Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Chiefs cleared the way for Herman Edwards to become their new coach, agreeing Friday to a compensation deal with the New York Jets.

The Chiefs would give the Jets a surprisingly low fourth-round pick if they hire Edwards, who has ties to the team and general manager Carl Peterson. Because Edwards still was under contract with the Jets, the Chiefs needed to give up something to get him.

Chiefs spokesman Bob Moore said Peterson was headed to New York to begin negotiations. The commissioner’s office approved the fourth-round pick as compensation earlier Friday morning and granted Kansas City permission to speak with Edwards, who technically remains the head coach of the Jets.

The breakthrough ended several days of speculation and behind-the-scenes maneuvering among Edwards, the Jets and the Chiefs, who are looking to replace the retired Dick Vermeil.

Moore said he did not think a deal would be wrapped up right away, but added “that could change.”

Negotiations are not expected to be lengthy between Peterson and Edwards, who clearly was the Chiefs’ first choice all along. Peterson, perhaps only to add to his bargaining leverage with New York, also had talked with Kansas City offensive coordinator Al Saunders and others.

In five years in New York, Edwards was 39-41, coming just one win short of making the AFC championship game. The Jets this year, wracked by injuries, slipped to 4-12, including a 27-7 opening-day loss to the Chiefs.

NFL

Cowboys’ Parcells to stay

Irving, Texas – Bill Parcells is coming back for at least one more season with the Dallas Cowboys – and maybe even two. The team announced Friday that Parcells agreed to a new contract through the 2007 season. Parcells, 64, had a year left on the four-year, $17 million contract he signed in January 2003.

Ex-Arizona player killed

Phoenix – Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Simon Shanks was fatally shot outside his home Thursday night while his wife and children fled unharmed from three assailants by jumping out a back window, police said.

Vikings hire Eagles aide

Minneapolis – Eagles assistant Brad Childress was hired as coach of the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, five days after Mike Tice was fired following a 9-7 season marked by a scandalous boat party. The 49-year-old Childress has been the Eagles’ offensive coordinator since 2002. This is his first head-coaching job.

Childress joined the Eagles as quarterbacks coach under Andy Reid in 1999, and helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl last season. Before that, Childress was an assistant under Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin.

Bears’ Urlacher top defender

New York – Brian Urlacher, the Chicago Bears’ middle linebacker, won the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award Friday. Urlacher’s 34 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL gave him a runaway victory.Second to Urlacher was Colts DE Dwight Freeney with four votes.

NBA

Warriors keep eye on Miles

Oakland, Calif. – Former Kansas University guard Aaron Miles, who was cut by the Golden State Warriors on Thursday so the team wouldn’t have to pay him guaranteed money ($243,000) the rest of the season, could rejoin the team at a later date.

“Aaron was a great kid. I really wish him well,” coach Mike Montgomery said. “If he’s able to work his way back to us, that’d be great.”

Miles averaged 6.3 minutes in 19 appearances before essentially falling out of the rotation two weeks ago. Miles made about $150,000 with the Warriors prior to being cut.

NCAA CONVENTION

Gambling targeted

Indianapolis – The NCAA will bolster its antigambling message at this season’s NCAA basketball tournaments after a study showed more than two-thirds of male college athletes and nearly half the female athletes gambled. FBI agents will talk to each of the 32 teams in the regional rounds of the men’s and women’s tournaments. An NCAA study found 69 percent of male college athletes and 47 percent of female athletes participated in some kind of gambling.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Tech kicks Vick off team

Richmond, Va. – Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was dismissed from the team Friday, the result of numerous legal transgressions and his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Gator Bowl. University president Charles Steger announced the dismissal on the same day that coach Frank Beamer met with Vick and his mother in their Hampton Roads home, the school said. Beamer informed them of the decision during the meeting. Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, was suspended from school in 2004 for several legal problems.

The junior came under new and intense scrutiny this week after replays showed he stomped on the left calf of Louisville All-America defensive end Elvis Dumervil during the Jan. 2 bowl.

GOLF

Appleby leads Mercedes

Kapalua, Hawaii – Defending champion Stuart Appleby survived 35 mph gusts for a 1-under 72 Friday at the Mercedes Championships to take a one-shot lead into the weekend. He finished his two rounds at 3-under 143.

BASEBALL

Brewers acquire Koskie

Milwaukee – Third baseman Corey Koskie was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night for minor-league pitcher Brian Wolfe. Koskie hit .249 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs in 97 games last season, his first with the Blue Jays after spending the first seven years of his career in Minnesota.

Red Sox, Snow agree

Boston – J.T. Snow and the Boston Red Sox reached a preliminary agreement on a $2 million, one-year contract.

Yankees sign Leiter

New York – Al Leiter decided against retirement for now, agreeing Friday to a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees. The 40-year-old left-hander would get a $1.5 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster.