clarinews@clarinet.com (RICHARD LUNA, UPI Sports Writer) (02/03/90)
HOUSTON (UPI) -- The Houston Oilers placed three starters, including free safety Jeff Donaldson and offensive tackle Bruce Davis, on their list of 12 unprotected players now eligible for free agency under Plan B. Tight end Bob Mrosko was the other starter, who along with the other nine players now have until April 1 to sign with other teams with no compensation to the Oilers. The players cannot negotiate with Houston until after April 1. Other players left unprotected by the Oilers include cornerback Billy Bell, free safety Tracey Eaton, fullback Tracy Johnson, strong safety Kenny Johnson, receiver Kenny Jackson, defensive tackle Mark Garalczyk, defensive end Anthony Spears, tight end Chris Verhulst and center George Yarno. The Oilers, who lost a league-high 15 players to Plan B last year, left themselves without a free safety or tight end. First-year coach Jack Pardee plans to install a full run-and-shoot offense, which does not require a tight end and limits the numbers of running backs needed. At free safety, the Oilers apparently are going to give fifth-year player Richard Johnson an opportunity to be the starter. There has been speculation that Donaldson, Eaton and Tracy Johnson would end up in Atlanta with former Oilers coach Jerry Glanville. Davis, 33, will be entering his 12th NFL season and said he was not shocked. ``It was not a surprise for me,'' Davis said. ``They wanted to put me on Plan B last year, but there was a last-minute change. This year, I was hurt a lot (chest, knee and thigh) and had to be shuttled in and out of the lineup (with Don Maggs) toward the end. ``My wife Lorna and I figured it up: I played two games relatively healthy. I had a mediocre season for me.''