Fed Up With Fat Tight End, Johnson Cuts Green

Eric Green, a former Pro Bowl tight end whose work habits and weight problem annoyed coach Jimmy Johnson, was released Tuesday by the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson terminated the six-year, $12 million contract Green signed prior to last season, when he was among the most widely sought free agents.

Green will try to collect his $1.5 million salary for this year in a grievance to be filed by the NFL Players Association. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in May and was expected to miss the first month of the regular season.

Green and the Dolphins disagreed about how his knee injury occurred. He claimed it happened during mini-camp; the team said he hurt himself jogging at home.

“An arbitrator will decide,” said Green’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus. “If the Dolphins win, Eric doesn’t get squat and he doesn’t count against their salary cap.”

Green, 29, first hurt his knee last October. He missed only two games but sat out 39 practices, according to Johnson.

Ravens cut Rison

The Baltimore Ravens released veteran receiver Andre Rison and linebacker Pepper Johnson, saying they could not afford to keep them under the NFL’s salary cap.

Ravens owner Art Modell said the team could not find a way to retain the players as well as sign rookies and add veterans under the cap. The moves saved the team around $3 million in salary-cap room.

Rison, one of the team’s marquee players, signed a five-year, $17 million contract with the Cleveland Browns before the 1994 season, including a $5 million signing bonus, that made him the NFL’s highest-paid receiver.

He rejected the team’s request to lower his salary by $1 million and add incentive clauses, according to his agent, Charles Tucker. The receiver had a career-low 47 catches for 701 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Johnson led the team in tackles last season with 195.

Steelers cut Morris

The Pittsburgh Steelers released running back Bam Morris, nearly two weeks after he struck a plea bargain with Texas prosecutors on drug possession charges.

“We felt releasing Bam Morris was in the best interest of both parties,” coach Bill Cowher said. “It gives the Steelers and Morris an opportunity to move forward and focus on the 1996 season.”

Morris, 24, pleaded guilty June 26 to a felony marijuana charge. In return, prosecutors will recommend that he not be imprisoned and will not pursue a felony cocaine possession charge.

Irvin update

Evidence could have been contaminated by police during the raid on Michael Irvin’s motel room, an officer said in the Dallas Cowboys star’s felony drug possession trial.

The testimony from Brian Crum, whose one-year tenure made him the least experienced of four Irving officers at the scene last March, came as defense attorneys tried to further their contention that police made a “comedy of errors.”

Kelly seeks raise

Jim Kelly thinks he belongs in the elite quarterback category with Dan Marino and John Elway. Now he wants to be paid like them.

Kelly, who has one year left on his three-year contract, hopes to meet soon with Buffalo Bills general manager John Butler and owner Ralph Wilson to begin working out a new deal. Wilson typically gets involved with negotiations for big contracts.

“I don’t want this to be a media issue,” Kelly said. “I want to do this between me and Mr. Wilson. He’s always been very fair to me. Hopefully, we can get this worked out. I have confidence it will be done.”

Kelly, 36, is scheduled to earn about $4 million in 1996. He is seeking a three- to four-year extension worth more than $5 million a season, including a large signing bonus.

If he doesn’t get an extension, Kelly could become a free agent next year.

Banaszak arrested

Former Oakland Raiders fullback Pete Banaszak was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and careless driving after an auto accident near Jacksonville (Fla.) International Airport.

According to police, a 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Banaszak struck the rear end of a car driver by Melinda Delpilar of Catharpin, Va., at about 8:20 p.m. on July 3.

A police office detected “a strong odor of alcoholic beverage” on Banaszak’s breath and noted he had watery, bloodshot eyes.

The report also said the former fullback performed poorly in a field sobriety test and was arrested. Banaszak, 52, refused a breath test and his driver’s license was confiscated.

Banaszak is president of the Jacksonville chapter of the NFL Alumni Association and is a sports radio commentator.