The team expected to sign Thomas to a contract later Monday.

The three-time Pro Bowler who spent the last 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles is expected to replace Khalif Barnes at left tackle, a move that would give Jacksonville more flexibility heading into next month's NFL draft.

2. BUCS LB STABBED BY GIRLFRIEND: Authorities say the girlfriend of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes stabbed him in the head and in the neck.

A Hillsborough County Sheriff's spokeswoman says Hayes was taken to a hospital by a friend Saturday. The 21-year-old former Florida State player was treated and later released.

Deputies arrested 19-year-old Shevelle Bagley on Saturday afternoon. The sheriff's spokeswoman says Hayes and Bagley got into an argument, which led to Bagley grabbing a pair of scissors and stabbing Hayes in the head. He managed to get the scissors away from her, but authorities say she then grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the neck.

3. PACKERS SIGN SAFETY: The Green Bay Packers signed safety Anthony Smith on Monday, their first free-agent deal of the offseason.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Smith spent his first three seasons in Pittsburgh and has four interceptions in 46 games.

4. EAGLES RE-SIGN DANIELS: TThe Philadelphia Eagles re-signed linebacker Tank Daniels to a one-year contract Monday.

Baseball AND SOFTBALL

1. WU TEAMS PLAY TODAY: Schedule changes have the Washburn Baseball and softball teams playing at home today.

The Ichabod Baseball team plays a doubleheader against Upper Iowa at 2 p.m. at Falley Field. The teams are scheduled to play a single game at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The softball game between the Lady Blues and Benedictine scheduled Wednesday will be played at 3 p.m. today at the Washburn Softball Complex.

2. BANNISTER FALTERING: Brian Bannister's spring training struggles continued Monday, as he allowed four runs and five hits, including a two-run homer to Alfonso Soriano, during the Kansas City Royals' 9-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Ariz. Bannister's spring training ERA is 6.75.

"I'm down," Bannister said. "Obviously, I didn't pitch well. I know I'm competing for a job, but I've got to continue to get ready for the season, too. It's that balance of getting ready for the season, but also right away competing."

3. A-ROD'S SURGERY GOES FINE: Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair torn cartilage in his right hip. Doctors said they found nothing that would keep him from returning to the lineup in May. Dr. Marc Philippon performed the 80-minute procedure at Vail Valley Surgery Center in Colorado.

4. RAMIREZ'S CONTRACT RELEASED: Manny Ramirez's money from his new $45 million, two-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers won't be fully paid until June 2013, contract details reveal. Ramirez gets a $25 million salary this year, but just $10 million is paid up front. The rest is due in $5 million installments each June 30 in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. CANADIENS FIRE CARBONNEAU: The Montreal Canadiens have fired coach Guy Carbonneau and replaced him with general manager Bob Gainey.

The Canadiens have struggled in their 100th season and started Monday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but only one point above the postseason cutoff. What was supposed to be a season of celebration has turned into one of difficulty.

Montreal (35-24-7) went into a free fall in late January and February, losing 10 of 13. The Canadiens, 5-4-1 in their previous 10 games, won 3-1 at Dallas on Sunday in their last game with Carbonneau as coach.

2. NCAA ANNOUNCES MUSICAL ACTS: Fergie, the Pussycat Dolls and Staind are among the musical acts scheduled to perform during three days of free music concerts tied to the Final Four in Detroit.

The NCAA and the local organizing committee on Monday announced the first part of the musical lineup for the event, which will take place Friday-Sunday, April 3-5, on the city's riverfront.

3. DENG TO MISS MORE TIME: Chicago forward Luol Deng will miss at least two more weeks with a tiny stress fracture in his right leg.

Deng has had pain in the leg for more than a week, and tried to work out Monday before the Bulls visited the Miami Heat. Deng said doctors in Miami and Chicago have determined that there is a "very small, not even a hairline" fracture in the leg.

4. TWO PLAYERS HELD FROM GAME: Atlanta's Marvin Williams and New Orleans' Peja Stojakovic were held out of Monday's game with injuries.

Staff and wire reports