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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 25, 2001
Reports: Rams, Titans near DE Carter trade
The St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans are close to a trade that would send defensive end Kevin Carter to the Titans, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and cbs.sportsline.com reported Saturday.
As the Rams' designated franchise player, Carter is not under contract. Players not under contract cannot be traded, so Carter and agent Harold Lewis first have to work out a contract with the Titans. Then the Titans and Rams have to agree on compensation.
As a franchise player, Carter can entertain offers from other teams. If he receives one, the Rams have the right to match it. They get two first-round draft picks as compensation if they choose not to match.
Lewis and the Titans were believed to have agreed on a basic contract, the Post-Dispatch reported. Lewis told cbs.sportsline.com that was not true.
Titans general counsel Steve Underwood, who handles salary-cap matters and participates in negotiations, could not be reached for comment. Neither could Rams president Jay Zygmunt, who was traveling to California for this week's owners meetings.
Rams coach Mike Martz, also on his way to California, said through his secretary that reports about the trade being a done deal were "just rumors."
The Titans, who lost starting left end Kenny Holmes to the New York Giants in free agency this month, want a replacement to team with Jevon Kearse.
In addition to draft choices, the Rams want salary-cap relief so they can pursue more free agents.
STEELERS: Pittsburgh bolstered its secondary by signing free-agent safety Mike Logan to a three-year, $3.1-million contract.
Logan spent the past four seasons in Jacksonville. He started 11 games last season as the replacement for injured Carnell Lake and had a career-high 61 tackles, 51 solo. The Steelers expect Logan to compete with Brent Alexander for the starting spot. Logan made it clear he expects to start.
TUNEI CASE: Four men who worked for the drug rings that supplied former Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Mark Tuinei with a lethal dose of heroin were sentenced in Sherman, Texas.
Jesus Carbajal received life in prison. Julian Solis Perez and Andres Milan received 11-year terms, and Favian Ramos 12 years. They were charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine. Tuinei died in 1999 after taking heroin and a form of ecstasy.