Bono Signs With Vikings; He Reports to Camp Today

Former UCLA quarterback Steve Bono has signed to play for the Minnesota Vikings and will report to the team’s training camp at Mankato, Minn., today.

Bono will participate in an informal preliminary camp with other Viking rookies and newcomers until the veterans report for training Aug. 1.

Bono’s contract, provided he makes the final roster, will pay about $200,000 over the next two years, plus incentive bonuses.

“I’m really pleased about how everything has turned out,” Bono said Thursday before leaving Los Angeles.

That’s a far cry from the way he felt April 30, the day of the NFL draft.

Bono is from the Philadelphia suburb of Norristown, Pa., and had been led to believe that he would be drafted in the second round by the Eagles if he was still available. Instead, the Eagles went for quarterback Randall Cunningham of Nevada Las Vegas.

Then Bono was ignored until the sixth round, when he was drafted by the Vikings, a team in apparent disarray after a 3-13 season and the firing of Coach Les Steckel.

A team with a reputation for paying low salaries, the Vikings at first offered Bono a $50,000 salary and a $10,000 signing bonus.

But Bono said he is happy with the final deal. “Actually, I’m probably better off in Minnesota anyway,” he said. “I think I have a better chance of making the team.”

Tommy Kramer, coming back from a shoulder injury, is expected to be the starting quarterback. Archie Manning, preparing for his 14th and probably last season, is expected to be one backup.

“They told me they will keep three quarterbacks,” said Bono, the only quarterback the Vikings drafted.

Bono’s main competition will come from Wade Wilson, a four-year veteran from East Texas State who started five games last season, completed 102 of 195 passes for 1,019 yards and 5 touchdowns, threw 11 interceptions and was sacked 20 times.

Bono, who led UCLA to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Miami last season, completed 136 of 245 passes for 1,576 yards and 9 touchdowns, threw 6 interceptions and was sacked 19 times in 1984.