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Carter's comeback Former No. 1 pick may return to NFL with New Orleans
One of the league's biggest draft busts in recent years could be headed back to the NFL within a week. And where he lands could be as interesting as his comeback. The New Orleans Saints are interested in signing Ki-Jana Carter, the first pick in the 1995 draft, as a backup to Ricky Williams. The Saints think Carter's healthy, and they think that a running back stable of Williams, Carter and the hit of their training camp, former USC mini-back Chad Morton, could be one of the strongest position groups on their team. Carter probably wouldn't be signed until after the NFL's mandatory cutdown to 53 players takes effect at 4 p.m. EDT Sunday. Carter, ravaged by injuries with the Bengals in his four seasons, played only 35 games for Cincinnati, gaining a measly 747 yards. But he's tested healthy recently and he wants to play football again.
Mirer, 49ers are a good fitWell, Rick Mirer might be right. He always thought if he could get in the quarterback-friendly West Coast offense he'd be a much better pro player than he showed in Seattle and Chicago. After spending a season with Mike Holmgren in Green Bay in 1998 and understudying Brett Favre, he learned the system and now has taken a more confident game to San Francisco. With the 49ers, Mirer is a cinch to win the backup job behind Jeff Garcia. But behind Mirer is the camp's biggest surprise: Self-assured, strong-armed Tim Rattay, a seventh-round draft pick, is beating out third-rounder Gio Carmazzi for the third-string job. The 49ers may keep four quarterbacks, because they'll surely not waive Carmazzi after just one training camp.
Davis, 'Skins continue contract talksDon't look now, but the Redskins and Stephen Davis aren't finished negotiating. Davis, Washington's franchise-player running back, reported to camp for a one-year, $3.5-million salary in July, but the two sides will talk about a long-term deal this weekend in Virginia. Look for Davis to sign a contract -- in the range of $6 million per year -- right around the start of the season. This would leave the Redskins with only one marquee free agent, quarterback Brad Johnson, eligible to hit the open market in February. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and appears each Sunday on CNN's NFL Preview.
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