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Monday Roundup Cincinnati releases veteran kicker Pelfrey
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Doug Pelfrey, the most accurate kicker in Cincinnati Bengals history, was released Monday after seven seasons as the club decided to go with a rookie. The Bengals chose sixth-round draft pick Neil Rackers over Pelfrey, who was the second-leading scorer in franchise history and one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history during his first four years. "I want to be excited, but it's hard," Rackers said. "I'm satisfied I got the job, but it's hard to see Doug go. It's kind of a rough time." Pelfrey expected to be traded or released after the club drafted Rackers. He struggled last season as the club went through several long snappers and holders because of injury. He was informed of the decision Monday morning, then cleaned out his dressing cubicle before reporters arrived. He went up to Rackers and told him he had won the job. "I think Doug was eager to get a new start somewhere," Rackers said. "He was upbeat on the outside, but that's the way he always is." Pelfrey has scored 660 points, trailing only Jim Breech on the club's career list. Rackers had a stronger leg, which gave him the advantage over Pelfrey. Pelfrey leaves the Bengals holding team records for career field goal accuracy (77.3 percent), career point-after-touchdown accuracy (97.1 percent), points in a season (121), field goals in a season (29) and field goals in a game (six). He made 81.25 percent of his kicks in his first four years. But Pelfrey, an eighth-round draft pick out of Kentucky in 1993, went 18-for-27 on field goal attempts last season, when problems with holders and snappers led to botched kicks. Teams have to cut their rosters to 65 players by Tuesday. "The decision on the kickers was made, and out of respect to Doug, we saw no reason to delay letting him know," head coach Bruce Coslet said. Titans DE Kearse twists right ankle near end of practiceNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans got a momentary scare Monday when All-Pro defensive end Jevon Kearse twisted his right ankle at practice and limped to the sideline. Kearse, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, twisted his ankle at the end of a running play. Coach Jeff Fisher said Kearse should be fine after putting ice on the ankle to reduce swelling. "He's too good an athlete to be hurt," said Fisher, noting Kearse's value to the team.
Romanowski prepared for jeers in San FranciscoDENVER -- Cheers could turn to jeers when Bill Romanowski heads from Denver to San Francisco for the Denver Broncos' final preseason game this weekend, and the embattled linebacker knows it. "I'm sure it won't be good," Romanowski said. Three years ago, Romanowski was fined $7,500 for spitting in the face of 49ers receiver J.J. Stokes, who is black. The incident was caught on national television during Denver's loss to San Francisco.
Romanowski apologized and insisted his actions were not racially motivated. But his latest controversy has prompted some to revisit that incident. A recent Sports Illustrated article included a charge from a former teammate who accused Romanowski of using a racial slur in suggesting a white teammate take diet pills to compete with black players. Romanowski has denied using the word and took a lie detector test to prove it. He is facing felony charges for allegedly using his wife and friends to fraudulently obtain the prescription medicine, but that didn't stop fans from cheering loudly for him Sunday in a 36-23 win against Dallas. "The fans were incredible," Romanowski said after the game. "They always have been. Ever since I got here, I was very well received. Week in and week out, I play my heart and soul out and I give it to the fans. Having the support from the fans and my family, that's what makes it all worthwhile." The game, he said, it what keeps him going through the controversy. "In some ways that makes it easier. It gives me something to focus on," he said. "All week I just tried to focus on the game and getting ready to help our team win a football game." Lions' Tomczak placed on IRPONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Lions placed quarterback Mike Tomczak on the injured reserve list on Monday, three days after the 16-year veteran broke his leg in an exhibition loss to Oakland. Tomczak started at quarterback in the Lions' 23-17 loss to the Raiders Friday night and broke his leg during the second quarter. He was subbing for Charlie Batch, Detroit's top quarterback, who recently resumed practice after recovering from a broken bone in his right knee, but is being held out of games. Tomczak was 6-of-12 for 37 yards before he was knocked down by Oakland linebacker Greg Biekert and stayed on the ground, curled up in pain and grasping his shin. Tomczak was carried off the field by trainers and later carted from the sidelines. Also Monday, the team announced that it had released wide receiver Henry Douglas, linebacker Scott Fields and safety Ryan Stewart. The Lions, who now have 80 players on their roster, need to get down to 65 by Tuesday. Rams cut punter AguiarST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Rams are down to one punter, but the survivor isn't exactly safe. The Rams cut Louie Aguiar Monday, leaving Rick Tuten with the job. Maybe. Coach Mike Martz has been dissatisfied with his punters all training camp, and nothing he saw in Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo changed his mind. 'That's true with everyone, but this position (for) sure,' coach Mike Martz said. 'He needs to kick well.' Aguiar, a nine-year veteran, averaged 37.7 yards on seven punts in the preseason. The Rams also waived wide receiver Phil Savoy and defensive end Vince Amey. Offensive lineman Andrew Kline, the team's seventh-round draft pick, was waived with an injury settlement. The Rams need to cut one more player to reach the 65-player limit on Tuesday. Martz said the Rams might be interested in bringing back Savoy on the practice squad. The Rams also signed wide receiver Chris Thomas, who played in eight games for them last year. Thomas, who had eight special teams tackles last season, signed as a free agent with Minnesota but was recently cut. Bills make 14 cutsBUFFALO, NY (AP) -- Free-agent rookie quarterback Phil Stambaugh was among 14 players cut by the Buffalo Bills Monday. Stambaugh, who did not see any action in the Bills' three preseason games, was expected to be the odd-man out after Buffalo signed veteran Alex Van Pelt to back up starter Rob Johnson. Van Pelt's services were needed when second-string quarterback Doug Flutie suffered a groin injury that is expected to keep him sidelined into the regular season. Also cut Monday were rookie punter Jason Van Dyke of Adams State and rookie kicker Jon Hilbert of Louisville. Neither player had much of a chance to beat out incumbents Chris Mohr and Steve Christie, respectively. In addition, rookie defensive backs Askari Adams (Penn State), David Byrd (Syracuse) and Quincy Coleman (Jackson State) were cut well ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. Fullback Phillip Crosby (Tennessee), wide receivers Scott Pingel (Westminster, MO) and Corey Sullivan (Tennessee State), tight end John Jennings (Bellhaven College), center Spencer Riley (Tennessee), guard Mike Tosaw (Missouri Southern), linebacker Keith Kelsey (Florida) and defensive tackle Nathaniel Williams (Virginia Tech) rounded out the list of released players. All 14 players were free-agent pickups this offseason. Broncos put Moore on IR, must make two more cutsDENVER (AP) -- With five players trimmed from the roster, the Denver Broncos need to make two more cuts by the Tuesday afternoon deadline as they prepare for their preseason finale Friday night in San Francisco. Coach Mike Shanahan insisted on Monday that the remaining two roster casualties haven't been determined. "We haven't made them," he said. "We don't know yet. We have to make them before 2 o'clock tomorrow. We will do that by then, but not before then." Shanahan confirmed that the Broncos placed rookie wide receiver Muneer Moore, who injured his leg in the preseason opener, on injured reserve. Released by the team were defensive linemen Jerome Davis and Nathan Davis, cornerback William Hampton, offensive guard Allen DeGraffenreid and fullback Ryan Christopherson. Two more cuts will reduce Denver's roster to the league-imposed 65 players. The final round of cuts will be next Sunday, when teams must get down to 53 players. Shanahan had good news Monday on three of Denver's injured players. Running back Terrell Davis, who exited Saturday night's game against Dallas with a sore left hamstring as a precaution, likely will be recovered this week. "I talked to him Sunday and he said it wasn't bad," Shanahan said. "Until we actually go out and practice, I don't want to say one way or the other. But if it was a regular-season game, he believes he could have gone back in there and played, so that's a good sign." Players had Monday off. Offensive guard Mark Schlereth, who had his left knee drained of fluid twice since having arthroscopic surgery less than a week into training camp, is expected to resume practicing Tuesday. "It's been looking good," Shanahan said. "He's been running and strengthening the knee. The true test will be when he goes through practice." If Schlereth has no setbacks, he is expected to play about 20 plays in Friday night's game. Linebacker John Mobley, who had reconstructive knee surgery early last season and arthroscopic surgery two weeks ago to remove a bone chip and loose cartilage in the same knee, should resume running this week. "The doctors feel he's way ahead of what they thought it would be, at least a week ahead," said Shanahan, who added that the training staff will have a better idea of Mobley's progress by this weekend. Will Mobley play in the regular-season opener, Monday, Sept. 4 in St. Louis? "My gut feeling is not to play him regardless, because we're playing on Astroturf," Shanahan said. "But he may change my mind if he comes back quicker than we think." Blood clots sideline Falcons DE for upcoming seasonFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) -- Pellom McDaniels, a reserve defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, will miss the 2000 season because of small blood clots discovered on his lungs. McDaniels, 32, first experienced shortness of breath Aug. 8 at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. -- the Falcons' first practice after returning from an Aug. 5 exhibition in Tokyo. "I had a fumble recovery in the game, and when I fell on the ball I bruised my rib cage and my hip," McDaniels said Monday. "They said these kinds of problems can develop when you take a hard blow like that and then spend a long time, in my case over 12 hours, at very high altitudes in a plane." The 6-foot-3, 295-pound McDaniels did not miss a game or a practice, but his breathing problems persisted. The clots were discovered Sunday night at Gwinnett Medical Center. McDaniels indicated doctors may advise him to stop playing football altogether. He is being treated with blood-thinning medication and will remain hospitalized through Wednesday. "I don't know. It was something that was unexpected, to say the least," he said. "It's terrible because this is the first preseason I've been through with no injuries." After first telling Falcons trainer Ron Medlin of his difficulty breathing Aug. 8, McDaniels underwent several X-rays over the next two weeks that were inconclusive. The Falcons broke camp Aug. 9 and held workouts at their new complex the next day. "They didn't know what was wrong, and that bothered me because I knew I shouldn't be having those kinds of problems if I was healthy," McDaniels said. "Now that we look back at it, you can say I took a great risk by playing with this condition. "They told me if these [clots] aren't discovered soon after they form, they can break off and go to other parts of your body. Then you're really in trouble." McDaniels, Atlanta's only reserve defensive end with NFL experience, was credited with one tackle in Atlanta's 31-16 win over Cincinnati Aug. 11 and with three tackles in a 28-14 loss to San Diego Friday night. The Falcons already have starting right end Brady Smith nursing a groin injury. Smith was able to jog lightly Monday but is expected to be sidelined for Thursday's preseason finale at Jacksonville. McDaniels joined the Falcons as a free agent April 18, 1999. He was entering his eighth NFL season. McDaniels made 29 tackles for the Falcons last year. He joined a panel discussion this past spring with members of Congress to address the special needs to help combat HIV/ AIDS. He will continue to oversee "Arts for Smarts," his foundation that promotes literature, dance and theater for disadvantaged children. Cowboys release 13 playersIRVING, Texas (AP) - Darran Hall, a kick-return specialist who fumbled two kickoffs against Denver last weekend, was among 13 players released Monday by the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys must clear two more spots by Tuesday. Likely candidates include cornerback Kevin Smith, who is expected to retire, and quarterback Paul Justin, who originally was signed to back up starter Troy Aikman but has fallen practically off the depth chart. Coach Dave Campo did not mention Justin among the four quarterbacks he plans to use in the preseason finale Thursday night against St. Louis. His locker had only a few hip pads and a team-issued baseball cap in it Monday. Justin, who backed up Kurt Warner on the Rams last season, signed a $500,000 deal to be the No. 2 quarterback, then became No. 3 when Randall Cunningham was signed in June. Justin's turnover-filled play in the first two preseason games dropped him behind undrafted rookie Clint Stoerner. Stoerner -- whom Jerry Jones signed on the recommendation of his own college coach, Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles -- isn't guaranteed of making the team. Campo has said he's considering going with just two quarterbacks. "I'd be somewhat comfortable with that," he said. Campo said he's pretty much decided on his starting lineup, with the closest remaining battle between incumbent Darren Hambrick and free-agent signee Joe Bowden at strongside linebacker. "At this point, Darren has done nothing to lose his starting spot," Campo said. "With two weeks left, something drastic would have to happen to change that." The release of Barry Cantrell makes it likely that Micah Knorr will open the season as Dallas' punter. Knorr By releasing Lawrence Hart and J.J. Huggins, the race for the third tight end job was narrowed to former Cowboys Tyji Armstrong and Rickey Brady. The Cowboys have been scrambling for another tight end since Mike Lucky suffered a season-ending knee injury last month. Two injured players were bumped from the roster. Linebacker Brandon Tolbert was waived, but will return to Dallas' injured list if he's not claimed. Offensive lineman Chris Brymer received an injury settlement. Safety Jason Kaiser, who played in Dallas' playoff loss to Minnesota last season a few weeks after being signed to the practice squad, was the most notable among the other released players. The rest are offensive linemen J.R. Conrad, Steve Scifres and Chad Slaughter, defensive linemen Kendrick Gholston and Keith Jackson, and receiver Drew Cone. Dallas has 73 players on its roster, eight over the limit, but six of them played in the NFL Europe and are exempt for this round of cuts. The team must get down to 53 players on Sunday. Colts cut 10 as preparations for final exhibition beginINDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts began a short work week Monday by telling 10 players they will have to look elsewhere for jobs. There were no shockers among those cut by coach Jim Mora. The list included four undrafted rookies - wide receiver Brian Wofford, tight end Ibn Green, linebacker Josh Gentry and offensive tackle Craig Robeen. Five others cut were first-year players - running back Mark Kacmarynski, defensive back Scott Thomas, linebacker Paul LaCoste, offensive tackle Paul Snellings and offensive lineman Joel Davis. Running back Tremayne Stephens was the most experienced player cut. Stephens was trying to win a job with the Colts after playing the past two seasons with San Diego. "That's no fun," Mora said. "It's the most unpleasant part of my job to tell these guys they're no longer a part of this team and organization. They've worked hard." The cuts reduced the active roster to 68, one above the league limit since the team has NFL Europe roster exemptions for wide receiver Jermaine Copeland and kicker Danny Kight. Those exemptions will expire Sunday when NFL teams must pare down to their final 53-man active roster. The Colts (2-2) complete their exhibition schedule Thursday night hosting Minnesota (1-2) in the RCA Dome. "There's some competition going on at some positions, these next three days of practice and their performance in the game will make a difference for some guys," Mora said. Meanwhile, the Colts had good news on the injury front with only wide receiver Terrence Wilkins unable to practice as he continues to recover from a concussion sustained on Aug. 12. "He's getting a second opinion on his concussion. He and his agent felt like he needed one," Mora said. Five players who have been sidelined by injuries most of the time since training camp opened July 13 were back on the field. "Just to get them back on the practice field and working, it's encouraging," Mora said. The list included defensive ends Mark Thomas and Chad Bratzke, who missed most of training camp and didn't play in the team's first four exhibitions returned to practice for the first time. Thomas had a knee injury and Bratzke was battling a hamstring injury. Mora was uncertain if either would play Thursday. "It felt good. I think I was a little disappointed. I expected to feel a little better," Thomas said. "The minute I had somebody pushing on me and I was trying to turn the corner, I realized it hurt a lot more than I thought. But, it's only the first day back and I think I'm a little overanxious and I need to be patient. It's been four weeks today, and they told me four to six weeks." Bratzke, meanwhile, was hopeful he'd be able to play Thursday. "It feels good to get back in the action after so long sitting out," he said. "I can't stand sitting around. It's driving me crazy." Linebacker Marcus Washington, the team's second-round draft pick, also practiced after being sidelined for most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. Also back was wide receiver E.G. Green, who was recovering from a knee injury when camp began and then suffered a hamstring injury. Also practicing after being bothered by recent injuries were running back Abdul-Karim al-Jabbar (knee) and cornerback Jeff Burris, who missed Saturday's game in Mexico City with a bruised tailbone. Ravens special teams standout Thompson retiresWESTMINSTER, Maryland (Ticker) -- Arguably the best special teams player of his era, Baltimore Ravens safety Bennie Thompson today announced his retirement. Thompson, 37, spent the last six of his 11 NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns-Ravens franchise. The 6-foot, 214-pounder recorded nearly 200 special teams tackles and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1998 as a special teams player. Thompson, who recorded double digits in special teams tackles in each of his final 10 seasons, has been offered a job as an on-field special teams assistant by the Ravens. "Bennie wanted a few days to spend with his family, but we expect him back with us by the end of the week," said Ravens vice president of personnel Ozzie Newsome. The Ravens also waived rookie quarterback Dan Robinson and placed tight end Pedro Edison on injured reserve. Steelers cut Farris, Conrad; still can't decide on QBPITTSBURGH (AP) -- Bill Cowher made some tough decisions Monday by waiving tackles Kris Farris and Chris Conrad. The Pittsburgh Steelers coach still hasn't decided on his starting quarterback. "We'll continue to take a look at it," Cowher said when asked if Kordell Stewart will start the regular-season opener Sept. 3 against Baltimore. "We'll take it week to week and go from there." In Saturday's 24-23 loss to Indianapolis in Mexico City, Stewart had perhaps his best outing of the preseason, completing 8 of 18 passes for 82 yards. He did, however, throw an interception late in the first half, ending a drive. "I had my opportunities and missed a couple," said Stewart, who isn't surprised by his coach's indecision as the start of the season approaches. "No, and I'm not concerned about it. We still have one more exhibition game to play and I have to perform, plain and simple." Cowher expects Stewart will start the final preseason game Friday at Washington, leaving challenger Kent Graham without a preseason start. "I wish I would have [started], but obviously coach has to make those decisions," said Graham, who completed 8 of 10 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown in the loss to the Colts. Graham's quarterback rating is 99.6, compared to 38.6 for Stewart. While he struggles with his decision on who starts at quarterback, Cowher did not have a difficult time making roster moves Monday. Farris, the 1998 Outland Trophy winner at UCLA, and Conrad, a former starter, were among 10 players waived as the Steelers cut their roster to 70. Farris and Conrad both were third-round draft choices, Farris in 1999 and Conrad, from Fresno State, the previous year. Farris was trying to come back from a stress fracture in his left foot that sidelined him all of last season. "We felt like we got enough opportunity to see him play and we had to make the decision accordingly," Cowher said. Conrad, the starting right tackle a year ago, became expendable after the Steelers drafted tackle Marvel Smith and signed backup linemen Roger Duffy and Tom Myslinski. Hank Fraley, an undrafted rookie from Robert Morris, also has played well during the preseason and might win a roster spot. Conrad was moved to guard last spring, but has been bothered much of training camp by what might be a career-ending neck injury. He was told by doctors last week he probably cannot play again unless he has surgery to fuse two vertebrae in his neck. Conrad said it's unlikely he'll undergo such surgery. If he is not claimed by another team, the Steelers might have to reach an injury settlement with Conrad, who lost his starting job after three games last season. The Steelers also assigned wide receiver Will Blackwell (knee) to the physically-unable-to-perform list, a move that will sideline him for at least the first month of the season. Also waived were offensive lineman Todd Burger and wide receiver Shawn McWashington. Rookies waived were tight end Jason Gavadza, a seventh-round draft pick; fullback Joey Goodspeed; kicker Kyle Atteberry; cornerback Tim Strickland; linebacker Jonathan Foster, and defensive end Johnny Mitchell. Defensive end Kevin Henry practiced Monday for the first time since training camp started. He had arthroscopic knee surgery just before camp opened. The Steelers must make four more moves by 4 p.m. Tuesday to reach the 65-man limit. They currently receive a roster exemption for defensive lineman Ernie Brown, who played in NFL Europe. Redskins cut 12 from roster to get down to 67ASHBURN, VA (AP) -- Third-year veteran defensive tackle Doug Brown and fifth-round draft pick Quincy Sanders led Monday's cut list from what could be the toughest team to make in the NFL. The Washington Redskins trimmed their roster to 67 by cutting 12 players, including Brown, who started in eight games for the Redskins in the 1998-99 season. Brown and Sanders left Redskins Park early Monday and were unavailable for comment. Brown's departure reaffirms that defensive lineman Kenard Lang will fill in at defensive tackle in September's opener against Carolina if regular starting tackle Dan Wilkinson, currently out with a sprained left knee, is not ready to play. The problem with Lang having to play at tackle is that at 277 pounds he is undersized compared to Wilkinson's 313-pound frame. "I've played tackle in the past," Lang said. "I don't even think about my weight. I just think about my quickness, my strength and my long arms -- that's what I have to use." Washington's other starting defensive tackle, Dana Stubblefield, said Wilkinson will be ready to play, but Lang, who recovered a fumble in Washington's 24-0 win over Cleveland Saturday, is capable of doing the job if Wilkinson can't. "I thought he played well," Stubblefield said of Lang's performance in Cleveland. "I was glad to see it. It's just another element that we can use out there mixing up this defensive line." Team trainer Bubba Tyer said evaluation of Wilkinson will continue, and a decision will not be made until closer to the opening game. He said he does not think Wilkinson will play in Friday's preseason outing Pittsburgh. Sanders, a fifth-round selection from UNLV, was competing for the backup strong safety spot behind incumbent Sam Shade. With Sanders' departure, undrafted rookie Josh Symonette appears to have the inside track for the roster spot as Shade's backup. "The way it tends to work now is you have a couple of college free agents make your team and you end up releasing a draft pick," Redskins' coach Norv Turner said about cutting Sanders. The other story told by Monday's cuts was that kicker Brett Conway is healthy enough to resume everyday kicking duties. Kickers Clay Rush and Peter Elezovic were cut. Conway, who had been nursing a strained quadricep muscle in his kicking leg, made a 21-yard field goal attempt Saturday against Cleveland and converted all three extra points. The fourth-year kicker said he still needs to be healthier for the opener. "I'm almost there," Conway said. "Hopefully by the opener I'll be 100 percent. That's the goal we set out from the beginning, when I was injured." The other player the Redskins cut Monday were seventh-year linebacker Anthony Peterson, who has spent most of his career with the 49ers; and undrafted free agents defensive lineman Lamont Bryant, wide receivers Jammie Deese and Tommy Nash, quarterback Leon Murray, defensive lineman Eric Stevenson; and defensive backs Eric Whitfield and Clay Scanlon. Jets cut tight end SpenceHEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- Third-year tight end Blake Spence was waived Monday by the New York Jets. Spence, a fifth-round selection in the 1998 draft, played 16 games in two seasons with the team. He had four receptions for 20 yards and one touchdown, against Dallas last season on a 2-yard pass from Ray Lucas. His most memorable play came in the 1998 AFC championship game, when Spence blocked a punt that New York recovered at the Denver 1. It set up a touchdown. Spence was beaten out by rookie Jermaine Wiggins. Browns cut four to trim roster to 73BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- The Cleveland Browns trimmed four players from their roster on Monday, releasing wide receivers Zola Davis and Dwaune Jones, running back Greg Robinette and offensive lineman Manuia Savea. The Browns roster is now at 73, including eight players who are exempt from the total because they played in NFL Europe. All NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 by Aug. 27. Davis appeared in six games with the Browns last season after being picked up on waivers from the Green Bay Packers. Savea, a rookie from Arizona, was selected in the seventh round of the draft in April.
Philadelphia cuts 10 from rosterPHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles on Monday released 10 players, seven of them rookies. The cuts reduce the Eagles' roster to 72. All NFL teams are required to reduce their rosters to 65 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday. The rookies cut by the Eagles were: cornerback Tony Francis, wide receiver Michael Lewis, kicker Rich Maston, wide receiver Raki Nelson, fullback Anthony Southern, linebacker Marc Stockbauer and center Ty Wise. Tackle Robert Barr, safety Lemar Marshall and tight end Jed Weaver also were cut. With five NFL Europe roster exemptions, the Eagles must reduce their active roster by two more active players by Tuesday. Those exemptions expire Aug. 27, when all NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players.
Patriots release five players, including 2000 draft pickFOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Patriots released five players Monday, including one of their 2000 draft choices and two players with Massachusetts ties. Released were tight end Rob Tardio, offensive guard Brent Warren, free safety Rodney Rideau, offensive tackle Ryan Tujague and outside linebacker Casey Tisdale. Tisdale, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound product of New Mexico, was the Patriots' first of two seventh-round selections and the 226th selection overall. He had been credited with 11 tackles and one 10-yard sack in the preseason. Tisdale was the second of the Patriots' 10 draft choices to be released. Dave Stachelski, a tight end from Boise State chosen in the fifth round, was cut last week and has since signed with the New Orleans Saints. Warren, a 6-foot-5, 338-pound free agent who played at Syracuse, hails from Brockton, Mass. Tardio, a 6-foot-5, 245-pounder originally signed by the Washington Redskins and picked up by the Patriots in February, played at Boston College. Tujague was an undrafted rookie free agent from Washington State. Rideau, who played at Oklahoma, had been released by the Patriots last week and re-signed upon the retirement of linebacker Chad Cascadden. The cuts left the Patriots with one player less than the NFL-mandated 65-man roster. They actually have 67 players, but are allowed three exemptions because linebacker Marc Megna, wide receiver Sean Morey and defensive tackle Garrett Johnson played on NFL Europe teams in the spring. Running back Robert Edwards, although listed on the Patriots' roster, is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and does not count against the limit. He is currently in his native Georgia, attempting to rehabilitate a serious knee injury he suffered in a league-sponsored touch football game for rookies the week before the 1999 Pro Bowl. The Patriots must reach the regular-season limit of 53 players by next Monday.
Starting guard Max Lane injured his right thumb and first-year linebacker John Munch has a sore ankle. Both were due to be re-evaluated before the Patriots' preseason finale Thursday night at home against the Carolina Panthers.
Chiefs cut nine playersKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have cut six rookies and three other players, Chiefs president Carl Peterson announced Monday. All clubs are required to cut down to a maximum of 65 players on Tuesday, but can keep exempted NFL Europe players until the league's final cut to 53 on Sunday. Cut from the team Monday were: Scott Cloman, 1-year veteran wide receiver from Southern University; Jonathan Jackson, rookie linebacker from Oregon State; Eric King, one-year veteran guard from Richmond; Percy King, rookie safety from Ohio State; Charles Kirby, two-year veteran fullback from Virginia; Brock McGrew, rookie wide receiver from North Texas; Josh Rawlings, rookie offensive tackle from Minnesota; Kevin Sluder, rookie defensive tackle from Mississippi State; and Germaine Stringer, rookie wide receiver from Florida State. The Chiefs must reach 71 players, including six NFL Europe exemptions, by Tuesday. The Chiefs roster listed 76 players after Monday's cuts.
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