Warner Gets a Big Deal; Injury Sidelines Flutie

Most valuable player Kurt Warner got the long-term deal he was looking for Thursday, signing a seven-year, $47-million contract with the St. Louis Rams.

The contract features $17.5 million in bonuses, $11.5 million now and an additional $6 million in a few years.

Warner signed for $358,000, the minimum for a two-year veteran, last Friday so he could participate in training camp.

Warner’s appearance in camp appeared to remove his leverage from getting a deal done. But it also apparently pushed both sides to reach an agreement only six days later.

“I don’t even think when we’re talking dollars that things have even changed over the past three weeks,” Warner said. “It was basically just the structure of things and trying to get it where we both felt comfortable with the number of years and how it all worked out.”

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Buffalo Bill quarterback Doug Flutie will be out until at least September after suffering a severe groin injury when he slipped in practice Thursday.

The injury occurred when Flutie, taking a snap from center, appeared ready to run the ball up the middle, but the turf gave out under his right leg. Flutie went down face-first and grimaced in pain while holding his leg.

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Jacksonville Jaguar right tackle Leon Searcy underwent surgery on the tendon above his right knee, and the team got more bad news when punter Bryan Barker sprained his ankle during practice.

Barker is out indefinitely, as is fullback Daimon Shelton, who had surgery to repair a broken finger on his left hand.

Searcy tore his quadriceps in practice Monday. Coach Tom Coughlin said Searcy’s surgery went well, but he was noncommittal about his status for the season. Searcy is hoping for a return in three or four months.

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New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe will be little more than a spectator at Monday night’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. Bledsoe will start the nationally televised game against the San Francisco 49ers in Canton, Ohio, but might play as little as one series.