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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 28, 2001
Thomas retires as a Bill
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Running back Thurman Thomas got his wish to retire as a member of the Bills.
Thomas, the team's all-time leading rusher, signed a one-day contract, then announced his retirement Tuesday at a one-hour ceremony inside the team's practice facility.
Released a year ago for salary cap reasons, Thomas played nine games last season with the Dolphins before injuring his knee.
"I've always stated that I would retire a Buffalo Bill. I just didn't know when it was going to happen, how it was going to happen," Thomas, 34, said. "This is the way I wanted to be."
BEARS: Chicago did not give running back Curtis Enis a contract offer, making him a free agent.
BENGALS: Cornerback Rodney Heath re-signed for three years. Rookie free-agent tight end Jason Gavadza signed a two-year deal.
COWBOYS: Under a plan that must be approved by the NFL management council, owner Jerry Jones and quarterback Troy Aikman's agent, Leigh Steinberg, agreed to delay the due date for Aikman's $7-million bonus from Monday to June 1. NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw said he would support the request.
49ERS: The team issued a contract offer to Pro Bowl quarterback Jeff Garcia and eight other free agents and named Greg Olson quarterback coach. GIANTS: Coach Jim Fassel, whose guarantee of a playoff berth ignited New York's run to the Super Bowl, was rewarded with a contract that makes him one of the NFL's top paid coaches. Fassel reportedly will earn $11-million over four years. "The drive for me right now is to be successful," Fassel said. "I want to go down in the history of this organization as one of the best football coaches. I want to bring a Super Bowl win here, and that's what is driving me."
PACKERS: Right tackle Earl Dotson, curtailed by back injuries the past two seasons, was released.
REDSKINS: The agent for quarterback Gus Frerotte said his client would be interested in rejoining the team he played for in 1994-98.
CO-DEFENDANT SENTENCED: Michael Kennedy, 25, the getaway driver in the slaying of former Panther Rae Carruth's pregnant girlfriend, was sentenced for up to 14 years, 2 months in prison after pleading guilty to murder.
NBC remains committed to two full seasons of the start-up league despite a ratings free fall. The fourth Saturday broadcast of the season had a 2.6 rating (percentage of all TVs), lower than all but a handful of evenings in prime-time history among the big three networks. NBC had a 2.2 rating Christmas Eve with two movies and a 2.4 on April 15, a Saturday night split between an NBA game and a 3rd Rock From the Sun rerun.