Newsmakers
Reported A verbal agreement with Flip Saunders has been reached on a four-year, $18 million contract to become coach of the Washington Wizards, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday. While terms have been agreed upon, sources says, the deal won’t be finalized until Saunders returns a signed contract to Washington. Nevertheless, the two sides have completed most of the negotiations. Saunders was telling associates on Monday that he is accepting the job, and team officials are planning to introduce him at a news conference early next week.
Extended The Pittsburgh Steelers and outside linebacker James Harrison reached terms on a $51.75 million, six-year contract that will make him the second highest-paid player in franchise history. The contract set to be announced today will pay the NFL Defensive Player of the Year a guaranteed $20 million – more than any other player in team history except Ben Roethlisberger.
Added The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed quarterback Byron Leftwich as a free agent. Leftwich, heading into his seventh NFL season, was a backup for the Steelers last year and threw for two touchdowns while filling in for Ben Roethlisberger.
Signed Kansas City has signed free agent linebacker Zach Thomas in an effort to fix one of the weakest positions on a team that went 2-14 last year. Thomas has made the Pro Bowl seven times, but not since 2006. He played last year with Dallas and was an unrestricted free agent. The Chiefs also waived wide receiver Will Franklin. Franklin made one start last year and appeared in 13 games.
Fired The Colorado Avalanche fired general manager Francois Giguere, saying fans and management “deserve better” than a last-place finish in the Western Conference. Team president Pierre Lacroix called the season “unacceptable” and will oversee the Avalanche until a replacement is hired.
Entered Memphis junior forward Shawn Taggart has submitted his name for the 2009 NBA draft. Taggart said in a statement from the university that he wants to test the waters and see what feedback he gets following encouragement from the team’s new coach, Josh Pastner. He graduates in May but still has one year of college eligibility.