SAN FRANCISCO — Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters will avoid jail time under a plea agreement by a criminal defense lawyer who admitted leaking them secret grand jury documents from the BALCO steroids investigation.

In court papers filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday, attorney Troy Ellerman said he allowed reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada to view transcripts of the grand jury testimony of baseball stars Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield and sprinter Tim Montgomery.

The Chronicle published stories in 2004 that reported Giambi and Montgomery admitted to the grand jury that they took steroids, while Bonds and Sheffield testified they didn't knowingly take the drugs. The leaked testimony also was featured prominently in the writers' book, "Game of Shadows," which recounts Bonds' alleged use of steroids.

SAN DIEGO — Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, the assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, met with the San Diego Chargers Wednesday, less than 48 hours after Marty Schottenheimer was fired.Singletary, interviewing for a head coaching job for the third time since early January, thinks he's ready to move up after four seasons as an assistant.Singletary also interviewed for the head coaching jobs with Atlanta and Dallas. The Cowboys' job went to Wade Phillips, who had been the Chargers' defensive coordinator. Singletary interviewed last year for the Detroit Lions' job.Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the son of former NFL head coach Buddy Ryan, is scheduled to interview today.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — An NCAA committee has proposed rolling back some football rules that were enacted last season to shorten games after coaches complained the changes were unfair.The NCAA football rules committee, meeting in Albuquerque, N.M., Wednesday, recommended going back to starting the clock on the snap after a change of possession instead of when the referee signals the ball ready for play.It also suggested starting the clock on kickoffs after the ball is touched by the receiving team rather than when it is kicked.