Collins Signs Extension With Giants

The New York Giants signed quarterback Kerry Collins through the 2004 season, agreeing to a two-year contract extension Wednesday, less than 24 hours before the start of training camp.

Collins, who would have become a free agent after this season, will earn $15.4 million over the next three seasons. The deal will create enough salary cap room to enable the Giants to re-sign backup quarterback Jason Garrett.

Collins, who led the Giants to the Super Bowl in the 2000 season, would have earned $4 million this season in the final year of a four-year, $16-million contract.

Under terms of the extension, Collins will receive a $5.85-million signing bonus, but his salary this year will drop to $650,000. Over the next two years, he will earn a combined $8 million to $9 million.

“I’m excited,� said Collins, who has thrown every pass for the Giants over the last two seasons. “I want to be here.... I didn’t want to go through this season as a lame-duck quarterback.�

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Pittsburgh Steeler defensive end Aaron Smith avoided a threatened holdout, reaching terms on a five-year contract extension.

Smith, who had eight sacks last season as a pass-rushing end in the Steelers’ 3-4 alignment, will play this season under the $1.227-million offer tendered him in February.

His $24-million, five-year extension kicks in next season. The contract includes a $5.5-million signing bonus.

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First-round draft choice Marc Colombo agreed to a five-year, $5.6-million contract with the Chicago Bears. The deal includes a $3.1-million signing bonus.

Colombo, a 6-foot-7, 320-pound tackle from Boston College, will compete with Bernard Robertson for the starting spot at left tackle. Colombo was selected 29th overall in April’s draft.

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New Orleans Saint cornerback Kevin Mathis, trying to return from a neck injury, was cut after failing a physical.

Mathis injured his neck making a tackle Dec. 30 against Washington.

Mathis, acquired by New Orleans in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys before the 2000 season, had 166 tackles in 30 games with the Saints.

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Indianapolis Colt running back Edgerrin James was fined $500 at Fort Myers, Fla., and his driver’s license was suspended for a month for speeding in his hometown.

James was caught driving at 111 mph in a 60-mph zone May 8 in Immokalee, about 125 miles southeast of Tampa, Fla.

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Ariko Iso was hired by the Steelers as an assistant athletic trainer, making her the NFL’s first full-time female trainer.

Iso spent the last five seasons as the head football trainer at Portland State. She gained NFL experience by working as an intern at the Steelers’ last two training camps.

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A federal jury ruled in favor of the Baltimore Ravens in a lawsuit filed by an artist who claimed the team used a logo he designed without paying him.

Frederick Bouchat was seeking $2.2 million for logo use on merchandise, along with $416,000 generated by souvenir cup sales.