PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Cardinals Sign No. 1 Miller, Marshall
The Arizona Cardinals Friday signed linebacker Jamir Miller, the last first-round draft choice to sign, and added veteran linebacker Wilber Marshall.
Miller, the No. 10 selection overall out of UCLA, was the lone Cardinal holdout after second-round pick Chuck Levy reported Wednesday.
Marshall, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, played under Buddy Ryan with the Chicago Bears in 1984-88 and with the Houston Oilers last season, but was hampered by a hamstring injury.
Marshall, a veteran of the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl champion team and the 1991 Washington Redskins’ championship team, reportedly was paid $1.5 million last season plus a $1.4 million signing bonus. The Arizona Republic said Friday that Marshall was expected to get $300,000 to $500,000 plus incentives from the Cardinals.
Miller signed a four-year deal worth between $4 million and $5 million, according to the suburban Tribune Newspapers and the Phoenix Gazette. He reportedly got a bonus of more than $2 million.
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Joe Montana, making his his first start of the exhibition season, led the Kansas City Chiefs on two scoring drives while completing 11 of 20 passes for 118 yards in the first half of a 17-14 victory over the Washington Redskins at RFK Stadium.
Steve Bono played an equally error-free second half, and helped put the Chiefs ahead with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Donnell Bennett.
Steve Young completed seven of 10 passes for 74 yards in a quarter of play, including his first exhibition touchdown pass, as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos, 20-3, at Denver.
John Elway was held to three completions in nine attempts for 23 yards and Richard Dent and Ken Norton, two of San Francisco’s defensive free-agent acquisitions, both turned in strong efforts.
Jeff George passed for two touchdowns and Bobby Hebert, in his first appearance since underdoing elbow surgery in February, engineered two field goal drives as the Atlanta Falcons beat the Buffalo Bills, 27-7, at Atlanta.
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Running back Leonard Russell, released by the New England Patriots in a contract dispute, agreed to a contract with the Denver Broncos.
Russell was in attendance Friday night at the Broncos’ exhibition game against the 49ers at San Francisco. He strengthens a backfield that already includes Rod Bernstine, Glyn Milburn and Robert Delpino.
Nose tackle Greg Kragen turned down an offer to return to the Broncos, saying he was willing to take less money but was uncomfortable as a backup.
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Running back Emmitt Smith is expected to play for the first time in the preseason when the Dallas Cowboys meet the Houston Oilers on Monday night in an exhibition game at Mexico City.
Smith has participated in all training camp drills except those involving full-scale tackling. But the three-time defending rushing champion has not played in either of the Cowboys’ two exhibitions.
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