Around the AFC

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 4, 2000

BENGALS: Cincinnati notified unsigned running back Corey Dillon that he will be ineligible to play in the first regular-season game unless he signs and reports in time for the Aug. 11 preseason game at Atlanta. The Bengals also said Dillon will not be paid for the first regular-season game if he doesn't meet the deadline. The Bengals are trying to put pressure on Dillon, whom they desperately need for an offense that lost top receiver Darnay Scott (broken leg) this week and will be run by second-year quarterback Akili Smith. The Bengals also threatened to withhold Dillon's pay for the second regular-season game if he doesn't sign and report for the Aug. 19 preseason game against Chicago and withhold his pay for the third regular-season game if he doesn't sign and report for the Aug. 25 preseason game against Detroit. He would be ineligible for those regular-season games if he doesn't meet the deadlines. A message seeking comment from Dillon's agent, Marvin Demoff, was left at his office in Los Angeles on Thursday.

BRONCOS: Knee surgery ended John Mobley's season in 1999. Another trip to the operating room has postponed his debut in 2000. The linebacker was scheduled for surgery today to repair a small cartilage tear in his right knee. Mobley, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Denver's second game last season, is expected to be sidelined for about two weeks. "I was really looking forward to (the preseason opener) Saturday, but I am also relieved it's not going to go into the regular season," he said. "It's something we can pretty much nip in the bud in the preseason." The Broncos also will be without linebacker Glenn Cadrez (strained hamstring) on Saturday. Cadrez filled Mobley's role last season. ... Defensive tackle Trevor Pryce is expected to report to training camp today but will practice alone while his teammates travel to Arizona for Saturday's preseason game. ... Terrell Davis has played in two Super Bowls, but that does not immunize him against nervousness in his first game back after major knee surgery. "If I don't have butterflies, something is wrong," Davis said. "Bird-sized." Coach Mike Shanahan said Davis should be in for about 10 plays. ... Quarterback Gus Frerotte, who is expected to play about two quarters in relief of Brian Griese, isn't focusing on the preseason. "We'd like to win them all, but no matter what happens, that first game against St. Louis, we're going to be 0-0," Frerotte said. "I want to have a good game and try to do all the things right. If something goes wrong, you've just got to fight it off."

COLTS: Veteran quarterback Billy Joe Hobert signed and will contend for a backup role to starter Peyton Manning. Quarterback Pete Gonzalez was released to make room for him. Hobert, 29, has 17 starts in 29 games, completing 52 percent of his passes for 3,371 yards with 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

DOLPHINS: Jay Fiedler, who was competing with Damon Huard for the starting quarterback job, had arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. He's expected to return late in the preseason or early in the regular season, which begins Sept. 3. The development makes Huard the starter as the Dolphins head into their first season without Dan Marino since 1982. Huard, 27, led Miami to a 5-1 record when Marino was sidelined last season. Huard had a slight edge over Fiedler early in training camp and was slated to start Saturday at Pittsburgh. ... Receiver Oronde Gadsden (cut palm) and tackle Richmond Webb (bone chips, right elbow) will miss the Steelers game. Webb may miss the Aug. 10 game against the Bucs as well.

JAGUARS: An administrator in charge of the stadium and one of his employees are no longer working for the club after being arrested on charges of fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs. Jeffrey L. Cannon, the facilities director, and Frank Buffolino, a stadium manager, were charged in a scheme involving illicit receipt of drugs from pharmacies, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

JETS: Third-round rookie Laveranues Coles, from Florida State, will get an extended look at wide receiver and could start, and Yatil Green, coming off a strong week of practice, could get some quality snaps tonight in Green Bay. ... Bill Parcells was among those who gathered at the federal courthouse in Newark, N.J., to post bail for former penny-stock tycoon Robert E. Brennan. Parcells, director of football operations, chatted about deep-sea fishing with three other associates of Brennan while waiting for a receipt at the court clerk's office. He declined to speak to a reporter about Brennan, who pleaded innocent to bankruptcy fraud charges at his arraignment in Trenton. Parcells posted $150,000 of the $500,000 federal bail set Tuesday after Brennan's arrest, according to the Associated Press.

PATRIOTS: Quarterback Drew Bledsoe will start this week but again will give way early to Michael Bishop and rookie Tom Brady. ... Coach Bill Belichick, who is fining overweight players $151 per pound per day, has raised nearly $100,000.

RAIDERS: Running back Randy Jordan was rushed to a hospital after an on-field collision during practice left the 30-year-old motionless. Club spokesman Mike Taylor said Jordan was conscious and undergoing tests at a Napa, Calif., hospital. "The X-rays were negative and he has feeling in his arms and his legs," said Taylor, who added that an MRI exam was planned. Jordan, a seven-year NFL veteran, was blocking for quarterback Scott Dreisbach when he collided with ex-Bucs defensive end Regan Upshaw and linebacker Travian Smith. "He was taking on Upshaw, and Upshaw whipped him around as I was going away on the other side to avoid the quarterback," Smith said. "Before I knew it, his helmet was in my side."

TITANS: Tennessee lost an offensive tackle when rookie Jason White, who had been talking about leaving, left. "You don't want anybody here that doesn't want to be here," coach Jeff Fisher said. The rookie from Oregon State wasn't expected to make the roster.

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