| | ESPN.com news services
Deion Sanders, who helped Dallas and San
Francisco win Super Bowls, is again one of the NFL's top free
agents.
In a long-anticipated move, the Cowboys cut Sanders on Friday
and avoided the $23.5 million the cornerback would have been
guaranteed had he been on their roster another day.
"Because of salary-cap reasons, we just can't afford to keep
him under his current contract," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.
Meanwhile, Jerry Rice and the San Francisco 49ers reportedly
reached a tentative agreement that would keep the receiver with the
team for the next two seasons.
Coach Steve Mariucci said the team and Rice were close, but have
not yet finalized a deal. The NFL has to approve the contract. ESPN The Magazine's John Clayton reported Friday that the deal won't be completed until Monday.
The San Francisco Examiner said the deal restructures the 2000
and 2001 seasons of Rice's contract, which runs through 2004. The
move would save the team more than $1 million against the salary
cap.
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Cowboys interested in Cunningham?
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DALLAS -- The Cowboys might be interested in signing Randall Cunningham, who was cut by the Minnesota
Vikings on Friday in a salary cap move.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his coaching staff spent Thursday
through Saturday on a supposed vacation in Las Vegas, where
Cunningham lives during the offseason.
Cunningham, who serves as his own agent, and Jones were spotted
together Saturday at a Las Vegas hotel, and the quarterback was
also seen with Dallas offensive assistant Ernie Zampese.
If he signed with Dallas, Cunningham would become the backup for
Troy Aikman, supplanting recently signed Paul Justin, who backed up
MVP Kurt Warner in St. Louis last season.
Tampa Bay, Detroit and Seattle have reportedly expressed
interest in Cunningham as well.
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In another cap-related move, the Minnesota Vikings cut Randall
Cunningham, who quarterbacked them to a 15-1 record and a berth in
the NFC title game two years ago.
The top-rushing quarterback in NFL history, Cunningham was
benched just 5½ games into his $28 million contract extension last
season. He was replaced by Jeff George, who went 9-3 as a starter
and guided the Vikings into the playoffs, where they lost to St.
Louis.
Cunningham received a $1 million roster bonus three months ago
after refusing to tear up his contract and play for a little more
than the NFL minimum of $440,000 this season.
He will count $1.83 million against the team's salary cap. The
team will use the $1.5 million it saved by cutting him to sign nine
draft picks.
"Randall did an outstanding job for us in his three seasons
with the organization," coach Dennis Green said. "He was a major
contributor in us getting to the playoffs in each of the last three
seasons and we wish him all the best in the future."
Cunningham, 36, who serves as his own agent, believes he can
still play in the NFL.
"Today is a day of enjoyment for me, not because I got released
by the Minnesota Vikings, but because I am getting an answer to my
prayers," Cunningham said. "Today, God allowed me to know that
I'm not going to be a Minnesota Viking. So now, I will sit and wait
and see if He'll put me on another team."
The Vikings lost George to Washington when he refused to accept
a one-year, $500,000 contract after his great season. The Vikings
also courted Dan Marino, who eventually retired from the Miami
Dolphins.
After offering the starting quarterback job to George, Marino
and Cunningham, Green finally handed it to second-year pro Daunte
Culpepper of Central Florida and signed Bubby Brister as his
primary backup. Green has been heavily critized for drafting
Culpepper ahead of Jevon Kearse, who went on to be the NFL's
Defensive Rookie of the Year for Tennessee.
Also Friday, the Jacksonville Jaguars released
veteran linebacker Bryce Paup, bringing an official close
to his two frustrating years with the team.
Paup signed a five-year $21 million contract before the 1998
season and was expected to plug one of several holes on the
then-leaky Jaguars defense. Jacksonville improved dramatically over the next two seasons, but little of it was due to Paup's presence.
Forced to play unfamiliar coverage roles, he had only 7½ sacks
in 30 starts. He tore his pectoral muscle lifting weights last preseason and
returned before he was fully healed, but never played up to
expectations.
"He tried as hard as he could, and was a good, solid team
player," coach Tom Coughlin said. "We didn't get the numbers or
the production we anticipated."
In other moves Friday:
Miami released guard Kevin Donnalley, clearing more than $2
million. Donnalley, who was due to make $4.05 million next year,
could re-sign with Miami for far less. Indianapolis cut defensive
lineman Tony McCoy, an eight-year veteran.
Fullback Charles Way of the New York Giants retired at age
27 because of chronic knee problems, opening the way for New York
to sign Sam Gash, cut by Buffalo because of cap concerns.
The Indianapolis Colts cut
defensive lineman Tony McCoy, an eight-year veteran and former
starter whose role had diminished to mop-up duty last year.
Orlando Brown, accidentally struck in the eye by an official's
thrown penalty flag during a Dec. 19 game, couldn't practice with
the Cleveland Browns after failing a physical, and his future with
the team is in doubt.
McCoy, a fourth-round draft pick in 1992 who started 73 games
for the Colts and had 23 career sacks, was in the second year of a
four-year, $9.2 million contract. He would have counted $2.02
million against the Colts' salary cap this year.
On Thursday, ESPN The Magazine's John Clayton reported that a number of others were also told by their teams, either directly or through their agents, that they will be placed on waivers.
Clayton said the list includes running backs Brian Mitchell and Larry Bowie of the Redskins, fullback Daryl Johnston of the Cowboys, defensive tackle Joel Steed of the Steelers, linebacker Corey Widmer of the Giants and wide receiver Dietrich Jells of the Eagles.
Clayton also reported that the Bengals have told Steve Zucker, the agent of wide receiver Carl Pickens, that they will not release him until Tuesday or Wednesday when they understand that the Players Association and the NFL Management Council will discuss the Bengals' franchise designation.
The Bengals want to make sure they have the franchise tag available next year when they release Pickens.
The Players Association contends that the Bengals shouldn't have the franchise tag available for the remaining four years of Pickens' contract because he signed the extension two weeks after accepting the one-year franchise designation.
Zucker, who also represents Cardinals defensive tackle Eric Swann, said the team told him they would not release Swann until much later this month.
Mitchell, the NFL's career leader in
combined kickoff and punt return yardage, will turn 32 in August. He had
three years left on a contract that would have counted $1.7 million
against the salary cap this season. Bowie,
would have cost the team $1.1
million.
Redskins officials said they wanted to delay cutting Mitchell
until scoping the available talent in the free agent signing
period, which began Thursday. The team has been eyeing
cornerback-kick returner Deion Sanders, who the Cowboys are
expected to release soon.
But Mitchell, almost certain the end was near, requested his
release on Thursday after discussions with team management,
Redskins coach Norv Turner said. Mitchell was unavailable for
comment. | |
ALSO SEE
Free to be a ... Redskin? Cowboys release Sanders
Bengals waive Carter, keep Pickens ... for now
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