Dwight Smith has charge dismissed

A petty misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession against Vikings safety Dwight Smith has been dismissed, according to Smith's attorney.

Attorney David Valentini said Smith pleaded guilty to obstructing traffic, also a petty misdemeanor, and paid a $200 fine. The marijuana charge was dismissed by the Minneapolis city attorney's office on Jan. 31.

The charges stemmed from an incident downtown on Dec. 13 when Minneapolis police cited Smith for impeding traffic at the intersection of 2nd Avenue S. and 4th Street S.

The NFL still could take disciplinary action against Smith, but having the drug charge dropped significantly reduces his exposure to league punishment.

JUDD ZULGAD

Commissioner Roger Goodell and Sen. Arlen Specter are to meet today in Washington, D.C., to discuss the Spygate case involving the New England Patriots.

The NFL said Tuesday the afternoon meeting will take place in Specter's office. The Pennsylvania Republican has asked Goodell to explain his decision to destroy the tapes and notes from the case, which go back to 2002.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was fined $250,000. The Patriots also forfeited a first-round draft pick.

Specter's challenge to Goodell came two days before the Super Bowl, lost by the Patriots to the New York Giants on Feb. 3.

The top-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned the quality of the NFL investigation that followed the illegal taping of the New York Jets' defensive signals in the opening week of this season as well as the commissioner's decision to destroy video evidence uncovered by the league. He has raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers.

• The New Orleans Saints re-signed kicker Martin Gramatica and hired running backs coach Aaron Kromer and assistant defensive line coach Travis Jones. Gramatica joined the Saints for the final three games in 2007. He will compete in training camp with Olindo Mare, who struggled for much of the 2007 season before suffering a season-ending hip injury in December.

• Punter Jeff Feagles signed a two-year contract with the NFL champion New York Giants. Feagles, who turns 42 next month, declined to say how much money he would earn, but he made $1 million last year in the final year of a five-year deal.

• The Pro Bowl drew its best ratings in eight years. Sunday's game on Fox earned a 6.3 rating and a 12 share. That's up 37 percent from last year's 4.6. It's the highest Pro Bowl rating since the game attracted an 8.6 in 2000.

• The Patriots signed free agent linebacker T.J. Slaughter, who missed all of last season because of a torn tendon in his left ring finger.