QB George to Colts in Falcons Deal

The Atlanta Falcons and the Indianapolis Colts agreed today to a trade that would allow the Colts to draft Illinois quarterback Jeff George, but the deal is contingent on him signing by Friday, a newspaper reported.

Under the terms of the deal reported in today’s late editions of the Atlanta Journal, the Falcons will get two players and a 1991 first-round draft pick, and the Colts will get George.

To complete the trade, Indianapolis must sign George to a contract by an unspecified time on Friday, the Journal said.

“We have come to an agreement on what we’ll give up,” Colts general manager Jim Irsay told the newspaper. “Now we’re trying to wind up the deal. We have a window until Friday to get it done. If we don’t, all bets are off.”

Falcons officials declined to comment.

The Journal quoted unidentified sources saying the Falcons would receive six-time Pro Bowl tackle Chris Hinton, second-year wide receiver Andre Rison, the Colts’ first-round selection in the 1991 NFL draft and Indianapolis’ fifth-round choice in Sunday’s draft.

The Colts would get the first pick in Sunday’s draft, which they would use to select George. They also would receive the Falcons’ fourth-round pick this year.

Part of the trade agreement calls for the Falcons to give the Colts additional draft choices in the 1991 draft if Indianapolis’ first-round pick is in the top 13, according to the newspaper. If the pick is among the top four overall, Atlanta will give the Colts its 1991 second-round choice. If the first-round pick is among selections 5-12, the Falcons must send a 1991 third-round selection to Indianapolis.

Falcons executive vice president Taylor Smith, reached at his home Wednesday night, would say only that talks are continuing.

“Nothing is consummated yet,” said Smith. “Trades like the one people have talked about are hard to do; a lot could go wrong.”