Texans close to deal with top pick Carr

Tuesday, April 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) _ The Houston Texans are near signing Fresno State quarterback David Carr to a seven-year contract that would pay him $60 million if he reaches all incentives, a source told The Associated Press Tuesday.

Carr's agent, Mike Sullivan, who also negotiated quarterback Michael Vick's contract with the Atlanta Falcons last year, was returning to Texas to get the final details of the contract ironed out, the Houston Chronicle and KRIV-TV of Houston reported Monday night.

The NFL also is looking at the contract but had not yet given its approval early Tuesday, the source told the AP.

Carr would earn $45 million as a salary base over the seven years and that could increase that to $60 million if he met all incentives.

Carr would be paid $16 million in the first three years of the deal, the most in NFL history for a player in the first three years of a contract.

Vick, selected by the Falcons with the top pick in last year's draft, will make $15.3 million in his first three years. Vick signed an eight-year, $62 million deal with the Falcons.

Sullivan did not immediately return phone calls by The AP.

Two weeks ago, the Texans proclaimed Carr the team's top pick in Saturday's draft. Later that week, Carr bought a home in Sugar Land and relocated his family from California to Texas.

``We wanted him to get in here and get things taken care of so we can have his full attention,'' coach Dom Capers said. ``He's going to need to have all the distractions out of the way and focus on football.''

Carr will also be among the honorees at Thursday's National Quarterback Club Awards ceremony. The following day, Carr will fly to New York where, on Saturday, he will become the 12th quarterback selected with the top overall pick since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 and the fourth in the last five years.

After meeting with the national media attending the draft, Carr will fly back to Houston with Texans owner Bob McNair to meet with the local media for the first time as an official member of the Texans, according to the Chronicle.

Carr, who visited a Texans practice last week, led the nation with 4,839 passing yards and 46 touchdowns in 2001 while leading Fresno State to an 11-3 record.