Alstott Gets Record Salary

Rather than test his worth as a restricted free agent at the end of the season, Tampa Bay’s Mike Alstott became the NFL’s highest-paid fullback Monday when he signed a five-year contract extension worth up to $32 million.

The deal, which includes a $4-million signing bonus and roster bonuses totaling about $8 million, also contains clauses that could make Alstott’s yearly salary comparable to elite running backs if he performs like one.

“We view Mike as a special player, not just a fullback,” General Manager Rich McKay said.

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Curtis Enis, the fifth pick overall in the NFL draft, and the Chicago Bears agreed to a three-year contract, said Mark Hatley, Chicago’s vice president of player personnel. Enis will sign his contract today, and is expected to be at the Bears’ training camp in Platteville, Wis.

Enis will get $5.5 million over three years with a $3.6-million signing bonus.

Enis got more good news Monday when a Dallas County grand jury declined to indict him in a sexual assault complaint because of a lack of evidence. An Irving, Texas, woman filed the complaint May 30, but Enis was never arrested or taken into custody.

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In his first public comments since his neck was cut, Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman Everett McIver denied having been paid--or even asked--to remain silent about the injury and didn’t say whether teammate Michael Irvin was involved.

“I have not received any payments, from anyone, in return for my silence as has been inaccurately alleged,” McIver said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the NFL said it had looked into the July 29 training camp problem and determined no league rules were violated.

Several reports, all citing anonymous sources, have said Irvin cut McIver with a pair of scissors during a scuffle over a haircut.

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Peyton Manning led the Indianapolis Colts to 23 points in the first half and looked much sharper than in his debut, setting up a 30-27 victory over the Bengals in an exhibition game at Cincinnati.

Manning completed five of 11 passes for 112 yards in the half and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison.

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With the second-largest crowd in NFL history thundering from the stands, the New England Patriots seemed to solve at least some of their preseason woes with a 21-3 victory over the frustrated Dallas Cowboys at Mexico City.

Sedrick Shaw ran for 50 yards in 14 carries and scored two touchdowns. Drew Bledsoe connected on nine of 14 passes for 69 yards.

Despite a noisy, enthusiastic pro-Dallas crowd of 106,424 cheering them on, the Cowboys repeatedly misfired as they dropped their third consecutive exhibition contest.

ABC, which was to televise the game on “Monday Night Football,” preempted coverage to show President Clinton’s address to the nation about his testimony to a grand jury. Disney-owned ABC moved coverage to ESPN2--also a Disney-owned network.