Team Probably Won’t Protect Doug Williams : Football: MVP of ’88 Super Bowl may become a Plan B free agent. Broncos’ Clarence Kay and Steelers’ Todd Blackledge also may not be protected.

Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, the Most Valuable Player in the 1988 Super Bowl, was expected to be missing from the team’s 37-man protected list submitted to the NFL today.

Other players who might become Plan B free agents are starting tight end Clarence Kay of the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Todd Blackledge. As Plan B free agents, the players would be free to negotiate with any team or re-sign with their present team.

Williams, 34, would have earned $1.2 million this season. If he chooses to stay in Washington, the team would not be obligated to pay him the salary he would have earned were he kept on the protected list.

The Redskins will not release their list of protected players until Friday, a team spokesman said.

Williams, who threw for four touchdowns and 340 yards in Washington’s 42-10 victory over Denver in the Super Bowl XXII, has said he is “positive” that he will be excluded from the Redskins’ list of protected players. He saw limited playing time last year because of a back injury and finished the season clearly the No. 2 quarterback behind Mark Rypien.

In Denver, Kay said Wednesday that Broncos coach Dan Reeves told him “don’t be surprised” if his name showed up on the team’s Plan B list.

All NFL teams were to submit today a list of 37 protected players to the league office.

Kay, a starter the last six seasons, said he thought there was a 50-50 chance he would be exposed to Plan B free agency.

Among the Bronco veterans who are likely prospects for Plan B are running back Sammy Winder and offensive guard Keith Bishop.

Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Todd Blackledge’s contract expires today, and the Steelers will not offer him a new one, according to a published report.

The Steelers planned to begin their search for a replacement for Blackledge today when several coaches and scouts were to work out former Green Bay quarterback Randy Wright at the University of Wisconsin, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said.

Blackledge was the Steelers’ backup quarterback for two years. Except for him, most of those left unprotected probably will be invited to training camp by the Steelers if they do not sign with another team.

Cincinnati Bengals place-kicker Jim Breech said he expects to be one of the team’s unprotected players because the team knows he doesn’t want to leave the Cincinnati area.