FOOTBALL

BLEDSOE RELEASED BY COWBOYS Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who was benched during the season by Dallas, was released yesterday by the Cowboys in a move that had been expected.

Bledsoe, the first overall pick in the 1993 draft by New England started 193 games in the NFL, in cluding the first six in 2006 before he was replaced by Tony Romo who then earned a spot on the NFC Pro Bowl team. Bledsoe was due a $1 million roster bonus Fri day and would have made $4.5 mil lion next season.

The Cowboys also released tight end Ryan Hannam and guard E.J Whitley.

“I spoke with Drew today and told him that this was primarily a cap decision and that the door was very much open for him being a part of our future,” the Cowboys owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, said.

LIONS TRADE CB BLY TO BRONCOS FOR RB TATUM BELL The Detroit Lions will trade cor nerback Dre’ Bly to the Denver Broncos for running back Tatum Bell, offensive tackle George Fos ter, and a fifth-round pick, a per son with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press yester day.

The person spoke on the condi tion of anonymity because the trade can’t be finalized until Fri day.

Both teams seemed to fill needs with the move, which gives Denver a Pro Bowl caliber player to re place the late Darrent Williams and allows Detroit to have more options in free agency and with the no. 2 pick overall in April. The Li ons gave Bly, who has one year left on his contract, permission to seek a trade and seemed to add assets instead of releasing him with nothing to show for it.

TAYLOR SIGNS EXTENSION WITH JACKSONVILLE Fred Taylor has spent his entire career — high school, college, and pro — in Florida. And he doesn’ want to play anywhere else.

Taylor signed a three-year con tract extension with Jacksonville yesterday that could keep the 31 year-old running back with the Jaguars through the 2010 season.

“I always wanted to finish my career in Jacksonville,” Taylor said. “It’s rare that you see guys stick with one team. … I’m extremely happy. I’m not just saying that. The most impressive thing about it all is I get to retire in Jacksonville.”

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said the four-year deal totaled $23 million.

BASEBALL

RANGERS, MICHAEL YOUNG AGREE TO 5-YEAR EXTENSION Shortstop Michael Young has agreed to a contract extension worth about $80 million over five seasons with the Texas Rangers.

“We accomplished a great deal over the past four days,” Young said after spring training workouts yesterday in Surprise, Ariz. “This puts me here through the 2013 season and represents a great leap of faith on their part.”

Young didn’t discuss the finances of the deal, which is for 2009–13. The $80 million figure was disclosed by a person familiar with the negotiations and who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

HOCKEY

DUCKS, KINGS TO OPEN NHL REGULAR SEASON IN LONDON

The NHL will play regular-season games for the first time in Europe with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings opening the 2007–2008 season by playing two games in London.

The games are set for September 29–30 at the O2 Arena, which is set to open in July. It is being built by Anschutz Entertainment Group, the Kings’ parent company. It is not the first time regular-season games have been played outside North America. The Ducks played the Vancouver Canucks twice to open the 1997–98 season in Tokyo. San Jose and Calgary opened the 1998–99 season in Tokyo, and the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators opened the 2000–01 season on the outskirts of Tokyo.

It will be the third trip to London by the NHL. In 1992, the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens played preseason games at the Wembley Arena, as did the Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993.