PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Butts Rejoins the Chargers With Old Contract, New Fine

Running back Marion Butts ended his 40-day holdout and reported to the San Diego Chargers Monday, richer in principle but poorer by more than one-fifth of his salary.

Butts took his physical and said he will be ready to play in the season-opener Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers if the team decides to activate him. However, Coach Dan Henning said Rod Bernstine will be the starter.

Butts, scheduled to make $250,000 this year, was fined $1,500 a day. The total reached $60,000.

“I didn’t really gain that much,” said Butts, who ran for a team record 1,225 yards in 14 games last season. “I stuck to my principles. That was the most expensive principle I’ve ever had. Both of us won because I’m in. That’s the way I look at it.”

The Chargers waived 13 players, including strong safety Martin Bayless and cornerback Bobby Humphery, both veterans.

Donald Igwebuike, the kicker who was accused of heroin smuggling in October and found innocent in April, was cut by the Minnesota Vikings after losing his job to Fuad Reveiz. The Vikings also cut Darrell Fullington, who started 11 games at free safety last year, receiver Leo Lewis and running back Darrin Nelson.

Dexter Manley, who hoped to use the Phoenix Cardinals as a springboard back to NFL stardom after a drug-abuse suspension, was waived.

Manley, a former star with the Washington Redskins, said he was embarrassed by being cut for the first time in his 10-year career but felt it was inevitable because the Cardinals play a 3-4 defense, which puts more emphasis on pass-rushing linebackers.

“I’m not some scrub,” Manley said. “I cannot accept a second-team role in the ‘34’ scheme when I know that I should not have been on second team.”

Former all-pro running back Gerald Riggs and 11-year defensive tackle Darryl Grant were released along with 11 others by the Washington Redskins.

Coach Joe Gibbs said he hopes Riggs, 30, in his 10th season, is not picked up by another team so he can be taken back after the 24-hour waiver period expires at noon today.

Also among the cuts was defensive tackle Tracy Rocker, a former Outland Trophy winner from Auburn.

The Miami Dolphins settled a contract dispute with starting guard Harry Galbreath and released 12 other players, including veteran inside linebacker Barry Krauss.

The Dolphins still have six unsigned players, all starters last year.

Veterans released along with Krauss include cornerback Paul Lankford, tight ends Greg Baty and Eric Sievers, receiver Andre Brown, defensive end Donnie Gardner and offensive linemen Dave Zawatson and Jack Linn.

Among those surviving the cuts were ninth-round draft choice Scott Miller, a receiver-punt returner from UCLA, who beat out Brown.

The Philadelphia Eagles cut running back Anthony Toney, wide receiver Kenny Jackson and 11 others.

Toney, a second-round choice in 1986 out of Texas A&M;, didn’t play a down in the exhibition season because of a hamstring injury.

Three defensive standouts--tackle Jerome Brown, end Clyde Simmons and linebacker Seth Joyner--remain unsigned.

Center Gregg Rakoczy and linebackers Eddie Johnson and David Grayson, all former starters, were among 13 players cut by the Cleveland Browns.

Wide receiver Reggie Langhorne, who ended a holdout when he signed a contract last week, does not yet count against the roster. Defensive lineman Michael Dean Perry is still holding out and also does not count.

Defensive end Mike Bell, an 11-year veteran, and quarterback Mike Elkins were among eight players placed on waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Bell, a former No. 1 draft pick out of Colorado State in 1979, is the team’s second all-time sack leader with 52. He made the Pro Bowl in 1984.

The Green Bay Packers waived quarterback Anthony Dilweg, who started seven games last season when Don Majkowski was injured, but lost out to backup quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Blair Kiel.

The Packers also waived three other starters from last season, cornerback Mark Lee and offensive linemen Billy Ard and Keith Uecker.

Green Bay also relinquished the rights to holdout running back Herman Fontenot and placed rookie tackle Joe Garten on injured reserve.

The Packers traded kicker Brad Daluiso, a rookie from UCLA, to Atlanta for a 1992 draft choice after last year’s kicker, Chris Jacke, ended his holdout.

Ard, Uecker and Jurkovic may be re-signed if they clear waivers.

Rookie wide receiver Ernie Mills, advised earlier by Coach Chuck Noll not to even bother reporting, and guard Terry Long, who practiced little after attempting suicide, withstood the Pittsburgh Steelers’ final roster cut.

Backup quarterback Rick Strom and free agent nose tackle Garry Howe, who attracted Noll’s attention by arriving at training camp on a motorcycle, weren’t as fortunate and were among 13 players waived.

Long, a starter for 6 1/2 seasons, told police he attempted suicide last month after failing the NFL’s steroids test. He spent time in a hospital and underwent psychiatric treatment before rejoining the Steelers last Tuesday.

Pro Bowl linebacker David Little is the only unsigned Steeler and also doesn’t count against their roster.

The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent tackle Bubba Paris to a two-year contract.

Paris, who played eight years for the San Francisco 49ers, will help bolster the Colts’ injury-riddled offensive line.

Guard Pat Tomberlin suffered a broken leg in practice last week and is out 12 weeks, and guard Randy Dixon has a torn calf muscle.

The 6-foot-6, 324-pound Paris started every game at left tackle for the 49ers last year, but management apparently had had enough of his weight and cholesterol problems.

Paris said his contract with the Colts includes a weight clause.

Steve Walsh had the better statistics during the exhibition season, but Coach Jim Mora chose Bobby Hebert to be the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.

“I just feel like he’s the one I want to start this week (against Seattle),” Mora said. “It’s been a really close battle between Bobby and Steve, and it’s still close.

“I would feel very, very comfortable with either player as our starting quarterback at this point, but I have to make a decision.”

In four exhibitions, Walsh completed 67.7% of his passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns. He threw two interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 93.1 on the NFL formula for ranking passers.

Hebert completed 56.7% of his passes for 382 yards and one touchdown. He threw four interceptions and had a quarterback rating of 51.6.

After acquiring quarterback Steve Beuerlein from the Raiders on Sunday to back up Troy Aikman, the Dallas Cowboys cut veteran Cliff Stoudt and rookie Bill Musgrave along with 11 other players.

The Cowboys also cut safety Vince Albritton, an eight-year veteran.

Running back Stanford Jennings, who returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in the 1989 Super Bowl, was among 13 players cut by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The San Francisco 49ers released running back Terrence Flagler and both their punters, Ralf Mojsiejenko and Paul McJulien along with seven other players.

Cornerback Darryl Pollard, who underwent surgery Saturday for a broken leg, was placed on injured reserve.

Pro Bowl linebacker Darryl Talley ended his holdout and returned to the Buffalo Bills.