Rams Sign Bruce to Big Deal
Isaac Bruce parlayed a superb season into a huge contract, signing a six-year, $40-million extension with the St. Louis Rams on Monday. Bruce, in the final year of his old contract, will receive an $11.5-million signing bonus.
“I think that we have the premier receiver in the NFL under contract for the next seven years,” Ram President Jay Zygmunt said.
Bruce was beginning the final season of his four-year, $12.1-million deal.
The Rams recently signed quarterback Kurt Warner to a seven-year, $46.35-million contract. Running back Marshall Faulk is in the second year of a seven-year, $45.15-million contract.
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The Tennessee Titans appeared to take their Super Bowl rematch with the Rams seriously, winning the exhibition game at Nashville, 30-3. Steve McNair had one touchdown pass, Neil O’Donnell two and the defense had five sacks.
“We really prepared for this like it was a regular-season game,” All Pro defensive end Jevon Kearse said.
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Andre Rison, the oft-troubled wide receiver who reported to training camp in the best shape of his career, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs. The 12-year veteran, who slumped last year and underwent a rigorous off-season training program, was released as part of a youth movement at wide receiver.
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The wife of Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski will not be arraigned on drug charges until October. Julie Romanowski, accused of conspiring with a friend and a doctor to get prescription diet drugs for her husband, appeared in Douglas County District Court at Castle Rock, Colo. But her scheduled arraignment was postponed until Oct. 5.
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Wide receiver Robert Brooks, who retired a year ago after seven seasons with Green Bay, signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Denver Broncos. Brooks created the “Lambeau Leap” by jumping into the stands after scoring. He retired because of nagging back and hamstring injuries.
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Green Bay wide receiver Cory Bradford suffered a broken left leg during Sunday’s 26-20 exhibition loss to Denver and will miss at least seven weeks.
Backup running back Ahman Green sprained a ligament in his right knee and will be out three weeks and quarterback Brett Favre underwent an MRI on his sore throwing elbow. Favre didn’t play in the exhibition because of tendinitis in his right elbow. The team expects to have the results of the test today.
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The Chicago Bears want to turn Soldier Field into a state-of-the-art facility, while preserving the stadium’s familiar walls and distinctive east-facing colonnades.
The team and city officials are discussing a new plan that would gut the 76-year-old stadium and give one of the city’s best-known lakefront structures a face lift, Bear President Ted Phillips said.
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The Miami Dolphins’ tribute to Dan Marino at Pro Player Stadium on Aug. 23 will include the other five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft.
Along with Marino, the famed group includes John Elway, Jim Kelly, Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason and Ken O’Brien.
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Receiver Vincent Brisby, who has been starting all summer, was a surprise cut by New England. Chris Calloway was signed as his replacement. . . . As expected, tackle Jumbo Elliott rejoined the New York Jets, ending a five-month retirement. . . . Detroit signed free-agent tight end Alfred Pupunu and released quarterback Steve Stenstrom. . . . New Orleans safety Darren Perry, charged with drunken driving early Sunday after rear-ending a car with his Land Rover following a preseason game against Indianapolis, apologized to his teammates and Coach Jim Haslett. . . . Carolina placed kicker John Kasay on injured reserve a day after he suffered a broken left kneecap. To replace Kasay, the Panthers signed former Chicago Bear kicker Brian Gowins.