From local and wire dispatches

The Steelers signed former Denver Broncos quarterback Tommy Maddox to a contract yesterday after a workout at the team's practice facility on the South Side. They also released former Pitt quarterback John Turman, who signed a free-agent contract in April after the draft.

Maddox, a former standout quarterback at UCLA who left college early for the NFL, is trying to resurrect his once-promising career. Maddox led the Los Angeles Xtreme to the XFL championship in the ill-fated alternative football league that recently folded. Maddox was named MVP of the league in its first and only season.

Out of UCLA, Maddox served as backup to John Elway with the Denver Broncos for a short time, but he never fulfilled his potential and was eventually released.

Maddox will compete with Kent Graham and Tee Martin during training camp for a roster spot.

Maddox, 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds, was selected by the Broncos in the first round (25th pick) of the 1992 draft after leaving UCLA after his sophomore season. He has completed 83 of 164 passes for 948 yards with six touchdowns and 14 interceptions in four seasons in the NFL with the Broncos, Rams and Giants.

Two other players had workouts yesterday but did not sign deals. Former New England linebacker Chris Slade, a salary-cap casualty with the Patriots, worked out and took a physical, as did former New Orleans Saints tight end Andrew Glover.

Slade's agent, Brad Blank, said he spoke with Steelers officials, but indicated a deal was not imminent. He said he planned to speak with Steelers officials again in the next few weeks before training camp starts in July.

Slade, 30, is an outside linebacker who could potentially provide depth in the wake of free agent Mike Vrabel signing with the Patriots.

Prime-time playoffs

NFL playoff games are going prime time.

Trying to reach a wider TV audience, the NFL said it was scheduling playoff games in prime time for the first time, pushing back kickoffs for some wild-card and divisional contests.

The four Saturday playoff games next season will start at 4:30 or 8 p.m. In past seasons, those games started at 12:30 or 4 p.m.

Six of the eight wild-card and divisional playoff games last season drew lower TV ratings than the year before.

Regular-season Saturday games also will kick off later than in the past.

Quick slants

New York Giants wide receiver Ike Hilliard will have surgery on his big right toe Monday. Hilliard is believed to have injured himself Oct. 8 in a win against the Atlanta Falcons. He did not miss a game because of the toe, although he was forced to sit out two games later in the season because of bruises to the chest and lungs. ... The Denver Broncos lost offensive tackle as free agent Chris Ruhman sustained a knee injury during minicamp. ... Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Ken Irvin will miss the final two days of minicamp after his left hamstring was pulled. ... Free agent guard Victor Allotey signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Terms were not released.

denny