Seahawks sign running back Jones to deal

Now that the Seattle Seahawks have signed Julius Jones, Shaun Alexander wants to know what’s going on.

The four-time defending NFC West champions announced Monday they had signed Jones, the deposed starting running back in Dallas, to a multi-year contract. Terms were not released, but it is reportedly a four-year deal.

Jones’ arrival is further proof Coach Mike Holmgren wasn’t just appeasing the fan base when he said fixing Seattle’s anemic running game was a priority for 2008. Seattle averaged 3.8 yards a carry last season.

It is also the second running back Seattle has signed in the last week, after T.J. Duckett, which gives Alexander two reasons to worry.

Jim Steiner, the agent for the 2005 league most valuable player, said Monday evening that he will meet with Seahawks executives about what future -- if any -- Alexander has in Seattle.

“We’re going to have some discussions with the Seahawks in the next few days,” Steiner said. “It will be about the running back situation there.”

Steiner declined to comment on whether the Seahawks have asked Alexander to restructure the $62-million, eight-year contract he signed before the 2006 season.

Alexander has had two injury-filled and ineffective seasons since signing his deal, including last season in which he ran for only 716 yards in 13 games.

--

Six years after leaving the franchise he helped turn into a Super Bowl contender, running back Warrick Dunn is coming back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection signed with the Buccaneers, who needed to bolster their running game because Carnell “Cadillac” Williams missed most of last season with a knee injury. There are also lingering questions about when Williams will be able to play again.

Dunn, 33, spent the last six seasons with Atlanta and flourished there, becoming the franchise’s third-leading rusher with 5,979 rushing yards.

--

Offensive lineman Jake Scott agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. . . . Tight end Eric Johnson agreed to a one-year contract to return to the New Orleans Saints.

SOCCER

U.S. women advance to Algarve Cup final

The United States scored four second-half goals to beat Norway, 4-0, in the Algarve Cup at Alvor, Portugal, setting up a showdown with Denmark in a rematch of last year’s final.

Last year, the U.S. defeated Denmark, 2-0, to win the Algarve Cup for the fifth time.

--

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks, who also owns the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars, said he had ended talks with Dubai International Capital, which has been negotiating to buy most of co-owner George Gillett’s 50% stake. DIC made no official comment, but a person close to the bid said the company is looking at weaknesses in Hicks’ power of veto over Gillett’s ability to sell.

MISCELLANY

Gebrselassie probably will miss Olympics

World-record holder Haile Gebrselassie is almost certain to miss the marathon at the Beijing Olympics because of the city’s poor air quality.

The Ethiopian, who has asthma, fears damage to his health by running through the streets of the Chinese capital.

--

Ernie Els withdrew from this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational because of fatigue, two weeks after winning on the PGA Tour for the first time in 3 1/2 years.

--

South Florida football Coach Jim Leavitt agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2014. South Florida was ranked as high as No. 2 in 2007.

--

The deposition of Lloyd Lake, a would-be marketing agent who is suing Reggie Bush in civil court, was postponed pending a May 2 hearing before a San Diego judge.

Bush’s deposition in the case, scheduled for last month, has been postponed indefinitely.

-- David Wharton

--

Kris Richard, who played cornerback at USC in 1998-2001, will join the Trojans staff as a graduate assistant, Coach Pete Carroll said.

Richard was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft.

-- Gary Klein

--

Former Hawaii football player Jim Donovan, who graduated from Servite High, is expected to be named Hawaii’s new athletic director.