Ex-Lion and Spartan Rogers to try comeback in CFL

Don't call him a bust yet!

(And hope he doesn't get busted crossing the border.)

Former Lion and Spartan Charles Rogers is expected to latch on with a Canadian Football League team soon, espn.com reported. His agent, Jason Fletcher, said three CFL franchises have expressed interest in the 26-year-old receiver from Saginaw.

"He wants to play again, and it's the best opportunity for him to show he can play again," Fletcher told the Web site.

The CFL is about halfway through its 18-game schedule, which means Rogers won't have many chances to break his collarbone.

These Bucks must go stag

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has banned visitors to the players' hotel during training camp this month, including girlfriends. We suppose they'll have to stay out in the pasture.

"I don't necessarily know that it's a bad thing," tight end Rory Nicol told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Nicol joked that the significant others were thinking about circulating a petition for access.

But with no girls around, we shudder to imagine the scene.

"It's just all stinky guys together playing video games and kicking it at the hotel," tackle Kirk Barton confirmed.

The free-food Blues

Good thing Keith Tkachuk has slimmed down a bit. If he hadn't, he probably wouldn't be able to concentrate during the St. Louis Blues' game against Nashville on Jan. 19.

For the second straight year, Tkachuk's Blues are offering free food to everyone in attendance at one of their games.

Fans can grab hot dogs, chicken fingers, chips, popcorn, peanuts, soft drinks and water until the end of the second intermission.

Too bad you also have to watch the Blues.

C'mon, Agent Zero Court?

Nets forward Richard Jefferson donated $3.5 million to help build a practice facility for Arizona, his alma mater. According to the school, it was a record gift by an active athlete, trumping Carmelo Anthony ($3 million to Syracuse) and Steve Smith ($2.5 million to Michigan State).

And at least part of Jefferson's motivation was to keep the honor away from fellow alum Gilbert Arenas. "They said 'Hey, if we can't ask you, we're going to ask Gilbert next.' I was like, 'OK. Whatever the number is, we're going to figure it out,' " Jefferson told the Arizona Daily Star.

Quick hits

• Heralded Notre Dame freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen was cited for transporting alcohol as a minor in June, according to the South Bend Tribune.

• How did the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez prepare for last week's visit from the Tigers? By taking his wife to a Justin Timberlake concert Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, reports the New York Daily News.

• The Class-A Lancaster (Calif.) JetHawks were set to hold Kenny Rogers Lookalike Night on Sunday evening. No, not THAT Kenny Rogers. George Clooney would have won too easily.

• At last, we know what Italian Marco Materazzi said to provoke Frenchman Zinedine Zidane's head butt in the 2006 World Cup final: "I prefer the whore that is your sister." The insult is revealed in Materazzi's soon-to-be-released autobiography, according to Italian news reports.

Bottom line

• Backup Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi (Fraser), on tonight's Super Bowl rematch against Chicago: "I don't know how much the offense will play, maybe one or two series. Then you're going to see all the guys who were standing on the sidelines last year. So it's our Super Bowl."

[More at www.freep.com]