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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 26, 2001
Jaguars center has foot surgery
JACKSONVILLE -- Jaguars center John Wade had surgery Monday on his broken right foot.
The fourth-year veteran hurt the foot during voluntary practices this summer. He watched the last two practices of Jacksonville's most recent on-field sessions from the sideline wearing a medical boot, at which time coach Tom Coughlin said X-rays showed no damage.
Wade missed 14 games last season with what the Jaguars called a "similar fracture" in the same foot. The team made no estimate on when Wade would return this time.
In 1999, Wade started all 16 games for the Jaguars.
Also, the team signed third-round draft pick James Boyd and seventh-round pick Randy Chervier to three-year contracts. The Jags have reached terms with all but four of their draft picks.
FOXBORO, Mass. -- New England waived rookie free agent wide receiver Scott McCready, a 6-foot, 200-pounder who led South Florida with 37 receptions for 517 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in 2000.
McCready, 24, signed with the team after the 2001 draft.
JETS: Rookie wide receiver Steve Jackson was claimed off waivers from San Francisco.
Jackson played at Hofstra, where the Jets train. He is the school's career leader in receptions and receiving yards.
The 6-foot receiver signed with the 49ers on April 26 and was released June 12.
STEELERS: Punter Josh Miller signed a five-year contract extension.
The deal includes a $1.1-million signing bonus and locks up Miller through the 2006 season. He was already signed through 2001, when he will make $650,000.
Last season, Miller averaged 43.8 yards and was second in the league with 34 punts inside the 20.
ATLANTA -- Recently minted millionaire Michael Vick got a good laugh the other day. All it took was a question about high schoolers jumping to the NFL.
Could football players one day go directly from high school to the NFL, as has become custom in the NBA and other sports?
"No way," said Vick, who at age 20 is the Falcons' youngest player. "I played three years of college football (redshirting one) and I thought I'd seen almost every defense. That was nothing compared to what I'm seeing (in passing camp)."
It's notable that Vick hasn't even been in a full-contact NFL practice yet, let alone a preseason game.
"Basketball, baseball ... those sports are more of a skill thing," said Falcons linebacker Jessie Tuggle. "Football is a physical thing."
Ron Hill, Falcons vice president of football operations, has evaluated players for more than 22 years. He agrees with Tuggle.
"You're talking about those other sports, they're not really contact sports," Hill said. "Football is a really demanding, physical game. I don't see kids ever being able to come straight out of high school physically."
Players won't be moving from high school to the NFL soon. The league has had a rule since 1990 stating that no player may enter his name into the draft until three years after his high school class has graduated.
Before 1990, underclassmen were considered on a case-by-case basis. Former Detroit running back Barry Sanders, for example, petitioned for and was granted "special eligibility" by commissioner Pete Rozelle for the 1989 draft after three seasons at Oklahoma State.