Peterson will enter the NFL draft

Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson will skip his senior season and make himself available for the NFL draft.

“In the end, I think I just realized that this is a business decision and that it is time for me to take that next step,” Peterson said in a statement released by the university Monday, the deadline for undergraduates to declare themselves eligible for the draft.

Peterson returned from a broken collarbone to run for 77 yards and two touchdowns in Oklahoma’s 43-42 overtime loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. He had been sidelined for seven games with the injury, suffered Oct. 14 on a touchdown run against Iowa State. Peterson’s final carry in an Oklahoma uniform was a 25-yard touchdown run that put the Sooners ahead, 42-35, on the opening play of overtime in the Fiesta Bowl.

Peterson chose not to hold a news conference to announce his decision but said in the statement that he considered his relationships with teammates as a reason to stay at Oklahoma. He said his parents and Sooners Coach Bob Stoops had advised him. Peterson ran for 4,045 yards in three seasons, ranking behind only 1978 Heisman winner Billy Sims (4,118) and Hall of Famer Joe Washington (4,071) on Oklahoma’s rushing list. His 1,925 yards in 2004 were a school rushing record and the most by a freshman in NCAA history.

Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State’s game-breaking returner and receiver, and tailback Antonio Pittman said they would leave the Buckeyes a year early to be available for the NFL draft.

Ginn and Pittman will join receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who announced last week that he would give up his final season of eligibility to turn pro.

Ginn sprained his ankle while celebrating after he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 41-14 loss to Florida in the BCS national championship. But Ginn’s dazzling speed is expected to make him a first-round pick, even though he’s likely to miss the scouting combine because his left foot will be in a boot for three to five weeks.

Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan declared himself eligible for the NFL draft but may still return to the Warriors.

Brennan filed as a formality to meet the NFL deadline but is still deciding whether he’ll skip his senior season, Warriors spokeswoman Lois Manin said. Brennan has 72 hours before he needs to make an official decision.

The 6-foot-3 junior, who backed up Matt Leinart at Santa Ana Mater Dei, led the nation in touchdown passes, yards passing, total offense, passing efficiency, points responsible for and completion percentage.

Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm will return to the Cardinals next season.

Brohm said he had an opportunity to “get a good position in the draft,” but decided he wanted to play his senior season and try to lead his hometown school “to greater heights.”

“We’ve accomplished a lot of great things and there are still some things we can accomplish,” he said, adding that he had made his decision Saturday night.

Brohm threw for 3,049 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Cardinals in 2006 while helping Louisville to a 12-1 record, a Big East title and a win in the Orange Bowl.

Louisville finished sixth in the final Associated Press poll, tied for the highest final ranking in school history.

Minnesota hired Denver Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster as coach, according to published reports. USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin was also a candidate.

BASEBALL

Marlins’ Willis agrees

to one-year deal

Florida Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis agreed to a one-year contract for $6.45 million. The deal represents a 48% increase over Willis’ salary of $4.35 million in 2006. He went 12-12 with a 3.87 earned-run average in 223 1/3 innings. Willis avoided arbitration with his agreement.

Infielder Mike Lamb and the Houston Astros agreed to a $2.7-million, one-year contract, a $1-million raise.

Lamb hit .307 with 12 home runs and 45 runs batted in in 126 games last season, his third in Houston.

Catcher David Ross and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $4.5-million, two-year contract, a deal that includes a team option for 2009. Ross, who made $500,000 last year, gets $1.6 million this year and $2,525,000 in 2008.

Ross, 29, was acquired from San Diego last year during spring training and became the starter. With 21 home runs in 90 games, he ranked third among National League catchers.

Outfielder Jason Michaels and the Cleveland Indians reached a preliminary agreement on a $4.25-million, two-year contract and reliever Matt Miller and Cleveland agreed to a $560,000, one-year deal.

Hall of Fame pitcher and former Dodger Don Sutton will be the Washington Nationals’ new TV color analyst.... Utility player John Mabry agreed to a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.... The San Diego Padres avoided arbitration with catcher Josh Bard, agreeing to a $1.05-million, one-year contract.... The Texas Rangers and right-handed pitcher Joaquin Benoit agreed on a $1.05-million, one-year contract.... Busch Stadium in St. Louis will be the site of baseball’s All-Star game in 2009.

MISCELLANY

Vogts will coach Nigeria’s soccer team

Berti Vogts, the former coach of Germany and Scotland, agreed to coach Nigeria’s national soccer team through the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Nigeria, a two-time African Cup of Nations champion, has played in three World Cups but did not qualify for last summer’s tournament.

Vogts led Germany to the European Championship title in 1996.

FC Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o trained for the first time since a serious knee injury in September.

Doctors originally said the Cameroon striker would be out five months after tearing cartilage in his right knee.

Jean-Louis Schlesser of France won the ninth stage of the Dakar Rally at Nema, Mauritania, while Stephane Peterhansel took the overall lead.

Schlesser, driving a Schles-Ford-Raid, finished the 307-mile trek from Tichit to Nema in 5 hours 32 minutes 3 seconds.

He was 13 seconds ahead of defending champion Luc Alphand and 4:14 ahead of Peterhansel, each of whom drove a Mitsubishi.

Giniel de Villiers of South Africa, who won the eighth stage and was the overall leader, had an engine fire a quarter of the way through and was towed to the finish.

The 15-stage race ends Sunday in Dakar, Senegal.