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| Tuesday, September 19 By John Clayton ESPN.com | |||
| Last updated Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 1 a.m. ET
Jeff Garcia will get another chance.
Garcia inherited the starting quarterback duties for the 49ers when Steve Young was injured last season and then took over the job full-time entering this season. However, he had a rough outing in San Francisco's loss to the Panthers on Sunday and was replaced by Rick Mirer in the fourth quarter.
Still, Garcia will remain the 49ers' starter.
Niners coach Steve Mariucci, who always has solidly backed Garcia as the team's starter, was not as definite about Garcia's status after Sunday's game. Then he reviewed film, and on Tuesday said he was sticking with the former Calgary Stampeder.
"We'll be talking about the quarterback situation as we go," Mariucci said Sunday. "Today we had to go to the bullpen and we were able to score a few points."
Garcia finished 12-of-20 for 181 yards and an interception Sunday before being replaced by Mirer, who finished 10-for-20 passing for 126 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Packers get their wish: Public will fund Lambeau upgrade Packers fans turned out in masses to save the Packers. The 53-47 referendum vote to rebuild Lambeau Field will help keep the revenue streams available to stay competitive in the NFL "If it didn't pass, the Packers might have dried up and gone away," general manager Ron Wolf said. "The league might have had to take it over. With this vote, we can keep up with the Jones'. We'll be in good shape." The 0.5 percent sales tax funds a $295 million renovation along with increasing the seating capacity from 60,890 to 71,000. There will be 166 private boxes, a decrease of 32. There will be 6,250 club seats. The new field should be ready by 2003. Titans hope McNair can play after bye week Steve McNair, after spending two days in the hospital for a badly bruised sternum, visited the Titans offices Tuesday. "He was really sore," general manager Floyd Reese said. "That may have been the hardest hit he's ever taken." McNair was hit above his flak jacket by the helmet of Chiefs defensive end Duane Clemons. He had trouble breathing after the hit. The Titans hope he will be able to play next week. The Titans are in a bye week.
Broncos' 'kick off' goes to Nedney Looks like Packers right tackle Earl Dotson is going to need an operation on his back. He will decide when to have that surgery in the next 24 hours. Dotson reherniated a disk in his lower back. He had back surgery Jan. 10 to fix the problem that bothered him last season. The key for the Packers is finding out when he can return. According to his agent, Jack Bechta, Dotson hopes the injury will keep him out only five weeks -- although he said one player came back in three weeks last year. The Packers are so optimistic he will be back this season that they don't have immediate plans to put him on the injured reserve list. "This injury is not going to end his career," Bechta said. "He's only 29 years old. The type of surgery that he is going to have has not ended a career of anyone in his age group." Dotson was given training camp to rehab the back, but the pain was too unbearable during the first two games. In pre-game warms Sunday in Buffalo, he felt something pop in his back. He tried to play a couple of snaps but couldn't last. An MRI revealed the disk was destroyed again. Jaguars cut Howard after disastrous outing Last Sunday's start for Jaguars halfback Chris Howard turned out to be a disaster. Not only did he gain only seven yards on eight carries, but he also fumbled twice. The Jaguars cut him Tuesday even though Fred Taylor probably will miss this week's game against the Bengals. John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. | ALSO SEE
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