Report: Seahawks sign top pick
Simmons gets 6-year deal; QB Friesz gets extension
Posted: Sunday July 19, 1998 10:53 AM
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Contract problems with Warren Moon have forced the Seahawks to re-sign John Friesz (Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport) |
CHENEY, Washington (CNN/SI) -- The Seattle Seahawks have
reached a contract agreement with first-round draft pick Anthony Simmons
and signed backup quarterback John Friesz to a
contract extension, according to a newspaper report.
Sunday's Seattle Times reported that the team agreed to a six-year
contract with Simmons, the 15th overall pick who played collegiately at
Clemson. Terms were not disclosed. Players are to report to Cheney for
physicals and team meetings Sunday night.
The Seahawks freed up salary-cap room by signing Friesz to a three-year
extension that lowers his 1998 salary from $1.9 million to $370,000 with a
$630,000 signing bonus, the newspaper reported.
The deal frees up about $1.4 million against the cap, and the Times
cited sources as saying that amount would go toward signing starting
quarterback Warren
Moon, who is seeking a new contract.
The team had considered waiving Friesz and keeping young backups Jon Kitna and Jim
Arellanes, but contract problems with Moon forced the team to keep a
veteran on roster.
Moon, 42, is set to make $600,000 this season, and the Seahawks have
offered $1.5 million, but the Times reported it will take closer to
$3 million to satisfy Moon.
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