PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : NFC : Westbrook Receives $6.5-Million Bonus

Michael Westbrook, picked fourth overall in last April’s draft, finally agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins on Tuesday, becoming the 29th of 30 first-rounders to sign.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver signed a seven-year, $18-million contract. It includes a $6.5-million signing bonus, reportedly the largest for a wide receiver in NFL history and the biggest in franchise history.

That contract fell short of the quarterback-level money Westbrook was demanding. The former Colorado receiver wanted a deal comparable to the seven-year, $28.4-million package No. 3 pick Steve McNair got from Houston or the seven-year, $23-million deal No. 5 choice Kerry Collins received from Carolina.

Washington Coach Norv Turner expects to give Westbrook some playing time in Saturday’s exhibition game at Miami.

Westbrook’s signing leaves Florida State defensive end Derrick Alexander as the only unsigned first-round pick. Alexander was selected 11th by Minnesota.

*

San Francisco 49er president Carmen Policy said he hopes to set up meetings with Deion Sanders’ agent the week before the Sept. 3 opener at New Orleans. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Bryant Young returned to practice Tuesday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery July 28 to alleviate soreness in his left knee.

*

The Carolina Panthers’ injury-riddled backfield received reinforcements when Howard Griffith and Derrick Lassic returned from injuries.

Griffith, the expansion team’s starting fullback, and Lassic, expected to be a primary backup, had been sidelined since the first week of training camp.