Fann Says He Has Agreed to Giants’ Free-Agent Offer

Albert Fann, Cal State Northridge’s all-time leading rusher, said Wednesday that he has agreed in principle to a free-agent contract with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Fann, who rushed for 4,170 yards during his Matador career, will leave this afternoon for the Giants’ rookie mini-camp, which starts Friday at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park, N. J.

Don Yee, Fann’s agent, said that he expects Fann to sign the contract--which is contingent upon his making the Giants’ opening-game roster--on Friday.

Fann, a Cleveland High graduate, said that he would receive a signing bonus, but he would not reveal the figure.

“That’s classified information,” he said. “But it’s a good deal.”

Fann, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound tailback, had 7,032 career all-purpose yards, the fifth-best total in NCAA history. However, he was passed over in favor of 41 other running backs in the National Football League’s two-day, 28-team, 12-round draft that ended Monday.

The Giants contacted Fann on Tuesday afternoon, and the details of the contract were ironed out by late Tuesday.

“I never got down on myself,” Fann said of his non-selection in the draft. “I expected something to happen. I know (Northridge) Coach (Bob) Burt was pretty upset, but I wasn’t. I’ve worked too long and too hard to give up.”