Edmonton sends MacTavish packing

Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the most productive running backs in the league the last three years, totaling 6,003 all-purpose yards and scoring 40 touchdowns, signed a five-year, $31 million contract with the Jaguars that includes $17.5 million guaranteed. Jones-Drew replaced Fred Taylor as the feature back. Taylor signed with the Patriots after being released in February . . . Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the Cardinals will listen to offers for wide receiver Anquan Boldin, according to a report on ESPN. Boldin has asked to be traded . . . Duke point guard Greg Paulus visited the University of Michigan to explore the possibility of transferring to Ann Arbor to play football, Duke spokesman Art Chase said. Paulus, who played four years of basketball at Duke, would have one season of football eligibility.

Yankees right fielder Xavier Nady will be put on the disabled list with a right elbow injury and could be sidelined for an extended period. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said the initial report from an MRI on Nady's elbow "is not good." "We're planning on DLing him [today]," Girardi said. Nick Swisher will replace Nady in right field . . . The Cardinals placed righthander Chris Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left ribcage and said he could be out 4-8 weeks. The 33-year-old starter is expected to undergo an MRI in the next few days . . . Righthander Alfredo Simon (elbow) and third baseman Melvin Mora (hamstring) were put on the 15-day disabled list by the Orioles . . .

Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis confirms he talked with his family about whether they thought he should quit after last season, though he said he never wanted to leave. "Like anyone who has a situation that is uncertain, as any husband and father would do, you address it with your wife and you address it with your kids. And you talk about the what if," Weis said. "But does that mean that at any time that I thought that I wasn't going to be here? When you're around a long time in this business, what you learn is you have to deal with the negatives." The comments were in response to a Chicago Tribune report in which Weis said he thought about returning to the NFL as an offensive coordinator . . . Isiah Thomas was introduced as Florida International's new coach, three days shy of the one-year anniversary of his firing as coach of the Knicks. Thomas will not accept a salary in his first season . . . Kentucky sophomore forward Patrick Patterson will test the NBA waters but will not hire an agent, as will Notre Dame junior forward Luke Harangody, Texas junior swingman Damion James, and Gonzaga sophomore forward Austin Daye . . . Boston University forward Jake O'Brien, the America East Rookie of the Year, has been granted his release to transfer . . . North Carolina State has chosen Western Carolina's Kellie Harper to replace Hall of Famer Kay Yow as the Wolfpack's women's basketball coach . . . The University of Maine, scrambling to ease a projected $871,000 shortfall in its athletics budget, is suspending its women's volleyball and men's soccer programs.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a spectacular 40-yard shot in the sixth minute, and defending champion Manchester United defeated host Porto, 1-0, to advance to the European Champions League semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory. In the semifinals, Manchester United will meet Arsenal, which defeated Spain's Villarreal, 3-0, to advance on 4-1 aggregate . . . One-time Kentucky Derby favorite Old Fashioned has been retired from racing after knee surgery. The colt injured the knee in the Arkansas Derby Saturday . . . Welterweight champion Andre Berto (24-0, 19 KOs) will defend his World Boxing Council belt against junior welterweight titleholder Juan Urango (21-1, 16 KOs) May 30 in Hollywood, Fla. . . . Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson became the first female gymnast to win the Sullivan Award, which is given to the country's top amateur athlete . . . Broadcaster Merle Harmon, who called pro and college sports for NBC and ABC, died in Arlington, Texas, after a long illness. He was 82.