Niners Sign Emtman To One-Year Contract

Free-agent defensive tackle Steve Emtman, the NFL’s top draft pick five years ago out of the University of Washington, agreed to contract terms Saturday with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Cheney High product, waived in February by the Miami Dolphins in a salary cap move, agreed to a one-year contract with an option for a second year, general manager Dwight Clark said.

The 49ers restructured the contract of linebacker Lee Woodall to clear room under the salary cap for Emtman, who enjoyed two productive seasons in Miami after being plagued by injuries in his first three years in the league with Indianapolis.

Emtman appeared in only 18 games for the Colts, who made him the first pick in the 1992 draft.

By extending Woodall’s contract for one year, the 49ers also gained enough cap room to sign backup defensive lineman Junior Bryant to a three-year deal. Emtman and Bryant will be used to spell starters Dana Stubblefield and Bryant Young.

“When you have those types of backups, it’s a lot of insurance for you,” Clark said.

Bryant reported to camp with other veterans on Saturday night and the team has its first full-squad workouts today. Emtman was scheduled to arrive this afternoon and probably won’t be able to join workouts until Monday.

UW’s Dillon seals deal

The Cincinnati Bengals reached an agreement with second-round draft pick Corey Dillon on a three-year deal.

The former University of Washington running back was the team’s only unsigned draft pick. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Dillon rushed for 1,555 yards and 22 touchdowns last year at UW.

Panthers, Greene break down

Talks aimed at sweetening the contract of Carolina linebacker Kevin Greene broke off, and the 1996 NFL sacks king was a no-show for the start of training camp.

Panthers general manager Bill Polian said he negotiated until early Saturday morning with Leigh Steinberg.

Greene will be fined $5,000 for each day he misses from camp.

Giants’ Hilliard reports

Ike Hilliard became the first Giants’ top draft pick to report to camp on time since Carl Banks in 1984. Hilliard, the Florida receiver who was the seventh overall pick, signed a six-year deal worth about $12 million. Hilliard is the highest first-round pick to sign this year.

Around the league

The Rams got a little unexpected training camp excitement Saturday when a tornado sighting forced an early end to practice. A tornado was sighted 8 miles away in Colchester, Ill. Coach Dick Vermeil pulled his team off the field about 45 minutes early… . Redskins fullback Marc Logan decided to take a $225,000 pay cut after being released earlier this year in a cost-saving move. He re-signed for $300,000.

After undergoing surgery eight times in four seasons, defensive end Dan Williams was waived by the Broncos … Ricky Watters, the Eagles’ star running back, easily beat Saturday’s reporting deadline for veterans, even though his agent threatened that Watters wouldn’t come to training camp without a new contract… . Defensive lineman Kendrick Burton will miss the Tennessee Oilers’ first season after violating the NFL’s drug policy. The league verified that Burton, a former Alabama star, was suspended for a year. An Oilers spokesman would not comment.