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The Miami Dolphins got their man. But just one of them. Kreutz stays on day of deals
Associated Press
The Dolphins finally completed the trade that will bring them former Heisman winner Ricky Williams, who never hit it off in New Orleans despite averaging more than 1,000 yards a season.
But Olin Kreutz, the free agent center from Aina Haina whom the Dolphins were arduously pursuing, re-signed with Chicago, leaving Miami to look elsewhere in an effort to build up their offensive line.
Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner, gives Miami its best running back since the 1970s, when Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris led the team to two Super Bowl victories. But the former Texas star was deemed expendable by New Orleans because of his sometimes non-conformist behavior and because the Saints drafted Deuce McAllister in the first round last season.
"The biggest plus for me is I'm coming into a situation where they already have a good team. They're just adding a good player," Williams said. "I'm going to be surrounded with talent. I'm not going to feel like it's my job to win games. I just have to do my part."
A player with far deeper problems was also on the move yesterday -- wide receiver Terry Glenn, who was dealt from New England to Green Bay. Glenn missed most of last season after being suspended for four games for a substance abuse violation, then because of differences with Coach Bill Belichick.
The Packers gave the Patriots a fourth-round pick in the 2002 draft, plus a pick next year that will depend on Glenn's performance.
"I'm looking forward to being a part of this storied tradition that so many football fans follow with such incredible passion," Glenn said in a statement. "To play for Coach (Mike) Sherman and in the same offense with Brett Favre is a great opportunity."
In another move, cornerback Aaron Beasley, cut by Jacksonville for cap reasons, signed with the New York Jets.
The Williams trade brought to the Saints some of the picks they lost when former coach Mike Ditka traded away the team's entire 1999 draft to get Williams. Miami traded a first-round pick in 2002 and a third-round pick in 2003 that could become a first-rounder depending on how Williams performs.
The teams also swapped fourth-round selections in next month's draft.
"The extra draft picks allow us to concentrate on some of the other areas of our team that need to be addressed, so we can keep building this team through the draft," Saints general manager Randy Mueller said.
The Dolphins had been hoping that Kreutz, the St. Louis School alumnus who was voted to the Pro Bowl last season, would be blocking for Williams. But after spending two days in Miami, he returned to Chicago and re-signed with the Bears for a deal that included a $7 million signing bonus.
Miami also dealt running back J.J. Johnson to Cleveland for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2004, and agreed to terms with injury-plagued guard Leon Searcy on a one-year, $750,000 contract.
Also yesterday:
>> Garrison Hearst, San Francisco's free agent running back, interviewed with the Falcons on Thursday. Last season's NFL Comeback Player of the Year is a Georgia native and played for the University of Georgia.
>> Tampa Bay's Warrick Dunn, who wants to become an every-down back, worked out with Philadelphia. He left without signing a contract, noting that Jon Gruden, the Bucs' new coach, had made "a great sales pitch" to get him back.
>> Fullback Fred Beasley agreed to a four-year, $6.075 million contract to remain with the San Francisco 49ers. They have retained two of their four key free agents after signing Beasley and center Jeremy Newberry.