Sports briefs 12/31/03

Baseball

Free-agent pitcher Mike DeJean agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. The contract is contingent on the right-hander passing a physical exam next week. DeJean went 5-8 with 19 saves and a 4.68 ERA in 76 games with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals last season.

College

A Nebraska football player was arrested early Tuesday on marijuana possession and other charges following the Cornhuskers' 17-3 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. Grant Mulkey, a redshirt freshman receiver, was also charged with resisting arrest and evading arrest.

Football

NFL teams looking to fill head coaching vacancies continued lining up Tuesday to speak with St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith. Atlanta spoke with Smith, 45, on Monday nigh, and he interviewed Tuesday with the New York Giants for their head coaching job, left vacant with the ouster of Jim Fassel. The Buffalo Bills hoped to soon speak with Smith as they look to replace Gregg Williams, fired Monday.

Although he didn't start until the season finale, Terrell Suggs was so impressive for the Baltimore Ravens that he earned The Associated Press' NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Suggs, an outside linebacker with a pass-rushing burst, had 12 sacks. He earned 23 votes from a nationwide panel. That beat Dallas cornerback Terence Newman, who had 15 votes. Suggs was the 10th overall pick in April's draft.

-- From wire reports