NFL

Browns' Winslow to have MRI on shoulder

BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow will have an MRI on his right shoulder after injuring it in the closing minutes of Monday night's win over the Buffalo bills.

Winslow was hurt when he was tackled in front of Buffalo's bench while making a 16-yard reception that set up Cleveland's game-winning field goal. The five-year veteran, who has had numerous injuries during his career, was driven to the ground by Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny and came up wincing in pain.

Winslow briefly left the field but returned and was the intended receiver on an incompletion by quarterback Brady Quinn before Phil Dawson kicked a 56-yard field goal in Cleveland's 29-27 win. Winslow finished with three catches for 40 yards.

"We'll check him out and see if he'll be able to do much this week," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said.

Crennel said defensive tackle Shaun Smith will also have an MRI on a calf injury. In addition, the Browns had several other players banged up. Running back Jerome Harrison, who had a 72-yard touchdown run, injured his hamstring. Safety Sean Jones (ankle), nose tackle Shaun Rogers (shoulder) and running back Jason Wright (neck) were also hurt.

• Pacman hopeful of returning soon to Cowboys: At Fort Worth, Texas, suspended Cowboys cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has completed the inpatient portion of his NFL-ordered alcohol treatment and has returned to Texas, where he is hopeful of soon being able to rejoin the team.

Jones' agent, Worrick Robinson, said the player is handing personal matters while waiting for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to determine if Jones will be reinstated and be able to play this season.

"He's using this time to focus on himself and focus on his priorities, which is to stay committed to the program he started," Robinson told the AP late Tuesday night. "He's re-establishing his life in Dallas with this program being a priority."

• McKinnie's trial date set for March 16 in Miami: At Minneapolis, Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie has a trial date in Miami set for March 16. He faces four charges stemming from his alleged involvement in a fight outside a nightclub in February.

McKinnie's attorney, Larry Kerr, appeared in Miami-Dade County court Tuesday. McKinnie was not required to attend.

Kerr says he is continuing to negotiate a pretrial diversion program for his client. If he's successful, the charges could be dropped if McKinnie meets certain conditions. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Kerr will participate in a status conference on March 5. He said the judge will not let the process "go on forever."

McKinnie served a four-game suspension from the NFL in September for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

College Football

Muschamp to take over Texas when Brown retires

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has been designated as the head-coach-in-waiting by the university, expected to take over the Longhorns when Mack Brown retires.

Muschamp is in his first year with Texas, but athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Tuesday he and Brown know they want to keep him at Texas. To do that, they will more than double his salary from $425,000 to $900,000 in January. He will remain defensive coordinator.

Dodds said he wants the 57-year-old Brown to coach for a long time but said he wanted to line up Muschamp now to avoid the "trauma" of a coaching search when the day comes that Brown steps down.

The No. 4 Longhorns (10-1) are preparing for their Thanksgiving night game against rival Texas A&M.

At a news conference attended by all three, Brown insisted he's not planning to retire anytime soon. He has eight years left on his current contract.

"I don't want someone to think this is the twilight for me. It's not," Brown said. "I have had absolutely no thought of quitting, at all."

Muschamp, who is 37, says he's in no hurry to take over the job and will be patient. He insisted his role will not expand beyond defensive coordinator until the day comes when he takes over.

MLB

Dempster, Cubs agree to $52 million, 4-year deal

CHICAGO -- Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs agreed Tuesday on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012.

He gets a $4 million signing bonus, $8 million next year, $12.5 million in 2010 and $13.5 million in 2011. Dempster has a 2012 option for $14 million.

Dempster was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA for the Cubs last season, then became a free agent after making the switch from the closer to starter.

As the Cubs' closer from 2005-07, he saved 87 games in 102 chances. But after earning a spot in the rotation during spring training, Dempster returned to the starter's role he held with the Marlins and Reds from 1998-2003.

Dempster was 14-3 at Wrigley Field during the regular season after starting 10-0 on the Cubs' home field. But Wrigley was also the site of one of his worst performances when he struggled in the playoff opener against the Dodgers.

Dempster threw 109 pitches in just 4 2-3 innings, giving up four runs and four hits while matching a career high seven walks. He gave up a grand slam to James Loney in the Cubs 7-2 loss and Chicago -- which had the NL's best record -- was swept out of the playoff in the first round for the second straight season.

On the first day of spring training last February, it was Dempster who said he thought the Cubs would win the World Series. But instead, they still haven't won one since 1908. Now he'll get another chance to help the Cubs end their long drought.

Last week, the Cubs traded for Florida reliever Kevin Gregg and said goodbye to free agent Kerry Wood. General manager Jim Hendry said the Cubs couldn't give him the long-term deal he deserved because they had more important priorities.

And one of those top priorities was re-signing Dempster.

Chicago also has explored acquiring San Diego ace Jake Peavy.