Tagliabue Reaches Out to Officials

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue sent letters Thursday to each of the NFL’s game officials, outlining the proposal the league has made to the officials’ union.

“I have taken pride in the positive working relationship the league has had with its game officials over the years, and I am personally troubled that negotiations have reached a point in which both parties are contemplating work stoppages,” Tagliabue said. “I intend to do all I can to ensure a positive outcome to the negotiations. . . . However, the league has a duty to its fans and cannot responsibly enter the regular season with the threat of a sudden work stoppage.”

Under the league’s current proposal, an official entering his 10th season who made $64,215 last year would be paid $95,000 this year $128,400 in 2003.

At the top of the scale, an official entering his 21st season who made $82,390 last year would earn $120,998 this season. He would get $139,555 in 2003.

Tom Condon, who represents the officials, did not immediately return telephone messages.

The NFL began hiring replacement officials Wednesday, paying each $4,000 even if the dispute with the regular officials is settled. The league also said it is ready to put them on the field for the final exhibition game.

The replacement officials are guaranteed $2,000 each for two games, regardless of whether there is a strike or lockout.

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Former USC standout Chad Morton was traded by the New Orleans Saints to the New York Jets for cornerback Earthwind Moreland and a 2002 sixth-round draft pick.

Morton became expendable when the Saints selected Deuce McAllister in the first round of this year’s draft and decided to use McAllister to return kicks and back up running back Ricky Williams.

“I was pretty much the third-down back and when they drafted Deuce, it made me the No. 3 back and Deuce is capable of doing returns,” Morton said.

Morton started three games for the Saints last season as a rookie after Williams broke an ankle.

The Jets were desperate for kick-return help. They drafted receiver Santana Moss in the first round this year and made him the kick returner. But Moss tore knee cartilage early in camp and probably is sidelined until midway through the season.

Morton, whose older brother Johnnie is a wideout for Detroit, wasn’t aware of Moss’ injury.

“I love doing returns, especially punts,” Morton said. “Kickoffs are like an adrenaline rush.”

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Denver Bronco safety Eric Brown plans to appeal a fine for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay Packer receiver Antonio Freeman on Monday.

The NFL fined Brown $24,588, or 1/17th of his base salary.

“Guys have got penalized less for hitting quarterbacks in the head,” Brown said.

Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan spoke with league disciplinarian Gene Washington after the fine was handed down. Washington said helmet-to-helmet hits warrant a punishment equal to one game’s pay, regardless of how much a player makes.

“If he was making $3.2 million, it would have been a couple-hundred grand,” Shanahan said, “so there is good news and bad news.”

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Jason Sehorn’s status for the New York Giants’ opener against the Broncos on Sept. 10 is in doubt after an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee was postponed because of an infection.

The skin infection on the lower portion of Sehorn’s right leg will be treated with antibiotics, Coach Jim Fassel said.

Doctors believe swelling in Sehorn’s knee is caused by loose particles and not a structural problem.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed linebacker Al Rice to a one-year contract. . . . The Packers re-signed cornerback Hurley Tarver as a free agent and waived receiver Anthony Lucas.

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Linebacker Corey Moore was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals, a day after he was released by the Buffalo Bills.

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Chris Weinke brought Carolina back from a 17-point deficit, directing two long second-half scoring drives that lifted the Panthers past the Baltimore Ravens, 20-17, in an exhibition game at Baltimore.

John Kasay kicked a 23-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to break a tie and cap an 85-yard march.

Starting quarterback Jeff Lewis struggled, at one point, throwing three interceptions in four attempts. He completed six of 11 passes for only 19 yards.

Weinke was 15 of 25 for 190 yards.

The Ravens had a 17-0 lead in the second quarter after Elvis Grbac threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Qadry Ismail and Ray Lewis returned an interception 42 yards for a score.

Grbac was 11 of 18 for 113 yards.

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Donovan McNabb, who ran only three times, led all rushers with 94 yards and threw for a touchdown as Philadelphia defeated Tennessee, 20-14, at Nashville, Tenn.

Philadelphia trailed, 7-0, when McNabb got the Eagles going with 17 consecutive points in the second quarter.

McNabb scrambled 68 yards to set up David Akers’ 31-yard field goal. Then he showed off his arm as he completed seven consecutive passes, including six on an 88-yard drive he capped with a two-yard toss to James Thrash.

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Alvis Whitted caught a 58-yard touchdown with 5:58 left to help the Jacksonville Jaguars complete a rally from a 20-7 deficit in a 28-23 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville, Fla.

Jacksonville’s third-string defense stopped Kansas City on two plays from its one-yard line with 1:30 left.

The Jaguars’ Jimmy Smith caught five passes for 78 yards. His first catch was the Jaguars’ first touchdown of the exhibition season.

Trent Green, who came to Kansas City in the off-season after the hiring of Coach Dick Vermeil, threw for 166 yards and a touchdown as the Chiefs dominated the first half.