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| Monday, August 18 Veteran cornerback was trying to return from surgery By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com |
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"Otis is a professional and a team player -- a true champion," Belichick said in announcing the roster move. "It was a difficult roster decision that we made, but with only 10 days and limited 'reps' in practice, we felt we had to make the move." Smith, 37, was attempting to return from offseason surgery for a torn pectoral muscle but had seen very little practice time. The release ended his second stint with the club. It seemed that Smith might be able to play forever, as long as Belichick or Bill Parcells were in the league, because he was a longtime favorite of both coaches. Often panned by fans for surrendering too many big plays, Smith had an unusual knack for rebounding from adversity and making big plays of his own. In 162 regular-season games, Smith has 28 interceptions and 102 passes defensed, to go along with 451 tackles. The former University of Missouri star, who entered the league in '91 with Philadelphia, started for much of the past three seasons in New England but suffered from a string of injuries. He played in 14 games in 2002 (13 starts) and had two interceptions. His itinerant career includes stints with the Eagles (1991-94), Jets (1995-96 and 1997-99), and the Patriots (1996 and 2000-2002). It invariably seemed that wherever Parcells or Belichick popped up, so did Smith. He was a tough, physical cornerback, a guy who was a better player than fans perceived. In 2001, he led New England with five interceptions and he played brilliantly down the stretch run that year and in Super Bowl XXXVI. Smith always enjoyed playing "press" coverage, up close on a receiver, and he had the envied commodity of a short memory, a guy who didn't brood over poor plays. The Patriots signed veteran cornerback Tyrone Poole in the offseaason, then acquired two young cornerbacks, Eugene Wilson (No. 2a) and Asante Samuel (No. 4b) in the '03 draft. The team has been especially pleased with the performance of the two rookies. By releasing Smith, the Patriots will save his $755,000 base salary. He will count about $163,000 against their 2003 cap total and $157,500 toward the 2004 spending limit.
The player tabbed for the key backup role, veteran Brenden Stai, stunned the Patriots last week by abruptly retiring, less than two weeks after joining the team. It marked the third year in a row that New England had signed a veteran guard and then seen him leave camp before the season began. Joe Panos quit on the Patriots in 2001 and Rich Tylski last year. New England lost youngster Stephen Neal to an injury last month and projected starter Joe Andruzzi is still not full-speed yet following offseason knee surgery. Andruzzi has now returned to practice but the numbers at the position are still thin. Lacina, 32, started all 16 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2002. In stints with the Bills (1994-97), Panthers (1998) and Vikings (1999-2002), he has started in 79 of his 121 career appearances. Lacina has started 41 games over the past three seasons.
ESPN.com has learned that the Saints signed veteran Ki-Jana Carter on Monday afternoon. Carter, who worked out earlier in the day for club officials, agreed to a one-year contract worth for the league minimum of $530,000. The first overall choice in the 1995 draft, Carter has suffered through a career marred by injuries, and three times in seven years has appeared in three games or fewer as a result of major physical setbacks. The former Penn State star, who began his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, has not played since 2001 when he was with the Washington Redskins and rushed for 308 yards as a backup. Projected as a star, Carter has instead been star-crossed, and the chance with the Saints might be the last one of his career. Carter, 29, has 290 career carries for 1,055 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also has caught 65 passes for 458 yards. New Orleans currently lists Curtis Keaton as its No. 2 tailback, but wanted to upgrade at the position, and team personnel staffers have been carefully monitoring other clubs' roster to see who might become available.
Working in skill-position sessions and seven-on-seven drills, Garcia threw more than 100 passes, and reported no problems. It marked the first practice for the four-year veteran in nearly two weeks. Garcia is suffering from a bulging disk -- the result of a weight-lifting workout in July -- and had undergone several epidural injections to ease the pain. Last week, ESPN.com reported that a source close to Garcia said the quarterback definitely would be ready for the start of the regular season, and expressed confidence that he would get through the year. "I did every throw I could think of," Garcia said after the Sunday session. "There were no problems. I still have to be smart, and not overdo things, but things should be fine." San Francisco quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner termed the practice "a good start." Head coach Dennis Erickson acknowledged Garcia was a little rusty but that the staff was more than satisfied with his progress. Both Garcia and Erickson noted that they feel the quarterback needs some preseason playing time to help prepare for the regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. Garcia, who has thrown for 13,704 yards and 95 touchdowns in his first four seasons in the league, is expected to increase his workload this week. At some point in the week, he likely will participate in full "team" drills.
Webster, 25, already was trying to come back from May surgery on his left ankle, and his loss for any extended period would further deplete a San Francisco secondary that struggled for much of the 2002 season. Even before the injury, there was much uncertainty over whether Webster, a three-year veteran and former second-round draft pick, would be fully rehabilitated from the ankle surgery in time for the opener. Second-year veteran Mike Rumph, the 49ers' first-round choice in 2002 and a frequent target for opposition quarterbacks last year, would replace Webster in the lineup if Webster is unable to play in the opener.
"He's way ahead of where he should be at this point," said general manager Tom Donahoe after evaluating the latest physical exam by Buffalo team doctors. "But he's nowhere ready to play yet." McGahee, who signed a five-year contract last week, is on the active/non-football injury list and likely will still be there when the season begins. Donahoe has said that he will not rush McGahee back from rehabilitation and suggested that, if the former Miami star does play this year, it will not be until the second half of the season.
The surgery removed some debris from the knee and Panthers officials said that Buckner will be recovered in time for the regular-season opener. Buckner, 31, started 12 games for Carolina in 2002 and posted 47 tackles and five sacks. His inside power is key for the Panthers' front four, a unit whose strong suit is quickness, and the team decided after last Friday night's preseason game to get the knee cleaned out now, so that Buckner would have sufficient recovery time.
Jones injured the hamstring on Saturday night while covering a punt. Third-year veteran Kelvin Moses, a special teams standout who has yet to start in a regular-season game, will step into the lineup. Moses, who made the team as an undrafted free agent from Wake Forest in 2001, has 40 special teams tackles in two seasons but just five stops from scrimmage.
Cook, 26, signed a one-year contract believed to be for $530,000, the league minimum for a four-year veteran. The former Southern California star drew little attention in free agency because he was still recovering from knee surgery. Cook suffered cartilage damage in September and, after attempting to return to the field in October, was placed on injured reserve. In four seasons, Cook has played in 47 games and started two times, and has 18 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and three passes defensed.
Baxter was hurt during Friday night's 34-6 loss at Dallas.
"This is certainly a loss,'' Texans head coach Dom Capers said. "Jarrod started for us all last year. He came back in with a great attitude and worked extremely hard during the offseason. He was showing significant progress, because last year was his first year playing fullback. I feel bad for Jarrod because he worked so hard to get ready for the season.''
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