FOOTBALL

PEYTON MANNING AGREES TO RESTRUCTURE CONTRACT

Peyton Manning has agreed to restructure his contract with the Indianapolis Colts to save the team nearly $8 million in salary cap space.

The Super Bowl MVP was to receive a $10 million roster bonus during the off-season but by converting the money into a regular signing bonus, the Colts can pro rate that amount over the remaining four years of his deal That saves Indianapolis space under the cap, which is $109 mil lion.

The restructuring was disclosed to the Associated Press yesterday by a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been signed.

A Colts spokesman, Craig Kelley said the team had no comment.

Manning signed a $98 million contract in March 2004, the season after he shared the league’s MVP award with Steve McNair.

SOCCER

LIVERPOOL TOPS BARCELONA IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAY

Liverpool rallied for a 2–1 victory at defending champion Barcelona last night in the second round of the European Champions League, and Internazionale of Milan was held to a 2–2 tie by visiting Valencia.

In a matchup of the last two winners of European soccer’s most prestigious club competition, Craig Bellamy scored in the 43rd minute and set up John Arne Riise’s goal in the 74th at Barcelona after Deco had given the home team a 14th-minute lead. Bellamy celebrated his goal with an imaginary golf swing. Press reports said he had been fined about $155,000 after allegedly attacking Riise with a golf club during an alcohol-filled night in Portugal last week.

“I take the rough with the smooth. I know what my career’s about,” Bellamy said. “Because it’s me, it’s an even bigger deal. If there was a big problem, I wouldn’t be playing here.”