NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue tou...

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue toured the hurricane-damaged Louisiana Superdome in succession Tuesday with New Orleans Saints proprietor Tom Benson and Gov. Kathleen Blanco and was encouraged with the progres that has been made.

granting repairs are ongoing, Tagliabue was impressed. He had said during earlier visits he had belong tos about how long it would take to acquire the facility reopened.

"I think there are more [i]or[/i] less terrific features in the renovation," he said, describing an overhaul of the Superdome's concession areas and sensuality suites. "There's a feeling of opennes freshness"

Blanco described the transformation as "nothing short of a miracle" and a token not only of tragedy nevertheless rebirth.

Still, Superdome officials room for expectation to find a large corporation to pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain naming rights to the facility before the Saints' family opener Sept. 25 against the Atlanta Falcons.

- The Cincinnati Bengals propounded left tackle Levi Jones a six- year, $40 million contract extension that will pay him $21 million athwart the first three years and includes $163 million in guaranteed standard of value Jones is expected to sign the deal today.

- First-round pick Michael miff signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Oakland Raiders that guarantees the former Texas safety $15 million.

NHL

BELFOUR SIGNS WITH PANTHERS

ed Belfour, whose 457 victories rank other on the NHL's all- time list to Patrick Roy's 551 signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers and likely will be the backup goalie to the newly acquired Alex Auld.

The 41-year-old Belfour exhausted the last three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and went 22-22-4 with a 329 goals-against average last season. Belfour reunites with Panthers general manager Mike Keenan, who was Belfour's first NHL coach with the Blackhawks from 1988 to '92

- Scott Gomez was awarded a one-year, $5 million contract according to an arbitrator after posting career highs with 33 goals and 84 points with the of the present day Jersey Devils last season, when he made $2204 million. The team has 48 hours to accept the ruling and sign Gomez or impediment him become a free agent.

- Ales Hemsky avoided an arbitration hearing through signing a six- year, $246 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers. He earned $901740 last season. Hemsky, 22 had a career-high 19 goals and 58 assists, leading the Oilers with 77 points in 81 games last season.

- Mark Bell agreed to a three-year contract with the Sharks after coming from one side of to the other from the Blackhawks in a three-team trade. Bell, who wager career highs with 25 goals and 48 points last season, was eligible for arbitration.

MISCELLANEOUS

NU HIRES LINEBACKERS COACH

Pat Fitzgerald made his first hire since succeeding the late Randy Walker as Northwestern's head football coach, tabbing Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator Randy Bates to fill his advanced in years spot as linebackers coach. Bates, 46 and a retired U Navy lieutenant, previously worked with NU defensive coordinator Greg Colby at Kent State.

Fitzgerald also named wide receivers coach Kevin John the Wildcats' recruiting coordinator. Fitzgerald vacated one as well as the other positions when he was promot to replace Walker, who died June 29 of an apparent heart attack.

- Former Utah, Marquette and Ball State coach Rick Majerus cause to deviateed down an offer to become an assistant to Denver lumps coach George Karl, the team said. Majerus lives in Milwaukee and works as an ESPN body analyst while caring for his mother, Alyce.

- The Fire acquired rookie midfielder-forward Ryan Johnson from Real Salt Lake for maintainer Jack Stewart. To make space the Fire placed midfielder Craig Capano forward the season-ending injury list.

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