PITTSBURGH - Former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler David Little, who led one of the NFL's most experienced linebacker corps, died while weightlifting at home in Miami. He was 46.

Little was lifting weights Thursday when he had a heart arrhythmia, causing him to drop a 250-pound barbell on his chest, which rolled onto his neck and suffocated him, according to the coroner.

Little was found by his sons, David Jr. and Darien.

The University of Florida graduate played his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh after being taken during the seventh round of the 1981 NFL draft.

Little started 125 of the 179 games he played for the Steelers and once played 89 consecutive games. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1990, three years before he retired.

The professional boxing card featuring Butler's Brian Minto (18-1) vs. David Polk (9-2) of Akron, Ohio, in the eight-round heavyweight main event at the Butler Days Inn is sold out.Four other bouts dot the card, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.:Heavyweight, 4 rounds: Adam Smith (2-4), Youngstown, Ohio, vs. Darryl Smith (0-4), ClevelandCruiserweight, 6 rounds - Chris Stallworth (5-1), Pittsburgh vs. Roosevelt Johnson (1-1-1), ClevelandWelterweight, 4 rounds - Rasheen Daniels (2-3-1), Warren, Ohio vs. Brian Camechis (3-0), Columbus, OhioCruiserweight, 6 rounds - Zack Page (4-2), Warren, Ohio vs. Dandre McCole (4-10-3), Akron, Ohio

The Mars junior varsity hockey team defeated Wheeling Park, 3-2, in a PIHL semifinal playoff game Monday night at the Airport Ice Arena.The Planets will play top-ranked Conemaugh Valley for the title next Monday at the Ice Castle in Castle Shannon. Game time will be announced.

PITTSBURGH - Backup offensive lineman Barrett Brooks signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.The nine-year veteran, who appeared in seven games the last four seasons, agreed to the contract that will pay him $665,000, including a $25,000 signing bonus. The contract will count $510,000 under the salary cap.Brooks becomes the team's top backup to left tackle Marvel Smith and Max Starks, who's expected to replace departed free agent Oliver Ross at right tackle.

KAPALUA, Hawaii - New York moved a step closer to getting the 2010 Super Bowl when an NFL committee Tuesday approved the Jets' bid to get the game - contingent on the construction of a new stadium on the West Side of Manhattan.The approval by the league's Super Bowl advisory committee came a day after the Jets upped their bid for the rights to build on the land to $720 million, surpassing the $700 million from an energy company and the $600 million from Cablevision, which owns Madison Square Garden. The Dolan family, which owns Cablevision, has been in a bitter fight to block construction of the stadium.