text: PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Flutie Signs With Chargers - The New York Times
  Sports|PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Flutie Signs With Chargers
  PLUS: PRO FOOTBALL; Flutie Signs With Chargers
  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MARCH 10, 2001
  Doug Flutie has a National Football League starting job again.
  Granted, it is with the San Diego Chargers, who were 1-15 last season, the worst record in the league. But Flutie, a 38-year-old quarterback, does not have to look over his shoulder and the Chargers are happy to have him after dealing with Ryan Leaf the past three seasons.
  ''I'm going into my 17th season of professional football, and for the first time I feel like I'm going to be the guy and have an opportunity to take a team as far as we can go,'' Flutie said yesterday after agreeing to terms with the Chargers, his fourth N.F.L. team in a career that also included eight seasons in the Canadian Football League.
  Although neither side would discuss specifics, the contract is believed to be in the $28 million to $30 million range, similar to what Brad Johnson got from Tampa Bay and Elvis Grbac got from Baltimore. The signing bonus is believed to be about $3 million.
  Although Flutie was 21-9 as a starter in three seasons with the Buffalo Bills, he did not survive their long-running quarterback controversy. Rob Johnson won the job and Flutie was released last week, on the same day the Chargers waived Leaf.
  The Chargers are expected to take Michael Vick with the first pick in the April draft, but concede that Vick, the scrambling Virginia Tech quarterback, will probably need a year or two of experience before starting in the N.F.L.
  SEAHAWKS SIGN PATRIOTS' EATON: Chad Eaton, a starter for New England last season at defensive tackle, signed a multiyear contract yesterday with the Seattle Seahawks.
  The signing came a day after the Seahawks released Cortez Kennedy, their eight-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, who was scheduled to receive a $2 million roster bonus today.
  Eaton, 28, had been with the Patriots since 1996, starting 43 of the 65 games in which he appeared. He had a career-high 77 tackles last season with 2.5 sacks.