Bosworth Fails Physical, Is Waived by Seahawks

Brian Bosworth’s once-promising football career appears over after only 24 NFL games.

The man known as “the Boz” was supposed to be a modern-day Dick Butkus for the Seattle Seahawks. Instead, he was a major failure because of injuries.

Bosworth, a middle linebacker who signed a 10-year, $11-million contract after he was taken as the first selection in the 1987 supplemental draft, was waived Tuesday by the Seahawks.

Bosworth, 25, a two-time All-American at Oklahoma, failed a physical examination because of a right shoulder injury, the club said.

It was reported this week that Bosworth could collect $7.3 million tax free, with $9.8 million remaining on his contract.

Since the Seahawks used only Bosworth’s money to purchase the insurance, payments to replace as much as $7.3 million in salary would be exempt from taxes.

Bosworth will still have to pay taxes on a $2.5-million deferred signing bonus, and on $65,000 he will get this year in injury compensation under the NFL collective bargaining agreement.

His contract continues to escalate from $600,000 this year to $700,000 next year and $1.4 million in 1996.

Bosworth collected $1.2 million in salary the past three seasons and will receive the first $500,000 installment of his guaranteed signing bonus in 1997. The bonus was funded by an annuity taken out by the Seahawks three years ago.

“Brian Bosworth had tremendous potential as a professional football player coming out of college,” Seahawk Coach Chuck Knox said. “Unfortunately for him, injuries have prevented him from realizing his full capabilities. We wish him the best.”

Bosworth started all 12 games as a rookie in the strike-shortened 1987 season. He was hampered by an injury that led to arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and played in 10 games in ’88.

Bosworth played in two games in ’89 before injuring his right shoulder.