Tony Eason, the former New England Patriots quarterback who didn't want to be in competition with good friend Ken O'Brien, Wednesday joined the New York Jets rather than give up the remaining portion of his $1.1 million contract.
Eason started the year as the Patriots No. 1 quarterback but after eight games was put on waivers and claimed by the Jets. When Eason did not report last week, the Jets threatened him with suspension.
'I took some time off to consider my options,' said Eason, who went to California, where he watched last Sunday's Jets-Patriots game on television. Asked what options he had, Eason replied, 'It's limited. There were a lack of options. The choices are limited. This is what I do. I don't think I'm doing anybody any good by not playing.'
Eason, the target of boos from Patriots fans, Wednesday admitted, 'I was really happy to get out of there.'
Walton said he has not talked to any of his quarterbacks about their roles.
'The only thing we're concerned about is the future of the New York Jets,' Walton said of his 2-7 club. 'We didn't feel we should let a player of his caliber go by. As for long-term plans, long term is a long time away. Let's see what happens.'
Walton said he did not know if Eason would be activated for Sunday's game against Miami.
Veteran Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams scored a win in Tuesday's Cincinnati elections, winning election to a two-year term on the Cincinnati City Council. Last year, Williams was appointed to fill a council vacancy.
In his first election, Williams finished fourth among 20 candidates for the nine council seats.
Williams, 34, is a graduate of Dartmouth. In 1987 he was selected by the U.S. Jaycees as one of the 'Ten Outstanding Young Americans.'
Ever since Williams' appointment to the council last year, football opponents have taken note of his dual roles.
'When I make a play that's a little more aggressive than my opponents like,' relates Williams, 'I've heard comments like, 'Come on, you're a judge,' or 'Hey, you're an elected official, you're not supposed to be doing things like that.''
Williams is not registered as a Democrat, Republican or independent, but a Charterite -- a member of Cincinnati's unique Charter Committee, a political party formed more than 50 years ago to fight corruption in the major parties.
In his 14th and probably last season with the Bengals, Williams figures to pursue politics full-time after his retirement from football. He has not disclosed his political goals beyond City Council.
In Cleveland, fullback Kevin Mack, who was released from prison Monday, said Wednesday he expects to play this season. On Oct. 3, Mack was sentenced to six months in prison for using cocaine, a fourth-degree felony, but he was granted an early release by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Richard McMonagle.
The bruising fullback met with reporters for the first time Wednesday, but as part of Mack's two-year probation agreement, the fullback may not discuss his drug or legal problems for one year.
In addition to a recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery in September, Mack is 15 to 18 pounds under his playing weight of 234 pounds. Browns trainer Bill Tessendorf said Mack is two to three weeks away from resuming practice, and four to five weeks away from playing.
'Kevin Mack is a competitor,' Tessendorf said. 'He's got a long career ahead of him. There's no sense jeopardizing it for a game or two.'
Another former Patriot, running back Reggie Dupard, also found work, signing with the Washington Redskins two weeks after being released by New England.
Dupard, 26, was a first-round draft pick in 1986, out of Southern Methodist, but due to injuries and poor performances, he started only seven games in four seasons.
Dupard's signing came one day after Gerald Riggs, the Redskins' top runner, was fitted with a special foam and plastic splint to protect the injured arch on his left foot. Riggs is expected to miss two games.
Dupard, who led the Patriots in receiving last season with 34 catches for 232 yards, was signed to boost a Redskins running attack that has produced just 21 and 50 yards in the past two games.
