Beuerlein Close to Signing Extension With Panthers

Steve Beuerlein, who once was contemplating retirement when his current contract expires, said Thursday he is close to signing a two-year extension with the Carolina Panthers.

The 35-year-old quarterback originally signed with the Panthers in 1996 as a backup to Kerry Collins. He signed a three-year extension in 1998 that takes him through 2001.

The additional two years on his contract will be worth $12.3 million and will give Carolina an option for an additional two years, through 2005.

Beuerlein, in his 14th season, started all 16 games last year for the first time in his career. He threw for 4,436 yards and 36 touchdowns.

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Wayne Huizenga has received numerous offers for the Miami Dolphins, including a proposal worth about $800 million from an undisclosed buyer, a source close to the team owner said.

Huizenga, 62, announced in June that he wanted to sell a minority stake for estate purposes. He has received no serious offers from prospective minority partners, the source said.

A sale of the entire franchise would likely include Pro Player Stadium, which Huizenga also owns.

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Some teams pay the price for winning. The Pittsburgh Steelers must be wondering if they are paying too high a price for losing.

The Steelers, who have lost 15 of their last 21 games, have a league-high four of the NFL’s 25 highest-paid players in base salary this season.

Levon Kirkland, the league’s highest-paid linebacker, has a base salary of $4,525,000 that ranks fourth overall. Running back Jerome Bettis, in the final year of a $14-million contract, is 11th at $3.2 million, the highest for an NFL running back. Dermontti Dawson, the longtime all-pro center who sat out more than half of the 1999 season because of a hamstring injury, is 16th at $3 million. Left tackle Wayne Gandy, signed away from St. Louis before the Rams won the Super Bowl last season, is 23rd at $2.9 million.