Cowboys’ Washington Becomes a Redskin

Safety James Washington, one of the stars in the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl victory two seasons ago, signed a three-year contract worth $4.5 million with the Washington Redskins.

Washington, a seven-year pro, was the Redskins’ latest free-agent signing in their bid to improve the NFL’s second-worst defense.

The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Washington spent five seasons with the Cowboys after being drafted from UCLA in the fifth round by the Rams in 1988. He signed with the Cowboys as a “Plan B” free agent.

In 16 starts last season, Washington tied for the club lead in interceptions with five and finished fifth in tackles with 101.

In the 1994 Super Bowl, with Dallas trailing the Buffalo Bills, 13-6, less than a minute into the second half, Washington picked up a fumble and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown to tie the score. He also had an interception to stop a Bill drive and was runner-up to running back Emmitt Smith in most-valuable-player voting.

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Dave Meggett, running back for the New York Giants, agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the New England Patriots, rejoining Coach Bill Parcells. Meggett, an unrestricted free agent, reportedly accepted a deal worth $2 million annually with a $3-million signing bonus. Meggett becomes the second Giant to leave since the start of the free-agent signing period two weeks ago.

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Former New York Giant quarterback Phil Simms and his agent met with the Cleveland Browns but didn’t reach a deal that would make Simms a backup to starter Vinny Testaverde. Negotiations are continuing.

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Pittsburgh Steeler tight end Eric Green, an unrestricted free agent, visited the Raiders and, according to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was impressed. Other teams he is considering are the Miami Dolphins, the Redskins, Browns and Steelers. Green, one of the top players in the free-agent market, will visit Washington on Monday and said he will make a decision by Tuesday.

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Pro Bowl receiver Herman Moore signed a four-year contract extension worth $13.5 million with the Detroit Lions. . . . Bubby Brister signed a two-year contract with the New York Jets and will back up starter Boomer Esiason. . . . Randal Hill of the Arizona Cardinals signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. . . . Tommy Barnhardt of the New Orleans Saints and James Williams of the Arizona Cardinals signed with the Carolina Panthers, becoming the seventh unrestricted free agents to sign with the NFL expansion team.

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Buffalo Bill defensive end Bruce Smith underwent surgery in Los Angeles to repair a torn muscle in his left shoulder and is expected to begin rehabilitation soon. . . . Ram Coach Rich Brooks completed his staff by hiring defensive assistant Steve Brown and offensive assistant John Ramsdell.

College Basketball

Nevada Las Vegas has scheduled a news conference for today amid reports that Tim Grgurich will step down as the Rebels’ coach without completing his first season. Grgurich, who hasn’t coached a game since he was hospitalized with symptoms relating to exhaustion Jan. 5, is in the first year of a three-year contract valued at $300,000 a year.

Sailing

Mighty Mary had an inauspicious debut when poor crew work by its female sailors led to a 23-second loss to Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes in the opening race of the fourth round robin of the America’s Cup trials off San Diego. Despite the introduction of the new yacht, the crew lost its sixth consecutive race and fell to 3-14 overall. The women had won the opening race of each of the previous rounds aboard the 3-year-old America 3, which has been retired.

On the challenger course, Team New Zealand won its 10th consecutive race, by 2 minutes 42 seconds over France 3, and John Bertrand’s oneAustralia cruised around the course alone after Rioja de Espana had mast problems and did not start. NZL-39 survived a spinnaker blowout and held off the new Nippon yacht by 41 seconds.

Tennis

Martina Navratilova, who retired from tournament singles play last year, was named to the U.S. team that will compete in the new-style Fed Cup competition. Navratilova was among 10 players selected by U.S. Captain Billie Jean King. Navratilova is expected to team with former partner Gigi Fernandez in doubles, when competition begins in April.

The Fed Cup, formerly known as the Federation Cup, has been restructured to resemble the men’s Davis Cup format, with an eight-team World Group playing in head-to-head competition at various sites.

Boxing

Gerald McClellan showed “marginal improvement” but remained on life-support five days after suffering brain injuries in a title fight in London. It was the first sign of improvement.

Former super-middleweight champion James Toney has pleaded no contest in Ann Arbor, Mich., to two misdemeanor counts of failing to register handguns in exchange for having five similar charges dismissed. Toney faces a maximum sentence of a $100 fine and 90 days in jail.

Miscellany

Loyola Marymount women’s basketball Coach Todd Corman announced his resignation effective May 30 after 10 years in the post. . . . Harbor College, seeking its second consecutive women’s junior college state basketball championship, defeated Sequoias, 77-75, in overtime in a quarterfinal game at Orange Coast College. Rayjanette Lampkin had 21 points for Harbor. . . . Ernest Pettway, a junior college basketball player at Faulkner State, died after collapsing on the court during a tournament game at Bay Minette, Ala. Cause of death was not immediately known. . . . Dominique Boeuf, France’s top jockey in 1991, was sentenced to a year in prison for drug trafficking and three other jockeys received suspended sentences and fines for using cocaine and heroin.