THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 3, 1995 TAG: 9508030629
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FROSTBURG, MD. LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
There's a small light at the end of the Michael Westbrook holdout tunnel, but you've got to look hard to see it.
Westbrook's agent, Steve Zucker, spoke with Redskins general manager Charley Casserly Tuesday night and the two have agreed to speak again soon.
Although they remain far apart on signing bonus and total package, sources indicate the two sides have agreed that Westbrook's contract must contain voidable years. That's where an athlete can declare his contract void after a prearranged number of years if he reaches performance incentives, or where the team agrees to buy out the final few years of a contract and renegotiate with the player.
That's also a departure from previous Redskins practice. The only player with a voidable-years clause in his contract is quarterback Heath Shuler. Westbrook is a receiver.
Sources say that Westbrook, taken fourth in the draft, wants a deal somewhere between the $28.4 million the third choice, quarterback Steve McNair, got from the Houston Oilers and the $21.6 million the No. 5 selection, quarterback Kerry Collins, got from the Carolina Panthers.
The Redskins, arguing that Westbrook isn't a quarterback and therefore doesn't have the leverage of McNair and Collins, are offering something between the $17 million No. 2 pick Tony Boselli received from Jacksonville and the $8 million earned by sixth pick Kevin Carter of the St. Louis Rams. Given his position in the draft, around $14 million over seven years seems the likely offer.
FIGHT NO. 1: Defensive end Sterling Palmer and safety James Washington went at it briefly midway through the Wednesday morning practice until several teammates were able to pull Palmer off Washington
Neither player had anything of substance to say about the incident, which apparently started when Washington chided Palmer about his lack of success stopping the run.
Palmer said something back, Washington answered him, then Palmer rushed Washington and tackled him.
``You want to talk football, OK,'' Palmer told reporters as he left the locker room. ``Anything that happens before the ball's snapped isn't football.''
Washington was more bemused than embarrassed. ``I thought it was funny,'' he said. ``Gave the defense, all of them, a chance to jump on top of me.''
SHORT PASSES: Scott Blanton, in the midst of battling Chip Lohmiller for placekicking duties, did not work out Wednesday. Coach Norv Turner said the rookie from Oklahoma ``had a little bit of a tired leg.'' Trainer Bubba Tyer suggested some time off. He'll kick Saturday in the preseason opener vs. Kansas City. . . . The Redskins would have offered defensive tackle Bill Johnson a tryout had he cleared waivers following his release Tuesday by the Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati claimed Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 300-pounder with a history of injuries. However, Johnson flunked a physical with the Bengals. by CNB