European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 16, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday september 16.1989 the stars and stripes Page 23 National football league giants la Johnson in b Roy Hasty the Hartford courant Bast Rutherford . It took Pepper Johnson less than three weeks to discover that playing linebacker for the new York giants not promotional work was his Best career option. Johnson who had been working As an executive for Peterson publishing inc. In Detroit agreed to a new two year contract thursday. Terms were not disclosed. I m satisfied Johnson said. On aug. 28, Johnson told his agent Grggory Reed to suspend talks with the giants and threatened to sit out the season. But Johnson and Reed decided to resume negotiations with general manager George Young four Days before the giants Mon Day night opener against Washington. Pepper said it s about time you give him Young a Call and i  Reed said. We gave him a Call to let him know we wanted to get this done. It was a relentless process after that. In thelast moments there was some give and take. When Pepper met with George for about an hour thursday they had a heart to heart  Johnson s contract talks were acrimonious almost from the Start. His inti Lial demand of $600,000 per year was abour twice what the giant offered and More than three times his 1988 base salary of $175,000. Then Reed reportedly began discussing Johnson s status with other teams which the giants Felt constituted tampering. The giants quickly dropped their offer to 185.000. Young budged a Little pushing his offer to $265.000. But Johnson decided to pursue his option in publishing. Though he started 27 of 28 games Over the last two seasons at left inside line Backer Johnson remained an Enigma. The Ohio state product was the leading Tacker last season with 93, but he also Pepper Johnson agrees to terms. Led new York in tackles missed 13 tackles the second highest total on the team. He was expected to Start this season alongside Gary reasons but could face a Long climb Back even though the giant clearly need to strengthen their inside Lin backing corps. That s up to giants coach Bill Par cells. I Don t think i Ever lost my starting Job Johnson said. After watching pro bowlers Carl Banks. Mark Buvarp and scan Landeta suffer through injury plagued seasons after lengthy holdouts Parcells in t counting on Johnson to make an immediate Impact. "1 asked him if he was in shape and he said he thought he was in pretty Good shape Parcells said. He looked Fine. But he s missed two  raiders la Wilson out  Angeles times Al Segundo. Calif. Following the bouncing Otis. In another Surprise Jannoun lament. Otis Wilson hit the waiver wire again thursday when the los Angeles raiders released him for the second time in Lodas. For those keeping score they have now signed him to a $1.15 million contract Cut him re signed him to a smaller contract put him Back in the starting lineup for last week s opener. And Cut him again. The problem now As then w As his Surgi Cally repaired knee. The raiders fell it was Worth taking one More look at provided they could Cut his salary Down id Sie and then did t like what they saw. And if it was t already the unkind St Cut. Try this Wilson had been Given thurs Day off to be with his wife who was about to deliver their third child. Coach Mike Shanahan wound up reaching him at the Hospital and telling him Over the phone. Well Otis has been  Shanahan said. I m sure obviously he was surprised a Little. But he took it like a Man. The Bottom line Emmanuel King was going to gel an Opportunity to be come a starter this week and Otis cannot help us at this Lime on special teams. Otis just has t been Able to go full  Wilson grew to Fame As a Chicago bears outside linebacker. A six year starter he made the pro howl in their super howl season 1985, when he had 11 a sacks inthe regular season and two More in the super bowl rout of new England. In 1988, he suffered a knee injury in a preseason game at Dallas underwent major surgery and missed the entire sea son. The bears left him unprotected in the plan b free Agency period and the raiders grabbed him signing him to a contract that would have paid him former All pro Otis Wilson. Tripped by bad knee $550.000 this season and $600.000 next. Wilson was unable to work in pads for the first two weeks of Camp but Midway through the exhibition season the raid ers inserted him into the starting lineup. Then in the first Surprise they put him on waivers six Days before the Start of the season. A Day later he was Back in uniform and running with the first learn. He had cleared waivers and the raiders had signed him again reportedly for a $250.000 Cut to $300,000. Wilson Ihnn started last week s 40-14 Victory Over inc chargers. He was credited with two Lack los and no assists. Thursday he was gone again. One last poignant note Wilson turns 32 Friday. Bears picked to beat vikes b Dave Goldberg a football writer if the Chicago bears were Wise they d dress up in Gold and Green sunday when Minnesota comes to town 10 . For until proven otherwise Downtrodden Green Bay poses More of a threat to the Vikings than the bears. If they have any weakness it s Well disguised Mike Dilka said of the Vikings who steamroll ered Houston 38 7 sunday and beat the bears 31 -7 last year. They also beat Chicago at Home last year but managed to lose the pfc Central Lille by losing twice to Green Bay a team that won two other games All season. Minnesota indeed looked awesome sunday but the bears also played Well against a High Caliper opponent beating Cincinnati 17-14 on a 95-Yard, fourth Quarter drive engineered by Mike Tomczak. On defense Dan Hampton did his imitation of the Minnesota defense that sacked Warren Moon six times. The Odds makers think the Vikings arc a better team making the bears Only i Point favourites in a spread that includes three Points for the Home Field. Minnesota s Only loss to Chicago in the past two years was in a game played by Long forgo Lien stake replacements. Mike Hohrn Sec was at quarterback for the bears that Day. Hoh Ansce will not be at a a sunday and Anthony Carter May take advantage of Rookie com crack Donnul Woolford. But when Chicago has something to prove in usually does in. The bears will win 17-13. Philadelphia plus 3 at Washington Philadelphia is not quite As Good As it thinks it is. If Mark Rypien can play As Well As he did monday night. Redskins 27-20. Indianapolis plus 6 at los Angeles rams Eric Dickerson returns to play against the eight Guys the rams got for him. Rams 34-22. Denier plus 6 i at Buffalo monday night the Broncos Are Fine As Long As they re playing Kansas City Minnesota s Leo a was would t mind breaking Awa from Chicago like he did on this 64-Yard punt return in 1988. In mile High stadium. Don l exp Cal the Bills to Wail until the last three minutes again. Bills 23-14. New York jets plus 7 at Clit Eland this one looks so easy it could be a trap. The jets Wesley Walker Ken o Brien Al Toon Are banged up. Bud Carso knows their tendencies and the Browns won 51-0 last week. Browns 51-0. San Francisco minus to i at Tampa Bay Vinny Testaverde played like Joe Montana last week. But Joe Montana was t on the other Side. 49ers, 27-14. Pittsburgh plus 10 at Cincinnati the Steeles Goi 53 Yards in total offence against the Browns last week. The bengals got 153 in the first Quarter against the bears. Bengals 33-12.detroit plus in at new York giants is Wayne Fontes serious about Barry Sanders blocking Lawrence Taylor giants 27-10.other games Home learn in Caps Houston minus4 33.san Diego 16. New England minus 6 23, Miami 20. New Orleans minus 4 17, Green Bay 7. Atlanta minus 1 Vij 24, Dallas 20. Raiders plus 2 30, Kansas City 20.seattle minus 7 24, Phoenix 20. Last week 8-5-1 spread11-3 straight up