49ers Sign Kevin Greene

The San Francisco 49ers, who have made a habit of plugging aging stars into an aging team, on Tuesday added Kevin Greene, the NFL’s 1996 sack leader.

Greene, who was cut Sunday by the Carolina Panthers after holding out in a contract dispute, reached agreement on a six-year deal worth $13 million, although only $350,000 of it will count against the 49ers’ salary cap.

Because the 49ers play a 4-3 defense, Greene probably will be used as a third-down pass rusher since stopping the run is not his forte.

Greene, who had 14 1/2 sacks last season, is 35 and had been seeking to renegotiate a contract with Carolina that would have paid him between $1 million and $1.6 million this season, depending on incentives.

Greene’s 49er contract contains a $750,000 signing bonus--$125,000 a year prorated over six years--and only a $200,000 base salary this season plus $550,000 in incentives. There is also a $1.75-million base salary for next season, not including a $250,000 workout bonus payable in March.

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A Dallas County grand jury took no action in the sexual assault case against Cowboy offensive lineman Nate Newton. A 31-year-old woman who accused Newton of raping her at her Grand Prairie mobile home June 15 testified before the panel, but prosecutors agreed to delay appearances by Newton and other defense witnesses until Sept. 2. Newton’s attorney, Howard Shapiro, requested the delay to provide time for him to round up witnesses and prepare evidence. . . . The Cowboys released defensive lineman Leonard Renfro and were seeking a veteran linebacker to fill out an inexperienced group of five.

The New York Giants terminated the contract of guard Lance Smith, a 13-year veteran, to open up a spot on the roster for a cornerback. Cornerback Philippi Sparks has viral hepatitis and will miss three to six weeks. Conrad Hamilton, who started against the Green Bay Packers on Friday night when Sparks was unable to play, underwent arthroscopic surgery in his left knee. He is expected to be out at least two weeks. That leaves the team with two sound cornerbacks--Jason Sehorn and Thomas Randolph--going into Sunday’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Washington Redskins appeared nowhere close to signing holdout defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, and there were also no indications of a trade. “He will either play for us or not play,” General Manager Charley Casserly said. . . . The Chicago Bears gave up on their third-round draft pick, guard Bob Sapp, waiving the 300-pound rookie from the University of Washington. . . . The Philadelphia Eagles worked out veteran defensive end Richard Dent and discussed a contract with the former Super Bowl MVP. . . . The Detroit Lions signed free-agent defensive tackle Marc Spindler, becoming the third team to sign him this season. He started out with the Seattle Seahawks but was cut after sitting out most of the preseason because of injuries. He then signed with the Chicago Bears, but was cut Sunday.