Taylor trial set for 2009

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From combined dispatches

The trial of four men accused of murdering Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor has been delayed until next year.

A Miami judge Friday set a new trial date of March 3, 2009. It had been previously set for later this month, which would have been unusually fast for a murder case.

Prosecutors say the suspects shot Taylor in November during a robbery attempt at his Miami-area home. Taylor, an All-Pro safety, was unexpectedly home because of a knee injury.

One of the men, 20-year-old Venjah Hunte, pleaded guilty in May under a deal that calls for him to serve 29 years in prison.

The remaining four men have pleaded not guilty. They are being held without bail and face possible life in prison if convicted.

PATRIOTS: John Lynch thought he would end his football career with the Denver Broncos.

Now the veteran safety and nine-time Pro Bowl pick, who spent four seasons with Denver after 11 years with Tampa Bay, has signed with New England.

“I thought Denver would be my last stop, but things happened and here I am,” Lynch said.

The Patriots did not report terms of the agreement, but the NFL Network said that Lynch signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract.

The Patriots need help in the secondary after safety-linebacker Tank Williams had a season-ending knee injury Aug. 7 in their first exhibition game, a 16-15 loss to Baltimore. Neither of last season's starters, Rodney Harrison and James Sanders, played in that game and both have missed several practices in training camp.

RAVENS: Baltimore is offering fans of Michael Phelps the chance to join with thousands to watch him swim his final race at the Beijing Olympics.

The Baltimore-area swimmer - who already has seven gold medals in this year's Olympics - will be competing for his eighth gold medal Saturday night.

His final race is scheduled for 10:58 p.m. and the Ravens will show the race on the stadium's SmartVision boards after the Ravens preseason game.

If Phelps wins his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games, he would break the record of seven golds in a single Olympics, set in 1972 by Mark Spitz.

GIANTS: Kicker Lawrence Tynes will miss the Super Bowl champions' preseason game against Cleveland on Monday night because of a knee injury.

Tynes, who was the only place-kicker in camp, wrenched his left knee Sunday when his foot slipped while kicking.

”I've never missed five days in a row of kicking,” Tynes said, adding that he has never missed a game. But he said he is trying to be cautious with so many games still to come.