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From The Associated Press

Green, Monk, Dean, Tippett, Zimmerman elected to Hall of Fame

PHOENIX—It was a Hall of Fame day for the Washington Redskins, with Art Monk and Darrell Green elected to the shrine Saturday. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue failed to get in for the second straight year.

Also voted in were New England linebacker Andre Tippett, San Diego/San Francisco defensive end Fred Dean, Minnesota/Denver tackle Gary Zimmerman and senior committee choice, Kansas City cornerback Emmitt Thomas.

In his eighth year of eligibility, Monk finally was chosen. He concluded his career after the 1995 season with Philadelphia, but spent 13 years with the Redskins as one of the NFL’s premier receivers. Monk held records for most consecutive games with a reception (164) and career catches (820). Both have been surpassed, but Monk didn’t play in as wide-open an era on offense as many other receivers. He was one of the most consistent possession and third-down receivers in the league throughout his 14 pro seasons.

Green, one of the NFL’s speediest and most skilled cornerbacks for two decades, spent his entire career (1983-2002) with the Redskins. He holds the record for consecutive seasons with an interception (19), and had 54 picks for 621 yards and six TDs. A member of the 1990s All-Decade team, Green made seven Pro Bowls.

“This is incredible. This is so special,” Green said when informed of the vote.

The other player in his first year of eligibility, receiver Cris Carter, was not elected. Carter finished his 15-year career second on the career list in receptions and TD catches.

Inductions will be at the Pro Football Hall of Game in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 2.

Lakers acquire Pau Gasol from Memphis Grizzlies

TORONTO—The Los Angeles Lakers bolstered their banged-up frontline Friday with a key acquisition — 7-footer Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

“It shows a great deal of commitment from the organization,” All-Star Kobe Bryant said before the Lakers’ game at Toronto. “It’s a great step.

“It’s a matter of us just gelling now and putting it together,” added Bryant, who urged management to improve the team over the summer. “We’ve got a great bench. We have a lot of length, a lot of versatility. Now it’s time to walk the walk.”

The Lakers gave up Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks for Gasol. The Spaniard is certain to help a Lakers team reeling from recent injuries to inside players, including blossoming center Andrew Bynum.

“We need a little scoring inside without Andrew Bynum,” coach Phil Jackson said. “It gives us a post-up threat right now, and he’s a good passer. We like that.”

Jackson said Gasol could make his debut when the Lakers visit Washington on Sunday.

“We’d like him to play on Sunday,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if that’s possible or not. He’s got to go back to L.A. and have a physical tomorrow.”

Gasol, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.44 blocked shots in 39 games this season, can fill in at center until Bynum returns in mid-March, then move to power forward.

“He’s a great player,” forward Lamar Odom said. “With him and Andrew down there, I’m really excited to see how that works out. We’ll protect the basket a little bit more. I’m looking forward to seeing those guys playing together.”

The Grizzlies will get the Lakers’ first-round draft choices in 2008 and 2010; guard Aaron McKie, signed earlier Friday for salary cap purposes; cash considerations, and the rights to Gasol’s brother Marc, a 2007 second-round pick of Los Angeles.

Santana passes physical, clearing way for Mets trade

NEW YORK—Johan Santana passed his physical, the final step for the New York Mets to acquire the two-time Cy Young Award winner in a blockbuster trade with Minnesota.

Santana and the Mets agreed Friday to a $137.5 million, six-year contract, a record for a pitcher. He passed his physical Saturday, the team said, and New York scheduled an afternoon conference call.

After the sides were granted an extra two hours to work on a deal Friday, the Mets announced about 30 minutes before the new 7 p.m. EST deadline that negotiations had concluded.

Terms of the agreement were disclosed by a baseball official with knowledge of the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. The deal includes deferred money and a club option for 2014 with a $5.5 million buyout that could make the contract worth about $150 million over seven seasons. Depending on Santana’s performance, the option could become guaranteed.

The acquisition of Santana for four prospects is one of the biggest moves in franchise history, and it gives New York the durable ace it has sorely lacked while chasing a pennant the past two years.

The Mets came within one win of the 2006 World Series despite an injury-depleted pitching staff, then missed the playoffs last season after blowing a seven-game lead in the NL East with 17 to play.

Now, New York is a National League favorite again. As long as the medical checks don’t create any hitches, Santana will lead a rotation that includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez, crafty right-hander Orlando Hernandez and a pair of 15-game winners from last season: John Maine and Oliver Perez.

Goodell defends destroying evidence in Spygate scandal

PHOENIX—Spygate sure has touched a nerve.

If Roger Goodell wasn’t acutely aware of that before Friday, he certainly has no doubt now. Not after repeatedly having to defend his decision to destroy notes and videotapes linked to the New England Patriots’ cheating scandal.

One day after Sen. Arlen Specter asked why the NFL commissioner trashed the evidence, Goodell fielded a half-dozen questions on the subject during his Super Bowl news conference.

“I think there are very good explanations for the reason why I destroyed the tapes or had them destroyed by our staff,” Goodell said. “They were totally consistent with what the team told me. There was no purpose for them. I believe it was helpful in making sure our instructions were followed closely, by not only the Patriots, but also by every other team. I think it was the appropriate thing to do. Our discipline sent a loud message ...

“The action that we took was decisive and it was unprecedented.”

But not totally embraced. Specter, R-Pa., said Goodell’s explanation, “didn’t make any sense at all.”

“If they are under lock and key at the NFL headquarters, they aren’t going to be available at all,” he said in Philadelphia.

Woods struggles to 1-over 73 at Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Tiger Woods struggled Saturday and Ernie Els took advantage, surging into the lead of the Dubai Desert Classic with a 7-under 65.

That doesn’t mean Els thinks he can sit on his one-shot lead over Henrik Stenson with Woods another three strokes back going into the final round.

“Probably need a really low one (score) tomorrow,” Els said. “I can’t see Henrik with Tiger and the other guys not shooting low, so just got to keep going tomorrow.”

Woods, who led after the first two rounds, missed putts, hit wayward drives and yelled at a photographer en route to a 73. He is at 7-under 209 and tied for fifth with five others.

“I didn’t play well today,” said Woods, who opened his season with an eight-stroke win at the Buick Invitational last week for a fourth straight title. “I didn’t hit the ball close enough on the greens, and consequently I was ‘lag putting’ a lot. Never really gave myself a lot of looks at birdies.”

Five share FBR Open lead after another frost delay

SCOTTSDALE—There’s frost on the cactus in north Scottsdale, and it’s playing havoc with the FBR Open.

After a frost delay for the third day in a row — this one lasting 58 minutes — golfers finally finished the second round on Saturday, with a logjam of five in the lead.

Camilo Villegas, Jonathan Byrd and Kenny Perry completed their rounds to join J.B. Holmes and Doug LaBelle II at 9-under 133 halfway through the tournament, which drew a record crowd of 120,891 on Friday. Holmes and LaBelle made it through the second round Friday before play was suspended by darkness with 45 golfers still on the course.

First round co-leader Charles Warren and Frank Lickliter III finished second-round play Saturday at 8-under 134, one shot back. Nick O’Hern and Pat Perez also were at 8-under after completing their round on Friday.

In all, 24 players were within three shots of the lead. Seven were two back at 135. Phil Mickelson added a birdie to his second round on Saturday and was in a group of eight at 6-under 136.