Kramer Signs With the Bears

The Chicago Bears signed quarterback Erik Kramer, who helped Detroit win the NFC Central title last season, to a three-year, $8.1-million contract.

The Bears have indicated they would like to trade Jim Harbaugh.

“The quarterback position is solidified, obviously,” Bear Coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We got the guy we wanted.”

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Kicker Pete Stoyanovich, who turned down the New England Patriots, re-signed with the Miami Dolphins, getting a four-year, $4.275-million contract to become the NFL’s highest paid kicker.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars gave Boston College Coach Tom Coughlin a five-year, $4-million to coach the expansion team.

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Quarterback Brett Favre, a restricted free agent, was in New Orleans for a workout Monday with the Saints, but said he still hopes to get a new contract with the Green Bay Packers.

Colleges

Texas, Texas A&M;, Texas Tech and Baylor have been invited to join the Big Eight Conference beginning with the 1996-97 season, according to reports in the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Post and the Dallas Morning News.

The Chronicle quoted three Southwest Conference school presidents and the Post and the Morning News cited sources in both leagues. The Post said the schools have until Friday to give the Big Eight a decision.

The remaining four teams in the Southwest Conference--Southern Methodist, Texas Christian, Rice and Houston--have been told they were not invited to join the Big Eight, the newspapers said.

Miscellany

Mighty Duck all-star defenseman Alexei Kasatonov will return to Anaheim today because of a broken bone in his right foot that will sideline him indefinitely. Kasatonov was hurt when he was hit in the foot by a shot during the second period of the Ducks’ 4-1 loss at St. Louis on Sunday. Also, the Ducks acquired minor league goaltender John Tanner from Quebec in exchange for a 1995 fourth-round draft pick.

The Washington Bullets have signed 7-foot-7 Manute Bol to a 10-day contract. . . . Bullet rookie Calbert Cheaney will be sidelined for about three weeks after injuring his left heel Sunday.

The Pacific 10 Conference says Washington State’s women’s basketball team will have to forfeit its Feb. 5 game against Arizona State. Five Cougar players were ill and one injured, so the game was canceled.

Names in the News

Don Turner has replaced Emanuel Steward as trainer of heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, who will fight Michael Moorer April 22 in Las Vegas.

Sixth-ranked Andrei Medvedev of Ukraine will not play in the Newsweek Champions Cup Feb. 28-March 6 at Indian Wells because of a knee injury.

Donald Smiley was appointed president of the Florida Marlins, filling a position left vacant by the death of Carl Barger last year.

Pete Cordelli was fired as Kent University’s football coach after a winless 1993 season and a 3-30 mark over three years. He was replaced by Jim Corrigall, the associate head coach.