Quarterbacks, Including Detmer, on the Move

The Cleveland Browns traded two backup quarterbacks and Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Carolina each cut another as NFL teams got down to the 53-player limit Sunday.

And the Buffalo Bills continued to sever ties with the past by cutting safety Henry Jones, one of the last veterans of the Super Bowl years.

The Browns sent Ty Detmer, who missed most of last season with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, to Detroit for two draft choices. He will back up Charlie Batch with the Lions. They also sent second-year QB Spergon Wynn to Minnesota along with running back Travis Prentice for two draft picks.

To make room for him, the Lions cut another veteran quarterback, Jim Harbaugh.

The Falcons, meanwhile, released Eric Zeier, who lost a battle with second-year-man Doug Johnson for the third QB job behind Chris Chandler and Michael Vick, the No. 1 overall pick in last April’s draft.

The Panthers cut Jeff Lewis, meaning Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke almost certainly will be the starting quarterback in their opener at Minnesota. Detmer, with five seasons remaining on a contract that will play him $1.4 million this season, was acquired by the Browns in a trade with San Francisco in 1999. He started the expansion club’s first game back in the league following a three-year hiatus.

The Steelers released Kent Graham, who a year ago beat out Kordell Stewart for the starting job. Other players waived included: Jaguar veteran safety Carnell Lake; Packer defensive tackle Russell Maryland, the No. 1 overall pick by Dallas in the 1991 draft; Raider linebacker Ryan Phillips; and Colt quarterback Billy Joe Hobert.

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Negotiators for the NFL and its locked out officials said they are optimistic they can reach agreement before the regular season starts in a week.

In fact, they say the stalemate must end in three or four days.

But the sides remained far apart on the major issue, salaries. The officials’ latest demand is 50-to-75 percent higher than the NFL offer to double salaries by 2003.

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Garrison Hearst restructured his contract with the 49ers, ensuring that his remarkable comeback from a broken leg wouldn’t be stopped by the salary cap.

Hearst, a former Pro Bowl selection, could start for the 49ers in the season opener against Atlanta next Sunday.