NFL

Fins give Surtain okay for a trade

By wire services
Published February 3, 2005

MIAMI - Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain has received permission to seek a trade because the team is pessimistic about reaching agreement on a contract extension, his agent said.

Surtain, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, would cost the Dolphins more than $8.3-million against the salary cap in 2005, the final year of his contract. The team has until March 2 to cut $17-million off the cap and can save a little more than $6-million by trading Surtain.

Agent Gary Uberstine worked for two years on a contract extension. With talks at an impasse, Uberstine said he received approval Monday from general manager Rick Spielman to pursue a trade.

In other news, Jason Garrett was hired as quarterbacks coach, and receiver Kendall Newson was signed to a one-year deal.

BOSTON'S PLEA: Dolphins receiver David Boston pleaded no contest to a charge that he struck a ticket agent at the Burlington (Vt.) International Airport in October. Boston's attorney Douglas Kallen said his client was ordered to pay a $500 fine and $211 in restitution.

BUCS MOVES: The team allocated the following players to NFL Europe: CB Blue Adams, DT Delbert Cowsette, K Todd France, WR Adrian Madise, WR Terrance Metcalf, S Kalvin Pearson, DL Brian Save, P Brian Simnjanovski and T Mitch White.

BETTIS IS THE 1: Steelers running back Jerome Bettis was honored for the play of the year, sponsored by Levitra. Bettis' 10-yard halfback pass to Jerame Tuman, which helped the Steelers beat the Jets in Week 14, beat Donovan McNabb's 14-second scramble that was capped with a 60-yard completion to Freddie Mitchell. The results were based on Internet voting.

NINERS: Scot McCloughan was hired as vice president of player personnel. McCloughan replaces general manager Terry Donahue, who was fired last month along with coach Dennis Erickson after the team finished with the worst record in the league at 2-14.

REDSKINS: Owner Dan Snyder's latest marketing ploy didn't sit well with MasterCard, forcing the team to reverse course on a plan to restrict the way fans pay for tickets. The team, acting on a request from the credit card company, this week dropped a requirement that fans use a special Redskins Extra Points MasterCard if using a credit card to pay for season tickets. "We just asked the Redskins to accept all MasterCard cards, and they agreed," MasterCard spokesman Chris Monteiro said.

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 01:08:13]