IN BRIEF (Page 24)

NFL

Arizona signs new QB to replace Leinart

MIAMI: The Arizona Cardinals have signed Tim Rattay to a one-year contract after quarterback Matt Leinart was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Leinart was placed on the injured reserve with a broken collarbone on Tuesday and the Cardinals moved quickly to strengthen their quarterback options.

Rattay played for Tampa Bay last season after six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

Leinart sustained his injury when he was sacked by Will Witherspoon during the Cardinals' 34-31 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Tennis

Safin makes unimpressive return in Moscow

MOSCOW: Marat Safin made an unimpressive return to tennis after a self-imposed six-week layoff, struggling to beat qualifier Denis Matsukevich in the Kremlin Cup first round on Tuesday.

The former world No 1, who has not played since losing in the second round of the US Open, finally prevailed 7-6 7-5 against his 422nd-ranked compatriot.

"I thought he would be scared playing me on center court," Safin said of Matsukevich, who was making his professional debut on the ATP Tour.

"But I guess he wasn't, at least not until the tiebreak. He served well and was solid from the baseline. He gave me a harder time than I was expecting," said a visibly tired Safin, sweat pouring down his face.

The powerful Russian was given a wildcard into the Moscow indoor tournament after struggling with form and injuries since winning his last title at the 2005 Australian Open.

Baseball

Tigers exercise option on catcher Rodriguez

DETROIT: The Detroit Tigers have exercised their $13 million option on 14-time All-Star catcher Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez for next season, the club said on Tuesday.

"Pudge remains a quality Major League catcher," general manager Dave Dombrowski said in a statement. "And we expect him to be a key player for our club in 2008."

Rodriguez, 35, batted .281 with 31 doubles, 11 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2007, the final season guaranteed on the four-year $40 million contract Rodriguez signed in 2004.

If the Tigers had not exercised the option, they would have paid $3 million to buy it out and make the 12-time Gold Glove winner a free agent.

Rodriguez has a career batting average of .303 with 288 homers and 1,182 RBI over 17 seasons with the Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins and the Tigers.

Soccer

Campbell, Brown sit out England training session

LONDON: England's injury woes ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia on Saturday mounted on Tuesday when defenders Wes Brown and Sol Campbell missed training due to injuries, the BBC reported.

Brown, who was sidelined for Manchester United's 4-0 win over Wigan at the weekend, is nursing a knee problem while Campbell has an Achilles injury.

However, captain John Terry trained while wearing his face mask to protect his cheekbone, which was broken 10 days ago.

England coach Steve McClaren is already without Everton striker Andy Johnson (ankle injury) and West Ham United striker Dean Ashton (knee injury).

England plays Estonia in Group E at Wembley on Saturday and travels to Moscow to play Russia four days later.

(China Daily 10/11/2007 page24)