Slaughter Strikes It Rich -- Free-Agent Wr Gets $2.2M From Oilers

HOUSTON - Webster Slaughter, one of four players given temporary status as unrestricted free agents, reached an agreement on a two-year contract with the Houston Oilers.

Yesterday's deal gives the Oilers another wide receiver to fuel their four-wide-receiver offense.

Oilers spokesman Chip Namias would not disclose terms of the contract, but the Houston Chronicle reported the two-year contract is worth about $2.2 million. Slaughter had turned down a deal worth nearly $900,000 per year from his former team, the Cleveland Browns.

"Obviously, we're really happy to get him. We feel he can add a lot to our offense," Namias said. "He's a receiver who's already proven his ability in the NFL."

Slaughter is one of four players who were given temporary status as unrestricted free agents last week. Eagles tight end Keith Jackson signed with Miami and Patriots defensive end Garin Veris signed with San Francisco, but running back D.J. Dozier was released by Detroit yesterday.

The Oilers waived veteran linebacker Johnny Meads to make room for Slaughter on their 47-man roster. Meads, 31, in his ninth year with the team, had started every game for the past five years with the Oilers until missing his first start in 77 consecutive games Sunday against the San Diego Chargers.

Notes

-- Keith Jackson signed signed a series of one-year contracts worth a reported $6 million with the Dolphins. Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl starter, received a $1.9 million signing bonus. Among Jackson's new teammates, only quarterback Dan Marino makes more money. Miami waived receiver Jim Jensen, an 11-year veteran, to make room for Jackson. -- The New York Jets switched kickers, waiving Jason Staurovsky and signing Cary Blanchard, whom they claimed on waivers from New Orleans. The Jets also waived Anthony Prior, rookie defensive back from Washington State, and may activate Siupeli Malamala, rookie tackle from the University of Washington, for Sunday's game against New England. -- Coach Bobby Ross on the Chargers' 0-4 start: "It's like a dam. We plug up one thing and then something else leaks." -- Wide receiver Sam Graddy of the Los Angeles Raiders probably will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken arm in Monday night's game at Kansas City.

Compiled from the Associated Press, Gannett News Service and Los Angeles Times.