Saints Target Allen

Pro Bowl cornerback Eric Allen, an unrestricted free agent, has agreed verbally to an offer sheet for a five-year contract worth $14 million with the New Orleans Saints, according to a published report.

The Philadelphia Eagles, for whom Allen has played since they made him a second-round pick in the 1988 draft, will have seven days to match the deal or lose the five-time Pro Bowl player.

Citing unidentified sources, the TimesPicayune reported that the offer sheet, which averages slightly more than $2.8 million annually, includes a signing bonus worth between $4 million and $4.5 million. But the cap value of the deal is worth slightly more than $1 million in 1995.

The Green Bay Packers, who have been seeking to sign free agent wide receiver Andre Rison, were reported to be close to completing a trade for Rison’s former roommate at Michigan State.

The Milwaukee Journal quoted Packers general manager Ron Wolf as saying Green Bay was working on a trade to get receiver Mark Ingram from the Miami Dolphins.

“It’s close, but you hate to say anything about it until it’s completed,” Wolf said.

Unrestricted free agent Todd Scott, a former Pro Bowl safety for Minnesota, agreed to terms with the New York Jets.