Chargers lose Turner to Falcons in six-year deal
Michael Turner, considered perhaps the top running back available in free agency, agreed to a six-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday believed to be worth $35.4 million with a $15-million signing bonus.
A four-year veteran best known as LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup in San Diego, Turner, 25, is expected to play a more important role with the Falcons. He is projected as the power complement to speed back Jerious Norwood.
The addition of Turner probably signals the end of Warrick Dunn’s time as a starter.
Turner has 228 carries for 1,257 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons with San Diego. He also has three of the longest 11 carries in team history -- 83, 74 and 73 yards.
He has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his career.
Meanwhile, the Falcons replaced tight end Alge Crumpler by agreeing to terms with free agent Ben Hartsock, 27, a former Indianapolis Colt better known for his blocking.
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Crumpler, the former Falcon, agreed to a two-year deal with the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN.com.
Crumpler, 30, who caught 42 passes for 444 yards and five touchdowns last season, had also been talking to Seattle.
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Bobby McCray, a free-agent defensive end who spent the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, agreed to a five-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.
McCray, 26, has 94 tackles, 22 sacks and seven forced fumbles in 61 regular-season games. He had a career-high 10 sacks in 2006.
The Saints also agreed to a deal with Randall Gay, 25, a cornerback who spent the last four years with New England, for a reported four years and $17.6 million.
Running back Aaron Stecker, 32,who rushed for a career-high 448 yards last season, also agreed to re-sign with the Saints.
TENNIS
Darcis beats Soderling for his second title
Steve Darcis of Belgium won his second ATP title, defeating Robin Soderling, 6-3, 7-6 (5), in the final at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Tenn.
Soderling, seeded eighth and playing in his second straight ATP final, was going for his third title after upsetting top-seeded Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals.
Darcis survived 17 unforced errors and became the first player to break Soderling’s serve in the tournament.
WINTER SPORTS
Miller increases lead with second in super-G
Georg Streitberger of Austria held off overall leader Bode Miller to win the men’s super-G for his first World Cup victory, edging the American by 0.20 of a second in Kvitfjell, Norway.
Streitberger went down the 2,574-meter Olympic course in 1 minute 26.68 seconds.
Miller’s result matched his previous best in the super-G this season.
Miller did not ski aggressively on a hill where four Americans have won Olympic gold and World Cup races since the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.
“I wanted to make sure that I didn’t take too much risk today,” Miller said. “I didn’t take a lot of risk at all. I still made a mistake on the bottom that cost me some time, but I don’t think I would have won anyway.”
Miller increased his lead in the overall standings ahead of Didier Cuche of Switzerland, who finished in third place, 0.32 of a second behind Streitberger.
Miller now has 1,363 points. Cuche is 185 points behind.
Cuche did close in on the super-G title, though. With one race left, he has 340 points while second-place teammate Christoph Gruber has 251.
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The women’s slalom was canceled because of heavy winds in Zwiesel, Germany.
SOCCER
Mexico, Australia play to a 1-1 draw
Troy Hearfield scored in the 87th minute, and Australia’s under-23 national team played to a 1-1 draw with Mexico in an exhibition at sold-out McAfee Coliseum in Oakland.
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Former Iranian standout Ali Daei was hired as the national coach and will try to lead the country to a second straight World Cup.
PASSINGS
Toley, former USC tennis coach, 91
George Toley, the former tennis coach who led USC to 10 NCAA team titles, died at 91. Story, Section B.
