BRIEFLY

Montgomery signs softball scholarship

Notre Dame graduate Becca Montgomery signed a full-tuition softball scholarship with St. Louis Community College in Florissant Valley early this month.

"She's a good player and a real good kid," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "She's the type of kid you want to see do well."

Montgomery started in center field and led off the Lady Bulldogs batting order the past three years. Last season, she batted .370 with 23 stolen bases and did not make an error from her center field position.

"Becca hit well and she's always been a good fielder," Grim said. "She's got some quickness and speed and can go get a fly ball."

Lions reach deal with Sanders

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- Barry Sanders agreed to a five-year contract with the Detroit Lions on Sunday and will report to camp today, the team announced.

The team did not disclose the financial terms of the contract, but said it includes an option for a sixth year. Sanders, 29, had reportedly been close to signing a contract that would pay him on average between $5.3 million and $5.5 million per season, making him the league's highest-paid running back.

Sanders won the NFL rushing title last season with 1,553 yards, becoming the first back in league history to rush for 1,500 yards or better in three straight seasons. Sanders also was the first back to rush for more than 1,000 yards over eight straight seasons, and the first to rush for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons.

Jets sign top draft pick

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- James Farrior, a linebacker from Virginia and the eighth pick overall in this year's NFL Draft, arrived in New York on Sunday and signed a five-year, $8,846,135 contract with the Jets.

Farrior was well ahead of last year's Jets top pick, Keyshawn Johnson, who didn't report until Aug. 10.

-- From staff, wire reports