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Sports Briefs

■ Football
Davis signs for Dallas
The Dallas Cowboys filled a big hole in their offensive line by signing lineman Leonard Davis to a seven-year US$49.6 million deal on Monday. The deal for the 1.98m, 166kg Davis includes a US$16 million signing bonus, the largest ever paid out by Cowboys. "You just don't see the natural combination of talent and size Leonard brings to the table," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on the team's Web site. "The offensive line was an area of real concern for us." Selected second overall in the 2001 draft by Arizona, Davis started in 91 of 96 games during his six year stint with the Cardinals.

■ Basketball
O'Neal to star in TV show
Shaquille O'Neal will be taking a shot at a TV reality show focused on childhood obesity and health. The series later this year on the ABC network will feature the National Basketball Association All-Star who plays for the Miami Heat and his effort to help Florida schoolchildren lose weight, ABC said on Monday. Airdates for the six-episode series, yet to be titled, haven't been set. The series, being filmed in Broward County, Florida, will track the lives of the children involved. O'Neal will be on hand as booster and, in episodes yet to be shot, will lobby politicians on causes including school nutrition, Daily Variety reported on Monday.

■ Boxing
Nino-Romero suspended
Boxer Omar Nino-Romero was suspended for nine months and fined US$18,750 on Monday for testing positive for methamphetamine after a November bout. The decision by regulators means the 30-year-old Mexican won't be able to fight in the US during his suspension. Nino-Romero's fine of 25 percent of his US$75,000 purse came after his Nov. 18 majority draw with Brian Viloria in Las Vegas that initially allowed him to retain the WBC light flyweight title. The Nevada Athletic Commission also voided the majority draw and called the bout a no-decision. Nino-Romero denied using the banned drug, which was detected by urinalysis.

■ Rugby Union
Saracens talking to Jack
All Blacks lock Chris Jack could be the next player from Super 14 champions the Crusaders to make a move to the English Premiership after Saracens announced on Monday they had held preliminary talks with him. The 28-year-old 57-time capped star will be available after the World Cup as he is in the final year of his contract with the New Zealand and Tasman Rugby Unions. "We have been talking but it's still very early days in terms of the negotiations," chief executive officer Mark Sinderberry said. "He'd add lots of balance to the squad. It'd be great if we could get him."

■ Sled Dog Racing
Swingley out of Iditarod
Four-time champion Doug Swingley withdrew from the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Monday after injuring himself in a fall. The 53-year-old Swingley may have broken ribs and possibly dislocated a thumb in the hard fall on a slick and icy hill a few kilometers from the Rainy Pass, Alaska, checkpoint, Iditarod spokesman Chas St George said. Swingley's dogs escaped injury in the accident. "He's a pretty tough guy. He thought about it a lot and tried to process how to get his team up the trail," St George said.

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