Testaverde Deal in Works

The New York Jets have reportedly reached an agreement on a new contract with Pro Bowl quarterback Vinny Testaverde.

The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., reported that the Jets and Testaverde agreed in principle on a multi-year deal averaging $6 million a season with a huge signing bonus and have submitted the deal to the league for approval.

The Jets and Testaverde’s agent, Mike Azzarelli, refused to confirm that a deal has been struck. The Jets hold an option on Testaverde for the 1999 season which was originally worth $4 million. A $500,000 bonus automatically kicked in when Testaverde was named to the Pro Bowl, raising the option to $4.5 million.

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With Rich Gannon hobbled by a knee injury, Elvis Grbac will be Kansas City’s starting quarterback in the season finale Saturday at Oakland.

It will be the first start for Grbac since Nov. 8, when he was benched midway through a loss at Seattle.

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Eight months before their first game, the Cleveland Browns signed six players.

The league had granted the Browns exclusivity to sign 10 “street” free agents--players not under contract--for 1999 since Dec. 17, but the club waited until Tuesday to announce their first signings.

The new Browns: wide receiver Corey Bridges, linebacker Darion Conner, defensive back Corey Dowden, defensive tackle Bill Duff, quarterback John Dutton and defensive tackle Albert Reese.