Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 16, 1994 TAG: 9404160060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARNER HESSLER NEWPORT NEWS DAILY PRESS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Friesz and his agent, Leigh Steinberg of Newport Beach, Calif., said the deal is for one year and is worth $900,000. The signing will take place Monday.
"There are a few details to take care of, but it will be finalized Monday," Steinberg said.
Friesz, who was courted by six teams and would have been welcomed back by the Chargers, and Steinberg said the Redskins' desire to draft a rookie quarterback on April 24 gives Friesz a chance to start in 1994.
And the one-year contract will give him a chance to make more money in free agency next year if he has a good season.
"I'm looking forward to playing in Washington," Friesz said. "The opportunity to start is what I like."
"From our standpoint, it's the best place for John to compete for a starting job," Steinberg said.
Friesz, who suffered a knee injury in 1992 and lost his starting job to former Redskin Stan Humphries, has completed 401 of 747 passes for 5,396 yards in less than four full seasons.
The scouting report on Friesz is that he tends to hold on to the ball too long in the pocket but has a soft touch and throws a nice long pass.
Friesz likely will compete with a rookie, either Trent Dilfer or Heath Shuler, for the starting job. Should journeyman Pat O'Hara play well enough to earn the third-string job, the Redskins will have cleaned house at the position since 1993.
Incumbent Mark Rypien was waived Wednesday, and backups Cary Conklin and Rich Gannon are free agents and are unlikely to be offered contracts.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB