PRO FOOTBALL : Phoenix Seems Closer to Landing Montana

Phoenix has emerged as the front-runner in the bidding for Joe Montana, who reportedly must decide if he wants to play for the Cardinals or remain a backup quarterback to San Francisco 49er starter Steve Young.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday that the 49ers told the Cardinals they are willing to accept their offer of a first-round draft choice in exchange for Montana. The decision to stay or go rests with Montana, who has said he doesn’t want to back up Young, the NFL’s most valuable player last season.

“Our situation with the 49ers has been settled,” Cardinal owner Bill Bidwill told a Phoenix radio station. “Now it’s a matter of discussing with the agent whatever conditions we might have between the Cardinals and Joe Montana.”

The Detroit Lions said they have changed their minds about talking to Montana.

“It’s difficult to turn down a future Hall of Famer in Joe Montana, but I really like our young quarterbacks,” Coach Wayne Fontes said in a written statement.

Montana’s agent, Peter Johnson, was unavailable for comment.

Bidwill said he is offering the 20th pick, one of Phoenix’s two first-round selections, to San Francisco.

“We’ve had a number of conversations with the 49ers concerning any potential compensation if Montana came to the Cardinals,” Bidwill said. “We’ve discussed a number of scenarios, and I believe we’ve come to some sort of agreement with them.”

After visits last week to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cardinals, Montana made it clear he preferred playing in Kansas City. There, he would work with offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, a former 49er assistant.

But the Chiefs reportedly aren’t willing to give up the first-round draft pick the 49ers are seeking.

The Indianapolis Colts signed Ram wide receiver Aaron Cox to a two-year contract for $1.5 million. And the Rams will officially acquire offensive guard Leo Goeas from San Diego today.

Goeas will sign a three-year contract for $2.6 million with the Chargers in the morning and then will be traded to the Rams for a fourth-round draft pick.

Cox, a first-round selection of the Rams in 1988, was bothered by hamstring injuries during the first four years of his career. Last season a sore ankle limited his play.

The Buffalo Bills signed nose tackle Jeff Wright, matching the offer the free agent had received from the San Francisco 49ers.

Wright, who earned $225,000 last season, is believed to have signed a four-year, $6-million deal.

The New Orleans Saints said they will sign defensive end Wayne Martin to a four-year, $10.1-million contract, matching an offer made to the restricted free agent by the Washington Redskins.

Martin, a four-year veteran, led the Saints in sacks last season with 15 1/2.

The Philadelphia Eagles plan to select a defensive end or tackle with the draft pick awarded by the NFL for the loss of Reggie White.

Eagle Coach Rich Kotite said his wish list for the April 25 NFL draft also included a defensive back, a cornerback or a safety.

Under the new free agency system, the Eagles were awarded a 13th pick in the first round in addition to their own 24th selection. White, an unrestricted free agent, signed a $17-million contract with Green Bay.

Expansion franchises to be awarded by the NFL this fall will reportedly cost at least $175 million apiece--more than 10 times the amount paid for teams the last time the league expanded.

Jacksonville, one of five finalists for two expansion teams, was visited by NFL officials, and a source told the Florida Times-Union that the final two ownership groups will have to pay between $175 million and $200 million each for the franchises.

J. Wayne Weaver, the majority partner of Touchdown Jacksonville! Ltd., would not comment on the estimate. Weaver would be primarily responsible for coming up with the franchise fee if Jacksonville’s efforts are successful.

Other cities competing for a franchise are Baltimore, Charlotte, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn., and St. Louis.

When Tampa Bay and Seattle joined the NFL in 1974, the franchise fees were $16 million.