ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 26, 1996 TAG: 9608270034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
As NFL teams got down to the 53-man limit Sunday, many used the most common method of the salary-cap era - when in doubt, cut the guy with the higher salary.
Indianapolis, for example, released Craig Erickson, obtained last year in a trade to be their long-term quarterback. Erickson was beaten out early last season by Jim Harbaugh, who signed a new four-year, $13 million deal this year, making Erickson's $2 million too much to carry.
Only the Cincinnati Bengals, traditionally one of the league's lowest paying teams, deviated markedly, keeping Garrison Hearst despite his $2.1 million salary after picking him up off waivers last week from Arizona. Hearst, slated to back up Ki-Jana Carter at running back, has so far refused to renegotiate for a smaller contract.
Even Hearst was surprised, suggesting on one hand that he expects to stay in Cincinnati and on the other that he might be cut again or traded. The Baltimore Ravens, among others, were set to try and sign him as a free agent - for a lot less money - when the Bengals jumped in and claimed him.
``It's hard thinking about what's going on,'' said the third overall pick in the 1993 NFL draft. ``I can't control what they do. Sometimes I sit and think, `What situation am I going to be thrown into or what's going to happen later on in the season or later in the week?'''
Another cut by the Bengals was 32-year-old cornerback Rod Jones, in the fourth year of a contract averaging $756,000. Jones had started 37 straight games until he was injured last season but was slated to be a backup.
The New York Jets cut Brad Baxter, their starting fullback the last five seasons. Baxter led the team in rushing in 1992, was seventh overall in team history and had 35 touchdowns.
But he also would have cost the Jets about $650,000 under the cap.
For most teams, Sunday's cuts were only a step along the way to establishing a final 53-man roster for the start of the season next week. Some players may be brought back at reduced salaries. Others may be claimed off waivers, and many of the rookies cut could turn up on the five-man practice squads.
Erickson, for example, is likely to be signed by someone needing a veteran backup, but not at anywhere near what he was due to make in Indianapolis.
And the cuts also give teams salary cap room to renegotiate with current players whose contracts they want to extend and sign players cut by other teams. For example, Jerry Evans, a fourth-year tight end cut by Denver, said he had already been contacted by Philadelphia and Ronnie Bradford, a fourth-year cornerback let go by the Broncos, had been contacted by Arizona.
Not every team announced its cuts. Some will wait until after the 24-hour waiver period to make their cuts public.
BENGALS: In addition to keeping Hearst and cutting Jones, the Bengals also waived former University of Virginia linebacker Randy Neal, third-year offensive lineman Trent Pollard, third-year quarterback Jay Fiedler and second-year running back Anthony Daigle.
Running back Deland McCullough and linebacker Brett Wallerstedt were placed on injured reserve. McCullough had led the team in rushing in exhibition games and his injury might have been a factor in the Bengals keeping Hearst.
``I figure I am going to be here now,'' Hearst said. ``I've made it this far. Anything that happens after this will be a surprise to me.''
49ERS: Longtime special teams captain Antonio Goss and fifth-year guard Eugene Chung of Virginia Tech were among seven players cut by San Francisco.
Goss had been with the 49ers for five years, but salary cap limitations made him expendable. Chung, acquired in the off-season to bolster the offensive line, was unimpressive in preseason games.
The move caught Chung, a first-round pick and All-NFL Rookie for New England in 1992, by surprise.
``This is a new experience for me,'' he said. ``I knew it was going to be a numbers game. I have no complaints, but I don't know what's next.''
Chung was claimed in the 1995 expansion draft by Jacksonville, then acquired by San Francisco.
COLTS: Along with Erickson, the Colts also waived wide receiver Mark Stock, a former star player at VMI.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB