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The NFL’s 2009 salary cap will be nearly $12 million more than last season after a final adjustment brought the total to $128 million.

The salary cap is technically $123 million for 2009, an increase of about $7 million from last season, as set out in the collective bargaining agreement.

About $4 million in cap room was added when a “cash-adjustment mechanism” was triggered after spending on players fell below 59.5 percent of the league’s total revenue in 2008, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press on Friday.

The league informed teams Wednesday that a final adjustment this month will give clubs $947,000 of additional cap room. The money would have carried over to next season, but this is the final salary cap year under the current CBA.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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Paulus announced Thursday morning that he would return to his hometown of Syracuse to play football after four years of basketball with the Blue Devils.

It’s an unprecedented career path that Greg Paulus has decided to travel, but one he feels will fulfill his dreams of playing pro sports one day.

Because Paulus did not red-shirt and he completed his degree at Duke in four years, he can go to graduate school elsewhere and compete right away in football if he is granted a waiver.

Paulus said. “I know not many people have done this, and having that type of opportunity and challenge is something that excites me and motivates me.”

He had a tryout with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and visited Nebraska and Michigan in addition to Syracuse.

In the end, he said his gut and his heart told him to go to Syracuse.

Paulus said he received no promises from Marrone about playing time. Marrone named red-shirt freshman Ryan Nassib his starting quarterback during the first week of spring practice.

This is a good story and all, but don’t get too excited as Paulus may turn out to be nothing more then a popular clipboard holder.

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Taylor agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal Wednesday with the Miami Dolphins; but he sacrificed more than $7 million this year to stay close to his family and play football in Miami.

The move allows him to stay at his Miami home with his wife and three children. It also allows him to rejoin an organization he considers to be an extended part of his family.

The deal does have incentives and could reach another $400,000 by the time the season comes to an end.

Taylor said. “My heart has always been in Miami and so I’m truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again. I was presented with a number of different opportunities, but in the end the combination of this being the best situation for my family, my love for this community and my tremendous loyalty to a great organization made this an easy decision.”

Taylor wasn’t under any financial pressure to play so when he told his agent “Tell the Dolphins whatever fits their budget, I’m ready to play”

Wichard said. “There were no negotiations. It was always going to be Miami for Jason.”

Jason Taylor will tag-team with one of the best pass rushers in the game Joey Porter on the opposite side. The two should create a dynamic pass rush, which should help a Dolphins secondary with numerous questions.

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Even though the Nuggets are the far superior on the court, the Mavericks and Mark Cuban have managed to win the headline battle.

Recently, Mark Cuban had told Kenyon Martin’s mother her son is a “THUG” during game #3 of the second round of the playoffs.

Since then he has apologized through his blog. Take a look for yourself the link is below.

MARK CUBAN BLOG

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Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks has been fined for throwing a pitch behind Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers.

Jenks sailed a fastball behind Kinsler on Saturday in the top of the 9th inning. Jenks later said the pitch was intentional because he was tired of watching White Sox batters getting hit with no retaliation.

Major League Baseball imposed the penalty Tuesday and it is reportedly a fine for $750.

Are you kidding me Major League Baseball? $750? Why waste your time fining a millionaire this kind of money which will inevitable be paid by the club? This is a part of baseball, and if there isn’t a brawl due to the pitch, or suspensions being handed down please don’t waste your time and ours.

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Manny Ramirez will be suspended 50 games for positive drug test

Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez prepares to head back into the field during a game against the San Diego Padres on Friday. Ramiez will be suspended 50 games for a positive drug test, The Times has learned.

The suspension, which is expected to begin with tonight’s game, makes him the biggest star penalized under baseball’s testing program that started in 2003.

The suspension will cost Ramirez $7.7 million, or roughly 31% of his $25-million salary.

With the suspension taking effect with tonight’s game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium, Ramirez will not be eligible to return to the team until July 3.

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ST. LOUIS — Just before Rick Ankiel barreled headfirst into the wall, the thought flashed through his mind…My career is finished.

“I thought that might be it,” the St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder said Tuesday. “When you don’t get a chance to put up your hands to protect yourself, I’m lucky to be walking today. Anything from here is a plus.”

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The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to trade perennial Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Gonzalez owns NFL career records at his position with 916 receptions, 10,940 receiving yards, 76 receiving touchdowns and 26 100-yard receiving games. He also leads the tight end category in most trips to Hawaii with 10.

Gonzalez had asked the Chiefs for a trade in early March if the right deal came along. However, recently he thought trade talks had all but been dead and anticipated playing the upcoming season with Kansas City.

That all changed today, and he will now become one of Matt Ryan’s favorite new targets.

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DAVIDSON, N.C. – After three seasons at Davidson and plenty of records, Stephen Curry is taking his game to the NBA.

The nation’s leading scorer announced at an on-campus news conference Thursday that he’s skipping his senior season to enter the NBA draft.

Curry said he will hire an agent, ending any chance that he’ll return to campus and perhaps break Pete Maravich’s NCAA Division I career scoring record.

Cury said. “I think I’m mentally and physically ready to make that jump, This is a dream of mine since I was a little kid.”

It’s believed Curry will be selected somewhere between seventh and 20th overall.

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