PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Doleman’s Pact Reportedly Richest

Defensive end Chris Doleman apparently became the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL when he signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.

Terms of the contracts weren’t released, but the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that Doleman signed a five-year contract estimated at $2 million per year. The Star Tribune of Minneapolis quoted a team source who said the contract was for four years at about $1.7 million per year. Either of those figures would make Doleman the highest-paid defensive player.

New York Giant linebacker Pepper Johnson has returned to his home in Detroit because of stalled contract negotiations, Newsday reported.

The newspaper said that Johnson, who led the team in tackles last season with 119, claims he reached an agreement with the team last week that would make him the team’s third-highest paid defensive player, behind Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks. The Giants contend there never was an agreement.

Johnson is attempting to negotiate the contract himself.

The San Francisco 49ers, who will play the Raiders at the Coliseum today, cut free-agent wide receiver Sam Archer, a first-year player from Oregon, and re-signed defensive lineman John Shannon, who played in the World League of American Football for the London Monarchs.

Wide receiver Jessie Hester, who caught 54 passes for 924 yards for the Indianapolis Colts last season, agreed to a two-year contract. The Colts have signed all of their veterans and draft picks.

The Phoenix Cardinals’ last two holdouts, linebacker Freddie Joe Nunn and cornerback Aeneas Williams, agreed to terms.

Jan Stenerud will become the first pure place-kicker to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, at Canton, Ohio, today. He will be joined by running back Earl Campbell, offensive guard John Hannah, lineman Stan Jones and contributor Tex Schramm.

General Manager Dick Steinberg and Coach Bruce Coslet of the New York Jets denied published reports that the team was trying to trade two-time Pro Bowl free safety Erik McMillan.