Old friends, new surroundings and the dream of playing in the Super Bowl meant more to Seth Joyner than an extra $200,000 a year.
Joyner, who left the Philadelphia Eagles to sign a five-year, $14 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, could have had $15 million if he'd waited until after June 1, agent Jim Solano said.In June, other teams interested in Joyner, such as San Francisco, will have more money to sign free agents, because the bonuses of players waived despite long-term contracts will be pro-rated over the remainder of their contracts rather than kicking in this year.
But Solano said the money wasn't as important to Joyner.
"It was really important for him to play with Clyde Simmons, to play for Buddy Ryan, to play with a team that had a chance to go to the Super Bowl, to play in a great facility and a great area, and the most that I could have promised him is another million dollars in salary," Solano said.
Ryan, Arizona's new coach and general manager, said he considers Joyner the best outside linebacker in the NFL.
"Not only did we help ourselves physically, but we helped ourselves with leadership," Ryan said.
Joyner averaged more than 109 tackles per year since he joined the Eagles in 1986. He and Simmons were roommates with Philadelphia, and Ryan coached both.
Simmons signed a five-year, $14.5 million contract with the Cardinals on March 17. He was Ryan's first coup in assembling what he predicts will be a playoff-quality defense.
Before he made the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1993, Joyner had a shaky beginning. Ryan released him before the 1986 season began and didn't re-sign him for two games. But in 120 games since, Joyner has had 875 tackles and 371/2 sacks.
In other NFL news, Houston Oilers defensive end Sean Jones has reached agreement on a three-year, $7.8 million contract with the Green Bay Packers, the Houston Chronicle reported today.
Kevin Gogan, who started at right guard last season for the Dallas Cowboys, has accepted a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Los Angeles Raiders, The Dallas Morning News reported today.
Free agent quarterback John Friesz reached a contract agreement with the Washington Redskins, the Daily Press of Newport News reported Saturday. The newspaper said Friesz, who played four seasons for San Diego, agreed to a one-year deal for $900,000.
In Park Ridge, Ill., NFL center Jay Hilgenberg was released from Lutheran General Hospital on Sunday after being treated for a heart attack.