Royals Believe Jackson May Sign to Play Baseball

The Kansas City Royals negotiated for 3 1/2 hours with agents for Bo Jackson Friday and said they thought they could sign the Heisman Trophy winner.

Jackson was taken in the fourth round of the baseball amateur free agent draft Monday despite a promise from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that the football team would make him the highest-paid rookie to play in the National Football League.

Such a contract would be worth more than the $5-million-over-five-years deal signed by Denver quarterback John Elway.

“We talked for about 3 1/2 hours today,” Royal General Manager John Schuerholz said. “Yes, I still think we have a chance to sign him.”