49ers, Skins arrive for American Bowl

Niners' Rumph misses DUI court date MIAMI (AP) -- Prosecutors ordered that 49ers cornerback Michael Rumph be arrested after he failed to appear for an arraignment Thursday on a driving under the influence charge. Miami-Dade County Judge Beth Bloom issued a bench warrant for Rumph's arrest and bond at $3,500 when neither he nor his attorney showed up at the scheduled court hearing. The 49ers left for Japan on Wednesday and are scheduled to play an exhibition game against the Redskins at the Osaka Dome on Saturday night. The 49ers said they had spoken to Rumph's lawyer, who told them there's been a mistake because he had asked the court for a continuance. Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office, said a review of Rumph's court file did not turn up any pleadings. Rumph, a key member of the University of Miami national championship team last year, was selected in the first round by the 49ers in the 2002 NFL Draft. He reported to training camp last week after signing a five-year, $6.4 million contract. Miami Beach police stopped Rumph's vehicle at 4:20 a.m EDT on July 6, then gave him a field sobriety test, which he failed, police said. He was charged with driving under the influence after failing a breathalyzer test.

OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- The 49ers arrived for the American Bowl on Thursday and made a surprising request: They want to hold on to a Japanese player added to the roster just for the game.

Linebacker Masafumi Kawaguchi impressed Steve Mariucci so much that San Francisco's head coach asked the NFL for a special roster exemption so Kawaguchi can return to training camp after the game against the Washington Redskins on Sunday (Saturday night EDT).

"We've inquired about it," team spokesman Kirk Reynolds said.

The Redskins, meanwhile, landed in Japan with one fewer player than expected.

Reserve defensive end Otis Leverette, expected to be a regular part for the defensive line rotation this season, had an MRI exam on his sore knee before takeoff and was diagnosed with a ligament injury that will sideline him about six weeks.

Kawaguchi joined the 49ers' camp in Stockton, Calif., last week, signing the usual 10-day contract as part of the NFL's traditional gesture of giving local American Bowl fans a special rooting interest. The Redskins were assigned receiver Akihito Amaya.

Kawaguchi, a six-year veteran of NFL Europe, came to camp hoping his teammates would see him as something more than an Osaka tour guide.

"I told the guys that if I take care of them in Japan, they've got to take care of me with a job," Kawaguchi said this week.

Any kind of sightseeing would have been a chore for Kawaguchi or anybody on either team Thursday evening after tiring plane rides across the International Date Line.

"It's a new experience for everyone," Redskins head coach Steve Spurrier said. "It's kind of like a college bowl game."

The Redskins' 13-hour flight was a lively affair. Linebacker LaVar Arrington attracted an audience as he played several games of chess, staring at the board with the kind of unwavering intensity that would frighten a quarterback. Kicker Brett Conway, protecting his most valuable football asset, wore long blue compression stockings on his legs and rarely sat.

Others passed the time with cards, dominoes, DVDs, playbooks -- and acts of mild mischief.

"I was merely a part of one rookie prank," Arrington said. "I put mustard on Akil Smith's lips while he was asleep. I got it on camera."

After arrival, both teams received a cultural briefing. Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot offered unsolicited financial advice by telling his teammates to "just add two zeros to everything" when figuring out the dollar-to-yen ratio.

Representatives from the FBI and DEA told the players about Japan's low crime rate, but they warned them to take precautions and made it a point to mention the country's tough drug laws: One ounce of marijuana can result in 1-to-3 years in prison.

"I don't think you have to give us a little fear factor to deter us from doing those things," Arrington said. "Unfortunately, for that one person that may need to hear it, we all have to sit through it."

The teams will practice at the Osaka Dome on Friday and Saturday. Players and cheerleaders will make public appearances both days, and the coaches will hold a clinic for coaches from Japan's X League on Saturday.

 

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