NFL -- Vikings Trade Brad Johnson

ST. PAUL - Brad Johnson had mixed emotions after the Minnesota Vikings traded him to the Washington Redskins for three draft picks over the next two years.

The Vikings will receive Washington's first-round pick in this year's draft (11th overall). They will also receive a third-round pick in 1999 and a second-round pick in 2000.

"Brad is sad but excited," his agent, Phil Williams, said yesterday. "He never demanded a trade as a lot of people thought he did. He wanted to be an NFL starting quarterback. He loved Minnesota, but he'd rather be starting someplace else than be a backup there."

The momentum for Johnson's departure started in November when the Vikings signed Randall Cunningham to a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension.

"In this day and age of salary cap restrains, it's virtually impossible to have two starting quarterbacks," Viking General Manager Tim Connolly said. "We were in the fortunate situation to trade one of our quarterbacks for future players."

The Redskins were in desperate need of a starting quarterback after they lost Trent Green to the St. Louis Rams yesterday. Green signed a four-year, $16.5 million deal with a $5 million bonus.

REGGIE WHITE RETIRED FOR GOOD

MILWAUKEE - The NFL's career sacks leader is calling it quits - and this time he put it in writing.

Reggie White, 37, the self-styled Minister of Defense who led the Green Bay Packers to two Super Bowls, turned in his retirement letter to General Manager Ron Wolf yesterday.

"He's officially retired. It's over," Packer spokesman Lee Remmel said.

NOTES

-- NFL owners, after an expansion committee meeting in Atlanta, today cleared the way to decide in March whether Los Angeles or Houston gets the league's 32nd team, which could begin play by 2002.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said nearly all opposition to bringing in a 32nd team has evaporated. The decision likely will be made at the owners' meeting next month in Phoenix.

-- Philadelphia agreed to terms with two free-agent wide receivers, Charles Johnson and Torrance Small. Johnson, who played the last five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed a five-year deal worth $15 million, his agent, Joel Segal, said today. Small, who played with Indianapolis last season, signed a four-year deal worth $9 million, said his agent, Rich DeLucad.

-- Rich Gannon, an 11-year backup and spot starter, was signed by Oakland, reportedly to a four-year, $16 million contract in a free-agent deal that signaled the end of Jeff George's disappointing two-season stay in Oakland.

-- Cleveland signed cornerback Corey Fuller of Minnesota to a five-year, $20.6 million contract. The Browns also signed Baltimore offensive tackle Orlando Brown to a six-year, $26 million contract that includes a $7.5 million signing bonus. They also reportedly traded a late-round draft pick for Buffalo linebacker Chris Spielman, who sat out last season.

-- Henry Thomas re-signed with New England, agreeing to a three-year contract.

-- Indianapolis signed safety Chad Cota to a reported four-year agreement worth $9.6 million.

-- Al Testaverde, father of Jet quarterback Vinny Testaverde, suffered a fatal heart attack early Sunday while vacationing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 66.

-- The Tennessee Titans, as the former Houston Oilers are now known, signed former St. Louis defensive end Mike Jones.