Sports briefs 2/21/06

Basketball

• The Los Angeles Clippers have signed power forward Vin Baker, the team announced Monday.

Baker has been a free agent since playing for the Houston Rockets in the 2004-2005 season, said Clippers spokesman Nick Brown. Baker, 34, has averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 783 career games.

Colleges

n Steve Baker, who has headed the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for nearly nine years, stepped down Monday.

The former Major League Baseball International executive gave no specific reason for his departure.

Jim Carr, the NAIA's chief operating officer and general counsel, was named interim president and CEO.

Football

• The Chargers are primed to let quarterback Drew Brees test free agency.

San Diego general manager A. J. Smith said Monday the team has declined to designate Brees as its franchise or transition player. The deadline for designating a player with either tag is Thursday.

If the Chargers had slapped either of the tags on Brees, he would be guaranteed nearly $10 million in a one-year salary next season. That's too rich for the Chargers, considering Brees was injured in the team's season finale, tearing the labrum in his throwing shoulder.

-- From wire reports