Jake Delhomme has a new NFL home, and the Cleveland Browns have another new quarterback.

Delhomme, released last week by the Carolina Panthers, has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Browns, whose quarterback position has been nothing short of a merry-go-round of players since the club returned as an expansion team 11 years ago.

Delhomme's agent, Rick Smith, said the 35-year-old QB would sign his contract before the club's off-season conditioning program begins. Smith refused to comment beyond saying Delhomme would be resuming his career in Cleveland.

A team spokesman said the Browns have no announcements planned.

Cleveland has been busy trying to resolve a troublesome position. Earlier this week, the Browns acquired backup Seneca Wallace and released Derek Anderson, a one-time Pro Bowl selection who has struggled in the past two seasons.

Delhomme is expected to compete for Cleveland's starting job with Brady Quinn, who has yet to receive any endorsement from the club's new front office.

Delhomme is coming off his worst season as a pro. He threw 18 interceptions and the Panthers decided to cut him despite still owing him more than $12 million. Delhomme went 58-40 as a starter with Carolina, leading the franchise to its lone Super Bowl appearance to end the 2003 season.

MAWAE RE-ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF NFLPA

Free agent center Kevin Mawae was unanimously re-elected as president of the NFL Players Association during the union's board of player representatives meeting yesterday at Wailea, Maui.

Mawae, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, will serve his second straight two-year term beginning this season after the voting was announced in Maui with more than 100 players in attendance. The 16-year veteran has spent the last four seasons playing with the Tennessee Titans.

He has served on the NFLPA executive committee since 2002 and was a player representative for five previous seasons.

"I'm thankful and humbled by my re-election as president of the NFL Players Association," Mawae said in a statement. "I believe it shows the faith and belief that the board has in me and my ability to continue to lead the players of the NFL through a period of uncertainty."

AUTO RACING

UNSAFE STREETS POSTPONE SAO PAULO 300 QUALIFYING

Qualifying for the IndyCar season-opener on the streets of Sao Paulo has been postponed because the main straightaway lacked enough grip to make racing safe.

Drivers were running practice sessions yesterday, giving officials time to try to improve track conditions for today's Sao Paulo 300 race.

Drivers complained that the temporary circuit for the inaugural Sao Paulo Indy 300 had severe bumps and was risky on the slick front straight.

HORSE RACING

ZENYATTA WINS HER RACE; RACHEL ALEXANDRA LOSES

Zenyatta made a successful return to the races yesterday, winning the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap in Arcadia, Calif., by 1 1/4 lengths and extending her career victory streak to 15-0.

The 6-year-old mare trailed a field of seven rivals going 1 1/8 miles in her season debut before unleashing her trademark late run to win under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

Zenyatta was timed in 1:48.20 on the synthetic surface and paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10 as the overwhelming 1-5 wagering favorite in her first race in four months.

In New Orleans, 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra was upset in her season debut, possibly jeopardizing the highly anticipated first meeting with Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom next month in Arkansas.

She was beaten three-quarters of a length by Zenyatta's stablemate, Zardana; John Shirreffs trains both Southern California-based mares.

The two leading ladies of American racing were using yesterday's races as tuneups for their scheduled April 9 showdown. Zenyatta's co-owner, Jerry Moss, said he intends to run her there as planned.

DOG SLED RACING

KING HOLDS SLIM LEAD AS MUSHERS HEAD FOR NOME

Four-time winner Jeff King held his lead in the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska yesterday, with defending champion Lance Mackey among the former champs not far behind.

King pulled into the Nulato checkpoint at 3:13 a.m. yesterday, nearly an hour and a half ahead of Mackey, who was second into the checkpoint. King of Denali Park was back on the trail at 7:20.

Nulato is about 350 miles from the finish line in Nome, where it was 30 degrees below zero yesterday.