Ten Teams Watch Woodson

NFL scouts who attended Rod Woodson’s workout at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., Monday agreed the seven-time, all-pro cornerback can still play.

“I thought he did tremendously well,” said Dick LeBeau, defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, who coached Woodson for four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“We liked what we saw,” said former San Francisco tight end Dwight Clark, who was representing the 49ers. “We’re definitely interested.”

Woodson is a free agent after 10 seasons with the Steelers. He conducted the workout to show NFL teams that his right knee is sound. He had surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in the 1995 opener, and he had arthroscopic surgery last February.

Woodson’s workout consisted of agility drills and two 40-yard dashes. The observers also included representatives of the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Houston Oilers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.

Observers agreed that Woodson’s unofficial times of 4.53 and 4.55 seconds in the 40 were on the slow side, but that he demonstrated his knee was sound.

“I was too excited, too tight in the 40s,” said Woodson, one of five active players voted to the NFL’s 75th anniversary team in 1994. “Hopefully, they saw me breaking and driving to the ball on turf, and they know that my knee is healthy.”

Woodson’s agent, Eugene Parker of Fort Wayne, said he’d give teams an opportunity to view films of the workout before negotiations would begin. He estimated the negotiations would begin in about two weeks.

Woodson said he was more interested in playing for a Super Bowl contender than the money.

Kennison wins speed contest

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Eddie Kennison has added another achievement to his fledgling NFL career, winning the league’s fastest man competition over the weekend.

“I might beat Donovan Bailey, you never know,” Kennison joked. “No, that’s world-class speed.”

Others in the field were wide receiver James Jett of the Raiders, who won in 1996; defensive back James Trapp of the Raiders, who won in 1995; and running back Travis Jervey of the Green Bay Packers.

Cowboys sign Anthony Miller

The Dallas Cowboys have signed free-agent receiver Anthony Miller, giving them a complement to Michael Irvin.

The Cowboys re-signed running back Herschel Walker and safety Bill Bates and released center Ray Donaldson.

Miller, a five-time Pro Bowl pick, has had five 1,000-yard receiving seasons and 60 touchdown receptions during his nine-year career. He signed with Denver as a free agent after six years with the San Diego Chargers.

Seahawks sign three veterans

The Seattle Seahawks have signed three NFL veterans - defensive tackle Marc Spindler, safety Tim Hauck and linebacker Glen Young.

The Seahawks said all three are taking part in the team’s voluntary camp that runs through Wednesday.

Spindler played for the New York Jets last season, when he was credited with 35 tackles in 15 games. Hauck was with the Denver Broncos the past two years, appearing in all 32 games as a reserve. Young played 22 games as a reserve with the San Diego Chargers in 1995 and 1996.

Hauck’s signing confirms reports released by his agent.

The St. Louis Rams recently signed tackle-guard Trent Pollard, a former player for the Eastern Washington Eagles.

Also, the team has added free agents Ernest Dye and Vernice Smith.

Instead of showing his triple-threat stuff, Eric Metcalf stood and watched the opening practice of San Diego’s second minicamp, wearing a red jersey that indicated he was injured.

Metcalf signed a one year-contract with an option for a second season.