Report: Jets looking to land Ravens LB

February 21, 2009

The New York Jets released veteran tight end Chris Baker yesterday as the team continues to make over its roster. Baker, 29, was due $9 million in guarantees over the next three seasons if he remained on the roster March 5. The move, combined with the releases Thursday of backup linebackers David Bowens and Brad Kassell, is to open cap space to go after one of two Baltimore Ravens free agent linebackers, Ray Lewis or Bart Scott, the New York Daily News reported . . . Linebacker Marcus Washington was released by the Washington Redskins, saving the team about $4 million. Washington, 31, had no sacks last season for the first time in his nine-year career . . . Tackle Vernon Carey signed a multi-year contract extension with the Miami Dolphins . . . General manager George Kokinis said the Cleveland Browns are willing to let Derek Anderson battle Brady Quinn for the starting quarterback job next season. Anderson is due a $5 million roster bonus next month . . . Judge Christina M. Habas entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Willie D. Clark, 25, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams in 2007.

Larry H. Miller, the car sales mogul who turned the Utah Jazz into one of the NBA's most stable teams, died from complications of type 2 diabetes. He was 64 . . . The Indiana Pacers said guard Mike Dunleavy will be out indefinitely with a sore right knee . . . Lazare Adingono, an assistant coach at Canisius who coached the Cameroon national team in the Olympic qualifying tournament last year, has been arrested in Buffalo on charges of using a belt to beat his 4-year-old son.

Todd Lodwick won the Nordic combined event at the world championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, to give the United States two golds. Hours after Lindsey Van became the first women's ski jumping world champion, Lodwick clinched gold with jumps of 100.5 and 97.5 meters. Van nailed a perfect second jump. Women's ski jumping is debuting at this year’s Nordic skiing world championships . . . Maria Riesch edged Lindsey Vonn to win a World Cup super-combi race in Tarvisio, Italy, and Anja Paerson claimed the discipline title by finishing fifth. Vonn leads the overall standings with 1,194 points, 159 ahead of Riesch.

Venus Williams beat younger sister Serena, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), to reach the final of the Dubai Championship. Venus now leads the career series between the American sisters, 10-9. She will face Virginie Razzano in today's final. Razzano rolled past 16th-seeded Kaia Kanepi, 6-1, 6-2. The WTA, meanwhile, announced it has fined the tournament organizers a record $300,000 after Israeli player Shahar Peer was denied a visa by the United Arab Emirates . . . Andy Roddick said he won't defend his title in Dubai next week because he disagrees with the United Arab Emirates' decision to deny Peer a visa to play in the women's tournament. Roddick announced his decision after beating Sam Querrey, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to reach the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. He will play Lleyton Hewitt, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Christophe Rochus.

The Montreal Canadiens said they are troubled about allegations that three of their players have been socializing with a man recently arrested on drug charges. The French-language daily La Presse reported that Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Roman Hamrlik had social ties with Pasquale Mangiola, who was arrested Feb. 12. The newspaper said none of the three players is suspected of any criminal activity . . . The Ottawa Senators acquired center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli from the New York Islanders for center Dean McAmmond and a first-round draft pick . . . Daryl Veltman had four goals and three assists and Nick Cotter added three goals, lifting the Boston Blazers (5-3) to a 16-12 win over the Minnesota Swarm in St. Paul. Blazers defenseman Mitch Belisle and goalie Anthony Cosmo were named as reserves for the National Lacrosse League All-Star Game.