Randle Stays With Vikings for Record 5-Year Contract

John Randle became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player ever when he agreed to stay with the Minnesota Vikings for $32.5 million over five years.

Randall’s contract, the latest beneficiary of the NFL’s new multibillion television contract, includes a $10-million signing bonus, surpassing the previous team-record $6 million the Vikings gave to offensive tackle Todd Steussie last week.

Randle, who led the NFL with a career-high 15 1/2 sacks last season, twice turned down offers believed to be in the $30-million range from the Vikings. The Miami Dolphins were among four teams that had made contract proposals since free agency opened last Friday, and Randle visited Miami on Monday.

But he turned around after the Vikings upped their offer, which his agent, Gary Uberstine, said guarantees Randle at least two-thirds of the total package.

“We’ve had several offers that exceeded our minimum expectations,” Uberstine said. “What the Miami trip did was at least cement in John’s mind that he wanted to be in Minnesota if he could work out the right deal.”

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The Dolphins made guard Kevin Donnalley, who played with the Tennessee Oilers last season, the highest-paid lineman in franchise history when they signed him to a four-year deal reportedly worth more than $3.8 million a season.

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The Baltimore Ravens continued to reshape the personnel when they acquired running back Errict Rhett from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and re-signed unrestricted free-agent tight end Eric Green. Last week, Baltimore acquired quarterback Jim Harbaugh in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts and re-signed free agent defensive tackle Larry Webster to a two-year contract.

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Middle linebacker Winfred Tubbs, who played with the New Orleans Saints last season, signed a five-year, $14.25-million deal with the San Francisco 49ers that includes a $4-million signing bonus.

Tennis

After being sidelined eight months following knee surgery, Steffi Graf will make her singles comeback today in the second round of the $450,000 Faber Grand Prix at Hanover, Germany.

Graf will face Andrea Glass, who advanced by beating Barbara Paulus of Austria, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, in the first round.

Graf, the No. 1 player for much of this decade, will be playing her first singles match since losing at the French Open last June. A week later she had a knee operation.

Top-seeded Petr Korda, ranked second in the world after winning the Australian Open last month, defeated South Africa’s Wayne Ferreira, 6-3, 6-2, in a first-round match at the $1-million European Community Championships at Antwerp, Belgium.

No. 3-seed Jonas Bjorkman, however, was ousted by fellow Swede Thomas Johansson 6-1, 6-2.

Jurisprudence

New York Jet kicker John Hall was arrested on charges of carrying marijuana and drug paraphernalia in North Port, Fla. Hall was stopped Monday while driving a 1990 Ford Bronco that he was thinking about buying, said North Port Police Lt. Kevin Sullivan. Police stopped him because a computer check showed the plates belonged to a 1984 BMW.

The arresting officer smelled burning marijuana in the car, Sullivan said. Hall, free on $240 bond, is to be arraigned March 13.

Hockey

The Mighty Ducks Paul Kariya completed a workout without headaches or dizziness for the first time since suffering a concussion Feb. 1. But Kariya continues to experience symptoms of post-concussion syndrome off the ice, and doctors will not clear him to return until symptoms subside for seven consecutive days, according to team spokesman Rob Scichili.

Patrik Stefan, a 17-year-old center from Czech Republic, will make his home debut with the Long Beach Ice Dogs when they host the Detroit Vipers, the defending International Hockey League champions, tonight at the Long Beach Arena at 7.

College Football

Nebraska defensive back Brandon Harrison and defensive tackle Derek Allen were dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons, Coach Frank Solich said.

Florida State will play Texas A&M; to open the 1998 season on Aug. 31 at the Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium.

Miscellany

A group of former players was awarded $58,000 and interest by a San Francisco jury for royalties owed by major league baseball for the use of their pictures and names. Ronald Katz, a lawyer for the players, said the total jury award, with interest, should surpass $80,000. Although it is not a substantial amount when distributed among the 384 former players in the class that brought the lawsuit, Katz said that the group was pleased with the outcome.

Al Michaels and Frank Deford have been chosen for the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Assn.’s hall of fame in Salisbury, N.C. Bob Costas was named the group’s sportscaster of the year for a record seventh time, and Dave Kindred was chosen sportswriter of the year.