Jets Waive Atwater, Mirer

The New York Jets saved millions of dollars in salary cap room Wednesday when they waived veterans Steve Atwater, Rick Mirer and Eric Green.

All three spent only the 1999 season with the team and none was a standout.

The team also re-signed running back-special teams standout Bernie Parmalee to a two-year deal.

Mirer bombed as a starter at quarterback after Vinny Testaverde tore an Achilles' tendon in the first game. Acquired from Green Bay in a preseason trade, Mirer started six games, winning two, and completed 95 of 176 passes for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns. His ineffectiveness caused coach Bill Parcells to replace Mirer with untested Ray Lucas.

The No. 2 overall draft choice in 1993, Mirer also played for Seattle and Chicago. He was due to make about $3.5 million next season.

Atwater, a nine-time Pro Bowl free safety with Denver, was signed as a free agent a year ago. He was bothered by hamstring injuries and played in 12 games in his only season with the Jets, making 55 tackles. His salary cap figure for 2000 would have been more than $2 million.

At 33, Atwater has hinted about retirement.

Green, a tight end, played in 10 games, catching seven passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns. He was troubled by a pinched nerve in his neck and knee problems and was placed on injured reserve Dec. 16.

Parcells, then the coach of the Jets, wondered during the season about Green's penchant for injuries. Now chief of football operations, Parcells wasn't about to keep the disappointing Green, even though the team saved only about $250,000 for next season. Most of Green's $1.25 million salary was guaranteed.

Green also has played for Pittsburgh, Miami and Baltimore in a 10-year NFL career.

Parmalee was signed as a free agent and played all 16 games as a third-down running back and special teams player. He rushed 27 times for 133 yards and caught 15 passes for 112 yards.

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