No. 2 Pick Arrington Getting Top Dollar

Linebacker LaVar Arrington, the No. 2 pick in the draft, ended his holdout Saturday night by agreeing to terms with the Washington Redskins in a deal that could surpass the one signed by Courtney Brown, the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Arrington, a teammate of Brown at Penn State, accepted what is essentially a six-year deal with a base salary between $35 million and $36 million, according to agent Kevin Poston.

That is just short of the six-year, $36-million base Brown got from Cleveland. Arrington also received a $10.75-million signing bonus, while Brown received a $10-million signing bonus and $849,000 reporting bonus.

“It’s time to put up or shut up,” Arrington said. “I don’t feel like I held out. It’s a process a lot of guys go through.”

If he meets all of his incentives, he could earn more than $50 million over six years.

In other Redskin news, running back Stephen Davis agreed to a one-year, $3.532-million contract, a letdown considering he felt he had earned a multiyear deal.

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The Baltimore Ravens have reached an agreement in principle with first-round pick Jamal Lewis on a six-year contract.

The Tennessee running back, who was the No. 5 pick in the draft, has the chance to earn more than $14 million in the first year. The contract, worth more than $35.3 million, includes a $6.516 million signing bonus and $800,000 in other compensation that is expected to be paid in March, the Baltimore Sun reported.

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Former Chicago Bear fullback Merril Hoge was awarded $1.55 million by a Lake County, Ill., jury in a medical malpractice suit against a former team doctor.

Hoge, now 35 and an ESPN commentator living in Pittsburgh, contended that John Munsell cleared him to play too soon after suffering a concussion, forcing his retirement from the NFL in October 1994. Hoge, who suffered 12 concussions over 19 years of football, said he still suffers from headaches and sensitivity to light.

The civil jury awarded Hoge $1,450,000 for economic losses and $100,000 for pain and suffering, but nothing for permanent disability.

Munsell’s attorney, William Rogers, said the award will be appealed. He said Hoge has already received $1 million from a personal injury insurance policy, $250,000 from a Workmen’s Compensation claim against the Bears and additional money from an NFL injury settlement.

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San Diego Charger quarterback Ryan Leaf reported no discomfort in his surgically repaired right shoulder Saturday, one day after his most extensive workout in a year. . . . Miami has not set a timetable for receiver O.J. McDuffie to return from a toe injury that required surgery in February. The Dolphins put McDuffie on the active/physically unable to perform list Friday after he failed a physical. . . . The Denver Broncos signed second-round pick Ian Gold, the last of the team’s 2000 draft picks to agree to terms. The Michigan linebacker was a college teammate of Brian Griese, the Broncos’ starting quarterback. . . . New York Giant starting center Dusty Zeigler was poked in the right eye and had to leave practice. The injury is not considered serious.