Rebels sign as free agents

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.

The pain of going undrafted was softened a little bit for two UNLV Rebels on Monday.

All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer, who continues to make himself incommunicado with the media, signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks while wide receiver Earvin Johnson, the school's all-time leader in receiving yards, inked a free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans.

Brimmer was one of nine free agents signed by the Seahawks, who begin a minicamp on Friday.

Two other Rebels -- Mountain West Conference rushing champ Dominique Dorsey and offensive guard Joe Critchfield -- were still hopeful of landing free agent contracts themselves as early as today.

"My agent has had conversations with Minnesota, Baltimore and Cincinnati," Dorsey said. "I'm kind of in limbo right now. We're just waiting for them to call back. Hopefully I'll get a chance."

In the meantime Dorsey said he is focusing on putting the final touches on his degree in university studies, which he will receive on May 14.

"All I can do right now is keep going to school and make sure I get that," Dorsey said.

Critchfield said he had conversations with the Cardinals, Bears and Rams. He said former UNLV coach John Robinson and ex-Rebels star Randall Cunningham had been making calls to teams on his behalf.

"All I want is a chance," Critchfield, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound guard, said. "Get me in a camp and I'll take it from there."

Johnson leaves Thursday for Tennessee's mini-camp after signing a contract with the Titans on Monday.

The Titans would seem to be a good fit for Johnson since they had just two wide receivers, Drew Bennett and Tyrone Calico, who is coming off knee surgery, on their roster going into the NFL Draft. Tennessee recently released Derrick Mason, who led the NFL with 95 receptions last season, for salary cap reasons.

The Titans selected three wide receivers in the draft, including Indiana's Courtney Roby in the third round. Johnson is one of seven free agent wideouts Tennessee signed on Monday.

"Tennessee was the first team to call me after the draft," Johnson said. "I knew they were thin at wide receiver so it seemed like a good opportunity for me."

Oregon State linebacker Jonathan Pollard, a Las Vegas High product, also signed a free agent contract on Monday with the San Diego Chargers.

Juniors Shane Steichen and Jarrod Jackson are listed as co-No. 1's at quarterback with Bishop Gorman product Blake Sartini listed as the backup.

Junior Erick Jackson will go into the fall as the No. 1 tailback with Cheyenne High product David Peeples No. 2 ahead of oft-injured senior JaJa Riley.

Sophomore Tim Goins is listed as the starter at center with senior Jesse Knight at right tackle, sophomore Mike McKiski at right guard, junior Aaron Mueller at left guard and junior Brandon Gray at left tackle. That figures to change a bit in the fall when returning starters Chris Bowser (left tackle), Marco Guerra (left guard) and Zach Gorham (right guard) return from injuries.

Junior Ernest Gordon has the edge at left corner against junior college transfer E.J. Whitley while J.C. All-American John Guice is listed No. 1 at right corner and senior Chanti Bloomer is listed as the nickel back.

Three battles that are even going into fall camp are at strongside linebacker, where junior Matt Pattison and senior Bobby Kelly are listed as co-No. 1's, middle linebacker, where junior Dan Catalano and redshirt freshman Ryan Flasch are even, and right safety, where senior Will Tagoai and junior Jay Staggs are listed as co-starters.