Wednesday, August 07, 2002
NFL Notebook: Run-it-up Redskins irk 49ers
Enquirer news services
Steve Spurrier says he coaches the same way - whether the opponent is Central Michigan or the San Francisco 49ers. The first-year NFL coach, whose career at the University of Florida was marked by huge victories over inferior opponents, was responding Tuesday to 49ers coach Steve Mariucci's comments. Mariucci suggested Monday that Spurrier's Washington Redskins were playing starters against his scrubs in its 38-7 win over San Francisco in Osaka, Japan.
“Supposedly, we had a lot to prove against the Niners, and they didn't have much to go for, so that was the reason we got them pretty good,” Spurrier said.
The Redskins never quit throwing in the American Bowl, including a fourth-and-1 post pattern to the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Most of Washington's premier starters - including Stephen Davis and the entire first-team defense - didn't play after the first quarter. The starting offensive line returned briefly in the second half when Danny Wuerffel entered the game, giving him a fair shot in the team's three-way quarterback derby.
The teams meet in San Francisco in the third week of the regular season. But the revenge factor is nothing new to Spurrier, who so often was accused of piling on the points at Florida.
“I'm sure they'll be excited when we play them again,” Spurrier said. “And we'll be excited, too.”
BEARS: Chicago signed kick returner Nate Jacquet to a one-year contract, giving him a chance to make his fifth team in six seasons. Jacquet was on the Minnesota Vikings' roster for parts of the past two seasons.
BRONCOS: Veteran wide receiver Rob Moore, who has been plagued by injuries the last two seasons, was released by Denver. Moore was signed by the Broncos on April1 after being waived by the Arizona Cardinals on Feb.27.
Moore, 33, has played in 153 games, including 150 starts, in his 12-year career with the Cardinals and New York Jets.
BROWNS: An MRI exam showed no major damage in Cleveland rookie running back William Green's sore right shoulder. The first-round draft pick had some discomfort in his shoulder last week and then aggravated it during a full-contact practice against the Buffalo Bills in Rochester, N.Y.
CHARGERS: Linebacker Junior Seau dodged a serious injury after getting his cleats caught in the grass and twisting his left knee during a drill. Seau, an 11-time Pro Bowler, left the field on a cart with San Diego trainer James Collins supporting his knee.
“I'm fine,” Seau said. “I have a little strain in the calf behind the knee.”
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Seau is listed as day-to-day and expects to return in two or three days.
COWBOYS: Dallas tackle Flozell Adams sprained his right knee and will miss Friday's preseason game against Oakland. He's expected to return to practice next week.
FALCONS: Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick was back throwing passes, showing no signs of a sore left shoulder.
Vick tweaked the shoulder during a passing drill Monday morning. It was wrapped in ice, and he didn't throw during the afternoon workout. But Vick was back in his normal routine the next day, zipping throws during a two-hour practice.
“It felt great,” he said. “I could have had a better day throwing the football, but the shoulder didn't bother me too much.”
Vick, the No.1 overall pick in 2001, is going into his first season as an NFL starter.
PANTHERS: Coach John Fox ended Tuesday morning's practice early after a fight involving three players.
Fox grew agitated when offensive lineman T.J.Washington got into a scuffle with defensive linemen Mike Rucker and Brentson Buckner about 30 minutes before morning practice was to end.
After teammates broke up the scuffle, Fox called the players into a huddle, chewed them out and dismissed them until the afternoon session.
“Sometimes, you can talk to people, but sometimes you've got to put the hammer down,” Fox said.
RAVENS: Baltimore signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker Bernardo Harris to a one-year, $750,000 contract. Because Harris is an eight-year veteran, only $450,000 will count against the salary cap.
Harris led the Packers in tackles four of the past five seasons, and started all but one game in the last five years.
TEXANS: Safety Leomont Evans walked in a Canton, Ohio, hospital, and showed so much improvement that he was expected to return to Houston and begin rehabilitation this week.
Evans bruised his spinal cord in a collision during the first half of the Texans' NFL debut in the Hall of Fame Game on Monday night. He temporarily lost feeling in his arms and legs.
TV RATINGS: John Madden's debut on Monday Night Football drew higher overnight TV ratings than either of former analyst Dennis Miller's Hall of Fame NFL exhibition telecasts.
ABC Sports' broadcast of the New York Giants' 34-17 victory over the expansion Houston Texans drew an 8.6 overnight rating. That's 21 percent better than the 2001 Hall of Fame game's 7.1 overnight rating, and 7.5 percent better than 2000's 8.0.
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NFL Notebook: Run-it-up Redskins irk 49ers
