Off the wire

FOOTBALL

Chiefs, Mauga do deal

The Kansas City Chiefs moved swiftly to solidify the middle linebacker spot Friday, agreeing to terms with veteran Josh Mauga on a three-year contract. The deal will not become official until Monday, a person familiar with it told The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the team had not confirmed the contract. The Chiefs also tendered wide receiver Junior Hemingway, an exclusive-rights free agent. Hemingway had 12 catches for 108 yards last season. Mauga signed with the Chiefs last offseason and wound up playing a vital role in a defense that was among the league’s best. The Chiefs lost Joe Mays to wrist surgery in training camp and Derrick

Johnson to a torn Achilles tendon in the season opener, forcing Mauga into a starting role the entire season. He wound up making a career-best 102 tackles. Mauga wasn’t without his share of critics, though. The middle linebacker is designed to make stops in the Kansas City defense, and Mauga missed his share of opportunities. The move to retain him came one day after the Chiefs parted ways with Mays, saving about $3 million in salary cap space. Kansas City cleared nearly $2 million more Friday by cutting veteran defensive tackle Vance Walker, who signed a three-year, $13 million deal last offseason.

David Harris is staying put. And for big money. The free agent linebacker re-signed with the New York Jets, the team announced Friday. Harris signed a three-year deal worth $21.5 million, a source told

Newsday. The deal includes $15 million guaranteed over the first two years of the contract. The 31-yearold Harris was able to take advantage of a weak middle linebacker market in free agency — and the Jets were able to retain one of their productive defenders. In eight years, he’s recorded 884 tackles, 30 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 6 interceptions. The Buffalo Bills, now coached by

Rex Ryan, also coveted Harris. And it seemed likely that Ryan would land his former linebacker after the Bills traded Kiko Alonso earlier this week in exchange for running back LeSean McCoy. But in the end, the money offered by new Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan was too good for Harris to pass up.

The Carolina Panthers have been looking for a left tackle. They found one who inspired a movie — and they hope he has a Hollywood ending left in him. The Panthers announced Friday they have signed former Baltimore and Tennessee offensive tackle Michael Oher to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Oher will get the first crack to replace Byron Bell, an unrestricted free agent who will not be re-signed after a disappointing 2014. Bell moved from the right side after longtime left tackle Jordan Gross retired last year. Oher’s rags-to-riches story was turned into the 2009 film

The Blind Side. Oher, 28, the Ravens’ first-round pick in 2009, started 80 consecutive games in his five seasons with Baltimore. He played both right and left tackle, and was on the left side in 2012 during the Ravens’ Super Bowl-winning season. Oher struggled in Tennessee after the Titans signed him to a five-year, $20 million deal last offseason. Oher was ranked among the 10 worst tackles in the league by Pro Football Focus in 2014, and was waived-injured on Feb. 5.

The Oakland Raiders have released linebacker Nick Roach and safety Usama Young. The Raiders made the moves Friday citing failed physicals for both players. Roach was signed in 2013 to be the starting middle linebacker and played well his first season. But he was sidelined by a concussion in the third preseason game last year and was never able to return to the field. Young played 18 games in two seasons with the Raiders but he was hampered by injuries. He ended both seasons on injured reserve with a neck injury in 2013 and a knee injury last season.

The Chicago Bears and quarterback Jimmy Clausen have agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2015 season. The Bears announced the move on Friday. Clausen appeared in four games and made one start for Chicago late last season after former coach Marc

Trestman benched Jay Cutler. He completed 26 of 48 passes for 223 yards, had 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Clausen went 183 of 347 for 1,781 yards, had 5 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 17 appearances for Carolina (2010-13) and Chicago (2014).

TENNIS

Ward tops Isner

James Ward came from two sets down to beat John Isner in a Davis Cup match that lasted almost five hours on Friday, giving Britain a 2-0 lead over the United States in the first round. The 111th-ranked Ward produced a big upset, clinching a 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3), 15-13 victory on his sixth match point against the 20th-ranked American at Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Earlier, Andy Murray beat Donald

Young 6-1, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 in his first match in his native Scotland since winning Wimbledon in 2013. Britain is on course to beat the U.S. team for the second consecutive year at this stage in the World Group. Britain would clinch the match today if it wins the doubles.

BASEBALL

Collazo to plead guilty

Former University of Miami pitching coach Lazaro “Laser”

Collazo will plead guilty to lesser charges in the baseball steroid investigation involving a South Florida anti-aging clinic, Collazo’s attorney said Friday. Federal prosecutors Friday dropped the more serious steroid distribution counts against him in favor of two simple testosterone possession charges, each punishable by a year in prison. Some of the previous charges carried potential 10-year prison terms. Defense attorney Frank Quintero confirmed in a written statement that Collazo, 51, will plead guilty to the misdemeanor charges after reaching what he called a “compromise and resolution of the case against him.” A plea hearing is set for March 16 before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Collazo was among eight people indicted last summer in the steroids scandal involving the nowclosed Biogenesis of America clinic operated by Anthony Bosch. Once Collazo pleads guilty, only Yuri Sucart — cousin of New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez — would still await trial on April 6. Bosch himself was sentenced to four years in prison. Fourteen ballplayers linked to Bosch’s clinic were suspended last year, including Rodriguez for the entire season. Rodriguez, 39, is now back with the Yankees at spring training in the Tampa area, working as a designated hitter.