Patriots Get Flutie; He’ll Play Sunday

Doug Flutie, the Boston College quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy in 1984, returned to the region Tuesday when the New England Patriots acquired him from the Chicago Bears for an undisclosed draft pick. He plans to cross the picket line and play for the Patriots Sunday.

Bob Woolf, Flutie’s agent, said the decision to break ranks with striking National Football League players was “very, very difficult.”

“He agonized over the decision,” Woolf said. “He’s a great sympathizer with the strike. The New England Patriots are the only team he would have done that for, because he really feels he’s coming home.”

Flutie was one of five quarterbacks for the Bears.

Three Pittsburgh Steelers crossed the union picket line and reported to the team at Three Rivers Stadium. First-year offensive tackle Jerry Quick; nose tackle Gerald Williams, a two-year veteran, and rookie running back Merril Hoge reported. They joined four Steelers regulars who had broken with the striking players and reported to the team: center Mike Webster and running backs Earnest Jackson, Frank Pollard and Dwight Stone.

Meanwhile, New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor is leaning toward joining the club’s replacement team. Taylor told a radio reporter that he hopes management and players come to an agreement before today’s 1 p.m. deadline to be eligible for this week’s salary payment.

In Washington, Redskins defensive end Dexter Manley has said he plans to cross the line.