The Eagles and WYSP agreed yesterday on a four-year contract extension that will keep the FM station as the team's flagship radio outlet through the 1999 season.
The Eagles' deal with Infinity Broadcasting - the parent company that owns WYSP - is believed to be worth $17 million, making it one of the most lucrative local radio contracts in the NFL. Infinity owns stations that broadcast local games in Atlanta, Dallas, New England, New York (Jets), Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Washington.
Team and station officials said they were delighted to have closed the deal a year before the current contract expired.
On Jan. 8, 1992, the Eagles ended their 23-year relationship with WIP-AM (610) by agreeing to a four-year deal with WYSP-FM (94.1) worth about $6 million.
"We've had a very good relationship with WYSP since we've been here," said Jeffrey Auerbach, the Eagles' vice president of business development and broadcasting. "They were pretty progressive and aggressive in trying to lock in the deal. They really had a belief in (the team's) new management."
"The Eagles are, by far, the No. 1 pro team in Philadelphia," WYSP general manager Ken Stevens said. "I believe they want to win the title. And I sort of wanted to be the station that carries the Eagles' games when they do."
Stevens said that play-by-play announcer Merrill Reese and analyst Stan Walters would continue to broadcast the games. The station also plans to add new announcers and features for its pregame and postgame shows, he said.
"My goal is to have every television turned down and every radio turned on at home," Stevens said, "and to have everyone at the stadium wearing headphones."
JOHNSON LOOKS ELSEWHERE. Bill Johnson, the former Cleveland Browns defensive tackle whom the Eagles had brought in earlier this week for an interview and tryout, visited the Atlanta Falcons yesterday. He did not sign with the Falcons, either.
Johnson's agent, Bob Huebner, said Johnson also planned to visit the New Orleans Saints before he would make a decision. Johnson visited the Washington Redskins after he left West Chester on Tuesday.
Eagles coach Ray Rhodes had hoped to sign Johnson to gird his thin defensive line before Johnson had a chance to leave, but Johnson left, anyway. Johnson did not have anything bad to say about his visit here, but he wanted to hear what other teams had to offer.
"We're looking at all our options," Huebner said.
NOTES. Chris T. Jones, the rookie wide receiver who earned a spot earlier this week in Rhodes' doghouse for his listless play, has begun to impress Rhodes. "The guy's really turned it up a notch," Rhodes said. "I just need for him to transfer it to the field." . . . Veteran guard Guy McIntyre stayed on the field after the morning practice yesterday and slammed into the blocking sled - without his shoulder pads on - then repeatedly worked on pulling out of his stance and leading an imaginary trap play. . . . Rhodes said the team's quarterbacks would be given about the same amount of playing time Saturday against the New York Jets as they got last week against Atlanta.
