OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Four-time Pro Bowl receiver Terrell Owens was traded to the Baltimore Ravens by San Francisco Thursday after a paperwork error prevented him from becoming a free agent.

Owens, who quarreled with coaches, teammates and opponents during the last few seasons, was given permission by the 49ers to seek a deal after his agent failed to file a document voiding the final years of his contract.

MIAMI - Chris Smith shot a 7-under 65 Thursday, closing with a double bogey on the beefed-up 18th hole, to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Ford Championship at Doral.Joe Durant opened with a 66, and Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Scott Verplank were two shots back. Smith, Mickelson and Verplank all found the water on the par-4 18th.The finishing hole played into a strong wind and finished with a scoring average (4.74) higher than three of the Blue Monster's four par-5s. It was easily the toughest hole on the PGA Tour this year and is on pace to be the tour's most difficult hole over a four-day period since 1990.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Arnold Palmer will keep his streak alive at the Bay Hill Invitational, deciding to play in his PGA Tour event for the 26th consecutive year.The 74-year-old Palmer, who has threatened to stop playing the tournament each of the last two years, is the only player to compete in the tournament every year since it moved to his Bay Hill Club in 1979.He has a special lifetime exemption to the tournament and will be an addition to the limited-field event, not taking away a spot from a younger PGA Tour player.BC-Sports Briefs,0994Thursday's Sports in BriefBy The Associated PressSTEROIDSSAN FRANCISCO - Lawyers for two men accused in a drug-distribution ring reiterated that Barry Bonds never received steroids from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.The attorneys also called for an investigation into how information was leaked to a newspaper that reported Bonds was given steroids and human growth hormone by his personal trainer, Greg Anderson - who allegedly got them from BALCO.The San Francisco Chronicle, quoting information it said was given to federal investigators, reported Tuesday that steroids were given to Bonds, New York Yankees stars Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, three other major leaguers and one NFL player.Bonds, Giambi and Sheffield have repeatedly denied taking steroids.BALCO vice president James Valente, Anderson, BALCO founder Victor Conte and track coach Remi Korchemny have pleaded innocent to steroid distribution charges.FOOTBALLFIGURE SKATINGTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Andrei Griazev of Russia won the men's title at the world junior figure skating championships.Griazev beat Evan Lysacek of the United States, the Junior Grand Prix champion.Another American, Jordan Brauninger, was third, while 2003 bronze medalist Alban Preaubert of France finished fifth.COLLEGE FOOTBALLAURORA, Colo. (AP) - Colorado announced sweeping changes to its scandal-ridden football program, barring recruits from visiting bars and private parties and putting them under the close supervision of parents and coaches.Calling the new guidelines the strictest in the nation, university president Betsy Hoffman said recruits will now only visit the Boulder campus during the offseason. All activities will be planned, approved and supervised by a coach.The recruits, primarily high school athletes, will also be limited to a single night's stay during campus visits, instead of the usual two. A 1 a.m. curfew will be moved up to 11 p.m.Seven women have accused Colorado football players or recruits of rape since 1997. The school faces federal lawsuits by three of the women who say they were raped by football athletes at or just after a 2001 off-campus recruiting party.BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Jeremy Bloom, the Colorado wide receiver and World Cup skier, has signed his first two endorsement deals since the 2002 Winter Olympics.Six weeks after challenging the NCAA's rules on endorsement money, Bloom reached agreements with Under Armour for performance clothing and Bolle for eye wear, including goggles and sunglasses.For the past two years, Bloom has played football for Colorado while competing on the World Cup moguls ski circuit.NCAA rules prevent him from accepting endorsement money while playing football. Bloom said in January he needed money to continue his ski training and would begin to sign endorsement deals, in defiance of the NCAA.HOCKEYCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - An arbitrator ruled that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nikolai Zherdev can keep playing in the NHL and does not have to return to Russia.Zherdev's former club in Russia, CSKA Moscow, claimed he was still obligated to serve in the military there.COLLEGE BASKETBALLAUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Baylor responded to the scandal in the men's basketball program by appointing a special panel to recommend standards and policies for recruiting and admitting athletes.An internal probe has revealed major NCAA violations by former coach Dave Bliss, including paying tuition for players and other infractions. Baylor has sent its findings the NCAA.The school began its investigation last summer after the disappearance of player Patrick Dennehy. He later was found dead, and former teammate Carlton Dotson is awaiting trial on murder charges.TENNISACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) - Top-seeded Carlos Moya rallied to outlast French teenager Richard Gasquet 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Thursday night and advance to the quarterfinals of the Mexican Open.On Friday, Moya will meet eighth-seeded Filippo Volandri of Italy, who topped unseeded Stefan Koubek of Austria, 6-4, 6-2.On the women's side third-seeded Maria Sanchez Lorenzo needed just 70 minutes to oust 2003 runner-up Mariana Diaz Oliva 6-3, 6-3.AP-ES-03-05-04 0507EST

BRADENTON, Fla. - Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Chris Singleton was given his unconditional release and had his minor-league contract voided Thursday when he failed his physical.Singleton, 31, reported to spring training Feb. 25, but was not permitted to work out with the team because of an inner ear infection. Singleton complained of lightheadedness and was sent to Pittsburgh for two days of follow-up medical testing this week.Citing confidentiality issues, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield declined to give the reason Singleton failed his physical.Singleton, a non-roster invitee, would have earned $550,000 with a chance to make an additional $200,000 in bonuses had he won a spot on the 25-man roster.