Sports digest 10/17/01

Bears re-sign QB Matthews

CHICAGO -- Quarterback Shane Matthews is a Chicago Bear again after a week in voluntary exile.

Matthews re-signed on Tuesday with the Bears who waived long snapper Ryan Benjamin.

Matthews was released last week so the team could sign Benjamin as an emergency replacement for the injured Patrick Mannelly in Sunday's game against Arizona. Matthews agreed to the switch to help the team since he was going to be the third quarterback anyway Sunday.

Prep standout gives MU oral commitment

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Another highly regarded high school basketball player is apparently planning to play at Missouri.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday that 6-9 center Kevin Young of the Berkshire School in Homestead, Fla., has told coach Quin Snyder that he plans to enroll at Missouri in August.

Young is considered a top-100 recruit who increased his stock significantly this past summer in AAU competition.

Oral commitments are not binding. The early signing period for signing letters of intent is next month.

Snyder already has received oral commitments from St. Louis Vashon guard Jimmy McKinney and Lithuanian center Giedrius Rinkevicius.

Weapons charge for Jets' Robinson

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Damien Robinson of the New York Jets was charged with possession of an assault rifle found in his car as he entered Giants Stadium.

The arrest took place several hours before the Jets beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Robinson, a free safety, played in the game and was arraigned afterward.

Robinson could face up to five years in prison if convicted. He was released Sunday night on $7,500 bail, and the matter will be turned over to the prosecutor.

The weapon was found as troopers and officers were searching vehicles driven by players, team and game officials, and the media, said Sgt. Al Della Fave, a state police spokesman.

Robinson, accompanied by family members, was stopped at a checkpoint when a bomb-sniffing dog reacted to something in the vehicle. Robinson then told authorities he had a rifle, clips, and ammunition in the back, Della Fave said.

Police found a Bushmaster .223 assault rifle, three high-capacity magazines that hold 30 rounds each, and two boxes of ammunition containing 100 rounds each.

-- From wire reports