$27.1 Million Keeps Seau In San Diego

Junior Seau has something new to pump his fists about a $27.1 million contract renegotiation that keeps him with the San Diego Chargers through 2002.

The deal, signed Saturday night and announced Tuesday, includes a signing bonus of approximately $6 million and puts the excitable eight-year veteran back atop the list of the NFL’s highest-paid linebackers. More importantly to Seau, he is virtually assured of finishing his playing career with his hometown Chargers.

“I’ve got to be up front with you - I was never going to leave San Diego,” Seau, 28, said at a news conference.

Seau dressed up for the occasion, wearing a sport coat over a polo shirt and a pair of blue and white Hawaiian shorts. A pair of thongs revealed his bandaged left big toe, which he said he broke in Sunday’s 21-17 win over Baltimore, and apparently won’t keep him out of action.

Seau’s deal averages a little more than $4.5 million a year. Earlier this year, Kansas City’s Derrick Thomas signed a seven-year deal that averages about $4.25 million. Chad Brown signed a free agent deal with Seattle that averages $4 million.

Seahawks get Hobbs from Saints

The New Orleans Saints traded wide receiver Daryl Hobbs to the Seattle Seahawks after he had his second argument in two months with offensive coordinator Danny Abramowicz.

In return, the Saints will get an undisclosed 1998 draft choice.

Hobbs was part of a trade with the Oakland Raiders on March 31 that involved multiple draft picks. He had two receptions for 41 yards and one TD.

The Seahawks released receiver Andre Coleman.

Supreme Court won’t hear Smith case

Lamar Smith, the Seattle Seahawks player accused of causing an automobile wreck that left a teammate partially paralyzed, has been dealt a legal setback as he prepares for a retrial.

The state Supreme Court has declined to hear Smith’s appeal of a lower-court ruling that allows King County prosecutors to use a new piece of evidence - a blood sample - in the nearly 3-year-old case.

Smith’s first trial ended in a mistrial last year after jurors declared themselves deadlocked 11-1 for conviction.

Raiders end Townsend’s comeback

Greg Townsend, 35, who rejoined the Oakland Raiders in training camp after being out of football the two previous seasons, has been released by the Raiders, a team spokesman said.

One of the NFL’s top pass rushers over a 13-year career, Townsend had seen only limited action in five games this season, registering one tackle.

Carolina considers QB change

The status of beleaguered quarterback Kerry Collins tops a list of questions facing the Carolina Panthers, who have gone from one of the NFL’s best teams to one of its worst in a matter of months.

Coach Dom Capers refused to rule out the possibility of benching Collins, who has nine turnovers in two games.

“We’ll continue to take a look at what we think the best solutions are for our team at this point in time,” Capers said.

Collins threw three interceptions and lost one fumble in Carolina’s 34-21 loss to San Francisco on Monday night. Eight days earlier, Collins was picked off four times and lost one fumble, contributing to three touchdowns by Kansas City in the Chiefs’ 35-14 victory.

Carolina (2-3) has a bye this week, and Capers said any decision about whether to use Collins or replace him with Steve Beuerlein likely would come before the Panthers return to practice next week for their Oct. 12 game at Minnesota.

Giants ink Pegram

The New York Giants signed running back Erric Pegram a week after he was released by the San Diego Chargers.

The Giants needed another running back after losing Rodney Hampton and Tiki Barber to injuries. Hampton is still recovering from right knee surgery in August and Barber could miss at least two weeks after tearing a ligament in his right knee Sunday against New Orleans.

Quarter awards

A few premature awards, from Dave Goldberg of the Associated Press:

MVP: If you think this award belongs to quarterbacks (and it usually does), then it’s a tossup between Drew Bledsoe and John Elway. Make it Bledsoe - 12 TD passes in four games is a pace that would tie Dan Marino’s mark of 48. Brett Favre? He’s playing more like Brett Favre, the loose cannon of 1992-94 than the MVP the past two seasons.

Offensive player: If New England gets one for Bledsoe give this to Denver’s Terrell Davis.

Defensive player: The winner is Darren Woodson, Dallas. He makes up for the team’s lack of experience at linebacker by playing linebacker and safety.

Coach of the quarter: Tony Dungy, Tampa Bay.