Bengals Trade Wilkinson to Redskins for Draft Picks

Four years after making Dan Wilkinson the No. 1 pick in the 1994 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals traded him Thursday to the Washington Redskins for a first-round choice and a third-round pick in this year’s draft.

It was the second major defensive gain in a week for the Redskins, who signed tackle Dana Stubblefield, last season’s defensive player of the year with the San Francisco 49ers.

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A month after signing television contracts guaranteeing at least $17.6 billion over eight years, the NFL and its players agreed to a collective bargaining agreement that ensures labor peace through 2003.

The deal, which amounts to a four-year extension, is for a contract from 1998 through 2003. It replaces the contract that covered 1993-99 and contained a union option for 2000.

As part of the agreement, the salary cap for 1998 will be $52,388,000 per team, up from $41.5 million.

Also, the two sides agreed that Minnesota running back Robert Smith and Buffalo nose tackle Ted Washington, who had been declared franchise players, will instead become transition players and will be given a chance to sign with other teams.

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San Diego Charger quarterback Stan Humphries is expected to announced his retirement today. Humphries suffered two concussions in 18 days last season and sat out the Chargers’ final seven games.

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The Arizona Cardinals signed free-agent guard Lester Holmes to a four-year contract. . . . The St. Louis Rams signed unrestricted free-agent defensive tackle Ray Agnew. . . . A week after losing punter Craig Hentrich to the Tennessee Oilers, the Green Bay Packers signed unrestricted free agent Sean Landeta.

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Police were serving papers to MV Spa in Mountain View, Calif., when San Francisco 49er receiver Jerry Rice emerged from a bathroom Wednesday.

Rice says he had no idea the spa he was visiting had a history of prostitution and that he simply went to get a deep-tissue massage when police arrived to shut the business down.

No arrests were made.

Jurisprudence

Atlanta Falcon linebacker Cornelius Bennett was sentenced to two months in jail in Buffalo, N.Y., for sexual misconduct.

Bennett also was put on three years’ probation, fined $500 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.

A lawsuit filed in Las Vegas District Court alleges that boxer Mike Tyson owes The Jewelers of Las Vegas $805,350 for purchases he has made since 1996.

Tennis

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals of the IGA Classic in Oklahoma City with victories by the same 6-1, 6-3 score. Venus defeated South Africa’s Mariaan de Swardt and Serena beat Australian qualifier Annabel Ellwood. . . . Sebastien Lareu, a Canadian qualifier better known for his doubles accomplishments, upset fifth-seeded Jim Courier, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, to move into the quarterfinals of the Advanta Championships at Philadelphia. . . . Second-ranked Petr Korda of the Czech Republic became the fifth seeded player to lose in the Guardian Direct Cup at London when he was beaten in the second round by Cedric Pioline of France, 6-3, 6-3.

Golf

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson shot a six-under-par 66 to lead the $1.2-million Dubai Desert Classic after one round at Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Greg Norman was one stroke back. Colin Montgomerie opened with a 70.

Cindy Rarick shot a seven-under-par 65 and led by three strokes after the first round of the Australian Ladies Masters at Gold Coast.

Winter Sports

Americans Jonna Mendes--who raced a week ago in the Olympics--and Scott Macartney collected medals in the Alpine skiing World Junior Championships at Megeve, France.

Martina Lechner of Austria won the women’s downhill and Andreas Buder of Austria took gold among the men. Mendes earned the women’s silver medal in 1:24.67. Macartney won the men’s bronze medal.