Mirer Apparently Finished With Bears

Quarterback Rick Mirer, the No. 2 pick in the 1993 draft, will be cut if the Chicago Bears can’t trade him by Sunday, Mark Hatley, the Bears’ vice president of player personnel, said Wednesday in Lake Forest, Ill.

The announcement came after the Bears and Mirer failed to reach an agreement to cut Mirer’s $10 million contract.

“I wish it would have worked a different way,” Hatley said. “We just decided we needed to go in another direction.”

Mirer, who never threw a touchdown pass in a Bears uniform, had already left the Bears’ practice facility when the announcement was made and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Mirer’s salary would have cost the Bears $3.2 million against the cap this year, and they’ll save $2.3 million by cutting or trading him.

Chicago started preparing for life after Mirer, letting Steve Stenstrom run the No. 2 offense. Mirer finished last season 53 of 103 passing for 420 yards. He threw six interceptions and was sacked 16 times. The Bears scored just one touchdown with him as quarterback, a rushing touchdown in the last game of the season.

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As negotiations continued on a long-term contract for Pro Bowl halfback Dorsey Levens, Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre said it was his understanding that Levens would report by the end of the week.

“I think he will be in. I don’t know the details of it, but it sounds like he’ll be in by the end of the week,” Favre said.

Levens is apparently close to a deal that will average at least $5 million annually.

Favre, however, cautioned against expecting big results immediately from Levens, who has missed all of training camp.

“Well, I know he won’t be ready. I mean, we have to be realistic,” Favre said. “We’ve been going at this for about five weeks now.”

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John Becksvoort is out as the San Francisco 49ers’ kicker, and Wade Richey is in--at least for now.

Becksvoort was released after the 49ers claimed Richey, a rookie from Louisiana State, off waivers from Seattle.

Richey caught the 49ers’ attention with three straight kickoffs into the end zone while making a 33-yard field goal in the Aug. 15 meeting against the Seahawks.

Meanwhile, quarterback Steve Young, who banged his hand on a helmet in Sunday’s exhibition against the Miami Dolphins, might not play in Friday’s exhibition finale against Seattle.

Young’s hand is fine but Coach Steve Mariucci said he might hold him out of the Seattle game as a precaution.