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Stojakovic bows out of Games

Peja Stojakovic said he will not play for the Serbia and Montenegro basketball team at the Athens Olympics, depriving the defending world champions of their best perimeter scorer.

The three-time NBA All-Star said Wednesday he was tired and that his decision is irreversible - even though people in his homeland are urging him to change his mind.

Stojakovic will be in Greece during the Olympics, fulfilling the end of a three-month stint in the Greek army. He holds duel citizenship in Greece and Serbia and Montenegro.

Stojakovic said he planned to watch the games with friends from the beach in Thessaloniki, where he keeps a home. Stojakovic's girlfriend, who also lives there, is expecting a baby in two to three weeks.

Three more first-round draft choices signed with their NFL teams Wednesday.But the dangers inherent to the NFL became quickly apparent when Sean Taylor, who signed a multimillion dollar deal with the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, injured his right knee in his first practice.Defensive tackle Tommie Harris, 14th overall pick in the draft, signed with Chicago; linebacker D.J. Williams, No. 17, with Denver and running back Kevin Jones, No. 30, with Detroit. The Lions also signed linebacker Teddy Lehman, their second-round pick, and the Bears signed wide receiver Bernard Berrian, their third-rounder.Taylor, who on Tuesday signed a 7-year, $18 million deal with Washington, sprained his right knee making a play near the end of the morning practice of what the Redskins term a "voluntary" passing camp. An MRI on Taylor was negative and team trainers said he could be on the field for the opening of training camp Saturday.In another development, veteran quarterback Steve Beuerlein was signed by Carolina, then retired. He holds every Carolina passing record. Beuerlein, 39, last played for Denver and spent 17 seasons in the league.

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