Ryan mum about possibility of dealing for Cunnigham

The Associated Press

TEMPE Ñ Are the Arizona Cardinals interested in swinging a deal for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham?

If they are, Cardinals coach and general manager Buddy Ryan isnÕt saying.

ESPN reported this week that the Cardinals have had Òinternal discussionsÓ regarding Cunningham, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 1994.

The cable network said Arizona would give the Eagles a No. 1 draft pick in exchange for Cunningham.

ÒTo tell you the truth, Mr. B. (team owner Bill Bidwill) and I talked about a quarterback a couple of weeks ago. But it wasnÕt Randall Cunningham,Ó Ryan said Thursday. ÒIf anybody else in the organization, as I read, is discussing quarterbacks, all they are doing is beating their gums because nobody else is going to make any decisions except Mr. B. and me, and we havenÕt talked about Randall.Ó

Ryan did not disclose the player he and Bidwill discussed.

Cunningham played for Ryan from 1986 to 1990, and sent him a letter and a potted plant when Ryan got the CardinalsÕ coach-general manager job last February.

Ryan has used three starting quarterbacks this season Ñ incumbent starter Steve Beuerlein, Jim McMahon and Jay Schroeder.

Schroeder is to make his third consecutive start when the Cardinals (5-7) play at Houston (1-11) Sunday.

Arizona is 3-4 in games Beuerlein has started, 2-2 under Schroeder and 0-1 under McMahon.

The Cardinals rank 27th in the NFL in yards gained and 26th in completion percentage. They have a league-low 15 touchdowns, 12 below the league average.

Ryan was asked if he was dissatisfied with his current quarterbacks.

ÒWeÕre dissatisfied with our whole output on offense,Ó Ryan said.

Beuerlein returned to practice this week after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to mend torn cartilage in his left knee suffered in a 10-9 victory over the New York Giants Nov. 13, the last game in which the Cardinals scored an offensive touchdown.

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