Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

WR Carter resumes career at Miami

MIAMI -- The Dolphins lured Cris Carter out of the broadcast studio and out of retirement thanks to some arm-twisting by one of their biggest fans: Dan Marino.

The former quarterback persuaded HBO colleague Carter to put his television career on hold and join the Dolphins to bolster their injury-plagued receiving corps.

Carter, who ranks second to Jerry Rice in career receptions and touchdown catches, signed a one-year contract Monday that will pay him $550,000, with another $700,000 possible through incentives.

When the Dolphins contacted Carter Wednesday, he was reluctant to return. Marino swayed him.

"Marino's crazy," said Carter, who turns 37 next month. "I had squashed the whole idea -- "I'm not going to do it.' Danny and I were getting ready to go into the studio, and I tell him, and he just goes ballistic -- "You've got to do it. You can still play. It's a great situation for you.' "

By Saturday, Carter had a tentative deal with the Dolphins.

REDSKINS: Coach Steve Spurrier's latest quarterback change came with a warning label: He announced Shane Matthews had regained the starting job, then conceded that whoever holds the position is "going to get hit" playing behind an offensive line that allowed six sacks in Sunday's 30-9 loss at Green Bay.

Spurrier's third starting quarterback change of the season came after rookie Patrick Ramsey struggled for consecutive weeks, fumbling five times and overthrowing several open receivers against the Packers.

VIKINGS: Running back Doug Chapman was hospitalized with abdominal pain and internal bleeding, and he was to be kept overnight for observation. Chapman woke up in pain, and coach Mike Tice said he believed the soreness came from a hit Chapman took on a kickoff return during Sunday's 20-7 loss to the Jets.

AGENT PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD: Former sports agent Marion Darnell Jones, the 40-year-old former president of Summit Management, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of defrauding a bank of $248,000. Jones is accused of mishandling the assets of Redskins running back Stephen Davis and other professional athletes.

49ERS-SAINTS FAN: The fan who ran onto the field and offered his autograph to players during a game between host New Orleans and San Francisco acted on a dare, police spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo said. Otis Henry, 50, was booked for trespassing.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright