[b43aa588]Fargo Signs Two, Resigns Don Martinez[/b43aa588]
[i43aa588]By Boxcars Update Staff
Date: Apr 4, 2004[/i43aa588]

Yesterday Fargo head coach [b43aa588]Korey Tyworth[/b43aa588] announced the signing of two free agents, and the resigning of five other players.

The players new to the Boxcars organization are kicker [b43aa588]Jack Munoz[/b43aa588] and outside linebacker [b43aa588]Mark Alpert[/b43aa588]. Munoz is currently the only kicker under contract for Fargo after agreeing to a 2 year deal worth $1.66 million after losing last years place kicker J.C Adkins was signed away by Cleveland. It is unlikely that Fargo will add another kicker, so Munoz will most likely be kicking for the Boxcars when next season starts. Heplayed for Long Beach and Memphis last year, converting 12 of 17 fieldgoals with a long of 57 and hitting all 27 of his PAT attempts.

Alpert did not play last year for Baltimore due to an MCL injury that he is still recovering from. He is expected for compete for a starting spot this year though, as it appears unlikely last years starters [b43aa588]Daniel Beane[/b43aa588] and [b43aa588]Jeffrey Weinstein[/b43aa588] will both return. Fargo hopes the 6'2" 220 pound Alpert will be able to provide pressure on the Quarterback from the outside of their 3-4 front. Alpert is also a good run defender who usually seems to be on top of the plays.

Even bigger news than who they brought in was who Fargo was able to keep. Both quarterback [b43aa588]Don Martinez[/b43aa588] and center [b43aa588]Chris Fenton[/b43aa588] agreed to deals. Martinez signed for $6.40 million over 3 years and is expected to remain the Boxcars starting quarterback next year. Fenton, who was one of the Boxcars best offensive linemen last year, agreed to a deal worth $13.79 for 3 years. Team officials feel they got a good deal with Fenton after last years First Team All-Pro center [b43aa588]Ernest Fant[/b43aa588] signed a 5 year deal worth nearly $30 million. Fenton isn't quite in Fant's class, though it's hard to see Fant as being worth that much more.

SUNDAYS NOTES
* In addition to the other signings, Fargo reached deals with restricted free agents [b43aa588]Wendell McIver[/b43aa588], [b43aa588]Seth Webb[/b43aa588], and [b43aa588]Richard Saunders[/b43aa588].
* In other contract news, starting Flanker [b43aa588]Jamison Reynolds[/b43aa588] signed a new 4 year contract that will pay him $5.04 million.
*Fargo is in negotions with last years top 2 defensive tackles. There were talks about resiging last years starter [b43aa588]Albert Garcia[/b43aa588] who will visit Huntington Beach today, while backup [b43aa588]Ron Nazario[/b43aa588] may get cut if he doesn't sign a deal that would reduce his cap number.
* Fargo was not without concern over the knee injury Mark Alpert suffered. Alpert's contract gave him no guaranteed money in the form of a signing bonus, meaning if his recovery does not go as planned he can be cut with no loss of cap room. As a compromise with Alpert's agent [b43aa588]Timothy Saclines[/b43aa588], however, the third year of the deal will void if he records 30 tackles in the second year, a number he will have no trouble reaching if he is a starter.
*In other division signings, the Tulsa Talons signed kicker [b43aa588]Claude Matsumoto[/b43aa588].