Gouveia

Middle linebacker Kurt Gouveia, who made $1.45 million last season and was due to make $1.02 million this year, agreed to a new deal for an estimated $500,000 yesterday after the Washington Redskins put him on waivers and no other team claimed him.The Redskins, who had only $583,000 left under the NFL's $34.6 million salary cap before they cut Gouveia's salary, need to come up with $2.8 million to sign their top draft pick, quarterback Heath Shuler, and...

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins' much-maligned defense may be older, but is it truly wiser?On Thursday, the Redskins hired 72-year-old Bill Arnsparger as their "defensive specialist." And yesterday, they announced the signing of Kurt Gouveia, a 35-year-old linebacker who started for the club's last playoff team in 1992. He replaces Malcolm Hamilton, a second-year player who was placed on injured reserve with a bulging disk."Talk about your revolving door," said Gouveia, who has played for Philadelphia and San Diego since leaving the Redskins five years ago. "They have a bunch of young guys and what they need now is somebody to guide them."

ASHBURN, Va. -- When middle linebacker Kurt Gouveia watched the highlights of the Washington Redskins' 24-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on television last Sunday night, he was impressed with the way No. 54 made two game-saving plays at the end of the game."

BasketballKnicks: Signed F Ronnie Grandison and G Rick Brunson.Spurs: Waived C Shaun Igo.ABL: Signed San Jose Lasers G Jennifer Azzi to a five-year contract extension through the 2001-02 season.CollegeCentenary: The college announced it will withdraw from the Trans America Athletic Conference after the 1998-1999 seasons.Niagara: Reinstated G Calvin Murphy Jr., G Jeremiah Johnson and C Jermaine Young to the basketball team following their suspensions for fighting last month.Pennsylvania: Named Brian Brecht men's assistant lacrosse coach.

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins' much-maligned defense may be older, but is it truly wiser?On Thursday, the Redskins hired 72-year-old Bill Arnsparger as their "defensive specialist." And yesterday, they announced the signing of Kurt Gouveia, a 35-year-old linebacker who started for the club's last playoff team in 1992. He replaces Malcolm Hamilton, a second-year player who was placed on injured reserve with a bulging disk."Talk about your revolving door," said Gouveia, who has played for Philadelphia and San Diego since leaving the Redskins five years ago. "They have a bunch of young guys and what they need now is somebody to guide them."

Guard Mark Schlereth, who was sidelined for two days with a back injury, returned to practice yesterday for the Washington Redskins and will start tomorrow against the Seattle Seahawks.But three starters with neck injuries -- linebacker Kurt Gouveia, guard Joe Jacoby and safety Danny Copeland -- remained sidelined, and the Redskins won't know until game time whether they can play. Gouveia is considered the player most likely to miss the game.Linebacker John Brantley, a former World League player, guard Ray Brown and safety Todd Bowles are the replacements for those three players.

The Washington Redskins are looking for a few cheap men.Even after shipping out 15 veterans who made almost $19 million last season, the Redskins are having problems squeezing their roster under the new $34.6 million salary cap.They still must cut about $1.6 million from their payroll to have enough to sign their rookies, including their top draft choice, quarterback Heath Shuler.General manager Charley Casserly called the Redskins the "first victim of the salary cap," but that was before commissioner Paul BTC Tagliabue issued a gag order forbidding team executives from criticizing the cap.Meanwhile, the head of the NFL Players Association, Gene Upshaw, has been defending the cap. He notes that while the Redskins -- who spent $52 million on their player payroll last year -- can't spend as much as they used to, several teams, including the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are spending more this year than they spent in the past.

MIAMI -- Ralph Orta had a dream Tuesday night that he was playing for the Washington Redskins."I woke up to the reality that it wasn't there at the time," said the former University of Maryland defensive tackle who was cut by the Redskins at the end of the first week of camp.The dream suddenly became reality for Orta yesterday. He was re-signed by the Redskins and will be in uniform tonight when the Redskins play the Miami Dolphins at Joe Robbie Stadium in their second exhibition game.Hit by a rash of injuries on the defensive line this week, the Redskins decided to bring back Orta.

BasketballKnicks: Signed F Ronnie Grandison and G Rick Brunson.Spurs: Waived C Shaun Igo.ABL: Signed San Jose Lasers G Jennifer Azzi to a five-year contract extension through the 2001-02 season.CollegeCentenary: The college announced it will withdraw from the Trans America Athletic Conference after the 1998-1999 seasons.Niagara: Reinstated G Calvin Murphy Jr., G Jeremiah Johnson and C Jermaine Young to the basketball team following their suspensions for fighting last month.Pennsylvania: Named Brian Brecht men's assistant lacrosse coach.

ASHBURN, Va. -- When Joe Gibbs speaks, the Washington Redskins listen.At least Gary Clark does.That was the obvious conclusion yesterday when Clark, who often skips practice with his sore hamstrings, ran every offensive play as the Redskins started their drills for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks."

The Washington Redskins are looking for a few cheap men.Even after shipping out 15 veterans who made almost $19 million last season, the Redskins are having problems squeezing their roster under the new $34.6 million salary cap.They still must cut about $1.6 million from their payroll to have enough to sign their rookies, including their top draft choice, quarterback Heath Shuler.General manager Charley Casserly called the Redskins the "first victim of the salary cap," but that was before commissioner Paul BTC Tagliabue issued a gag order forbidding team executives from criticizing the cap.Meanwhile, the head of the NFL Players Association, Gene Upshaw, has been defending the cap. He notes that while the Redskins -- who spent $52 million on their player payroll last year -- can't spend as much as they used to, several teams, including the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are spending more this year than they spent in the past.

Middle linebacker Kurt Gouveia, who made $1.45 million last season and was due to make $1.02 million this year, agreed to a new deal for an estimated $500,000 yesterday after the Washington Redskins put him on waivers and no other team claimed him.The Redskins, who had only $583,000 left under the NFL's $34.6 million salary cap before they cut Gouveia's salary, need to come up with $2.8 million to sign their top draft pick, quarterback Heath Shuler, and...

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins coach Richie Petitbon, whose first season ended Friday with a 14-9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, has yet to meet with owner Jack Kent Cooke to find out whether Cooke will give him a second year."

MIAMI -- Ralph Orta had a dream Tuesday night that he was playing for the Washington Redskins."I woke up to the reality that it wasn't there at the time," said the former University of Maryland defensive tackle who was cut by the Redskins at the end of the first week of camp.The dream suddenly became reality for Orta yesterday. He was re-signed by the Redskins and will be in uniform tonight when the Redskins play the Miami Dolphins at Joe Robbie Stadium in their second exhibition game.Hit by a rash of injuries on the defensive line this week, the Redskins decided to bring back Orta.

As the Washington Redskins keep one eye on the Reggie White Watch, they also are making moves in the free-agent market.The Redskins re-signed middle linebacker Kurt Gouveia to a three-year, $3.3 million deal and also played host to running back Harold Green of the Cincinnati Bengals.The Redskins also have visits scheduled today from running back Marcus Allen of the Los Angeles Raiders and linebacker Johnny Holland of the Green Bay Packers.Gouveia became the fourth Redskins free agent to sign with the team.

SEATTLE -- The Washington Redskins are running out of football players. They're now looking for heroes."I think it's taking heroic efforts on some of our guys' part to even go out there and bail us out. It's going to take heroes, finding some way to scrap [to win]," a drained coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday after his battered team fought its way to a 16-3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at the Kingdome.A victory over the 1-8 Seahawks won't qualify for any awards unless the Redskins are trying to revive "M*A*S*H," but Gibbs called it an "epic struggle."

CHICAGO -- The Washington Redskins -- pro football's Good Ship Lollipop -- docked on the shores of Lake Michigan yesterday and loaded another victory.For the Redskins, the 1991 season rapidly is becoming a calm trip through untroubled waters.They boosted their record to 6-0 -- their best start in the 11-year regime of coach Joe Gibbs -- by defeating the Chicago Bears, 20-7, before 64,941 fans at Soldier Field, and then they talked about how close they are, how much camaraderie they have and how much they like each other.

MINNEAPOLIS -- If it had been a prize fight, Mark Rypien would have lost by a TKO.The Washington Redskins quarterback hit the deck at least 10 times even though he was sacked only twice yesterday in the 15-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.After the game, he limped to his locker with a bandage around his knee and his elbow.But Rypien isn't the type to criticize the offensive linemen, who had all kinds of problems handling the Minnesota defensive linemen.The linemen didn't criticize Rypien for the two passes that were run back for touchdowns in the fourth quarter in Phoenix and he returned the favor.

Guard Mark Schlereth, who was sidelined for two days with a back injury, returned to practice yesterday for the Washington Redskins and will start tomorrow against the Seattle Seahawks.But three starters with neck injuries -- linebacker Kurt Gouveia, guard Joe Jacoby and safety Danny Copeland -- remained sidelined, and the Redskins won't know until game time whether they can play. Gouveia is considered the player most likely to miss the game.Linebacker John Brantley, a former World League player, guard Ray Brown and safety Todd Bowles are the replacements for those three players.

ASHBURN, Va. -- When Joe Gibbs speaks, the Washington Redskins listen.At least Gary Clark does.That was the obvious conclusion yesterday when Clark, who often skips practice with his sore hamstrings, ran every offensive play as the Redskins started their drills for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks."