Steve Bono, the San Francisco 49ers' highly paid backup quarterback, was released Friday in a financial move aimed at giving the team more room under the salary cap.
Bono was due to make $1.55 million this season as Steve Young's backup. With the 49ers bumping up against the $34.6 million cap before signing any of the eight players drafted last week, the team has been looking to cut its payroll.The club rejected draft-day trade offers from the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs as inadequate. Now that he has been released, Bono and his agent, Ralph Cindrich, would be free to pursue their own deals.
Bono has links to both the Jets and Chiefs.
Joe Montana, a friend of Bono and a 10-year starter for the 49ers, is in Kansas City while Jets' offensive coordinator Ray Sherman formerly worked as the 49ers receivers coach.
Despite releasing Bono, 49ers president Carmen Policy said in a statement the team hasn't given up on the idea of re-signing him, although at a lower salary.
"We shall continue discussions with Steve and his agent in an effort to resolve his status by early next week," Policy said. "We are unable to comment on this matter further until the situation is finalized."
The club had asked Bono to take a 50 percent pay cut, to about $750,000, but neither Bono nor his agent gave the team a firm response.
Bono stepped in for an injured Young in 1991, leading the 49ers to a 5-1 record in the starter's absence and finishing the season as the league's fourth-ranked passer.
He has seen only spot duty in the past two seasons.
Should the 49ers fail to re-sign Bono, second-year pro Elvis Grbac will be the leading candidate for the team's No. 2 quarterback job.