Bono To Join Packers

The San Francisco 49ers’ search for a backup quarterback suffered a setback when Steve Bono agreed to a contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Bono had been the 49ers’ top choice as Steve Young’s short-term backup while they developed a young quarterback to take over in the future.

Bono, Kansas City’s former starter and a one-time 49er, is still under contract to the Chiefs. But the Chiefs signed another former 49ers’ backup, Elvis Grbac, to be their starter last month, and they have said they will release Bono after June 1. He can’t formally sign with Green Bay before that happens.

Dick Vermeil presided over his first St. Louis Rams minicamp, and most everyone on the team turned out, including Lawrence Phillips.

Phillips, who was released from a Lincoln, Neb., jail Wednesday, jogged with the team during warmups but didn’t participate in any other drills because he’s still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in February.

Unrestricted free agent cornerback Rod Woodson is expected to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the only team remaining that has interest in the seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

The Steelers offered Woodson a five-year contract last week, a proposal that would force him to take about a 75 percent pay cut next season. The offer included a $2 million signing bonus and a base salary of $385,000 for 1997.