Fast Break

NFL

Seahawks grab T.J.?

T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the Seattle Seahawks have agreed on a five-year contract, according to media reports Monday.

Citing unidentified sources, ESPN.com, the NFL Network and the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported on their Web sites that the former Cincinnati Bengals receiver’s deal is for $40 million and includes $15 million in guarantees.

The 31-year-old Houshmandzadeh has caught 204 passes in the last two seasons. Seattle didn’t have a wide receiver catch more than Bobby Engram’s 47 last season.

Recruiting

NC’s Kimpel, Howard sign

North Central cross country standouts Andrew Kimpel and Jeff Howard, the top two runners on the Indians’ state and national champion cross country teams, have signed letters of intent.

Kimpel signed with Washington State and Howard with Boise State.

•Vaughn Kapiko, Lewis and Clark’s two-way star, has signed to play football as a defensive back at Central Washington.

Men’s basketball

Mills OK for WCC tourney

Saint Mary’s guard Patty Mills was cleared to play in the WCC tournament later this week in Las Vegas.

Mills told ESPN.com Monday after visiting his surgeon that the fracture in his right hand that kept him out of the last nine games has healed enough to allow him to play in the tournament.

Mills broke his hand in the game at Gonzaga on Jan. 29. He is still the leading scorer on Saint Mary’s, averaging 18.7 points and 3.9 assists a game.

The Gaels finished the WCC at 10-4, 24-5 overall. They are the No. 2 seed in the event, which gives them a bye to the semifinals, along with No. 1 seed Gonzaga. Saint Mary’s will play the winner of Santa Clara vs. either San Diego or Loyola Marymount in a semifinal on Sunday. Gonzaga would play the winner of Portland vs. the Pepperdine/San Francisco winner.