SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An appeals court ruled Wednesday that federal agents were wrong to seize the infamous drug list and samples of 104 Major League Baseball players who allegedly tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
In a 9-2 vote, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with three lower court judges who chastised investigators who had a warrant for only 10 drug test results.
Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz both have acknowledged being on the list, and The New York Times has reported the Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa also can be found on it.
The panel said federal agents trampled on players’ protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Former New York Giant Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty to a weapons charge and agreed to a two-year prison term for accidentally shooting himself at a Manhattan nightclub.
The ex-wide receiver pleaded guilty Thursday morning to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he initially faced. Under a plea agreement, he agreed to a two-year prison sentence and two years of supervised release.
Burress was indicted earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment. He faced a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted at a trial.
Burress’ sentencing is set for Sept. 22.

By Joe Mandak, Associated Press Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) - A former Nevada casino worker who accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of rape in a civil lawsuit should drop the case because her own e-mails and text messages prove she wasn’t assaulted, his attorney said.
The woman “should abandon her lawsuit immediately and admit that Ben Roethlisberger did not rape her,” Roethlisberger’s attorney W. David Cornwell said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press. “We believe that (the woman’s) own words directly refute the scurrilous allegations made in her complaint.”
The woman contends in the lawsuit filed last month in Washoe County District Court in Reno, Nev., that Roethlisberger raped her in his room at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe in July 2008 when he was there to play in a celebrity golf tournament.
The woman never went to authorities; her lawsuit says she didn’t file a criminal complaint because she feared Harrah’s would side with Roethlisberger and she would be fired. She also accused Harrah’s officials of orchestrating a cover-up.
Cornwell provided the AP and other news outlets with 18 pages of e-mails and texts purportedly between the 31-year-old woman and a male friend.
Cornwell wouldn’t say Wednesday how he obtained the e-mails and texts, but said he has a “good faith basis” to believe they are legitimate. Some of the e-mails were sent within a day of the alleged attack, including some just a couple of hours later, Cornwell said.
In an e-mail two days before the alleged rape, the woman tells her friend that she has been chosen to take care of the resort’s celebrity guests, including Roethlisberger, Cornwell said. She also tells him that he and the quarterback look alike.
On July 12, less than 24 hours after the alleged rape, the woman writes about how much she has enjoyed entertaining the celebrities and VIPs.
“The golf tournament has been really fun … I am really excited because we are all going to see Journey tonight and that will be soooooo much fun. Speaking of which I need to head over to dinner with your lookalike and a few others before heading out,” the e-mail said, according to Cornwell.
The Associated Press does not generally identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
The woman’s Reno-based attorney, Calvin Dunlap, didn’t return a message left by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Cornwell wouldn’t comment beyond his e-mailed statement.
In her lawsuit, the woman said she was distraught and left work after the assault, going to cry in her pickup truck.
But in an e-mail sent from her work station two hours after the alleged attack, she sounds as if nothing has occurred, Cornwell said. “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh I finally got away,” she writes. Nine minutes later sent him a cute note filled with mock baby talk, Cornwell said.
In text messages sent in December, the man asked her what would happen if they broke up, Cornwell said.
“I would date Ben Roethlisberger,” she answered. “hahahahah.”

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A former Harrah’s employee has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of raping another worker.
Stacy Dingman is the former director of hotels at Harrah’s and one of nine defendants named in the lawsuit filed last month in Washoe County District Court. The suit also accuses managers of the hotel-casino at Lake Tahoe of covering up the alleged sex assault.
She also said she is the former best friend of the woman who claims Roethlisberger raped her at the hotel-casino during an annual celebrity golf tournament in July 2008.
Dingman said in her motion that the lawsuit is baseless and that she has been dragged into it without justification.

By Rob Maaddi, AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Michael Vick is back in the NFL. When he finally gets in a game, it might be at a new position.
Looking to add a new dimension to their offense, the Philadelphia Eagles gave Vick a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Vick wasn’t brought in to compete with five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb for a starting job, but the two could end up on the field together.
“He’s an unbelievable athlete, both running the ball and throwing it,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “I’ll think of something for him.”
The most likely scenario would be for the Eagles to use Vick in a variation of the Wildcat offense that the Miami Dolphins made popular last season. Vick also is familiar with the West Coast offense, though he ran a different version with Atlanta than the one Philadelphia uses.
“He can definitely make a lot of plays,” Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown said.
The deal was announced during Thursday night’s preseason opener against New England. Suddenly, no one cared about Tom Brady’s first game in 11 months.
The 29-year-old Vick, once the NFL’s highest-paid player, has been out of action since 2006. The former Falcons star was convicted in August 2007 of conspiracy and running a dogfighting ring, and served 18 of a 23-month sentence in federal prison. He also was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
“I’m a believer that as long as people go through the right process, they deserve a second chance,” Reid said. “He’s got great people on his side; there isn’t a finer person than Tony Dungy. He’s proven he’s on the right track.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick’s suspension on July 27, allowing him to sign with a team, practice and play in the last two preseason games. Once the season begins, Vick can participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.
The Eagles reached the NFC championship game last season under McNabb, but are still looking for their elusive first Super Bowl win.
McNabb has led the Eagles to five NFC title games and one Super Bowl appearance in the last eight years and was rewarded with a $5.3 million raise in the offseason. The Eagles tore up his old contract with two years remaining, and gave him a new deal worth $24.5 million over the next two seasons.
Philadelphia is a surprise landing point for Vick. It was among 26 clubs that said there was no interest in him, but that may have changed when backup Kevin Kolb strained a knee ligament earlier this week. Kolb’s injury isn’t serious and he’s expected to return next week. The Eagles also have veteran A.J. Feeley.
“There won’t be a quarterback controversy,” Reid said.
Reid consulted with McNabb before signing Vick, who went to three Pro Bowls in six seasons with the Falcons.
“I pretty much lobbied to get him here,” McNabb said. “He’s no threat to me, not for Kolb. We had the opportunity to add another weapon to our offense.”
When news of Vick’s signing circulated in the press box during the first half of the Eagles’ preseason opener against the Patriots, even the team’s public relations staff seemed surprised.
The crowd quickly caught on at Lincoln Financial Field. Fans standing on the concourse were in disbelief. One guy wondered how quickly he’d be able to buy a Vick jersey. Another asked if this was a joke.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Michelle Harlan, a mother attending her first NFL game with a young son.
In a “60 Minutes” interview set to air Sunday, Vick accepted blame for not stopping the illegal dogfighting operation he bankrolled.
Vick said he feels “some tremendous hurt behind what happened.”
He said he should have taken “the initiative to stop it all … I didn’t.”
Asked if he was more concerned about his playing career or the dogs he hurt, Vick replied, “Football don’t even matter.”
The animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wasted no time reminding people exactly what Vick had done.
“PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Eagles decided to sign a guy who hung dogs from trees. He electrocuted them with jumper cables and held them under water,” PETA spokesman Dan Shannon told The Associated Press.
“You have to wonder what sort of message this sends to young fans who care about animals and don’t want them to be harmed.”
Reid believes most Eagles fans will accept Vick.
“This is America. We do make mistakes,” Reid said. “This situation is a chance to prove he’s doing the right things. He’s been proactive speaking across the country.”
Since Reid became the head coach in 1999, the Eagles have avoided players with character issues. The lone exception came in 2004 when Philadelphia acquired wide receiver Terrell Owens. That move paid off when Owens helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in his first season. But T.O. quickly wore out his welcome, criticizing management over a contract dispute and feuding with McNabb. He was released midway through the 2005 season.
The Eagles must be hoping they won’t regret this one.
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AP Sports Writers Hank Kurz Jr. in Richmond, Va., Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and AP writer Dan Robrish in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

By Kasey Jones, Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) - Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was not injured when the SUV he was driving collided with another car in Baltimore, but the other driver was taken to a hospital.
Police said Friday they had no updates on the woman who was driving the other car. She was described as “shaken up” and taken to a hospital as a precaution after the crash Thursday night. Cindy Rivers, a spokeswoman for the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, said she could not provide any information without the woman’s name, which has not been released.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Phelps has been interviewed by police and alcohol was not a factor. No citations were issued and the accident was being investigated, with a report perhaps available Friday, Guglielmi said.
There is a traffic light at the intersection, but when asked for details about how the crash occurred and whether anyone was at fault, police said they were still investigating.
Two passengers in Phelps’ Cadillac Escalade were not injured, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
The other car was a Honda Accord.
Phelps’ SUV had a crumpled hood and was on a tow truck. The gray Accord had considerable damage on the front driver side.
Phelps won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Most recently he earned five golds and a silver over eight days at the world swimming championships earlier this month.
Phelps has had brushes with the law in the past. USA Swimming suspended him earlier this year for three months after a British tabloid published a photo of him using a marijuana pipe. The Richland County, S.C., sheriff’s office investigated the photo but found there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Phelps.
In an earlier incident, Phelps pleaded guilty to driving while impaired shortly after he won six golds and two bronzes at the 2004 Athens Olympics. A Maryland state trooper had pulled him over after Phelps ran a stop sign. He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.
John Cadigan, a senior coach with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, one of two swim clubs operated by Phelps and his coach, said he hadn’t talked to Phelps about the crash Friday and didn’t know anything more than what was in the media.
Cadigan said Phelps is not scheduled to be back in practice there until next week, but didn’t say whether he would be at the club on Friday.
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Associated Press Writer Aaron Morrison contributed to this story.

NEW YORK (AP) - Cleveland Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth was suspended without pay for this season Thursday after pleading guilty to killing a pedestrian while driving drunk. He cannot participate in any team activities until his reinstatement after the Super Bowl.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Stallworth placed a “stain” on the reputation of the league and all its players.
Stallworth struck 59-year-old Mario Reyes on March 14 in Miami. He pleaded guilty June 16 to DUI manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and was suspended indefinitely by Goodell two days later.
Stallworth drew a 30-day jail sentence and reached an undisclosed financial settlement with the family of Reyes, who was leaving his crane operator job when he was struck.

NEW YORK (AP) - Tim McGraw and the Black Eyed Peas are scheduled to perform before the NFL season opener.
The NFL announced the musical artists Wednesday for the game between the Super Bowl champion Steelers and the Tennessee Titans in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Sept. 10.
McGraw and Black Eyed Peas, both three-time Grammy winners, will hold a free concert open to the public at Point State Park.
Natasha Bedingfield, Keith Urban and Usher performed before last year’s opener in New York.
EA Sports sponsors the event.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Eli Manning has agreed to a new six-year, $97 million contract extension with the New York Giants that will make him the highest paid player in the NFL with an average salary of roughly $15.3 million.
A person close to the talks who asked not to be identified says Manning is guaranteed $35 million under the deal that will keep him with the Giants through the 2015 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was not signed and had not been announced.
There is a chance the deal could be signed Wednesday, but both sides wanted to review the contract, the person said.
This deal will give Manning an average salary that is roughly $200,000 higher than the one earned by All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders, who agreed to a three-year, $45.3 million contract this year.
Manning’s older brother, Peyton, earns an average of $14.17 million annually with the Indianapolis Colts.

NEW YORK (AP) - Former New York Giants star Plaxico Burress was indicted by a grand jury on weapons charges for shooting himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub and faces a minimum prison sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted, prosecutors announced Monday.
The indictment charged the 31-year-old Burress with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment, Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.
Burress’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the indictment, which came after Burress testified before the grand jury and expressed remorse.
Burress’ former teammate Antonio Pierce, who was with Burress in the club and drove him to the hospital, was not indicted.
The Giants released Burress in April and he has yet to sign with another team.