‘96 Sacks Leader Signs With 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers, who have made a habit of plugging aging stars into an aging team, on Tuesday added Kevin Greene, the NFL’s 1996 sack leader.

The 49ers and Greene, cut Sunday by the Carolina Panthers, reached agreement on a six-year deal worth $13 million, although only $350,000 of it will count against the 49ers’ salary cap. He had also been sought by the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins.

San Francisco has used players like Greene in the past - Deion Sanders, Rickey Jackson and Richard Dent were all rent-a-players on the 1994 Super Bowl champions, and Chris Doleman has played with the 49ers the last two seasons. Because the 49ers play a 4-3 defense, Greene would probably be used as a third-down pass rusher.

Greene, who had 14-1/2 sacks last season, is 35 and had been seeking to renegotiate a contract with Carolina that would have paid him between $1 million and $1.6 million this season.

Seahawks sign Coleman

Continuing their search to add accomplished players, the Seattle Seahawks signed former San Diego Chargers wide receiver and kick-returner Andre Coleman.

Coleman, 25, was the Chargers third receiver last season. In 1995, he was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams after returning three kicks - two kickoffs and one punt - for touchdowns.

Though he might not be active for the regular-season opener Sunday against the New York Jets, Coleman will fill the receiving void left by the knee injury to James McKnight. Coleman caught 36 passes last season for the Chargers and had 11 starts.

Eagles eye Dent

The Philadelphia Eagles worked out veteran defensive end Richard Dent and discussed a contract with the former Super Bowl MVP.

Dent, 37, was released by the Indianapolis Colts earlier this year despite recording a team-high 6-1/2 sacks last season. The 14-year pro was the MVP in the Super Bowl following the 1985 season.

Newton sex assault case on hold

A Dallas County grand jury took no action in the sexual assault case against Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton.

A 31-year-old woman who accused Newton of raping her at her Grand Prairie, Texas, mobile home June 15 testified before the panel.

But prosecutors agreed to delay appearances by Newton and other defense witnesses until Sept. 2.

Newton’s attorney, Howard Shapiro, said he requested the delay to provide time for him to prepare for the case.

Chiefs’ Thomas may make opener

Linebacker Derrick Thomas, around whom the Kansas City Chiefs redesigned their defense, has begun practicing and may be ready for Sunday’s game at Denver.

The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker did not play in any of the Chiefs’ four exhibition games.

Rookies get kicking jobs for Jets

The kids can kick.

At least that’s what New York Jets coach Bill Parcells has decided. He’s kept a pair of rookies to handle the team’s kicking chores, and that’s unusual for any team.

John Hall, a free agent from Wisconsin, will be the placekicker and Todd Kurz, a free agent who was cut by Minnesota, will punt.

Gilbert, Redskins still at odds

Even though their defensive line is in near disarray five days before the start of the regular season, the Washington Redskins are nowhere close to signing holdout defensive tackle Sean Gilbert.

Gilbert’s contract expired at the end of the season, and the Redskins designated him as their franchise player to keep him from becoming a free agent.

Reggie White gets a little chunky

Campbell Soup Co. said it will put a picture of Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Reggie White on the label of its Chunky soups.

The 11-time All-Pro and the National Football League’s all-time sack leader will be only the second person to grace the cans of the world’s largest soup company. The first was hockey’s Wayne Gretzky.

Around the league

Giants left cornerback Phillippi Sparks will miss from three to six games with a non-infectious form of viral hepatitis… . The Bears waived rookie guard Bob Sapp, a 1997 third-round pick out of the University of Washington… . Chad Carpenter, a former Washington State University receiver, was re-signed to the Arizona practice squad. Damon Huard, an ex-Husky quarterback, was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad. … The Lions signed free-agent defensive tackle Marc Spindler. The Lions are the third team to sign Spindler this season. He signed with the Seahawks but was cut after missing most of the first three weeks of the preseason with injuries. He then signed with the Bears, but was cut Sunday.