Seattle Signs Blackshear, Cuts Ex-Coug Patterson
The Seattle Seahawks signed holdout guard Jeff Blackshear on Thursday, making room for the third-year pro by cutting undrafted free agent and former Washington State star DeWayne Patterson.
Terms of Blackshear’s contract were not disclosed by the club. He was supposed to have reported to camp July 21.
Blackshear, from Northeast Louisiana and a starter in all 16 games at left guard for the Seahawks last season, will be kept at guard.
Patterson, a defensive end, was Pacific-10 Conference defensive player of the year as a senior last season.
James Atkins, who was supposed to battle Blackshear for a starting job in training camp, has been moved to the starting position at left tackle because the incumbent starter, Ray Roberts, is out 6-8 weeks following ankle surgery this week.
Blackshear will not play in Saturday night’s exhibition opener.
Mosebar injures eye
Oakland center Don Mosebar underwent 3 hours of emergency surgery at the University of Texas Medical Center in Austin as doctors worked to save his left eye.
Mosebar, 33, had a finger jammed into his eye during a practice-field drill with the Dallas Cowboys.
Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor would confirm only that Mosebar underwent successful eye surgery and remained at the hospital. Raiders coach Mike White said the surgery took 3 hours and involved three doctors.
Bears sign Salaam
Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam and Chicago agreed to a four-year, $3.8 million contract.
No longer on TV, LT sues TNT
Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor has been cut from the starting lineup by a sports TV show and is suing to get back in.
Taylor’s lawyer, Anthony Giampapa, said he filed a lawsuit on July 28 in New Jersey Superior Court against Turner Sports Inc., the Atlanta-based broadcaster of TNT’s “Stadium Show.”
Taylor claims Turner Sports breached a two-year contract he signed last September by not giving him written notice of his termination until March 3.
Redskins case rejected
The courtroom battle over 16 Washington Redskins who refused to pay their union dues came to an end this week when the Supreme Court of Virginia refused to hear the case.
By rebuffing an appeal by the NFL Players Association, the court reaffirmed lower court rulings that the players had the right to withhold their dues under Virginia’s right-to-work laws.
Around the league
Renaldo Turnbull, expected to provide a strong pass rush for New Orleans, could miss up to five weeks of the regular season after surgery on a torn biceps tendon in his right arm. … Atlanta rejected offensive lineman Erik Norgard after a 4-year-old shoulder injury kept him from passing a physical. … With center Cal Dixon out 3-4 weeks with a sprained ankle and longtime starter Jim Sweeney having signed with Seattle, the New York Jets reached agreement with former Philadelphia Eagle David Alexander on a two-year contract.
Cowboys offensive lineman Derek Kennard is considering retirement after suffering hip pain in his first practice since returning to the team. Kennard reported at 360 pounds after his agent had led coaches to believe he was 330. … Indianapolis defensive back Ray Buchanan reached a mult-year contract agreement that will pay him more than the third-year minimum $178,000 he had been earning.
Jerome Bettis has until today to report to the Rams camp, or forfeit a year of seniority under the NFL collective bargaining agreement. The running back arrived in St. Louis, but it was unclear whether it was to sign a contract with the team or an all-sports radio station. … San Francisco could sign free-agent running back Marion Butts as early as next week. “It’s not done yet, but it’s getting close,” said Leigh Steinberg, Butts’ agent.