MINNEAPOLIS -- Quarterback Sage Rosenfels is one step closer to becoming a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Rosenfels arrived Thursday morning, before heavy snow hit the Twin Cities, and he took a physical, according to a person close to the situation.
The Vikings have agreed to ship what is believed to be a fourth-round pick to the Houston Texans for Rosenfels, and they also have agreed to terms on a multi-year extension with the veteran quarterback. But the deal could not officially be consummated until 11:01 p.m. Thursday.
The Vikings might not announce the deal until today.
Illini beat Gophers
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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Mike Davis scored 14 points and Trent Meacham added 13 to lead No. 20 Illinois to a 52-41 Big Ten Conference men's basketball victory over Minnesota on Thursday night.
Damian Johnson had 18 points for the Gophers (20-8, 8-8).
Tiger loses in second round
MARANA, Ariz. -- One day after a ceremonious return to golf, Tiger Woods was on his way home.
Tim Clark of South Africa played 16 holes without a bogey and pulled ahead for good on the back nine Thursday, knocking Woods out of the Accenture Match Play Championship with a 4-and-2 victory.
Woods probably will play in two weeks at Doral in the CA Championship, although he said he would wait to see how his left knee felt. This was his first tournament since reconstructive surgery on the knee, one week after he won the U.S. Open in June.
Phil Mickelson is the highest seed left in the tournament going into the third round. Mickelson, No. 5, hung on to beat fellow Masters champion Zach Johnson, 1 up.
Twins top Reds
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SARASOTA, Fla. -- Brian Buscher hit a two-run homer off Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero, and replacement Brock Peterson added a grand slam for Minnesota as the Twins defeated the Reds 10-4 Thursday in a spring training game.
Nick Blackburn, Matt Guerrier and Craig Breslow held the Reds without a hit over the first four innings. Blackburn pitched two perfect innings.
NBA giving $200 million to teams
NEW YORK -- The NBA has lined up $200 million to distribute to teams interested in additional cash, which the league considers a sign it remains strong in a slumping economy.
Between $13 million and $20 million will be available to each of 12 teams that have expressed interest in the money, commissioner David Stern said Thursday. The money can be used for any purpose, including helping teams deal with operating losses incurred because of the economy.
It should not be construed as a bailout, Stern said.
Lost bib spoils U.S. chances
LIBEREC, Czech Republic -- Bill Demong was disqualified from the ski jumping portion of the Nordic combined team event Thursday after not finding his start number on time, giving the Americans just three valid results in the four-man competition. It left the favored team with no reason to ski in the deciding cross-country relay, opting instead to pull out and watch from their hotel as Japan took the gold at the world championships.
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After a record-breaking week for the U.S. ski team, they were undone by an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.
"It's my fault," Demong said. "I'm an idiot."
The U.S. has three golds, a silver and a bronze in Liberec, after never winning more than one medal at previous worlds.
Cowboys release Johnson
IRVING, Texas -- Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson was released Thursday by the Dallas Cowboys after playing just four games over two seasons. Johnson, 40, a 17-year veteran, has 29,054 career passing yards with 166 touchdowns. He won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay after the 2002 season and played for Washington and Minnesota.
