THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180494
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 53 lines
The Washington Redskins and Terry Allen are so close to an agreement on a new contract that a deal may be announced by the end of the week, both sides say.
``I don't think we're that far apart,'' the Washington Post quoted Allen's agent, Tank Black, as saying.
Allen, who has broken the 1,300-yard mark in each of his first two seasons in Washington, has been seeking a $4 million contract that would put him in the same economic bracket as Dallas' Emmitt Smith and Detroit's Barry Sanders. The Redskins aren't likely to go that far with him, but it's expected they'd agree to a contract that would pay him in excess of $3 million.
Redskins general manager Charley Casserly continues his policy of not discussing contract negotiations.
Black told the Post that several teams have expressed interest in Allen, but he has held them at bay because negotiations with the Redskins were going so smoothly. However, he added that if a deal wasn't struck within the next couple of days, he would begin scheduling Allen for appointments with other NFL teams.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers have contacted Kyle Rote, Jr., the agent for free-agent cornerback Darrell Green. The Steelers are preparing a contingency plan in the event they lose free-agent cornerback Rod Woodson, who wants a $4 million contract. It's almost inconceivable that Green, a 14-year veteran, would leave the Redskins.
Green's mate at cornerback, Tom Carter, will be in Chicago later this week to interview with the Bears. The Redskins designated Carter as their transition player last week, meaning they retain his rights as long as they match the best offer another team makes Carter. They also must pay him at least the 1996 average of the 10 highest-paid cornerbacks in the league, or $2.5 million.
Finally, quarterback Heath Shuler was in Kansas City Monday and will spend a couple of days there interviewing with and working out for the Chiefs. Kansas City is interested in Shuler because they failed to land Jeff George, who signed with the Oakland Raiders.
However, the compensation for Shuler is first- and third-round draft picks, a price almost no team will be willing to pay for a quarterback who took just one snap from center last season. For the Redskins to move their former No. 1 pick, they almost certainly must sign him to a contract that pays him far less than the $4.8 million he was slated to earn this season, then deal him for far less than two high picks.
Under the collective bargaining agreement, that renegotiation process can't begin until April 14.
The Bears and San Francisco also are interested in the former Tennessee star, but only should they fail to land Seattle's Rick Mirer or the 49ers' Elvis Grbac.