Steelers' Porter leads high-profile cuts list

Former Colorado State athlete Joey Porter was released Thursday by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The 29-year-old Porter, who was in the final year of his contract, had been the starting right outside linebacker since 2000, the year after he was drafted by the Steelers.

Porter was to receive a $1 million bonus Tuesday and was to earn $4 million in 2007.

"It's a business decision that was made," Steelers spokesman Dave Lockett said.

Porter played 122 games and made 106 starts. His 60 sacks rank fourth in team history.

"The organization has always been good to me," Porter said. "It was a great run in Pittsburgh. I have no problem with them at all."

Porter wasn't alone on a day filled with high-profile cuts.

• Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, was benched during the season, was released by the Dallas Cowboys.

• The New Orleans Saints released four-time Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn, who asked to be let go after the Saints asked him to take a pay cut.

• Receiver Keenan McCardell was released by the San Diego Chargers, who also got rid of linebacker Steve Foley and safety Terrence Kiel.

• The Minnesota Vikings released three former starters: cornerback Fred Smoot, tight end Jermaine Wiggins and tackle Mike Rosenthal.

• The Miami Dolphins released offensive linemen Seth McKinney and Bennie Anderson.

• The San Francisco 49ers waived troubled receiver Antonio Bryant.

LET'S MAKE A DEAL Fred Taylor signed a three-year contract extension with Jacksonville that could keep the running back with the Jaguars through the 2010 season.

In other deals:

• Bill Parcells is returning as an analyst at ESPN, the network he left to coach the Cowboys.

• Receiver Jerricho Cotchery signed a contract extension with the New York Jets.

• Defensive lineman Bryant Young agreed to return for a 14th season with the 49ers.

KIDNEY DONATION Former Cowboys running back Ron Springs was recovering after receiving a kidney donated by former teammate Everson Walls. The transplant operation was performed Wednesday in Dallas.

DESTROYERS WIN Matt Nagy threw for seven touchdowns to help the Columbus Destroyers beat the Nashville Kats 58-56 in the opening game of the Arena Football League's 21st season.

STAYING PUT Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer signed a two-year contract extension but received no raise, keeping him at the university until 2013.

YOUNG SIGNS Shortstop Michael Young has agreed to a contract extension reportedly worth about $80 million for for five seasons with the Texas Rangers.

RAISE FOR CAIN Right-hander Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a four- year, $9 million contract

UNDER MICROSCOPE Major League Baseball officials want more information about allegations on whether Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. received human growth hormone from a pharmacy that's part of a steroids investigation.

LIDLE SUIT New York dentist Lawrence Rosenthal filed a $7 million lawsuit against the estate of late New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle, claiming his home was destroyed when the ballplayer's small airplane crashed into his apartment building in October.

COACH CRASH Atlanta Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia was driving in Kissimmee, Fla., when another motorist slammed into this car, causing it to flip over and skid along the road on its roof. Cadahia was released after being examined at a nearby hospital.

ZETTERBERG ABSENCE Detroit Red Wings forward and leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg is expected to be out two to three weeks with an inflamed disk in his back.

NHL TO LONDON The NHL will play regular-season games for the first time in Europe with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings opening the 2007-08 season by playing two games in London.

FEDERER SURVIVES Top-ranked Roger Federer dropped a set for the second time in three matches, yet defeated Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 to reach the Dubai Open semifinals.

BLAKE PASS Top-seeded James Blake was given a quarterfinal spot in the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas, hours after the ATP Tour initially ruled he had been eliminated during round-robin play.

U.S. GOLD Stephen Carriere surged from sixth after the short program to win the men's competition at the Junior World Figure Skating Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, the second gold medal in two days for the United States.

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