Fast Break

NFL

Hanson signs four-year deal

The Detroit Lions have signed Jason Hanson, their kicker since 1992, to a four-year contract

Hanson, a Mead High School graduate who was drafted out of Washington State, is the longest-tenured player on the Lions’ roster and holds team records for points, field goals, extra points and games played.

Last season Hanson led the league with eight field goals of 50-plus yards, hitting all eight attempts, the first in the NFL to do so.

Hanson, with 1,747 career points, ranks fourth in all-time scoring among active players and seventh overall.

The team also restructured the contract of Daunte Culpepper. The quarterback, who came out of retirement midway through last season, was due to receive a $2.5 million roster bonus later this month, but team president Tom Lewand said the deal had been restructured. Culpepper is still on the last year of a two-year contract.

Tennis

Federer won’t face U.S. in Cup

Roger Federer pulled out of Switzerland’s Davis Cup series against the United States next month and a tournament in Dubai next week because of a back problem that has bothered him since last year.

The 13-time Grand Slam singles champion had announced in October he would play for his country against the U.S. team led by Andy Roddick in Birmingham, Ala., on March 6-8. It would have been the first time since 2004 that Federer played in first-round Davis Cup matches.

“As a precautionary measure, I will use the next few weeks to make sure the back injury is fully rehabilitated and I am ready for the rest of the 2009 season,” Federer said in a statement. He has not played in competition since Feb. 1, when he lost to top-ranked Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.

Soccer

L.A. teammates want Beckham

Even though David Beckham is intent on staying with AC Milan, the Los Angeles Galaxy would welcome his return.

“We want him back,” Galaxy midfielder Chris Klein said. “David’s a very good player and a he’s a great teammate. At the end of the day, what’s going to happen is completely out of our hands. We’re just trying to prepare with the team we have here.”

Since being loaned to AC Milan, Beckham has said he wants to remain with the Serie A club and hopes the Italian club and Major League Soccer can agree on a transfer.

Beckham has said that playing with AC Milan has rejuvenated him as a player. He hopes to play for England in the 2010 World Cup.

Bruce Arena, the Galaxy’s coach and general manager, said he could not confirm reports concerning a possible meeting this week between AC Milan and MLS and Galaxy officials to complete a transfer.