Grbac’s Stay in Baltimore Is Short One

Elvis Grbac, signed a year ago to upgrade the Baltimore Raven offense, was released by the team Friday as it continued its purge of veterans.

Grbac, who left the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent last March to sign a five-year, $30-million deal with the Ravens, decided to leave the team rather than accept a restructured contract. He would have received a $6-million bonus if he had been on Baltimore’s roster as of 1 p.m. Friday.

“We’re disappointed for us and for Elvis,” Raven Coach Brian Billick said. “We thought a new contract would not only give us obvious help with our salary cap, but benefit Elvis too. We were looking forward to facing the challenges of next season, when we believed he would play at a higher level for us.”

The Ravens signed Grbac less than three months after defeating the New York Giants in the 2001 Super Bowl. He was supposed to provide more offensive punch that his predecessor, Trent Dilfer, but threw 18 interceptions and only 15 touchdown passes.

Grbac’s exit leaves Baltimore with two options at quarterback--veteran Randall Cunningham, who turns 39 this month, and Chris Redman, who has thrown three passes in two seasons.

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Five-time all-pro linebacker Jessie Armstead, released by the New York Giants a day earlier, agreed to a $4.5-million, three-year contract with the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins also reached agreement with former University of Florida receiver Reidel Anthony on a one-year deal and worked to complete a trade with Houston for former Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

Agent Jason Rosenhaus confirmed the deals for Armstead and Anthony. The Redskins announced that Armstead had agreed to terms. An announcement on Anthony was expected later.

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Antowain Smith, the running back who revived New England’s rushing game last season, signed a five-year contract to remain with the Patriots. The Boston Globe’s Web site, citing unidentified league sources, reported the deal was for almost $21 million, with a signing bonus of about $5 million.... Chicago Bear quarterback Jim Miller agreed to a five-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.... Quarterback Jeff Blake, sidelined by injury in 2000 and replaced as a starter by Aaron Brooks in 2001, was released by the New Orleans Saints.... The Dallas Cowboys re-signed safety Darren Woodson to a five-year, $20-million year deal that should keep him with his only NFL team for the rest of his career.... The Carolina Panthers claimed running back Joe Montgomery off waivers from the New York Giants. The Giants released the injury-prone Montgomery in a salary-cap move earlier this week. The Panthers assume the final year of Montgomery’s contract worth the league minimum of $375,000.... The Houston Texans claimed wide receiver Trevor Insley off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.

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More than 100 former Philadelphia Eagle cheerleaders will join a lawsuit against 29 NFL teams, charging that visiting players peeped on them in a Veterans Stadium locker room, their lawyer said.

The suit, filed in state court in Philadelphia, now has 44 plaintiffs but will be expanded for a second time next week, said lawyer Michael J. McKenna of Cherry Hill, N.J.

McKenna said that 117 women have contacted him, all but 10 of whom have returned signed documents indicating they will participate in the suit.