
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 10, 1994                   TAG: 9403100081
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

REDSKINS START HOUSECLEANING

When the new Redskin Park opened last summer, one of the few luxuries the lavish facility didn't have was revolving doors. It's time for a renovation.

That's certainly what Washington's NFL franchise is getting. Even with the league's new salary cap hanging over their heads, the Redskins are making personnel moves faster than Bill Clinton's White House staff.

After Richie Petitbon spent only 10 months and a 4-12 season as head coach, new coach Norv Turner plans to use free agency to return the Redskins to respectability. With an expected cap of $33.81 million per club - a figure the Redskins easily exceeded in 1993 - Washington must subtract before it adds.

Already gone are linebacker Carl Banks and wide receiver Tim McGee, disappointing starters in their only Redskins season. That saves $2.8 million for 1994. Veteran center Jeff Bostic retired Wednesday, freeing $850,000. Joe Jacoby, the last remaining "Hog," may be exiting soon, too.

Turner has made it clear that no matter what the emotional attachment has been to several dinosaurs, Redskin Park won't be Jurassic Park. He has said the axing of veterans is far from finished. Next season, those sellout crowds at RFK Stadium really will need a program to tell the players.

Signed from Phoenix is linebacker Ken Harvey for $11 million over four years, including a $3 million signing bonus. He's just a start.

The Redskins are entertaining free agents daily. Dallas fullback Daryl Johnston already has been to see Turner, his former Cowboys offensive coordinator. Dallas center John Gesek - who may be the 'Skins main target - and pass-catching tight end Ethan Horton from North Carolina and the Los Angeles Raiders also are on the wish list.

Houston wide receiver Haywood Jeffires visited Redskin Park on Tuesday. Phoenix defensive end Reuben Davis was there Wednesday. Davis (UNC) and Jeffires (N.C. State), are Greensboro natives. Oilers defensive end William Fuller, a Norfolk native, has passed through, too, although the former UNC star may be too expensive for the 'Skins.

There's significant interest in wideout Michael Timpson, who expects to leave New England. Tampa Bay guard Ian Beckles was a Wednesday visitor with Davis. Larry Centers, the Cardinals' underrated fullback, is scheduled to visit today.

Johnston also plans to visit Pittsburgh and Kansas City, among others. Davis is trying to decide whether to stay in Phoenix, where the defense will get a push under new coach Buddy Ryan, or move to Washington, San Diego, Green Bay or New Orleans. A Redskins source said Jeffires also is talking to the Rams, Denver and Cincinnati.

Besides the waiving of high-priced veterans, another money-saving move by Washington figures to be a request to quarterback Mark Rypien to take a drastic cut from the $3 million in his contract for 1994. Or, he will be dealt, if Washington can find a taker in an off-season already notable for musical quarterbacks.

Rypien figures to be the backup to either a free-agent signee or someone acquired in a trade. Warren Moon? Jeff George? Or, he could understudy one of two rookies chosen with the No. 3 pick in the April draft, either Tennessee's Heath Shuler or Fresno State's Trent Dilfer - if that's the route the club chooses to take.

(The Baltimore Sun contributed some information for this story).

by CNB