Steve Spurrier took the field at Ashburn, Va., in chilling fog and drizzle Tuesday for his first practice as an NFL coach.
The “Fun ‘N Gun” is definitely not in Florida anymore.
“Sort of like playing golf in Ireland,” said Spurrier, who exchanged his trademark visor for a black baseball cap because of the weather.
The Washington Redskins’ three-day, non-contact mini-camp is a chance for the new coach to get to know his players and learn the feel of coaching in the big leagues.
But according to one former Gator, the first practices skipped the preamble and went straight to Chapter 1.
“We put in–gosh–more plays in one meeting than I’ve ever seen in any offense,” ex-Bears quarterback Danny Wuerffel said. “We’ve got just about the entire playbook in one meeting.”
– The Detroit Lions and oft-injured wide receiver Germane Crowell have agreed to terms on a three-year contract.
Crowell’s deal is worth $7.5 million, according to a team official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The contract, with just one year guaranteed, includes a $1 million signing bonus and a $2 million roster bonus that can be exercised by the Lions before the second year of the contract.
– The Green Bay Packers signed two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Joe Johnson, the best defensive lineman available in free agency, to a multiyear contract.
Terms were not released, but the deal with the former New Orleans Saint is believed to average $5 million a season for four or five years, with a signing bonus of about $6 million.
– The New Orleans Saints completed a deal to send veteran offensive tackle Willie Roaf to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The seven-time Pro Bowler was traded for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2003. The draft choice could escalate to a third-round selection based on Roaf’s playing time this season, the Saints said in a news release.
