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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Steelers Sign Bruener For $3 Million

From Wire Reports

Mark Bruener, who will replace Eric Green in a Pittsburgh Steelers offense that keys on the tight end, ended a week-long contract holdout Sunday by signing a deal worth at least $3 million for a reported four years.

Bruener, who played for the University of Washington, received a signing bonus in the $1 million range.

“We definitely got a fair deal,” Bruener said. “The Steelers did more than a fair job to get me in here.”

The Steelers literally threw the book at Bruener as soon as he arrived at their St. Vincent College training camp Sunday. He emerged from a cram session with tight ends coach Pat Hodgson logging a foot-thick playbook.

“My goal is to get in there and learn as much as I can in the next four to five weeks and to try to contribute and be a positive factor in any way possible,” Bruener said.

Moon seeks counseling

Warren Moon says he is getting psychological counseling, and both he and his wife agree it is better for him to get on with his career than to shrink from public life because of their marital problems.

The Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback came north for training camp Sunday, stopping at team headquarters with his wife, Felicia, to discuss their highly publicized fight last week.

As he did during a similar news conference Friday in Houston, Moon apologized. He said he considered skipping the first part of training camp to be with his family and plans to continue counseling throughout the season.

Eagles already banged up

Injuries to running backs Vaughn Hebron and Kevin Bouie gave coach Ray Rhodes a bit of a scare as Philadelphia Eagles veterans reported for their first official day of training camp.

Hebron’s injury was more serious. He injured his right knee in the morning practice session when he collided with defensive lineman Rhett Hall.

Team spokesman Ron Howard said Hebron would have a magnetic resonance imaging test on the knee today and that the Eagles would know more then about his status.

Bouie, the first of two seventh-round draft picks by the Eagles this year, separated his left shoulder. Trainer Otho Davis said the shoulder would be immobilized for a few days before deciding what further action might be needed.

Patriots counting on Meggett

Many, many years ago, Dave Meggett’s mother advised him: “What the mind believes, the mind can achieve.”

So don’t tell him he can’t be an every-down back in the National Football League.

“If the situation presents itself, I’m sure I can carry the load,” Meggett said. “I have no problem with that.”

The situation never presented itself in Meggett’s six seasons with the New York Giants and is unlikely to develop now that he has joined the New England Patriots.

“You’ve got to use him the right way,” Patriots coach Bill Parcells said.

The Patriots signed Meggett to a five-year, $9 million contract last March largely because of his versatility.

Parcells, who was his coach for two seasons in New York, has vowed not to jeopardize Meggett’s value to the team through overuse.

The ironic thing is the Patriots do not have an established starting running back. That’s because neither Marion Butts nor Leroy Thompson, the team’s top rushers in 1994, are with the Patriots.

William Roberts, an offensive lineman, signed with the Patriots.

Roberts was released earlier this year by the New York Giants. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman was drafted by New York in 1984. The former Ohio State star played tackle for six years before switching to guard in 1989. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1990.

Means skips out on Chargers

San Diego Chargers running back Natrone Means, the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher last season, didn’t report to the team’s training camp.

“I’m not happy about it at all,” said coach Bobby Ross.

Means, who set the team’s single-season rushing mark in 1994 with 1,350 yards, is embroiled in a contract dispute with the club.

The third-year pro has two seasons remaining on his four-year, $1.6 million pact. He’s asking for $21 million over five years, with a $4 million signing bonus.

The Chargers, who are struggling to stay under the salary cap, have countered with a four-year, $6.2 million offer. The 5-foot-10, 245-pound Means, the club’s MVP last year, is scheduled to make $231,900 in base salary this season, with a $100,000 reporting bonus.

Browns miss no-shows

Full training camp began for the Cleveland Browns with all-pro safety Eric Turner and first-round draft pick Craig Powell among the no-shows. Also absent were Bill Johnson, last year’s starting nose tackle, and Mike Miller, a rookie with special-teams potential.

Simpson bust stolen

A bronze bust of O.J. Simpson was stolen from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Police detective Lt. Anthony DeMeo said the theft was reported about 5 p.m. by employees of the museum. He said a museum visitor described the suspect as a white male, about 30 years old.

The bronze bust weighs 30 to 40 pounds.

“The value of the statue is negligible,” hall director Pete Elliott said. “It is really only valuable to the Hall of Fame. It couldn’t really be sold or anything.”