Smith, Bengals Reach Agreement

Quarterback Akili Smith, the third overall selection in this year’s NFL draft out of Oregon, agreed to a seven-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, ending an impasse that caused him to miss most of training camp and two exhibition games.

Smith, was the last unsigned member of the celebrated quarterback class of ’99 that includes the two players chosen ahead of him, Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb.

The seven-year deal includes a $10.8 million signing bonus and will pay Smith as much as $56 million if he reaches various performance goals. Couch agreed to a seven-year, $48 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, and McNabb got a seven-year deal from the Philadelphia Eagles that could reach $54 million.

Smith is expected to be the backup to Jeff Blake.

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Arizona Cardinal offensive lineman Ernest Dye underwent seven hours of surgery Sunday in Flagstaff, Ariz., to repair nerves in his right arm, which was crushed in a car crash Aug. 16. Doctors removed strands of nerves from Dye’s lower legs and grafted them onto his median and ulnar nerves, which provide movement for his hand and forearm.

Dye, whose arm was nearly severed in the accident, already had undergone a nine-hour surgery immediately after the crash to repair a bone in his arm and restore blood flow. Dr. Stephen Lex said nerves grow so slowly that it could be as long as three years before doctors know the extent of Dye’s recovery.

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Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly said that city staff members have evaluated potential sites for a football stadium and hope to discuss them soon with San Diego Padre owner John Moores, who has approached the NFL about returning professional football to the city.

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Quarterback Brett Favre left after only eight plays after landing awkwardly on his right hand, but Matt Hasselbeck threw three touchdown passes as the Green Bay Packers beat the Denver Broncos, 27-12, in an exhibition game at Madison, Wis. The Packers said no X-rays were taken of Favre’s hand and the injury wasn’t serious. . . . Arizona quarterback Jake Plummer’s sprained right thumb will keep him out of the Cardinals’ exhibition game Saturday at Seattle. Plummer was injured on the third play of an exhibition victory over Tennessee on Friday. . . .Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive tackle Warren Sapp, sidelined the past week by a sore back, had a MRI exam to determine the extent of the injury. Results are expected today. . . . Quarterback Steve McNair, who has not played or practiced since Tennessee’s first exhibition game Aug. 15 because of spasms and stiffness in his lower back, will miss the Titans’ first game in their new stadium at Nashville for the same reason, the team said. . . . Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino called teammate Tony Martin a “good person” during testimony in the receiver’s trial in Miami on money-laundering charges. “He’s a loyal teammate,” Marino said. “I don’t believe Tony to be someone that would willingly commit a crime.” . . . Leroy McFadden, a rookie tailback cut Monday by the Minnesota Vikings, risked being sought on a bench warrant after failing to appear for his Mason, Mich., trial on a misdemeanor assault count. . . . For the second time in as many days, running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka was unable to get through a practice at the Carolina Panthers’ training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. because of a knee injury. Biakabutuka, the Panthers’ No. 1 draft choice in 1996, is having trouble with the same knee that required season-ending surgery four games into his rookie season. . . . Rookie defensive end Dimitrius Underwood, wavering between his faith and an NFL career, planned to meet today with Dolphin Coach Jimmy Johnson to discuss his future.