Cardinals Sign RB Thompson

The last holdout has signed with the Phoenix Cardinals, and that means there will be competition between two rookie running backs.

Paul Jensen of the NFL team said Anthony Thompson, a second-round draft pick from Indiana and the 1989 Heisman Trophy runner-up, signed today and was expected in training camp on Thursday.

Pro Bowl safety Tim McDonald ended his 29-day holdout by signing a three-year contract Tuesday and promptly reporting for training.

So far in preseason, ninth-round draft pick Johnny Johnson has been Phoenix’s starting running back and has a team-leading 121 yards on 23 carries.

“He’s opening everybody’s eyes,” Coach Joe Bugel said of Johnson, who is one of San Jose State’s all-time leading rushers. Having both Thompson and Johnson will “only help because it will be two rookies pushing each other for the job.”

Details of the Thompson contract weren’t disclosed, but he had been seeking a two-year deal at $1.3 million, about $200,000 more than the team reportedly was offering.