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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Frerotte Gets Call In Washington

Associated Press

Gus Frerotte beat out Heath Shuler in the Washington quarterback sweepstakes, and Jim Miller prevailed over Mike Tomczak and Kordell Stewart in Pittsburgh.

Tommy Maddox, on the other hand, has no duties for the time being, gone from the New York Giants despite coach Dan Reeves’ best attempts to find him a job.

And Rodney Peete, the Philadelphia Eagles’ starter, could miss a game or two with a knee injury.

It was decision day Monday. With one week left in the exhibition season, coaches had to decide on key positions, particularly quarterback. Teams also began cutting to 60 players to meet today’s deadline.

The decisions in Pittsburgh and Washington were surprises, and to some extent so was the one in New York. Reeves has been a Maddox supporter after drafting him for Denver in 1992 in the first round.

Washington coach Norv Turner has been trying to work in Shuler, the first quarterback taken in the 1994 draft, for two seasons to justify his $19.8 million, eight-year contract. But after giving both an equal shot in camp, Turner went with Frerotte, a seventh-round pick the same year Shuler was No. 1. Frerotte has been impressive during his starts when Shuler was hurt the last two years.

“What I’m looking for from a quarterback is a guy who can give us consistency on a week-to-week basis, on a quarter-to-quarter, play-to-play basis,” Turner said. “Right now, I think Gus Frerotte is in a position to give us consistency, and to give the rest of our football team a chance to play at as high a level as we can.”

Miller, Stewart and Tomczak were competing to replace Neil O’Donnell, who signed a $24 million deal with the New York Jets after leading the Steelers to the Super Bowl.

Coach Bill Cowher went for Miller, a sixth-round draft choice in 1994, who was 32 of 56 for 397 yards last year with two touchdowns and five interceptions. But he got a new contract for $6 million over three years before the season.

Cowher said Tomczak will remain the backup and Stewart will resume his varied all-purpose duties.

As for Maddox, his fate seemed sealed after starting two weeks ago against Baltimore and getting just one first down from seven possessions. But Reeves gave him another shot Saturday night, and he was 6 of 16 for 83 yards against the Jets.

That leaves Stan White to back up Dave Brown, with rookie Danny Kanell No. 3.

Reeves criticized fans for booing Maddox and said they were swayed by media criticism.

“It wasn’t fair to the young man, regardless of who he is,” Reeves said. “If you don’t like me, that’s one thing. Don’t boo the quarterback.”

Peete could miss the season opener with a sprained knee ligament.

“We feel he should progress pretty quickly,” Eagles trainer James Collins said. “But we still need to see how it goes day to day.”

Ty Detmer replaces Peete for now.

Potts Suspended

The NFL on Monday suspended Indianapolis fullback Roosevelt Potts for the 1996 season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, The Indianapolis Star reported.

On July 22, Potts, an unsigned veteran, who is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, had been suspended for four games without pay. It was increased to a full 16-game season after a review by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

“I’ve been suspended for 16 games. … It’s something I’ve got to live with,” Potts said. “I need to take this situation and learn from it. Looking on the bright side, this will give me an opportunity to get my life together.”

Zorich out

Chris Zorich, the heart of Chicago’s defensive line, was put on injured reserve after tearing a ligament in his left knee in the first quarter of Saturday’s loss to New Orleans.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Zorich, who had played in 76 consecutive regular-season games since 1991, when he was picked in the second round of the draft. “I remember one foot being planted … and my other foot came down on the wrong angle.”

Seahawks release Keim

Mike Keim, an offensive tackle, who played in 27 games with Seattle the past four seasons, was among four players waived by the Seahawks.

Also let go were safety Tony Covington and wide receivers Grayson Shillingford and Larry Thompson.

Keim and Covington are five-year NFL veterans. Covington played with the Seahawks last season after being signed as an unrestricted free agent from Tampa Bay.

The Seahawks still must cut three to get down to the limit of 60 today. They are expected to make an injury settlement with defensive end John Solomon, who has a thigh injury.

Area players cut

Former Washington State players Chris Hayes (Jets) and Phillip Bobo (Raiders) were released Monday. Mike Pringle, who played briefly at WSU, was released by Denver.

Former University of Idaho receiver Alan Allen was cut by the Jets and the Bengals released former University of Washington quarterback Damon Huard.

Dolphins 24, Vikings 17

Warren Moon had four of Minnesota’s five fumbles and Miami took advantage of a typical Florida summer thunderstorm to make some big defensive plays and beat the Vikings.

Miami defensive end Trace Armstrong picked up one of Moon’s fumbles and scored a touchdown. Cornerback Terrell Buckley picked up another Minnesota fumble and ran it back 51 yards to set up another touchdown in the game in Miami.

Dolphins receiver Lamar Thomas also scored on a 71-yard touchdown, and Vikings backup quarterback Brad Johnson threw for two TDs.

The drenching rain stifled both starting offenses. The ball repeatedly slipped out of Moon’s hands, and the Dolphins turned the ball over three times in the first half. Miami couldn’t muster a first down until 9:19 left in the second quarter.

Minnesota penetrated Miami’s 20 four times in the first half, but came away with only three points. The Dolphins stopped two Vikings drives on fourth-and-one and blocked a field goal by Lin Elliot, who is fighting for the job with Scott Sisson.