Raiders Make Room for George; Brown a Seahawk

Quarterback Jeff George is coming to the Oakland Raiders.

But to make that possible, many recognizable names will be leaving.

George and the Raiders agreed Friday to the basic terms of a five-year, $26-million deal. According to George’s agent, Leigh Steinberg, a few details remain to be worked out in the contract, but he doesn’t anticipate any last-minute holdups.

Who George’s backup will be, however, remains unclear. According to a source close to the team, Jeff Hostetler, the starter since 1993, is being shopped around the league and Billy Joe Hobert will be traded to the Buffalo Bills.

The Raiders slashed about $6 million from their player payroll by cutting fullback Derrick Fenner, safety Lorenzo Lynch, defensive tackle Jerry Ball and punter Jeff Gossett, while accepting the retirement of reserve offensive tackle Charles McRae. They also signed cornerback Terry McDaniel, a day after designating him as a transitional player.

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All-pro linebacker Chad Brown signed with Seattle, giving the Seahawks one of the top prizes in the free-agent market.

Brown, who had 13 sacks for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, was an unrestricted free agent.

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Unwilling to settle for a job as quarterback Brad Johnson’s backup in Minnesota, Warren Moon will begin as soon as next week to shop for a new team to revive his career at age 40. . . . Running back Jerome Bettis became a free agent, even after the Steelers thought they met his demand for a four-year contract worth $3.3 million annually. . . . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed offensive lineman Paul Gruber to a three-year, $9.9-million contract. . . . Center Courtney Hall, a fixture in San Diego’s offensive line since his rookie season of 1989, had his contract terminated because the Chargers couldn’t rework it to their satisfaction. . . . The Denver Broncos traded their second-round pick in the 1997 draft to the Baltimore Ravens for offensive left tackle Tony Jones. The Broncos released six players, including cornerback Lionel Washington, a former Raider, and wide receiver Mike Sherrard. . . . The New York Giants signed starting defensive tackle Keith Hamilton and free-agent punter Scott Player. The club also waived punter Mike Horan and starting safety Jesse Campbell. . . . Middle linebacker Kyle Clifton, 34, announced his retirement after 13 seasons with the New York Jets. . . . The New Orleans Saints released linebacker Rufus Porter and backup quarterback Tommy Hodson.

Tennis

Greg Rusedski, the hard-serving left-hander from London, upset Michael Chang, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, in the quarterfinals of the Sybase Open at San Jose, ending a four-year losing streak against the world’s No. 2 player.

Top-ranked Pete Sampras advanced to the semifinals against Todd Martin with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Chris Woodruff. Rusedski will play Andre Agassi, who defeated qualifier Grant Doyle, 6-2, 6-1.

Boris Becker made an unexpected exit from the quarterfinals of the $1-million Dubai Open in the United Arab Emirates, withdrawing because of a wrist injury.

Martina Hingis led the top four seeded players into the semifinals of the $480,000 Paris Women’s Open with a 6-3, 6-2 win over France’s Nathalie Tauziat.

Marcelo Rios and Thomas Enqvist, the top two seeded players in France’s Marseille Open, reached the semifinals, Rios rallying to beat Magnus Larsson of Sweden, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, Enqvist defeating Hendrik Dreekman of Germany, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Jurisprudence

Former tennis star Roscoe Tanner has been indicted for failing to pay $500,000 in child support to a former mistress.

Virginia Wesleyan has suspended 23 athletes, including members of the basketball, baseball and lacrosse teams, as the result of a brawl on the school’s soccer field.

Former Kansas City Royal infielder Jose Lind, 32, pleaded guilty to a felony cocaine charge in Olathe, Kan.

Miscellany

Chris Thorpe and Gordy Sheer became the first Americans to claim a World Cup luge season championship when they finished third in the season-ending race at the 1998 Olympic site at Nagano, Japan.

Winning gold and silver medals in the first two races, Gunda Niemann of Germany took the lead in the 1997 all-around World Speedskating Championship at Nagano. In the men’s division, Dutchman Ids Postma led Keiji Shirahata of Japan and American K.S. Boutiette after three races.

Swimmer Chad Carvin, American-record holder in the 1,000-meter freestyle, won the 200-meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley at the U.S. National Championships in Buffalo, N.Y., in 4:21.77.