Rypien Says He’s Pondering Retirement

Feeling unwanted by the St. Louis Rams, quarterback Mark Rypien says he is contemplating retirement.

“You get to a point where you just kind of say, ‘Hey, this doesn’t mean a heck of a lot to me now,”’ Rypien told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a telephone interview from his home in Post Falls.

“The important thing to me last year was answering a few questions about myself as a player, basically finding out … if I still had the fire and the drive. That’s what I wanted to do before I got out of the game.”

Rypien’s enthusiasm for the game has been sapped by a stressful off-season of contract negotiations - and non-negotiation - with the Rams. The Rams pulled their offer off the table last month, and the sides haven’t spoken since.

Deion arrives in style

With fallen star Michael Irvin conspicuously absent, the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys reported to training camp.

But leave it to Deion Sanders, attending the first NFL camp of his athletic career, to fill the void.

He showed up in possession of a custom-made Mercedes golf cart that even included a stereo system. The vanity license plates for “Prime Time” read “Full Time.”

Sanders is being counted on to help at wide receiver as well as cornerback this year.

Sanders will be spending most of his time at wide receiver instead of defensive back as Dallas prepares for the possibility Irvin might be suspended by the NFL for at least four games for his no-contest plea on a drug possession charge.

Irvin will spend some time in Miami and hasn’t said when he will rejoin the team.

Jags nab Rison

Andre Rison remained unemployed for only eight days.

Released by Baltimore on July 9, the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver signed with Jacksonville.

Falcons, George talking

With training camp due to open Friday, the Falcons and free agent quarterback Jeff George have gone back to the negotiating table.

The Falcons have offered George a three-year, $10.8 million package. George countered with a proposal that averaged $6 million a year, including a signing bonus of $10 million.

Mitchell joins Dolphins

Tight end Johnny Mitchell, released by the New York Jets, signed with Miami, ending days of speculation that his arrival was imminent.

Mitchell was the Jets’ first round pick in 1992.

Steelers, Stephens have deal

Pittsburgh reached a verbal agreement on a contract with No. 1 draft pick Jamain Stephens. Stephens, a 6-foot-6, 337-pound offensive tackle from North Carolina A&T, was the 29th player selected in the draft.

The five-year contract, one year longer than Stephens requested, is worth $4.6 million, with a $1.2 million signing bonus.

Jones to be sent Packin’?

Defensive end Sean Jones may be the next Green Bay player to face a trade as the team looks for breathing room under the NFL’s salary cap.

The Packers made their trade of safety George Teague to Atlanta for a 1997 pick official. The move frees up nearly $700,000 under the cap.

Trading Jones, who signed a three-year deal in 1994 worth an average of $2.65 million a year, could come next unless Jones accepts a salary cut.

Jones’ salary ranks third behind quarterback Brett Favre and defensive end Reggie White, and his play was inconsistent last year.

Bucs release Thomas

Teary-eyed Lamar Thomas was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a week after he was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated battery against his pregnant fiancee.

The 26-year-old receiver’s voice cracked with emotion as he read from a statement in which he apologized to his girlfriend, family and friends “for any pain or suffering I’ve caused.”