Controversial blocking method could be outlawed by league

Friday, March 18, 2005 | 10 a.m.

SUN WIRE SERVICES

A block by Denver Broncos tackle George Foster, which was caught by the Monday Night Football cameras last season, has become a flash point for a potential rules change at the NFL's annual March meetings next week.

Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay, who co-chairs the competition committee with Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, said Wednesday that Foster's block against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 25 "are the types of plays we'd like not to have in the game, that have no place in the game, and quite frankly, the players themselves ... they emphasized the point to us."

As a result, the competition committee, which recommends all rules changes, has recommended that certain low, or "cut," blocks away from the play be considered unnecessary roughness.

That means a block like Foster's, if the rules change is approved, the player could be penalized 15 yards after the play and potentially fined.

Bengals defensive tackle Tony Williams, who visited the Broncos as a free agent this week, suffered a fractured ankle on the play, which ended his season.

Under the current rule, Foster's block was legal, but McKay said discussions with players, including Broncos safety John Lynch, coaches and general managers at the committee's meetings during the scouting combine at Indianapolis last month showed a consensus wanted to do away with those kinds of blocks.

GIANTS: Free-agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress reached an agreement with the New York Giants on a six-year, $25 million contract, including an $8 million signing bonus.

The agreement comes a week after the Giants said they were no longer interested in signing Burress, who had 35 catches for 698 yards anad five touchdowns in 2004, his fifth season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Burress met with the Giants eight days ago and rejected an offer that was almost the same as the one he agreed to Thursday. He then fired agent Michael Harrison and signed with Drew Rosenhaus.

SEAHAWKS: Seattle has signed Broncos cornerback Kelly Herndon to an offer sheet. Denver has one week to match the offer to the restricted free agent. If the Broncos decide not to match the offer, the Seahawks won't give up a draft choice because Herndon joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2001.

DOLPHINS: Miami signed free agent fullback Heath Evans to a one-year deal. Evans, a 6-foot, 245-pounder, spent the past four seasons in Seattle where he made just one start in 61 games played. In 15 games last season, he had seven carries for 20 yards and two catches for 12 yards.

CHIEFS: Team president Carl Peterson agreed to a four-year contract extension that keeps him in Kansas City through the 2009 season. In Peterson's 16 seasons in Kansas City, the Chiefs have made eight playoff appearances, won four AFC West titles and went to the 1993 AFC championship.

COWBOYS: Former Dallas running back Emmitt Smith, 35, signed a one-year contract with his old team so that he can retire as a Cowboy. After Smith submits his official retirement notification to the NFL, he will be placed on the Cowboys' reserve retired list.

BROWNS: Running back Chester Taylor signed a one-year, $3 million offer sheet with Cleveland, a move that could signal the end of William Green's time in Cleveland. Baltimore has until Wednesday to match the offer for Taylor.