Lightning Storm Ends Bear-Chief Exhibition

Dangerous lightning from a raging summer thunderstorm at Chicago’s Soldier Field forced cancellation of Thursday night’s exhibition game between the Bears and Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter, with the Chiefs leading, 14-10.

The storm began at halftime and pounded the lakefront area for half an hour before the game was stopped. Players slipped and fell on a field soaked by a storm that featured loud thunder and wicked lightning.

Referee Red Cashion finally sent the teams to their locker rooms with 4:20 left in the third quarter, and then moments later was told by NFL officials that the game was called off for the safety of the players and fans.

“Let’s not get anybody killed,” Chief President Carl Peterson said in the press box.

Kansas City was ahead 14-10 at the time in the exhibition finale for the teams and was credited with the victory.

“I’m glad they called it,” Chicago quarterback Erik Kramer said. “The last thing I wanted to do was get lit up tonight. I think clear heads prevailed tonight. We needed to get out of here.”

Chicago running back Rashaan Salaam, who injured his right leg in the first quarter, will have an MRI this morning.

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Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre is seeking a contract extension on par with Troy Aikman’s $50-million deal, but any new pact would include a stipulation that he forfeit some of that money if he violates the NFL’s substance abuse policy, according to his agent.

“Logically, the team would like to have some protection. That’s understandable and Brett has no problem with that,” said James “Bus” Cook, who represents Favre.

Favre, in the third year of his five-year, $19-million contract, entered the NFL’s substance-abuse program in May to be treated for an addiction to painkillers.

Favre, 26, was the NFL’s most valuable player last season while leading the Packers to the NFC title game. He threw an NFC-record 38 touchdown passes in 1995.

He’s seeking a new deal that would put him on a par with Dallas’ Aikman ($50 million over eight years), New England’s Drew Bledsoe ($42 million over seven years) and Denver’s John Elway ($29.5 million over five years).

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed quarterback T.J. Rubley and guard Guy McIntyre and waived running back Vaughn Hebron. . . . Cincinnati linebacker Andre Collins ended his holdout and reported to the Bengals, who gave him a one-year, $770,000 contract. . . . Longtime Raider executive Al LoCasale, 63, who had quadruple heart bypass surgery six days ago, said from his room at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles that he’ll soon be going home but it will be at least two months before he returns to work.