Shuler Dumped By Saints

February 22, 1999 / 7:48 PM EST / AP

Quarterback Heath Shuler's contract with the New Orleans Saints was terminated Monday, team president and general manager Bill Kuharich said.

Shuler, 26, had two years left on a deal originally agreed upon in 1997 when the Saints acquired him through a trade with the Washington Redskins. He was scheduled to make base salaries of $2 million in 1999 and $3.5 million in 2000, plus a $500,000 roster bonus and a $500,000 reporting bonus in 1999.

Shuler, a first-round draft pick in 1994, had said he was interested in restructuring the remaining time on his contract but an injured left foot apparently weighed against him.

The four-year veteran has not played a down since Nov. 16, 1997. He has been hobbled since sustaining crushed bones in his left foot in a game at Oakland on Nov. 9, 1997. Surgeons removed the shattered bones and torn ligaments that year, but the injury remains painful.

After a record-breaking career at Tennessee, the Washington Redskins made Shuler the third player taken in the 1994 draft, expecting quarterback-friendly coach Norv Turner to make him an NFL star.

But a 13-day holdout while a $19 million contract was completed turned Redskins fans against Shuler. He followed that up with poor play, forced passes and fumbles. Finally, a shoulder injury benched him and allowed Gus Frerotte, a seventh-round pick out of Tulsa, to take over.

Shuler was then acquired by the Saints. But in nine starts, he completed 52 percent of his passes, threw only two touchdowns and was intercepted 14 times. He was also sacked 21 times in 10 games before being put on injured reserve Nov. 19, 1997.