Bruce Smith breaks NFL career sacks record\nEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Bruce Smith became the NFL's career sacks leader Sunday when he tackled Jesse Palmer for a 7-yard loss in the fourth quarter of the Washington Redskins' game against the New York Giants Sunday.\nThe 40-year-old defensive end put an inside power move on tackle Ian Allen, grabbed Palmer around the left ankle and pulled him down for his 199th sack.\nSmith stood up, raised an arm in the air and was mobbed by teammates walking off the field and waving to the crowd, which booed.\nSmith passed Reggie White, who had 198 sacks in a 15-year career with Philadelphia, Green Bay and Carolina from 1985-2000. The sack became an official NFL statistic in 1982.\nSmith had 171 sacks and made 11 Pro Bowls during 15 years with Buffalo before joining the Redskins in 2000. He has just four sacks this season, including just one in an eight-game stretch, making for an excruciating climb toward the record.
USA Track & Field approves lifetime ban for steroid use\nGREENSBORO, N.C. -- USA Track & Field delegates on Sunday overwhelmingly approved a lifetime ban for athletes who test positive for steroids, but the policy won't take effect until questions about its legality are resolved.\nBecause the zero-tolerance plan imposes penalties tougher than mandated by the IAAF, the USATF has asked the world governing body to make sure the new rule is acceptable.\n"If IAAF gave us permission to do this tomorrow," the lifetime ban would go into effect immediately, USATF president Bill Roe said.\nUSATF rules now call for a two-year ban for first-time steroid offenders. Under the plan approved Sunday, first-time offenders and their coaches could face lifetime bans.\n"We want the rest of the world to adopt this so the whole Olympic movement will clean up," said sprinter Jon Drummond, a USATF board member.\nRoe told delegates during the final session of the group's annual meeting in Greensboro that the rules change was needed so the spotlight in 2004 "is on our athletes in competition in Athens, not in the courtroom or the media."
Marlins increase their offer to Rodriguez\nMIAMI -- The Florida Marlins increased their offer to Ivan Rodriguez on Sunday as they faced a midnight deadline to sign the All-Star catcher or defend their World Series championship without him.\n"The team has presented an enhanced financial offer with hopes of retaining Pudge," team spokesman Steve Copses said, declining to give specifics.\nRodriguez asked the team Friday for a $40 million, four-year contract -- a figure that general manager Larry Beinfest categorized as "significantly apart" from what Florida could afford.\nAll three of the Marlins' top executives -- owner Jeffrey Loria, president David Samson and Beinfest -- were on the telephone with Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, on Sunday when the offer was made, Copses said.
