Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 2, 1991 TAG: 9102020193
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: New York Times News Service
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Anderson, 34, the running back who was the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXV, said he had expected to be left unprotected for a third consecutive year. "I would be insulted if I wasn't," he said, joking.
The fact that they are unprotected doesn't necessarily mean that these four one-time Pro Bowl players will be leaving their teams.
This is the third year of Plan B free agency, and it works like this: Each of the 28 teams lists 37 players who are "protected." This leaves 15 to 20 other players per team who are free to make deals with other clubs until April 1, with no compensation to the original teams required.
After that, an unprotected player who has not made a deal with a new team again belongs to his original team. This year, 518 players were left unprotected.
"It's strange about the way Plan B has developed," the Giants' general manager, George Young, said Friday after submitting his list. "Most of the teams have pretty much developed the same formula: You save your young guys, you save your big guys.
"You take chances with guys in those positions you can replenish. Certain ones, like quarterbacks, you can't find, you don't put them out there."
Some of the names left unprotected Friday are mere historical footnotes. Others conjure up recent dramatic memories: The Buffalo Bills did not protect Scott Norwood, who missed a field-goal attempt that would have won the Super Bowl last Sunday, and James Lofton, 34, one of the team's big-play receivers all season.
But the Bills also announced that Lofton and Norwood had signed new contracts, suggesting that neither is expected to look elsewhere for work during the next two months.
Bavaro, 27, the Giants' tight end, who had five receptions in the Giants' 20-19 Super Bowl victory, was slowed last season by a chronic knee problem. He had surgery on it twice last year. He will soon undergo shoulder and knee surgery. Thus, it is unlikely another club will offer him a contract; he will make $750,000 with the Giants if he stays with them.
Craig and Lott were mainstays of the 49ers of the 1980s, who won four Super Bowls. Two other well-known 49ers also were left unprotected: linebacker Matt Millen and safety Dave Waymer.
Craig, a running back, has been slowed by a knee injury. This season, the team's offense was virtually centered on the passing game led by Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, who caught 100 passes. Craig, 30, would earn $900,000 next season under his current contract.
Lott, meanwhile, is the gifted defensive back who missed the 49ers' last four games of the regular season. He also has a knee injury and recently signed a three-year package for $3.5 million.
Like many veterans, Lott and Bavaro were told ahead of time by their coaches that they were not being protected. Still, Lott said Friday that he would prefer to wait until next week before commenting.
Bavaro's agent, David Fishof, said Friday: "I spoke to Bill Parcells about Mark. He explained that it's not a question of whether the Giants want him. He said it's like the Ottis Anderson situation. They figure clubs won't take players like that with their salaries."
There were other intriguing names left unprotected, including Jets place-kicker Pat Leahy, who will be 40 years old in March. Another old-timer not protected was Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan, 37.
Another Jet left unprotected was Johnny Hector, 30, a halfback. But Freeman McNeil, 31, a Jets runner who was left unprotected last year, was protected this time.
"He seems to have found the fountain of youth," Jets general manager Dick Steinberg said Friday. McNeil wound up with 99 rushes for 458 yards last fall. His rushing average was 4.6 yards a carry.
by CNB