CARLISLE, Pa. -- The Washington Redskins, seeking a backup for quarterback Jay Schroeder, Monday night traded for the rights to USFL refugee Doug Williams and signed or traded for the rights to four other USFL players, General Manager Bobby Beathard said.
Williams, who played five years in the NFL and two years in the USFL, said on Sunday he had reached a tentative contract agreement with the Redskins. Washington traded an undisclosed 1987 draft choice to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, who owned Williams rights.
The Redskins, in need of depth in its receiving corps, also signed three-year USFL wide receiver Derek Holloway and traded a 1987 draft selection to the New England Patriots for the rights to wide receiver Ricky Sanders.
Sanders, playing with USFL star quarterback Jim Kelly on the Houston Gamblers, had 101 receptions in 1984.
Other signings from the USFL included two-year Jacksonville Bulls tight end Chuck McCurley and linebacker Angelo Snipes, who led the 1985 USFL runner-up Oakland Invaders with 11.5 sacks.
In addition, Beathard said the club is negotiating with Baltimore Stars running back Kelvin Bryant, who is the USFL's second all-time ground-gainer, and wide receiver Clarence Verdin, of the Houston Gamblers.
Beathard said of Williams: 'We're very happy to acquire (the rights) to a guy like him because outside of Jim Kelly we had him rated as the top quarterback in the USFL. Doug will be way behind and have a lot of catching up to do.'
The 5-foot-11 Sanders caught 148 passes in two USFL seasons.
'He can give us real speed and raw talent,' Beathard said of Sanders. 'Sanders, Holloway and Verdin give us three speed guys for the deep routes as well as abilities to run after catching the ball.'
Williams, who turned 31 on Aug. 9, left the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1982 after five seasons, to join the fledgling USFL. He played the 1984 season with the Oklahoma Outlaws and the 1985 season with the Arizona Outlaws, passing for a combined 6,757 yards.
He was permitted to pursue a return to the NFL when USFL players were released from their contracts last Thursday, four days after the league suspended its 1986 season.
'It'll be the first time since I left college that I'll be able to play with great talent around me,' said Williams, the first black quarterback chosen in the first-round of the NFL draft.
The Redskins already own the NFL rights to Bryant, who led the Philadelphia and Baltimore Stars to USFL titles in 1984 and 1985 and compiled three straight 1,000 yards seasons. Bryant, who combines bull-like strength and a sprinter's speed, amassed 4,055 yards in three USFL seasons and was the MVP of the 1985 championship game, the last USFL game played.
'We talked today (with Bryant's agents) to find out their interpretation of Kelvin's contract status,' Beathard said. 'We're waiting for word from our league to continue any contract discussions.'
