final appeal, Ohio State will pay former men's basketball coach Jim O'Brien almost $3 million for wrongfully firing him in 2004.

Kenny Mansally and Adam Cristman scored as the Revolution took a 2-0 win over the host Bermuda national team in a preseason game in Hamilton. The Revolution started with a 3-5-2 alignment with Chris Albright, Michael Parkhurst, and Jay Heaps in defense; Sainey Nyassi, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Steve Ralston, and Khano Smith in midfield; and Mansally and Cristman at forward. The Revolution are 8-0-1 in preseason games in Bermuda since 2005.

FRANK DELL'APA

Robby Gordon was docked 100 points and his crew chief was suspended for six races and fined $100,000 as NASCAR penalized 10 teams in its three different national series for infractions found at Daytona International Speedway last week. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of seven drivers penalized for Nationwide Series infractions, and six crew chiefs were suspended. Todd Bodine, winner of the Truck Series race, and two crew chiefs were penalized in that series. The harshest penalty went to Gordon, who had an unapproved front bumper cover on his No. 7 Dodge during opening-day inspection for the Daytona 500. The deduction of points drops him from eighth in the standings to 40th . . . Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, top-seeded Ana Ivanovic, and No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the third round at the Qatar Open in Doha. No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and No. 6 Venus Williams also moved on, but Li Na upset No. 5 Anna Chakvetadze, 7-6, (9-7), 6-4 . . . Japanese teen star Kei Nishikori won his 10th straight ATP match, beating Diego Hartfield, 7-5, 6-3, to advance to the second round of the SAP Open in San Jose, Calif. Nishikori will next face top seed Andy Roddick, a 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5 (7-5) winner over Chris Guccione . . . Champions Cup Boston announced that Todd Martin will join Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, and Jim Courier for the series' indoor event at Agganis Arena April 30-May 4.