Cardinals-49ers to play in Mexico in regular season

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | 10:53 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

The first NFL regular-season game outside the United States is expected to take place Oct. 2, when the Arizona Cardinals face San Francisco in Mexico City.

The game is expected to be a Sunday night contest televised by ESPN. It would be a home game for the Cardinals, who rarely sell out their stadium but could draw 100,000 or more in Mexico City.

"We're working on it but it's not finalized yet," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said today.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said at his annual pre-Super Bowl news conference that a regular-season game outside the U.S. was likely this year.

Michael Bidwill, Cardinals vice president and general counsel, declined to discuss specifics but told The Arizona Republic that playing such a game is "very unique and appealing prospect."

Becht, 27, who was one of four Jets selections in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft, is one of the finest blockers at the position but grew frustrated with his role as a receiver in the Jets' offense.

Right tackle Kareem McKenzie (Giants) and defensive tackle Jason Ferguson (Dallas) are the two other Jets starters from 2004 to join new teams.

Cpl. Carrie George, booking agent of the Williamson County Sheriff's Department, said Hopkins posted $1,000 bond and was released Monday. An arraignment hearing for Hopkins was scheduled for March 24.

He joins quarterback Tim Couch, the first overall pick in 1999, and defensive tackle Gerard Warren, No. 3 overall in 2001, as ex-Browns. Couch was released last June and Warren was traded to Denver on March 2 for a fourth-round draft pick.

The team also has given running back William Green permission to seek a trade.

Robinson, an unrestricted free agent from the Miami Dolphins, got a $2 million signing bonus.