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By RICK STROUD

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 13, 2001

TAMPA -- The Bucs wanted to take a free look at Ryan Leaf. But nobody in Tampa Bay ever laid eyes on him.

The Dallas Cowboys have contacted the Bucs about trading for Leaf and Tampa Bay is expected to deal the second overall pick in the 1998 draft, rather than subject him to the waiver wire and risk having another team claim him.

Leaf, 25, was acquired March 2 for a $100 waiver fee after the San Diego Chargers let him go.

The chances of Leaf playing in Tampa Bay became remote when the Bucs signed Washington free-agent quarterback Brad Johnson to a five-year, $28-million deal.

Leaf postponed his visit to Tampa Bay indefinitely after Johnson's signing and the Bucs have told him they would release or trade him upon request.

Bucs officials had been trying to convince Leaf to consider coming to Tampa Bay as the No. 3 quarterback and restart his career out of the limelight.

But the Cowboys and Leaf have other ideas.

After releasing quarterback Troy Aikman last week, the Cowboys are looking for their next franchise quarterback but have little room under the $67.4-million salary cap to maneuver.

Leaf has a base salary of $1.5-million next season and might be willing to restructure his deal.

If the Bucs get anything for Leaf, it would be a player to fill out the training camp roster.

Leaf's agent, Leigh Steinberg, did not return calls left Monday by the Times. Bucs general manager Rich McKay was at the NFL Competition Committee meetings in Naples and unavailable.

The Bucs were the only team to put in a claim on Leaf, released after three unproductive seasons at San Diego that were plagued by off-field incidents and injury.

At the time, the Bucs figured the waiver fee was a small price to pay to get a look at Leaf. But they made it clear at the time that he might never play for the Bucs.

BROWNS: Running back Curtis Enis, a Bears castoff, signed a one-year contract worth near the minimum salary with many incentives.

PACKERS: Former Raiders reserve wide receiver Rodney Williams signed as a free agent.

PANTHERS: Free-agent center Jeff Mitchell, a Countryside High graduate who helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl last season, agreed to a contract. Terms weren't disclosed. He was a fifth-round draft out of Florida in 1997.

RAMS: St. Louis gave the Chiefs until Thursday to make a deal for backup quarterback Trent Green.

RAVENS: Free-agent tackle Leon Searcy agreed to terms on a five-year, $31.5-million contract, agent Drew Rosenhaus said.

TV: Fred Gaudelli, the producer who introduced the now-ubiquitous first-down line graphic to telecasts while at ESPN, is heading to Monday Night Football to replace Don Ohlmeyer.

BOB HAYES: The former Cowboys and Olympic star remained in a Jacksonville hospital, too weak to walk while recovering from prostate surgery and other ailments. His mother, Mary Robinson, said she expects him to be transferred to a rehabilitation center this week.

-- Information from other news sources was used in this report.

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