First-rounders file in after Smith

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 | 11:04 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

The top pick of the NFL draft and several at the bottom of the first round are headed for training camps after reaching deals with their teams.

Utah quarterback Alex Smith, the first overall choice in April, officially signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday.

His monster six-year deal, worth $49.25 million but with potential to increase to $57 million with incentives, includes $24 million in guaranteed money.

"I don't even know if I'd call this a childhood dream, because I don't know if I dared to dream like this," Smith said. "Now it's time for me to go earn this money and prove that I deserve this money.

He'll compete with incumbent Tim Rattay and backup Ken Dorsey.

The other first-rounders who got deals Tuesday were No. 23 Fabian Washington with the Oakland Raiders, No. 28 overall Luis Castillo with San Diego, No. 29 Marlin Jackson with Indianpolis and No. 30 Heath Miller with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Jackson, a cornerback from Michigan, agreed to a five-year contract. Doug Hendrickson, Jackson's agent, confirmed the deal worth $6.95 million that will allow Jackson to report to training camp Wednesday with the rest of the team.

Castillo, from Northwestern, agreed to terms for potentially $7,035,000, including guaranteed money of $4,664,000. The defensive tackle tested positive for androstenedione at the scouting combine in February after a slow recovery from an elbow injury. He later called it a "huge mistake" taking the steroid and insisted a clause be inserted in his contract stating he will forfeit his bonus money if he ever has another positive drug test.

Cornerback Washington, from Nebraska, got a five-year, $7.8 million contract that calls for about $5 million for a signing bonus and other guarantees.

The guaranteed contract ensures that Alexander will report to training camp in Cheney, Washington, on time Thursday.

He had told Seahawks management that he wanted a long-term agreement, and there was speculation that he might hold out if he couldn't reach a multiyear agreement with the team.

The Cardinals already planned a three-day extended training camp there Aug. 24-26.

"I'm a creature of 'Monday Night,'"' Michaels, the play-by-play announcer of the series since 1986, said during a conference call. "I've said this before, but those words are just exhilarating to me: 'Monday Night Football.'"

In electing to continue working for the Walt Disney Co., which owns ESPN and ABC, Michaels rebuffed NBC Universal Sports, which offered him $2.9 million a year, slightly less than half the salary he will be paid to call football for ESPN with Joe Theismann and NBA games for ABC.

"The ESPN deal was a better deal, and it should have been, because I've been at the company for 29 years," Michaels said.