Lions Have Plans For New Stadium

The Detroit Lions, who have played the last 21 years in the Silverdome, intend to leave the suburbs and return to Detroit in a new downtown football stadium.

The $225 million stadium will be built adjacent to a planned Detroit Tigers ballpark in a neighborhood of dilapidated buildings and vacant lots known as Foxtown.

The Lions have not said when the facility will be complete. They said they will not break a lease with the Pontiac Silverdome that runs through 2004, but said a buyout could be explored.

49ers bid Johnson adieu

San Francisco officially showed the door to running back Johnny Johnson after completing a deal with Miami to acquire his successor, Terry Kirby.

Johnson, who twice rushed for more than 900 yards in five seasons with the Cardinals and Jets, was signed to a two-year, $3 million contract last March.

But he aggravated a back injury on the 49ers’ first day of training camp July 18 and never practiced with the team again.

Notable moves

Packers left tackle Ken Ruettgers, a fixture at left tackle for a decade, was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Ruettgers, has missed all of camp with a degenerative knee problem.

Forty-year-old Matt Bahr, whose 1,422 points place him ninth on the NFL’s all-time scoring list, was cut by New England.

Punter Rohn Stark, a 15-year veteran, whose 1,103 punts are the second most in NFL history, was cut by Pittsburgh.

Steve Wallace, a mainstay at left tackle for a decade in San Francisco, was one of 13 Philadelphia Eagles cut. Wallace, 31, signed a one-year, $1.05 million contract in the off-season.

Arizona waived running back Garrison Hearst in a salary-cap gambit, which allowed them to strengthen their defensive line by offering high-dollar contracts to Simeon Rice and Eric Swann.

Mitchell, Green may get invite

Coach Jimmy Johnson said he is considering bringing back either Johnny Mitchell or Eric Green at tight end.

Johnson said he met with agents of both players.

“I’ve got to have some reservations when it doesn’t work out the first time, but by the same token I don’t think you should completely block it out and not give a guy a second chance,” Johnson said.

An overweight and overpaid Green was cut before training camp began. Then the Dolphins signed free agent Mitchell, who abruptly retired two weeks later.

Minnesota released Lin Elliott, leaving Scott Sisson, whose only regular-season experience came three years ago, as the successor to Fuad Reveiz as the Vikings’ kicker.

The San Diego Chargers released 13-year veteran strong safety Shawn Gayle, who joined the club last season after 11 years with the Chicago Bears.

Area players cut

Several former area collegians were cut Tuesday: Ex-Washington State players John Rushing (safety, Dallas), Tuineau Alipate (linebacker, Minnesota) and Anthony Prior (cornerback, San Francisco) were let go as were former University of Washington players Jaime Fields (linebacker, Houston) and Shane Pahukoa (safety, New Orleans).

Irvin sued by sponsors

Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, who did TV commercials for Toyota earlier this year, was sued Tuesday by the area Toyota dealers association, which said his “immoral lifestyle” damaged its image.

The North Texas Toyota Dealers Association is seeking $1.2 million in damages, plus return of $60,000 it paid Irvin for the ads. The association also wants Irvin to return a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser.