The Washington Redskins began face-to-face negotiations with the agents for first-round draft Sean Taylor yesterday in Newport Beach, Calif., and will continue contract talks through the weekend.
Taylor, the fifth overall pick, did not settle on his choice of representatives until Tuesday and Redskins vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato and salary cap manager Eric Schaffer flew to California for meetings with Taylor's agents, Jeffrey Moorad and Eugene Mato.
Cerrato declined to discuss any progress in negotiations when reached in California last night.
George to Cowboys?
Tailback Eddie George, released by the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday, was in contract negotiations with Dallas yesterday and could sign with the Cowboys today, a source familiar with the deliberations said last night.
George is scheduled to meet with Cowboys officials today. He probably would sign a contract that would include a salary of $1.5 million this season plus incentives, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to disrupt the ongoing talks. George rejected the Titans' efforts to get him to reduce his salary from $4.25 million to $1.5 million. The Cowboys, for now, have rookie Julius Jones slated to start at tailback.
The Titans moved quickly to replace George, agreeing to a one-year contract with free agent tailback Antowain Smith, who spent the past three seasons with New England . . . .
Cornerback Dunta Robinson became the first top-10 pick in this year's draft to agree to a contract when he completed a six-year deal with the Houston Texans. . . .
Receiver Michael Clayton, the 15th overall draft pick, agreed to a six-year deal with the Buccaneers.
-- Jason La Canfora
and Mark Maske
