PRO FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : AROUND THE NFL : Marino Signs a Contract Estimated at $25 Million

Quarterback Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins Tuesday signed what is believed to be the richest contract in NFL history.

Neither Dolphin management nor Marino would release details of the contract other than to say it was a five-year extension of his current deal, which will pay him $1.6 million this season.

Several newspapers reported that Marino and his agent, Marvin Demoff, negotiated a contract for $25 million, including a $3-million signing bonus.

If reports on Marino’s contract prove true, it will push him past Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers, who makes $3.5 million per season.

“Montana’s a great quarterback,” Marino said. “I just want to get one of his Super Bowl rings.”

Tackle Bubba Paris, plagued by weight and conditioning problems in recent seasons, was among 19 players cut by the San Francisco 49ers as NFL teams reduced to 60 players.

A 20th player, punter Barry Helton, was placed on the physically unable to perform list with a groin injury. Helton has been out since the start of training camp in mid-July.

The release of Paris, a second-round draft pick out of Michigan in 1982, was a surprise because of the time and effort the team had expended to try to get him in shape.

The Cleveland Browns released Roy Green, a wide receiver obtained in a trade with the Phoenix Cardinals in June. The Browns signed holdout wide receiver Reggie Langhorne.

Green, a two-time all-pro, was the Cardinals’ career leader with 62 touchdown catches. He caught 53 passes for 797 yards and four touchdowns with the Cardinals last season.

The Denver Broncos cut Melvin Bratton, their starting fullback the past two seasons, and linebacker Rick Dennison, a 10-year veteran.

Guard Terry Long of the Pittsburgh Steelers was welcomed back to practice by coaches and teammates nearly one month after a positive steroids test and two reported suicide attempts.

Long, 32, faces a possible four-game suspension for the positive test results. He is allowed to practice pending his appeal to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

All-pro linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who suffered a sprained ankle--an injury that at first appeared much more serious--against the New York Jets on Saturday night, returned to practice.

The Kansas City Chiefs placed running back Stump Mitchell on the injured reserved list. The team also announced that running back Barry Word, who led the team with 1,015 yards rushing last season, signed a two-year contract.

The San Diego Chargers acquired eight-year veteran linebacker Mike Wilcher on waivers from the Rams.

Coach Dan Henning said he expects Wilcher to play outside linebacker. “We have a spot there,” Henning said. “We have to find one or two more linebackers, and we need to do it fast.”