The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 21

Tuesday, July 28, 1987 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER FootballC-3 Buck unsigned, goes home, but Thomas joins fold BY MIKE DODD The Cincinnati Enquirer WILMINGTON, Ohio Bengals second-round draft pick Eric Thomas arrived at Wilmington College Monday evening, while first-round pick Jason Buck left for Idaho. Thomas, a cornerback from Tulane, agreed to terms on a three-year contract for an estimated $700,000 Monday morning and signed Monday night. "It feels great. I'm ready to get started," Thomas said, adding that he has been working out at Tulane since mini-camp in May. Thomas' signing left the club with only one draft pick unsigned Buck.

And those negotiations slipped backward. With the lack of progress, Buck left Cincinnati to return to home to St. Anthony's, Idaho, where he could work out at nearby Ricks Junior College. Leigh Steinberg, Buck's agent, said he called Assistant GM Mike Brown to detail the specifics of his proposal for $1.55 million over four years. "He (Brown) indicated that was unacceptable," Steinberg said.

"It seems to make more sense to have Jason in an Steinberg said he anticipated talking further with Brown today. here's Johnson? Fullback Bill Johnson, whom the club had requested arrive for the rookie camp, is a no-show. Coach Sam Wyche said there would be no fine since Johnson isn't required to report until Thursday. "He doesn't have to be here," Wyche said. "But it's disturbing he hasn't called or let us know (his whereabouts)." Fehr released Steve Fehr, the Naval Academy kicker from Princeton High School, Monday failed his physical and was released.

Fehr, who was trying to return to kicking after five years in the Marines, suffered a pulled groin muscle a couple of months ago and has been unable to kick since. Fehr was examined by Dr. Walter Timperman, Bengals' physician, and the diagnosis was as expected: The muscle was still pulled and there was no telling when it would heal. "I'm disappointed. I waited five years for this.

Why couldn't this have happened three years ago, when it would have had time to heal?" Fehr said. He said he probably was going to forget about pro football. "You can't chase a dream forever," he said. The Bengals also released defensive end Jim Herrmann, who spent the 1986 season on the injured reserve list. Herrmann, signed as a free agent last year, underwent reconstructive knee surgery last September.

Mike Brown said the knee is now stable and sound, but the club didn't want to take the risk of Herrmann being reinjured. Herrmann was released after the morning workout. Douglas treated Centertackle David Douglas was sent to Clinton County Hospital after he complained of chest pains during the afternoon practice. There was no immediate report of the diagnosis. Guard Doug Aronson, one of the more impressive free-agents, was placed on the physically unable to perform list with a strained right Achilles tendon.

Aronson, who has been bothered by the injury for a few weeks, tried to practice on it Monday morning but found it too sore. If Douglas is unable to practice, the coaches will probably have to call for reinforcements in the offensive line until the veterans report Thursday. Wyche said the team would be down to five healthy linemen for the next two days. Franklin checks out Former North Carolina and Princeton High tight end Arnold Franklin made brief appearance at camp. Franklin, an llth-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins last year, agreed to sign as a free agent and reported Sunday night.

But Monday morning, before practice, he told the club he'd changed his mind and left camp before he signed. "He said his heart wasn't in it," Wyche ia said. i if- Punters on spot The search for a punter began in; earnest with the first workout Monday. At the end of each practice, Wyche had the -punters kick several times each under a -live rush. John Starnes got off the best punt of the morning, while Scott had the best showing in the Fifth-round draft choice Greg missed the morning workout while getting his physical.

Bengals notebook environment where he can work out instead of just staying in a hotel. So he is flying back to Idaho "He's doing that with some sadness. We were optimistic something could be worked out. It hasn't been." The Bengals' offer on the table is $1,425 million over four years. "We think it's fair and we're prepared to rest on it," Brown said.

The Bengals'say their figures show it is more than any player other than Reggie Rogers (and Vinny Testaverde) has signed for so far. Steinberg disputes that, and says Buck should be compared with the other defensive linemen taken. He was the sixth taken in the first round, and Rogers is the only one signed. Rogers was drafted seventh overall, Buck 17th. Only three players drafted ahead of Buck have signed.

"Our offer is $65,000 less than Joe Kelly received, $225,000 less than Rogers. And there are no other guideposts in for the six members of the class of defensive ends in the first round," he said. AMCnlUA Wright retires, shocks Broncos MARK SMITH DEALER' END OF MONTH CLEARANCE SALE 5 DAYS ONLY! HURRY! Pro football MERCRUISER LARSON EBBTIDE Hil JS Summer Membership ymca Special! 3 80 Offer ends July 3 1st Join One of Cincinnati's Two Finest Co-ed Adult Fitness Facilities sun im 2 JKXr DYNA-TRAK ALUMACRAFT YAMAHA OUTBOARDS EVINRIOE OUTBOARDS 1 3 87 LARSON DELTA 83 XV920KilS SAVE $1200 83 SAVE $700 66 RADIAN $1999 SAVE 5O0 87 EBBTIDE MONTE GO 17' bowrlder, 130 mere IO, complete top, stereo, loaded! Custom drive on trailer 12" per 215 cuddy cabin, 180 mere IO, complete top, stereo, loaded! Custom drive on trailer $207' per mo. Povmant bawd on 1 20 month financino, of 9.5 variabk APR. Total of poymonh oquoh SIS.403.20.

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241-5348 Downtown that Archer's salary be brought more in line with that of backup Turk Schonert, who makes about $385,000. Quarterback Chris Miller, drafted No. 1 last spring, is still unsigned. Cardinals waive Tilley ST. LOUIS Cardinals veteran wide receiver Pat Tilley failed his physical exam and was placed on waivers.

Tilley, 34, stopped short of announcing his retirement. Tilley missed the last 15 games of the 1986 season and underwent surgery in October to remove a bulging disc in his back. Coach touts Browns MENTOR, Ohio Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Monday the Cleveland Browns are in better shape offensively and defensively going into training camp than they were at the same time last year. "Offensively, we're well ahead of where we were a year ago, not only in talent but also in direction. We expect to continue the improvement we demonstrated in the latter part of last year," said Schottenheimer.

"We expect improvement in the running game with Kevin Mack and Earnest By-ner healthy." able to say, 'Dwayne Woodruff is definitely going to be ready' or not. When you're a defensive back, it's obvious." Woodruff said the damaged knee still gives him occasional pain and he is concerned "quite a bit" that it is not 100, but believes it will be shortly. Meanwhile, the Steelers placed four players, including veteran offensive tackle Ray Pinney and running back Frank Pollard, on the physically unable to perform list Monday and announced that linebacker Dennis Winston has signed a new contract. Falcons sign Archer SUWANEE, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons reached a contract agreement with veteran quarterback David Archer just before the start of afternoon practice Monday.

Archer, who was the Falcons' starter for much of the past two seasons, had been seeking a salary almost three times the $137,000 he made in 1986. Terms of the contract were not released, but Archer's agent, Steve Feldman, had asked 7777 ALL SEASON STEEL BELTED RADIAL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GREELEY, Colo. Corner-back Louis Wright, who appeared in five Pro Bowls during his 12 seasons in the National Football League, shocked the Denver Broncos on Monday by announcing his retirement. Wright, 34, left a letter with owner Pat Bowlen's secretary saying he was "retiring from the best organization in football." He was the second starter in the Bronco secondary to retire in the last four days. Free safety Steve Foley quit the game on Friday.

In the last 12 months, the Broncos have seen five of their defensive starters retire. The others were end Barney Chavous, nose tackle Rubin Carter and linebacker Tom Jackson. Coach Dan Reeves said he had no indication during the off-season that Wright wouldn't play in 1987. Reeves, who said he hasn't spoken with Wright since mini-camp in May, said he would try to convince Wright to reconsider. Agents accuse scouts ATLANTA Sports agents Norby Walters and Lloyd Bloom said they paid some National Football League scouts for information about college prospects.

"They contacted us first; we didn't contact them," Bloom said. "There are scouts within the NFL I can't mention their names for certain teams that would work for us," Bloom said. "Other agents would get the service. We paid a little more." Scouts asked $500 to $1,590 for basic information, Bloom said. He said he and Walters used the information to identify potential clients.

They have admitted giving cash to college athletes, and getting them to sign postdated contracts to be represented by them, a violation of NCAA rules. Woodruff begins comeback LATROBE, Pa. Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Dwayne Woodruff expects to know within two weeks whether he will be able to come back from a severe 1986 knee injury. Woodruff, from New Richmond, Ohio, hurt his right knee during a preseason game last August and missed the entire season after surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. Woodruff, 30, said the Steelers' coaches won't have to tell him whether he can still play.

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