Former Rebel Wright arrested on DUI charge

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright was arrested in Los Angeles on Monday for investigation of driving under the influence after police said he was involved in a crash near Staples Center.

The incident occurred about 12:20 a.m. PDT several blocks away from the Staples Center when the Mercedes SLS that Wright was driving rear-ended a pickup truck, said police officer Karen Rayner. The driver of the truck had unspecified injuries.

Wright, who wasn't injured, refused to take sobriety tests, authorities said. He was booked for investigation of felony DUI and bail was set at $100,000. It was not immediately known if he had posted bail.

Wright, a five-year veteran, signed with the Buccaneers this offseason after playing in Detroit last year. He had four interceptions and 16 passes defended in 2011.

The 26-year-old had played the four previous seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

Wright was arrested in March 2004 while attending Southern California for investigation of rape, but he was never charged because of insufficient evidence. He later transferred to UNLV.

■ BRONCOS - Denver signed place-kicker Matt Prater to a new four-year deal, locking up one of the most powerful legs in NFL history.

Executive vice president of football operations John Elway announced the contract, though terms were not released.

Prater was a clutch performer for the Broncos down the stretch last season, with four game-winning field goals. He had three straight weeks in which he kicked the winner on the game's final play, helping Tim Tebow and the Broncos go on a six-game winning streak that propelled them into the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.

Entering his sixth NFL season, Prater ranks second in team history with an 80.4 percent field goal conversion rate, just behind Jason Elam's mark of 80.6 percent. He owns the best field goal percentage (75) from 50 or more yards (12-for-16) and has converted 28 of 29 field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime.

■ MORTON PROBATION - Federal authorities in Santa Ana, Calif., said former NFL player Johnnie Morton Jr. was sentenced to two years probation for lying to a grand jury during a criminal probe of his California business associate.

The Internal Revenue Service said the 40-year-old Morton conceded he lied during 2009 testimony when he said he did not have business dealings with Neang Chhorvann.

The agency said the ex-Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver later acknowledged that he had given Chhorvann more than $2 million to be invested. Chhorvann pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in 2011.