Vick takes it slowly in first practice since injury
By Times Staff and Wire Reports
Published November 13, 2003
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - He worked with the scout team. He kept his running in low gear. There were no dazzling moves, no 70-yard passes.
Still, this was a significant breakthrough.
Michael Vick was back.
The Falcons quarterback practiced Wednesday for the first time since breaking his right leg in preseason, raising hopes he'll soon be ready to play. He has set Nov. 30 in Houston as his target.
"I think I handled it pretty well," Vick said after the two-hour practice. "Toward the end, it got kind of sore on me. But that's what I expected. That's a good thing."
The rest of the team was on the field when Vick trotted out from the locker room, wearing his No. 7 jersey and carrying his shoulder pads. At least a dozen cameramen and photographers documented every step.
Practice was uneventful. Vick was the third-team quarterback behind Kurt Kittner and Doug Johnson, which meant working with the scout team and backups.
At times, Vick appeared to be favoring his healthy leg, and he didn't show off his celebrated running skills. Still, the Falcons were glad to have him in uniform.
"I didn't have any expectations because I really didn't know how much he could do," coach Dan Reeves said. "I was definitely pleased that he did as much as he did."
No one was more pumped up than Vick.
"I asked him how he felt," Reeves said. "He said, "Coach, I couldn't sleep last night. I was so excited to come out and start practicing.' That's what showed up, the excitement he had all day long."
Gannon won't return this season
ALAMEDA, Calif. - Rich Gannon, last year's NFL MVP, will miss the rest of the season and have surgery on a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.
The Raiders placed the quarterback on injured reserve.
Gannon, 37, attempted to throw Tuesday for the first time since getting knocked out of Oakland's 17-10 loss to Kansas City on Oct. 20. He was able to raise his arm to throw but couldn't release the ball, coach Bill Callahan said.
Gannon, a 16-year veteran, flew home to Minnesota to be examined by the same doctor who performed his shoulder surgery after his 1993 season with Washington. He missed all of the 1994 season, then was released by the Redskins.
THUMB LUCK: Brett Favre's broken thumb is healing just fine and wasn't to blame for his interception and three fumbles in the loss to Philadelphia, Packers coach Mike Sherman said.
The culprit, Sherman said, was the tape on the quarterback's right thumb covering a plastic splint.
"Because of the wetness and the tape, there may have been a slickness there," Sherman said. "We have looked at every angle possible so that would not happen again. According to him, the thumb played absolutely no factor in his ability."
Sherman also said he was confident linebacker T.J. Slaughter has no character issues after Green Bay signed him to a contract. Sherman said he has faith in Slaughter, who was cut by Jacksonville a day after being arrested on suspicion of pointing a gun at two men.
HAMBRICK CASE: Resolving Darren Hambrick's ongoing theft charge will require a trial or a plea deal that lets him avoid the label of felon, his attorney said. If he pleads guilty or no contest to the charge of grand theft, Hambrick risks an NFL suspension for a felony conviction, attorney Also Ojeda said after a brief pretrial appearance before Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper in Dade City.
Hambrick, 28, of Lacoochee, was accused last year of collecting a $5,682.51 paycheck from the Panthers, then reporting the check missing and having a second one issued. Authorities say Hambrick cashed both checks.
JAGS ADD JOHNSON: Jacksonville signed receiver Kevin Johnson a day after he was surprisingly released by the Browns.
Johnson, who had led the Browns in receiving since 1999, will join a team that has been looking for answers at receiver all season. Jacksonville cut J.J. Stokes, a disappointment with 13 catches.
DENVER BACKS RB: Mike Anderson claims secondhand marijuana smoke caused him to fail a drug test, and Broncos coach Mike Shanahan believes him.
"All I can say is, if Mike were applying for a job in any organization including yours, and he took a test it would have been negative," Shanahan said of his fullback, suspended by the NFL for violating the league's drug policy. "Now is that fair? I'm going to let them take it up with the lawyers and talk about his scenario."
DOLPHINS: Despite seven turnovers in the past two games, Brian Griese will make his fourth consecutive start at quarterback Sunday against Baltimore. Jay Fiedler missed practice, still lacking mobility because of a sprained ligament in his left knee.
EAGLES: All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins, who hasn't played since injuring his right foot in the season opener against the Bucs, returned to practice and is questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.
49ERS: All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens missed practice with a sore groin. Coach Dennis Erickson expects Owens to play Monday night against Pittsburgh, but the receiver might not practice this week.
GIANTS: Jeremy Shockey's season may not be over after all. The tight end got a second opinion on his sprained left knee and coach Jim Fassel said Shockey could be back on the field in about three weeks. The Giants play at the Bucs on Nov. 24.
JETS: Receiver Wayne Chrebet will miss the rest of the season after being placed on injured reserve with post-concussion syndrome. Chrebet still has headaches stemming from a concussion he sustained two weeks ago.
TEXANS: Rookie outside linebacker Antwan Peek, who has filled in for starter Charlie Clemons in five games, will not play Sunday because of a dislocated toe on his left foot.
ARENA FOOTBALL: The Storm re-signed offensive/defensive lineman Nyle Wiren and announced the signing of defensive specialist Antonio Langham. Wiren, 30, spent the past seven seasons with Tampa Bay and had 61/2 tackles and 11/2 sacks in 10 games after returning from shoulder surgery last season. He also can play fullback/linebacker. Langham, 31, was the Cleveland Browns' top draft pick in 1994. He intercepted 14 passes in seven NFL seasons with Cleveland, Baltimore, San Francisco and New England.
