Pro football

By Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 11, 2000

Steelers shut out Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers turned one of injury-depleted Carolina's three turnovers into Kordell Stewart's 4-yard scoring run and their third consecutive preseason victory, 13-0 on Thursday night.

Kris Brown kicked field goals of 53 and 33 yards, one just before halftime after another turnover, as the Steelers' inefficient offense was held to one touchdown for the second game in a row.

The Steelers have 26 points in two games since beating Dallas 38-10 in their preseason opener, yet managed to win both times even as Stewart was a combined 1-of-13 passing for 3 yards.

Stewart was 1-of-7 for 8 yards against the Panthers, who left much of their rebuilt defense in Carolina with assorted injuries. Eighteen Panthers, or nearly one-quarter of their roster, were listed on the pregame injury report, including most of their better-known players: Steve Beuerlein, Reggie White, Eric Swann and Muhsin Muhammad.

The Panthers lost two more players to injuries during the game, wide receivers Patrick Jeffers (sprained knee) and Jim Turner (strained hamstring). Steelers rookie receiver Danny Farmer left in the second half with a sprained ankle.

Lawyer says Irvin innocent

DALLAS -- Michael Irvin is innocent, his attorney said a day after the retired Cowboys receiver was arrested at a north Dallas apartment on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

"The marijuana was not his, he did not possess any marijuana," Howard Shapiro said. "What their (the FBI's) timing was and what they hoped to accomplish, I have no idea."

Shapiro said he was contacted by Irvin on Wednesday evening following his release from jail in the north Dallas suburb of Plano. He had been arrested on a charge of misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Irvin had not been formally charged with the Class B misdemeanor in Collin County as of Thursday afternoon. Maximum punishment on the charge is a $2,000 fine and 180 days in jail.

Law-enforcement officers from a North Texas drug task force arrested Irvin in the apartment while serving a routine warrant for Rhonda Adaham, a woman wanted for violating her bond on a May drug arrest.

Jerry Jones interested in buying Arena League team

DALLAS -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is considering buying an Arena Football League team.

"It's past the inquiring stage," Jones told the Dallas Morning News. "But I haven't made a final decision."

It's likely the team would begin play in two years, he said.

Jones would own the team, but unlike the Cowboys, he would not function as general manager.

BENGALS: Ushers and ticket-takers who say the team tried to dump them in the move to a new stadium are pleased the team has agreed to negotiate with their unions.

The unions said their veteran employees should be hired to work at the new Paul Brown Stadium, which opens for the Aug. 19 preseason game against the Bears.

The Bengals negotiated with union representatives for 100 ushers and 50 ticket-takers from Cinergy Field who faced losing their jobs. Team officials will continue talking next week to try to reach a deal regarding jobs at the new stadium.

49ERS: The team promoted player personnel director Terry Donahue to assistant general manager, another step in paving the way for Bill Walsh's eventual retirement.

Walsh, 68, indicated Wednesday that he could step down after this season. Donahue has been considered Walsh's heir apparent since joining the 49ers in 1999.

Donahue, the former UCLA coach, will continue to be involved with the draft process and expand his responsibilities in contract negotiations, personnel decisions and administrative duties.

CHARGERS: Quarterback Ryan Leaf and wide receiver Curtis Conway left practice within minutes of each other with injuries. Leaf felt a pop in his surgically repaired throwing shoulder and Conway reinjured a troublesome hamstring. Both players had MRI exams late Thursday and results should be known this morning. Leaf, the third-year pro selected second overall in the 1998 draft, declined comment.

XFL: Jim Criner was hired to coach the Las Vegas franchise. Criner has more than 30 years of college experience, having coached at Utah, Cal State-Hayward, California, Brigham Young, Iowa State and Boise State.

He also was a coach with the Scottish Claymores in NFL Europe.

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