The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 31

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1998 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE SPORTS 7 Pyne continues nationwide 01 with stop in Miami profootball started 39 games and recorded 12.5 sacks. Lions: Defensive tackle Dan Owens signed with Detroit, rejoining the team he left two years ago after signing with Atlanta. Stealers: Re-signed nose tackle Joel Steed, the key to their defense, to a four-year, $17 million deal. The Steelers said resigning Steed was their top priority in free agency. Packers RB jailed on speed, drug charges MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C.

Green Bay running back Travis Jervey faces a March 10 court date following his arrest on charges of speeding and possession of marijuana. Jervey, 25, a Pro Bowl selection as a special teams player, was taken to the Charleston County jail Tuesday night after marijuana was Jackson, 33, spent 10 years in Pittsburgh and was a two-time Pro Bowl player. He will receive a $5 million signing bonus as part of the contract, XTRA radio reported. Jaguars: Defensive end Jeff Lageman, one of the first free agents signed by Jacksonville, resigned with the team. Lageman, 30, has played in 121 games and has 47 career sacks.

In three years with Jacksonville, he has By PAT YASINSKAS of The Tampa Tribune TAMPA It appears offensive lineman Jim Pyne is going to trade in frequent-flier miles for cash. For the fourth consecutive day, Pyne is touring the country. The latest stop is Miami, where Pyne will visit with Dolphins officials today. Pyne also has received interest from and could be making visits to Chicago, Arizona, Seattle and Oakland. Miami, which shelled out $3.8 million a season for four years on guard Kevin Donnalley on Tuesday, may not be a serious contender.

But Detroit and Denver are and that means Pyne, who made $800,000 with the Bucs last season, should be in for a big raise. Pyne visited the Lions on Monday and Tuesday and reportedly has a tentative offer for close to his $2 million-a-year asking price. He arrived in Denver on Tuesday night and spent most of Wednesday with Broncos officials before flying to Miami. The Broncos are preparing an offer that would be similar to Detroit's. That puts the Bucs in a tough position.

They would like to keep Pyne, who emerged into a solid starter after being selected in the seventh round in 1994. But Pyne's asking price probably is more than the Bucs want to pay. If Pyne leaves, the cupboard is far from bare. Jorge Diaz started most of last season at right guard, but could slide into Pyne's place on the left side. That would clear the way for Frank Middleton, who had a promising rookie season, to move into the starting lineup.

"We don't want to lose Jim, but by the same token we've kind of prepared for it," Bucs General Manager Rich McKay said. "We'll have two guys we really like as starters if that were to occur. We'll look at a veteran maybe as a backup or use a draft pick at the appropriate place." Detroit is looking at Pyne as a center, a position he played in college at Virginia Tech. The Lions offer would become official if they lose Pro Bowl center Kevin Glover, who also is a free agent. Denver is projecting Pyne as a replacement for guard Brian Ha-bib, who reportedly is close to signing with Seattle.

Pyne has said raw imkmi found during a routine traffic stop. He left about an hour later after posting a $435 bond. The Isle of Palms native was pulled. over for driving 46 mph in a 35 mph zone. Etc.

Chargers: Filled one of their most critical off-season needs by signing former Pittsburgh Steel-ers' left tackle John Jackson. The six-year contract is reportedly worth $26 million. mm I I rv iMiiiiiim.i.imi.11 ir 11 he's comfortable playing either guard or center. Meanwhile, two players recently signed by the Bucs have been allocated to the NFL Europe, formerly the World League. Fullback Steve Lee will play for the Scottish Claymores and guard Kenneth McDaniel has been assigned to the Rhein Fire.

Giants give Armstead 5-year, $15M contract EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Jessie Armstead became one of the NFL's highest-paid linebackers on Wednesday when the New York Giants tore up his contract after his first Pro Bowl season and gave him a new five-year deal. Neither the Giants nor Drew Rosenhaus, Armstead's agent, would disclose terms of the deal, but it is believed to be worth about $15 million. The contract will give Armstead one of the team's top three salaries, the agent said. "It's a one-of-a-kind thing," Rosenhaus said in a telephone interview.

"I can't recall another team tearing up a contract with four years left on it to reward a player for a Pro Bowl year. But he just outperformed his old contract." Armstead set a single-season team record with 134 tackles in helping the Giants reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993. The total was one more than the mark Lawrence Taylor set in his rookie season in 1981. Colts, Panthers spend to land free-agent CDs INDIANAPOLIS Free agents Jeff Burris and Doug Evans agreed to deals that put them among the NFL's highest-paid cornerbacks. Burris, a 1994 first-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills (27th overall), agreed to a $20 million, five-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

The deal included a $5 million signing bonus. The Carolina Panthers signed Evans to a five-year, $22.5 million contract. Evans, a starter for the Green Bay Packers the past four seasons, will receive a $7.5 million signing bonus. as prohockey we were on a spiral right out of the playoffs," Smith said. "We may still be out.

We've got a tough hill to climb." Smith said he had waited as long as he could to see the Rangers "turn the corner." "I never saw the corner turned," Smith added. "We weren't improving. We were going backwards I probably did a disservice to Colie keeping him this long, but I kept hoping the team would improve. This team and this coach weren't working together." Smith immediately refrained from naming a successor, saying only that it would be announced within about the next 48 hours. Etc.

Jacket fight: At Columbus, Ohio, the dispute over control of the city's NHL expansion team will be fought on two fronts. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge John P. Bessey ruled there will be a trial in Columbus over the ownership of the Blue Jackets. Bessey denied a request from Lamar Hunt, who owns foot-; ball's Kansas City Chiefs and Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, to end the case in Columbus so it can be pursued in New York. fcikfel coach A OFNI I ALB Reeling Rangers fire Campbell Largest Standard Cargo Bed in 4x2 Class 60-W, Four Speaker AMFM Cassette Stereo Dual Air Bags with Passenger Cut-Off Switch King Cab with Rear Jump Seats 15" Aluminum Alby Wheels Fender Flares Rear-WheelABS Front Disc Brakes Best Standard Horsepower in 4x2 Class Most Powerful Standard Engine in 4x2 Class Unsurpassed In-Class Standard Towing Capadtf A Quiet, Comfortable New Cabin NmCFC Air Conditioning Chrome Bumpers Sliding Rear Window Cargo Bed Dividers A Tribune wire report NEW YORK Colin Campbell feu-victim Wednesday to the inept play of the NHL's highest-paid team when he was fired as coach of the New York Rangers, less than a year after he took them to the Stanley Cup semifinals.

No successor was chosen, although the leading candidates appeared to be John Muckler, the former fcdmon-ton coach; and EJ. McGuire, coach of the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford. The Rang-, ers, who will resume play next Thursday Campbell after the Olympic break, are 17-24-16 and six points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite a payroll of $44. million, highest in NHL history. But the team also is the oldest in the league and lacks both speed and size.

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