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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1997)
Monday • August 11, 1997 S The Battalion PORTS Injuries plague expansion quarterbacks Collins breaks jaw, Panthers forced to regroup CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers — already strug gling on offense — suddenly face a more urgent problem: Kerry Collins [tin has a broken jaw and is sidelined in definitely. The Pro Bowl quarterback of the NFC West champions was in- da jured during Saturday night’s 23- 13 exhibition loss to the Denver Broncos. Standing in the pocket as he completed a pass, Collins L took a vicious hit to the head in the second quarter from line backer Bill Romanowski. He underwent surgery Sunday rnd it’s unlikely he will play in the \ug. 31 opener against Washington, tnd he could be out for more than a month. lvai The quarterback job now goes to ourneyman Steve Beuerlein, an 11 - fear veteran who was 3-1 as a F starter in 1996 when Collins went | sll Pown with several injuries. “1 don’t think there is really any- p aodyon this football team that feels ike I ve to prove anything to Item,” said Beuerlein, who is 25-25 as an NFL starter for six different teams. “They have confidence in neand until I show them otherwise [don’t think that will change. I don’t alanon letting them see that side.’’ Collins threw for 2,454 yards last season and had only nine intercep tions in leading Carolina to the NFC title game. The Panthers had scored only one touchdown and 22 points in an 0-2 exhibition start while try ing to break in a relatively new re ceiving corps. “We can’t let it be a starting over process,” said wide receiver Ernie Mills, who signed as a free agent from Pittsburgh. “As receivers we can’t say, ‘OK, now we’ve got to start over and adjust to Steve.’ We are wide receivers, our job is to go out there and catch the ball regardless of who the starter is.” Beuerlein is the first to admit his talent and ability doesn’t match up to that of the rugged Collins. “My game is a lot different than Kerry’s game,” Beuerlein said. “I’m not able to do some of the things he is physically. I don’t know if I would have been able to take that hit any better than he did. I make up for it in other ways.” One way is by his fiery nature. Beuerlein held an impromptu meeting with the offensive starters after news of Collins’ injury reached the locker room. “I do know I need everybody on this offense to step up and play their best to give me a chance to be my best,” he said. “That’s the word I’ve spread. I said, ‘Hey, this is the way it has got to be. I have confidence in all you guys.’” Coach Dom Capers said he was looking downfield when Collins was struck and couldn’t comment on Romanowski’s hit. Capers said he would look at the tape before deciding to ask the league to re view the hit. There was no flag on the play. “It was a head-to-head shot, which is not what you are looking for anytime, much less a preseason game,” Beuerlein said. “It’s not go ing to make Kerry feel any better if there is a fine involved. The bottom line is he has a long way to go what ever the situation may be. He’s got to get himself ready.” Bruneirs knee injury hobbles Jaguars EAST RUTHERFORD, N J. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars’ hopes of reaching the Super Bowl in their third season may have taken a big hit following a knee injury to quar terback Mark Brunell. Brunell, who carried the Jaguars to the AFC title game in their second year last season, in jured his right knee with 6:54 left in the first half of Saturday night’s 38-16 exhibition win over the New York Giants. Brunell was scheduled for an MRI Sunday, but neither coach Tom Coughlin nor his players seemed op timistic. The Jaguars now turn to back up Rob Johnson, who has thrown all of seven passes in two seasons. “It’s a whole new ballgame now,” Johnson said. “I’ve done well in practice. Now we’ll find out what I can do in the NFL.” Johnson certainly looked like a Super Bowl quarterback for one ex hibition game, going 5-for-7 for 170 yards and two touchdowns, includ ing a 60-yarder to Jimmy Smith right after Brunell went down. When he entered, the Jaguars had been outgained 170-45, although they trailed just 6-3. Brunell was obtained from Green Bay before the 1995 season and played the last 11 games that season. He then emerged in the sec ond half of last year as one of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks. He was the only quarterback to take every snap for his team in 1996. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,367) and rushing yards for a terback (396) and his 4,763 total yards was the fifth-highest ever by an NFL quarterback. “He’s our heart. It’s as simple as that,” said Pro Bowl receiver Keenan McCardell. “He’s the piece of the puzzle that can get us to the Super Bowl.” Johnson has played in only one regular-season game during his two years, completing 3-of-7 passes for 24 yards with one interception. His career quarterback rating is 12.0. Brunell was hit by a blitzing Jessie Armstead as he planted his right leg on the artificial turf at Giants Stadium. Armstead ap peared to be blocked to the ground by Natrone Means and slid into Brunell. “It was in no way deliberate,” said Armstead, who had a serious knee injury in college at Miami. “The back hit me. I hit the ground and kind of rolled into his leg.” “It’s scary to see your quarter back sitting on the ground,” said Smith. “I’ve never been in this situ ation before, where you suddenly have a new quarterback.” Added Coughlin: “It’s frustrat ing when a guy gets hurt when the game doesn’t count — or when it does count. But it’s the way foot ball is. It’s a dangerous game — on turf or on grass. A guy can get in jured planting his foot on grass during a practice session. You just never know.” Johnson was a fourth-round choice in 1995, Jacksonville’s first season. He was the first pick of the second day although he was pro jected much higher. Some scouts considered him a first-rounder, but there were questions about his atti tude and work ethic. Maddux becomes highest-paid player ATLANTA (AP) — Greg Maddux be- bame baseball’s highest-paid player [ e |) Sunday, signing a five-year contract ex- ension with the Atlanta Braves that wllpay him $57.5 million. “Hove playing here,” the four-time [ijjKyYoung award winner said. “It’s been e [(j agreat five years and I look forward to phenext five.” Maddux’s agent, Scott Boras, said le deal included a signing bonus and no deferred money. The pack- averages $11.5 million a year and is guaranteed. The 31-year-old right-hander leapfrogs past Barry Bonds of San francisco and Albert Belle of Cleve land in the salary game. Bonds will earn an average of $11.45 million a year, beginning in 1999, and Belle makes $11 million. Maddux is in the final season of a $28 million, five-year con tract that pays him $6.5 million this season. “They made me a nice deal,” he said. “I’d be a fool not to take it.” The signing was announced be fore the Braves played the Florida Marlins. Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz attended the Turner Field news conference and called Maddux a “very vital part of the At lanta Braves organization.” Maddux supplanted teammate Tom Glavine as the top-paid pitcher in baseball. Those two join John Smoltz and Denny Neagle in agreeing to long term deals with the Braves, whose starting rotation has been baseball’s best during the 1990s. Glavine, the winningest pitcher in the majors since 1991 with 111 victo ries, signed a four-year contract exten sion for $34 million in May. That pushed the left-hander past Toronto’s Roger Clemens as the top earner among pitchers. Kile wins ninth straight Houston beats up on Mets’ Rick Reed, 11-8 NEW YORK (AP) — Darryl Kile won his ninth straight decision de spite allowing two home runs to John Olerud, and the Houston Astros held on to defeat the New York Mets 11-8 Sunday. The Astros gave Kile (16- 3) a 5-0 lead in the first in ning. Kile gave up eight runs and 10 hits in seven innings, striking out eight. Olerud’s solo home run in the third pulled the Mets within 5-4. He highlighted a four-run sev enth with a two-run homer, his 16th, as New York closed to 11-8. Tom Martin got five outs for his second save. The Astros won their second in a row after losing five straight games. The Astros scored five times in the first inning against Rick Reed (10-5), helped by a pair of er rors. Bill Spiers and Brad Ausmus hit RBI singles. WHAT’S IT LIKE AT THE PLASMA CENTER! To the staff of the Plasma Center, I would like to start by saying thank you to each and every employee for making the past three years enjoyable in a professional, efficient and courteous environment. As a donor since 1993, I have been more than satis fied with every aspect of your operation, which allows myself and others to contribute what we can to community service, all the while being serviced by diligent, but relaxed, workers. Everyone at the Plasma Center, from those behind the front counter to the phlebotomists to the supervisors, have made great efforts to insure that each donor feels hygienically safe, as well as keeping the atmosphere light. Like most, I started coming to the Plasma Center for monetary reasons, but I soon developed acquaintances that appealed to me almost as much as the original need for money, enabling me to look forward to each donation, not only for my wallets sake but also to see my friends. Like I commented to some one recently, talking to people at the Plasma Center was like getting mail from a far-off friend that you don’t get to do much with, but who you can talk to as often as you write. Lor those acquaintances and for your continual services. I would like to thank all of those I’ve come to know and appreciate over the past three years - Emily, and Tracy, Heath, and Marty, Ada and Josie, etc... more I can’t remember or those who have gone on to better things. So, as I graduate from this great University, I bid you all a fond farewell and strong commendations on such a successful blend of quality medical practice and friendly service. Thank you all and have a great sum mer. Thanks, C.L BiologicalS THE PLASMA CENTER 700 E. University Dr. 268-6050 4223 Wellborn Rd. 846-8855 YOU...CO-OP this Fall! t/M'CVM S/EL LEATHER sistant sapphire crystal Sc ratch teU eSlStant t0 200 meters -'$995 Ba N a -Ti. c 6 % b(e exclusively at . Huntley, Inc. Class of 79 )Uth College Avenue Station, TX 77840 09) 846-8916 * The time is here, the time is now. Apply before August 15! , , n ^ Cir! _□ 1 845-7725 http://co-opweb.taniu.cdu 209 Koidus !S5» 11.