Former New York Giants linebacker and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor pled not guilty to charges that he solicited and had sex an underage prostitute in May, Tuesday at Rockland County Court.

Taylor, dressed in a black crew-neck shirt, an olive suit jacket, and oversized black slacks, appeared in good spirits and joked and smiled with friends before the arraignment. He’s charged with third-degree rape, performing a criminal sexual act, two counts of sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, and patronizing a prostitute. He was accompanied by a handful of friends, and his wife, Lynette, who said little and remained stoic throughout the proceedings.

Prosecutors allege that Taylor solicited the girl, who was then a week shy of her 17th birthday, and paid her $300 for sex, including oral sex, at a Holiday Inn.

NFL

Titans rookie pleads no contest

Providence, R.I. — David Howard, a Brown University defensive lineman drafted in the spring by the Tennessee Titans, has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge in Rhode Island.

Howard was accused in April 2009 of punching and kicking a customer at a bar where he was working as a bouncer. He entered the plea Monday to a charge of simple assault.

Steelers, Tomlin agree to extension

Pittsburgh — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the Steelers have given coach Mike Tomlin a three-year contract extension.

College football

Carr retires as associate AD

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Lloyd Carr, who led Michigan to the national football championship in 1997 and five Big ten titles, is stepping down as the Wolverines’ associate athletic director Sept. 1.

Carr, 64, coached Michigan’s football team in 1995-2008. His teams had a record of 122-40 (81-23 Big Ten).

Baseball

Stamps to honor Negro Leagues

Washington — A pair of 44-cent Negro Leagues commemorative stamps will be dedicated Thursday in ceremonies at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo.

One stamp shows a close play at home plate, while the other commemorates Andrew “Rube” Foster, founder of the leagues that operated from 1920 to 1960.

Harper takes Golden Spikes Award

Anaheim, Calif. — No. 1 draft choice Bryce Harper has won the Golden Spikes Award, given to the country’s top amateur baseball player.

Harper hit a school-record 31 home runs and batted .443 with 98 RBIs as a freshman at the College of Southern Nevada. The 17-year-old slugger left high school two years early and enrolled in junior college to become draft eligible sooner. The Nationals picked him first.

College basketball

Tennessee adds senior transfer

Knoxville, Tenn. — Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has added another forward to his squad, senior John Fields from UNC-Wilmington.

Fields has one year of eligibility remaining after playing three years at the Division I level, one at UNC-Wilmington and two at East Carolina. He sat out a year after transferring from ECU to the Seahawks.

Fields received his undergraduate degree from UNC-Wilmington. Tennessee expects the 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward from Fayetteville, N.C., to be able to play immediately, pending an NCAA waiver.

NBA

Spurs finalize contract with Bonner

San Antonio — The San Antonio Spurs have finalized a new contract with forward Matt Bonner.

The Spurs announced the deal Tuesday, a day after signing Brazilian center Tiago Splitter, their 2007 first-round draft pick.

Ilgauskas to sign with Miami

Miami — Zydrunas Ilgauskas has dealt Cleveland another blow by planning to follow LeBron James to the Miami Heat.

The veteran center, who started playing for Cleveland in 1997 and has never suited up for another NBA team, expects to sign a two-year contract with the Heat later this week, agent Herb Rudoy said Tuesday. The two-year deal would come with a player option for the second season, Rudoy said.

Bobcats, Mavs broker 5-player deal

Charlotte, N.C. — The Charlotte Bobcats completed a wild 24 hours of trade discussions with a deal on Tuesday that does include center Tyson Chandler after all.

He’s just not heading to the team he thought a day earlier.

After a potential trade with Toronto fell apart, the Bobcats sent Chandler and fellow center Alexis Ajinca to the Dallas Mavericks for center Erick Dampier, forward Eduardo Najera, shooting guard Matt Carroll and cash considerations.

Nets, Warriors strike deal

East Rutherford, N.J. — The New Jersey Nets have acquired guard Anthony Morrow in a sign and trade deal with the Golden State Warriors.

The deal was completed on Tuesday, just a day after the Nets handed Morrow an offer sheet on a three-year, $12 million contract.

The Warriors, who were not expected to match the offer, will get the Nets’ second-round draft pick in 2011.

Hornets part ways with GM

New Orleans — New Orleans Hornets general manager Jeff Bower stepped down on Tuesday, parting ways with a franchise that is trying to prove to restless All-Star Chris Paul that it is serious about winning.

The sudden announcement from the Hornets stated that Bower and the team “mutually agreed” on the move.

Source: Jefferson to Jazz

Minneapolis — The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to send forward Al Jefferson to the Utah Jazz for two future first-round draft picks and a traded player exception for salary-cap flexibility, a person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Clippers sign former OU star

Los Angeles — The Los Angeles Clippers have signed guard Willie Warren, their second-round selection in the NBA draft.

Warren averaged a team-best 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 21 games as a sophomore last season for Oklahoma. He was a teammate of Clippers forward Blake Griffin at Oklahoma in 2008-09.

College athletics

Ark., Okla. teams apply for new league

Little Rock, Ark. — Nine Division II schools in Arkansas and Oklahoma announced plans Tuesday to apply to the NCAA for permission to create a new conference.

Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, East Central University, Harding, Henderson State, Ouachita Baptist, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas and Southwestern Oklahoma State must submit a strategic plan, conference constitution and conference bylaws to the NCAA by Dec. 1.

The Arkansas schools are currently in the Gulf South Conference, and the Oklahoma schools are in the Lone Star. The schools say they are trying to limit travel costs.

Auto racing

Rahal rejoins Newman/Haas

Graham Rahal finally has a regular ride.

One of America’s best young drivers, the 21-year-old son of a racing legend is reteaming with Newman/Haas Racing for six of the final eight IndyCar Series races, starting this weekend in Toronto.