Seahawks Well-Armed In Ongoing Backup Qb Hunt

Boomer Esiason and Heath Shuler were the latest to check in for the most interesting backup quarterback job search in Seahawks history.

Shuler auditioned well with his powerful right arm. Esiason impressed Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson with his personality and story telling. Whether their visits to the team complex will alter their desires to be chosen instead of Warren Moon is still to be determined.

“This is an intriguing situation for whoever they select,” Esiason said. “Certainly, I’m very impressed with all the things that they’ve done here. My mind certainly isn’t made up, and certainly theirs isn’t either. Today was to get a chance to meet each other.”

After being released by the Vikings last week, Moon is a free agent. Shuler, a third-year Washington Redskins quarterback, is being shopped for a possible second-round choice. Esiason, property of the Arizona Cardinals, comes for a little less in trade compensation.

Another instant replay proposal

The National Football League’s competition committee approved a plan that would reinstate instant replay review of officials’ decisions for the 1997 season, ESPN Radio reported.

The proposal would join two others on instant replay that league owners would consider at their meetings in Palm Springs, Calif., from March 9-13. Any proposal would need at least 23 positive votes from the 30 owners.

ESPN Radio said the committee’s proposal would include four types of reviewable calls: scoring plays, sidelines plays, number of players on the field, fumbles and interceptions. Each team would be entitled to two challenges to a referee’s call each half, with teams being charged a time-out if a decision isn’t reversed.

Hostetler to meet with Steelers

Jeff Hostetler, the erstwhile quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, whose starting spot has been taken by newly signed Jeff George, will meet next week with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher and may be willing to settle for a backup spot with the Steelers.

Hostetler completed 242 of 402 passes for 2,548 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last year. He started at quarterback for the New York Giants in a 20-19 win over Buffalo in the 1991 Super Bowl.

Free-agent tight end Chris Gedney, who spent four injury-plagued years with the Chicago Bears, signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Gedney spent last season on the injured list after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot during training camp and re-fracturing the foot his first week back.

Former New York Jets quarterback Bubby Brister worked out with the Denver Broncos in an attempt to rejoin the National Football League.

Brister, 34, was cut by the Jets after the 1995 season and sat out last year. He is vying for a job as a backup to John Elway.

Rather than coming up with $1.3 million, the Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of Eric Turner.

Turner now is free to negotiate with other teams, said spokesman Kevin Byrne.

Turner’s contract contained a clause saying if his name were still on the roster as of today, he would receive $1.3 million. His total contract for 1997 was for $3.9 million.