Tongue Becomes Seahawk

The Seattle Seahawks signed unrestricted free agent Reggie Tongue to a five-year, $15 million contract to be their starting strong safety.

The Seahawks are expected to release Darryl Williams, a former Pro Bowler who was their starting strong safety last season. Williams would become a victim of the NFL’s salary cap as the Seahawks try to position themselves to make more off-season moves.

Tongue, a 6-foot, 206-pound strong safety out of Oregon State, is a four-year pro who has been a starter the past three seasons for the Chiefs.

Ricky Williams of the New Orleans Saints spent 2 hours in an Austin, Texas, jail Monday night after failing to sign a traffic ticket.

Tom Vinger, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said a trooper pulled Williams’ over in his 1999 Hummer about 9:24 p.m.

A trooper reported Williams, who won the 1998 Heisman Trophy at University of Texas, swerved his $80,000 truck from the far right lane to the far left lane without signaling. When the trooper pulled over the car, Williams “was upset. He was not particularly cooperative,” Vinger said.

The Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams solidified their offensive line for next season, matching an offer sheet from the Miami Dolphins for tackle Ryan Tucker and signing center Andy McCollum. Both linemen played for the Rams last season.

Linebacker Mike Barrow, the Carolina Panthers’ leading tackler in each of the last two seasons, was released in a cost-cutting move.

Barrow was heading into the fourth season of a five-year, $19 million contract that he signed in February 1997, putting him among the NFL’s highest-paid linebackers.

Tamarick Vanover, a kick return specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs, pleaded guilty to assisting in the sale of a stolen vehicle and is now cooperating in a broad federal investigation.