Bears Let Free Agent Marshall Go to Redskins

Linebacker Wilber Marshall became the first major National Football League player to change teams as a free agent when the Chicago Bears let him go to the Redskins Friday by refusing to match Washington’s five-year, $6-million offer.

As compensation for losing the Pro Bowl-caliber player, the Bears will receive two No. 1 draft picks from Washington, one this year and one in 1989.

The only other NFL free-agent move took place 11 years ago when Norm Thompson, a cornerback, went from Baltimore to St. Louis. The inability of players to move to other teams after playing out their options is a major argument cited by the NFL Players Assn. in its antitrust suit against the league.

Marshall last Friday signed an offer sheet with the Redskins, which provided for a base salary of $900,000 in 1988 and increases of $100,000 each year until 1992. There also was a $500,000 signing bonus and a no-trade clause for the first year.

The Bears had a week in which to match the offer or lose Marshall.