FOOTBALL

RICE SIGNS ONE-YEAR DEAL WITH DENVER

Jerry Rice agreed to a one-year deal with Denver yesterday and will attempt to finish his career as a backup for the Broncos. The 42-year-old receiver will be reunited with coach Mike Shanahan, who was his offensive coordinator in San Francisco from 1992-94. Details weren’t disclosed by the team, but Rice’s agent, Jim Steiner, said the contract was for one year – and that Rice has no plans to play beyond the 2005-06 season. Last week, Shanahan said Rice wouldn’t be guaranteed a spot on the roster.

Rice was released by San Francisco after the 2000 season and signed with the Raiders. In 2002, Rice had 92 catches for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns, helping Oakland reach the Super Bowl. But Rice started being phased out of the Raiders’ offense the next year, catching 63 passes and two TDs. He was traded to Seattle and ended last season with 30 catches for 429 yards, the lowest totals of his career except for an injury-plagued season in 1997.

Rice is the NFL’s career leader in receptions with 1,549, total yards with 22,895, and touchdowns receiving with 197 – all far ahead of anyone else. He also leads in total touchdowns with 207, 32 more than Emmitt Smith.

NFL OWNERS APPROVE SALE OF VIKINGS

NFL owners unanimously approved the $600 million sale of the Minnesota Vikings to a group led by New Jersey shopping mall magnate Zygmunt Wilf yesterday. Wilf, a lifelong New York Giants fan, immediately pledged to work to build a new stadium to replace the Metrodome, but he vowed that the team will stay in Minnesota. He said he plans to move forward on a plan for a new stadium, preferably an outdoor venue that will re-establish a home field weather advantage.

WARNER NAMED STARTER IN ARIZONA

Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green confirmed yesterday that Kurt Warner, who signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the team in early March, will be the team’s starting quarterback. Warner, who will turn 34 next month, has said he expected to start, but Green had stated the former Super Bowl MVP would have to compete with Josh McCown for the job.

BASEBALL

COLIN POWELL AMONG BIDDERS FOR NATIONALS

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell joined one of nine groups bidding to buy the Washington Nationals from Major League Baseball. Powell was one of three new investors who were announced yesterday. The franchise was purchased by the other 29 major league teams for $120 million in 2002, and MLB is expected to get more than $300 million in a sale it hopes to complete this year. Nine potential ownership groups have paid $100,000 deposits to enter the bidding.

GOLF

NICKLAUS TO PLAY IN MEMORIAL

Jack Nicklaus said he would play in the Memorial Tournament next week, making him the only golfer to have played in all 30 years in the PGA Tour event he created, hosts, and has won twice.

Nicklaus, 65, tied for 63rd place last year at the Memorial, finishing with a 1-under 71. The only other PGA Tour event he has played this year is the Masters, where he missed the cut and then said he was done competing at Augusta National.

Nicklaus also plans to play the British Open for the last time at St. Andrews in July. He said that would be his last tournament, although the 18-time major winner has said the Memorial is one tournament he might continue playing. Nicklaus helped design Muirfield Village and founded the tournament in 1976.

– Associated Press