Marinovich Will Play for Winnipeg

Troubled quarterback Todd Marinovich, cut by the Raiders last season, said he has agreed to a contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

No terms were disclosed, but Marinovich, who left for Winnipeg Friday, is expected to be introduced at a news conference there Monday.

“I’m really going to miss the beach, but I’m excited about going up there,” Marinovich said.

Although Winnipeg has played in the last two Grey Cups, losing to Calgary in 1992 and to Edmonton in 1993, the Blue Bombers need a backup for quarterback Matt Dunigan, 33, who suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury late last season.

Winnipeg had reportedly offered Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward, who wasn’t selected in the NFL draft, a three-year, $400,000 contract, but Ward rejected the offer because he hopes to play in the NBA.

A first-round draft choice in 1991, Marinovich lasted only two seasons in the NFL before he was waived last August.

Marinovich, who made his first NFL start in a 1991 playoff loss at Kansas City, started seven games in ‘92, but was benched after throwing three interceptions in slightly more than one quarter of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Marinovich was demoted to third string behind Vince Evans and didn’t play in another game.

Marinovich, who played at USC for two turbulent seasons before leaving in a dispute with former coach Larry Smith, was arrested for misdemeanor possession of cocaine and marijuana shortly before he was drafted. However, he was cleared after completing a one-year diversion program for first-time offenders.