Vikings’ Reveiz Retires Because of Painful Foot

Fuad Reveiz cried in the best of times, like the day he set an NFL record for consecutive field goals.

On Friday, the worst day of his professional career, Reveiz dissolved into tears once again as he announced his retirement from the Minnesota Vikings, a sudden decision forced by a painful left foot.

“I’m a truly grateful man,” he began, choking up almost immediately. “It’s been a. . . . I want to thank. . . . I want to thank God first, for the ability, how he’s blessed me. I want to thank my wife, kids.”

Reveiz, who will receive a $175,000 injury settlement, retires as the most accurate kicker in Viking history, connecting on 77.8% of his attempts. His .916 season percentage in 1990 is the best in team history, as are the 34 field goals he made in 1994.

He also was among the best clutch kickers in the NFL. He converted 83.3% of his kicks in the fourth quarter, and kicked seven game-winning field goals over the past four seasons.

Lin Elliott and Scott Sisson will compete for the kicking job.

*

The Vikings followed the announcement of Reveiz’s retirement with word that Robert Smith had agreed to a one-year contract.

Smith, a training camp holdout for the second consecutive year, agreed to a deal that will pay him $1 million for 1996 and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Plagued by injuries his first two seasons, Smith was on pace to set a Viking record with 1,227 yards last season when he severely sprained an ankle at Green Bay on Oct. 22.

*

Dallas Cowboy defensive end Shante Carver, expected to be suspended for the year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, was suspended for six games by the NFL.

Carver, the team’s top pick in the 1994 draft and backup to Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert, left the team last month claiming personal reasons as word got out the NFL was likely to suspend him for the year.