Cardinals Sign Esiason, Drop Krieg
The Arizona Cardinals signed one aging quarterback Monday and got rid of another, signing Boomer Esiason and releasing Dave Krieg.
Esiason, who turns 35 next week, had called the Cardinals and lobbied for the job. He spent the last three years with the New York Jets, who had made it clear they wouldn’t re-sign the former Cincinnati Bengal after spending $25 million over five years for Neil O’Donnell.
Terms weren’t disclosed, but Esiason told the Cardinals he would play for far less than the $2.4 million he was paid last year.
“A lot of quarterback situations were set, realistically, and this was a team that would fit for me,” said Esiason. “I didn’t want this opportunity to pass me by.”
He said he had feelers from two other teams, but decided last week after dinner with new Arizona offensive coordinator Jim Fassel to play for the Cardinals and pass up a network broadcasting opportunity.
Krieg was due to make $1.3 million, and coach Vince Tobin acknowledged the Cardinals would save money while using Esiason as a mentor for Kent Graham and Stoney Case. Last year, the quarterbacks were Krieg, Mike Buck and Case.
But Tobin expects Esiason to start and help rebuild a team that collapsed last year under Buddy Ryan.
“When you are building an organization, you have to plan into the future, and hopefully Boomer can take us farther into the future than Dave Krieg,” Tobin said.
Krieg, the former Seattle Seahawk, passed for 3,554 yards, but also threw an NFL-high 21 interceptions in his only season with the Cardinals.
“I’m disappointed that I couldn’t see things through,” Krieg said. “I don’t think 4-12 is indicative of this team. It can only get better.”
Redskins get defensive
The Washington Redskins bolstered one of the NFL’s worst defensive lines when they finalized a trade for St. Louis Rams’ Pro Bowl defensive end Sean Gilbert.
The Redskins, 29th out of 30 teams against the run last season, traded their first-round draft pick - the sixth overall pick in this month’s NFL draft for the 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman.
“There’s no question that everyone in the league regards Sean Gilbert as one of the up-and-coming bright prospects in the league, and he is already acknowledged as one of the best young defensive tackles” in the NFL, said Washington general manager Charley Casserly.
The Rams reportedly want Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips with the pick. However, to get him, they may have to package the sixth pick with their own first-rounder, the 13th overall, and trade it to either Arizona, No. 3, or the Jets, who pick first. Baltimore, the former Cleveland Browns, reportedly want to take Phillips with the fourth pick.
Gilbert, an unrestricted free agent after 1996, will make $1.25 million in the final year of his contract.
Eagles sign Seay
The Philadelphia Eagles signed a one-year, $300,000 deal with veteran receiver Mark Seay, who has played the last three seasons with San Diego. He had 45 receptions for 537 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Job a snap for Hellestrae
The Dallas Cowboys re-signed reserve lineman Dale Hellestrae, an 11-year veteran, who was flawless last season in his special teams role as the deep snapper. Since his arrival in 1990, the Cowboys have never had a punt blocked or snap fumbled in 378 regular-season attempts.
Oilers move up for vote
The NFL will decide April 30 in a special league meeting in Atlanta whether to approve or deny Bud Adams’ proposal to move the Oilers to Nashville, Tenn. A public referendum in Nashville on the stadium-relocation package offered to the Oilers occurs May 7.
Rich Packer
Wide receiver Anthony Morgan agreed to a three-year contract worth about $3 million with the Green Bay Packers. Morgan, 28, caught 31 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns last season while sharing a starting role with veteran Mark Ingram.