Prosecutors in Miami said yesterday they will not seek the death penalty against four people charged with murdering Washington Redskins cornerback Sean Taylor in November because the accused shooter was a minor when the crime was committed.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that people cannot be executed for crimes committed when they're under 18, and it's a well-established legal principle that others involved in the same case as a minor cannot face the ultimate penalty if they are less directly responsible. An assistant state attorney filed notice that the death penalty will be waived. That means the four suspects could get a maximum of life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder after a trial scheduled to begin Aug. 25.

Former New England Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh will meet separately with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., today to discuss New England's videotaping of opposing coaches' play-calling signals in violation of league rules.

• Robbie Gould became the highest paid kicker, agreeing to a five-year, $15.5 million contract extension with the Chicago Bears that includes a $4.25 million signing bonus.

The head of the sports agency representing O.J. Mayo denied any illegal activity involving the Southern California star, a day after ESPN reported Bill Duffy Associates gave cash to an event promoter who provided gifts.

Mayo has declared for the NBA draft and hired BDA Sports' Calvin Andrews as his agent. ESPN reported Sunday that Mayo received about $30,000 and other benefits while in high school and in his lone season at USC, then entered into a verbal agreement that allowed the agency to represent him when he turned pro.

• An NCAA committee has recommended changing the goaltending rule so that a ball that is completely above the rim and already has hit the backboard could not be touched, regardless of whether it is on an upward or downward flight. Previously, only a ball on a downward flight after touching the backboard was subject to a goaltending call.

• Kelly Packard, former coach of the Colorado Chill of the National Women's Basketball League and a longtime assistant at Colorado State, was hired as the women's coach at Ball State. She succeeds Tracy Roller, who resigned a month ago for personal reasons.

• Bill Rankin, a star at UCLA during World War II and after, died at his home on Balboa Island Sunday after a long fight with Parkinson's disease. He was 84.

New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky scored three goals and the Americans scored three times in each period to wrap up their qualifying round at the world hockey championships with a 9-1 win against Norway in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With the win, the U.S. team locked up third place in Pool F. The Americans next play tomorrow against Finland, which lost to Canada, 6-3.

A University of Florida player is recovering after being shot in the shoulder while at a Tampa area-park. Florida coach Urban Meyer said defensive lineman Matt Patchan is expected to fully recover after being shot Friday night.

• Minnesota wide receiver Tray Herndon has been granted a release from his scholarship by coach Tim Brewster.

The U.S. Open tournament's cable TV coverage is leaving USA Network after 25 years and moving to ESPN and Tennis Channel starting in 2009.

B.J. Stevens, a junior defensive end at Gateway High School, has made a verbal commitment to Miami of Ohio. Stevens led Gateway with 12 sacks last season and his brother, Jordan, already plays at Miami.

The Pitt-Akron game scheduled today for Consol Energy Park in Washington, Pa., was moved to 6 p.m. today at Trees Field in Oakland because of poor field conditions.

• The Washington Wild Things of the independent Frontier League acquired shortstop Jeff Beachum of the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League for a player to be named. In 2006, he played for Staten Island, a minor league team for the New York Yankees.