Eagles Look To Plug In Fridge

For someone who has weighed as much as 400 pounds, it’s a little hot to be running around a football training camp.

But it would surprise few people if William “Refrigerator” Perry puts his career as a wrestler on hold to help the Philadelphia Eagles.

Eagles coach Ray Rhodes said Wednesday he’s talked to Perry, who retired earlier this year.

“I told ‘Fridge’ not to go into his pro wrestling career too early,” Rhodes said Wednesday. “If we have some problems during the season, he’s a guy I wouldn’t mind dusting off and bringing back. But this is not the type of weather for the Fridge to be coming in.”

The Eagles could use his bulk in the middle of their line.

Left tackle Andy Harmon, out for another week or two with a groin injury, was one of the Eagles’ best players last year, but right tackle Rhett Hall, a free-agent acquisition from San Francisco, has started only two of the 33 NFL games in which he’s played and is a better pass rusher than run stuffer.

The top backups are Leonard Renfro, who hasn’t played like the firstround pick he was in 1993, and Tommy Jeter, who hasn’t shown much in four seasons.

Also in camp are Daniel Stubbs, former Jet Mark Gunn and two rookies, Eric Fontenot and Thomas Baskin.

The ends, rookie Mike Mamula and William Fuller, are pass-rush specialists, and Rhodes wants to get some bigger interior linemen who can clog the running lanes. He had hoped to sign Bill Johnson, who was waived by the Cleveland Browns, but he was picked up by Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Kennard rejoins Cowboys

Looking to solidify an offensive line long on injuries and short on depth, the Dallas Cowboys have reached agreement with veteran guard Derek Kennard.

Kennard was scheduled to report to camp Wednesday, after accepting a two-year contract that will pay him an estimated $275,000 this year and up to $900,000 next year.

Right tackle Erik Williams is still recovering from injuries from a car accident last year. In addition, rookie guard Shane Hannah, a secondround draft pick, is scheduled for knee surgery Friday and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

On Tuesday, backup center Dale Hellestrae broke his right thumb, putting him out of action for two to three weeks.

Pay up, Al

A group opposed to the deal bringing the Raiders back to Oakland filed papers Wednesday seeking a vote to force the team to post collateral for loans promised by the city.

Those loans include $31.9 million for relocation and operating expenses, and up to an additional $10 million for the construction of a new team training facility in the Oakland area.

In 1990, when owner Al Davis considered a return to Oakland, citizens began a drive for a referendum in anger over guarantees public funds would be used to compensate the Raiders if games were not sold out. That referendum move helped kill the team’s move.

But this time, the $225 million in bonds that will be issued to pay for stadium improvements are to be backed by ticket sales, not tax money, which has made it much more popular.

Paul Shinoff, a spokesman for Taxpayers for a Vote on Raiders Deal, said the group, which he said numbers about 200, is concerned the deal may not be as watertight as presented.

“Our purpose is not to destroy the deal, but to secure the deal,” he said.

Don’t forget to write

Cleveland Browns coach Bill Belichick said Mike Miller, who walked out of camp July 21, won’t be welcomed back.

Miller, the team’s fifth-round draft choice, had been expected to compete for the punt-returner job vacated when Eric Metcalf was traded to Atlanta. The Browns will retain rights to the former Notre Dame player.

When Miller left camp, his agent, Ken Landphere, told the Browns Miller had developed a back problem and returned to South Bend, Ind., for a medical evaluation.

Belichick said Miller never mentioned a back injury until he was already gone.

“We made a poor evaluation on Miller, certainly for this year, and he won’t be with the Browns in 1995,” Belichick said. “That’s done.”

Around the league

The St. Louis Rams are only about $500,000 under the salary cap, a scary situation considering they are coming off a 4-12 season and will need plenty of maneuverability in coming years. Reason for the problem: The team has invested $28.5 million in three players - first-round pick Kevin Carter, guard Dwayne White and linebacker Roman Phifer… . Detroit Lions quarterback Scott Mitchell has disclosed he had a shoulder injury early last season, but he never told teammates or coaches at the time. Mitchell is looking for a big year to justify that three-year, $11.1-million contract he signed in 1994… . Green Bay Packers defensive end Reggie White says he had trouble getting motivated during the off-season because of the team’s lack of participation in the free-agent market. “I will admit it,” White says. “Because we hadn’t signed any guys, I was kind of discouraged.” White says a pep talk from his wife, Sara, convinced him the Packers will be OK… . Barring a last-minute deal, first-round draft pick Rashaan Salaam will not suit up for the Chicago Bears on Friday when they begin preseason play against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field… . Wide receivers Mike Sherrard, Chris Calloway and Arthur Marshall and starting cornerback Thomas Randolph probably won’t play for the New York Giants in Sunday’s exhibition opener against the Browns in Cleveland. Sherrard and Calloway have hamstring injuries, Marshall has a broken finger and Randolph has a groin injury… . Quarterback Bucky Richardson confirmed he has been picked up by the New England Patriots, one day after being waived by the Houston Oilers.