NFL EXHIBITION ROUNDUP : Mirer Plays in Seahawk Loss

Rick Mirer, picked second overall by Seattle in this year’s draft, made his professional debut just one day after his contract was disallowed by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, but it was Jim McMahon who stole the show by completing his first eight passes to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 23-10 victory over the Seahawks at Minneapolis.

McMahon, signed as a free agent during the offseason, played one quarter and completed nine of 11 passes for 104 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Cris Carter.

Mirer, the former Notre Dame quarterback, was allowed to play while his agent decides upon a course of action, completed 10 of 18 passes for 69 yards in the second half.

Mirer threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Larry Stayner to make it a 16-10 game early in the fourth quarter, but he later was intercepted by Dave Garnett, who went 64 yards for the Vikings’ clinching score.

Miami 19, Washington 10--Pete Stoyanovich made each of his four field goal attempts, and the Dolphins benefited from seven Redskin turnovers at Miami. Stoyanovich hit from 37, 46, 29 and 24 yards.

Miami limited Redskin quarterback Mark Rypien to one score in four series. He completed eight of 11 passes for 90 yards. In Dan Marino’s four series at quarterback, the Dolphins managed just one first down and three points.

New Orleans 26, Green Bay 17--Steve Walsh hit Irv Smith with a 40-yard pass to set up the go-ahead touchdown as the Saints rallied from a 17-0 deficit at Madison, Wis.

Walsh, battling Wade Wilson and Mike Buck for the starting quarterback job, led a 67-yard drive late in the third quarter. His pass to Smith, a rookie from Notre Dame, carried to the Packer 15. Three plays later, Lorenzo Neal ran five yards for the touchdown to give the Saints a 21-17 lead.

Phoenix 11, Chicago 10--Greg Davis’ 31-yard field goal with no time remaining gave the Cardinals the victory at Chicago.

Davis kicked two field goals, and the Cardinals recorded a safety in the final seven minutes of the game to wipe out a 10-3 Chicago lead.

Cincinnati 24, Indianapolis 7-- David Klingler passed for two touchdowns and the Bengals took advantage of Don Majkowski’s shaky debut to beat the Colts at Indianapolis.

Klingler, only six for 15 for 28 yards a week earlier in a loss to the New York Giants, was eight for 12 for 140 yards.

Majkowski, signed by the Colts after Jeff George refused to report to training camp, replaced Jack Trudeau in the second quarter with Indianapolis leading, 7-0, and was intercepted once. He also fumbled twice--one setting up a Bengal touchdown.

Cleveland 12, New England 9-- Matt Stover won a battle of kickers and helped the Browns rally at SkyDome in Toronto. Stover’s fourth field goal, a 32-yarder with 6:34 remaining, was the game-winner.

Pittsburgh 23, New York Giants 17--Mike Tomczak threw two touchdown passes and the Steelers capitalized on Giant line problems at East Rutherford, N.J.

The Steelers outgained New York, 340-226, playing against a defensive front that did not include a single starter from last year. In addition, Pittsburgh recorded nine sacks against the Giant offensive line.

Atlanta 20, Tampa Bay 10--Third-string quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver came on in the fourth quarter and keyed a 10-point rally to lead the Falcons at Atlanta.

Norm Johnson broke a 10-10 tie with a 19-yard field goal with 7:45 left in the fourth period, and Tolliver wrapped up the victory with a 12-yard touchdown throw to Mitch Lyons.