Williams Hires Florida Agent

Receiver Mike Williams, who announced that he would forgo his final two seasons of eligibility at USC to try his luck in the NFL draft, reportedly hired an agent Thursday, ending any possibility of playing college football again.

According to Associated Press, Williams hired Mike Azzarelli, an agent in Williams’ hometown of Tampa, Fla., who also represents NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde. Williams, 20, could not be reached to confirm Azzarelli’s hiring.

Williams is taking advantage of the recent Maurice Clarett decision, which allows all underclassmen to become draft eligible. Players have until Monday to petition for inclusion in the April 24-25 draft. They also have a 72-hour window to rescind the petition.

Players, however, are ineligible to participate in NCAA competition if they hire agents.

If the NFL wins a legal stay while it appeals the Clarett ruling, Williams conceivably could be caught in the middle, temporarily shut out of college and pro football.

-- Gary Klein

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Testaverde, the New York Jet quarterback, is considering retirement.

In a statement released through the team, Testaverde said he told Coach Herman Edwards and General Manager Terry Bradway that he would not participate in off-season workouts with the Jets.

“In an effort to figure out what is best for my family, myself and the New York Jets ... I will not be participating in the off-season program,” Testaverde said. “I am considering, unless something changes, bringing an end to my professional playing career.”

The New York Daily News, citing an unidentified NFL source, reported that the 40-year-old veteran would be released after June 1 to lessen the salary cap hit the team takes.

The Jets did not say whether they were releasing Testaverde, a Heisman Trophy winner who has played 17 NFL seasons and was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1987 by Tampa Bay.

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Cleveland Brown running back William Green was released from jail after serving a three-day sentence for drunk driving.

“I’m glad it’s out of the way,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back to the Browns and moving on with my life.”

Green, reinstated by the NFL last month after being suspended indefinitely for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, will stay with a teammate, said his attorney, Brian Downey.

Police Capt. Guy Turner said Green was a model inmate and made no special requests.

The 24-year-old back was sentenced to jail Monday. He was arrested in October and pleaded no contest. Prosecutors dropped charges of possessing marijuana and making an improper lane change.

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The agent for Washington Redskin cornerback Champ Bailey said he has had “substantive discussions” on a new contract that would bring Bailey to the Denver Broncos and is awaiting a written proposal from the team.

The proposed trade would send Bailey and Washington’s second-round draft choice to the Broncos in exchange for running back Clinton Portis.

Bailey visited Denver on Wednesday along with his wife, Hanady, and agent Jack Reale.

Bailey, a four-time Pro Bowl player, was welcomed by Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan, position coach David Gibbs, team captain Rod Smith and tackle George Foster, a former teammate at Georgia.

The deal would amount to a swap of Pro Bowl players who are unhappy with their contract situations.

The Redskins offered Bailey a nine-year, $55-million deal before last season, but he rejected it because it was back-loaded. Last week, the Redskins put a franchise tag on Bailey to prevent him from hitting the open market next week.

Portis has two years left on the contract he signed as a second-round draft pick in 2002. Displeased with the $300,000 he made last season, he has hinted he might be a holdout when training camp starts unless his deal is reworked.

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Former Pro Bowl running back Garrison Hearst, offensive tackle Derrick Deese and defensive lineman Sean Moran were released by the San Francisco 49ers.

Hearst, an 11-year veteran who was the NFL comeback player of the year in 2001, had been with the 49ers since 1997. After sitting out two seasons because of a serious leg injury, he returned to rush for 2,946 yards over the last three seasons.

But Hearst injured his knee and lost his starting job late last season to Kevan Barlow, who led the 49ers with 1,024 yards rushing. After the 49ers signed Barlow to a five-year contract extension worth $20 million, Hearst requested his release last week.

Deese was the longest-serving member of the 49ers, playing all five positions along the offensive line since signing as an undrafted free agent in 1992. Moran, an eight-year veteran, spent the last two seasons with San Francisco as a backup.

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Wide receiver Sylvester Morris, a onetime first-round draft pick of Kansas City, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, three seasons after he caught his last pass.

Selected by the Chiefs in the 2000 NFL draft, Morris caught 48 passes for 678 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie. However, knee and hip injuries have sidelined the former Jackson State standout over the last three seasons.