Tony Eason, who sank from starting quarterback to fourth stringer in just 19 days, was released after resisting the New England Patriots' proposal that he work for free.

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Owner Victor Kiam contended that he had agreed last spring to pay $1.1 million this season and $1.25 million in 1990 on the basis that Eason would be the starter. With the season half over, Eason already had earned half his annual salary, $550,000. New England proposed that for the rest of the year, Eason be paid his weekly salary of $68,750 only in weeks in which he plays at least 50 percent of a game. Otherwise, he would get nothing.

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