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By Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 24, 2000
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Desperate to revive an offense that hasn't produced a touchdown in four games, Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick said former Bucs quarterback Trent Dilfer will start Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After the Ravens stumbled through a 15th straight quarter without a touchdown with Tony Banks running the offense, Billick turned to Dilfer in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 14-6 loss to Tennessee.
Dilfer went 7-of-13 for 58 yards and failed to produce a score, but he nevertheless showed Billick enough to gain the starting job.
"Clearly we have got to do something to change the impetus," Billick said Monday. "Trent brings certain aspects to the offense: his experience, a certain tempo that we can benefit by. And he's been down this road before."
Dilfer started 76 games for Tampa Bay before signing with Baltimore as a free agent in March. He can well understand what Banks is going through; Dilfer was benched Oct.31, 1999, by the struggling Bucs and returned only after his replacement, former Ravens backup Eric Zeier, sustained bruised ribs.
"One of the biggest things about this position is you have to prepare to deal with failure," Dilfer said. "Tony has handled it like a total pro. Tony is going to be a player in this league for seven, eight, nine more years and be very successful. He can't let this setback affect him too negatively, the same way I didn't let my setback last year affect me."
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Vince Tobin, who coached Arizona to its first playoff victory in 51 years two seasons ago, was fired a day after the Cardinals lost to the Cowboys 48-7.
Defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis was named interim coach.
"I felt it was time," owner Bill Bidwill said at a news conference. "Vince is a very fine man. He's worked very, very hard here. I wish him well in the future."
Bidwill said McGinnis will be "a prime candidate" for the job after this season.
McGinnis said his top priority will be to instill some enthusiasm in the team.
"The last three weeks we haven't been playing, we've been pressing," McGinnis said. "I want the guys to play instead of press."
Tobin's firing came with the Cardinals in last place in the NFC East and two weeks before a vote in Maricopa County on a proposed $331-million stadium for the team.
WARNER OUT, FAULK OKAY: Rams running back Marshall Faulk should be ready for Sunday's game at San Francisco, but quarterback Kurt Warner will miss at least three weeks with a broken little finger on his throwing hand. The team's top offensive players were injured in Sunday's loss to Kansas City. Coach Mike Martz said Faulk has a Grade 1 bruise on his left shoulder but no separation of the clavicle.
MCNOWN OUT A MONTH: Bears quarterback Cade McNown could be sidelined for up to a month after separating his throwing shoulder. Veteran Jim Miller is the likely starter for the next game Nov. 5 against the Colts.
GEORGE DAY-TO-DAY: Pro Bowl running back Eddie George has a sprained ligament in his right knee, and the Titans aren't sure whether he'll be able to play Sunday at Washington. George, 27, was injured on his first carry against the Ravens. His status is day-to-day.
CARRUTH TRIAL: Jury selection began in the Charlotte, N.C., murder trial of former Panthers receiver Rae Carruth, accused of masterminding the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend to avoid paying child support. No jurors were selected in the first day. If convicted of first-degree murder, Carruth could be sentenced to death.
CHIEFS: Quarterback Elvis Grbac is expected to play Sunday despite an elbow injury that knocked him out of the victory over the Rams.
COLTS: Linebacker Rob Morris, the team's first-round draft pick, is out for the season with a ruptured patella tendon.
FALCONS: Linebacker Jessie Tuggle will miss at least the next 4-6 weeks after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee.
49ERS: After another emotional outburst, Terrell Owens spent the day apologizing to his teammates. After Sunday's loss at Carolina, Owens blasted his teammates in a postgame rant, accusing them of quitting and playing only for their paychecks. The next day, Owens apologized before the defensive players' meeting.
JAGUARS: Right tackle Zach Wiegert is out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. Wiegert had replaced Leon Searcy, who was injured in July and is out until at least November.
PANTHERS: Defensive end Chuck Smith was placed on injured reserve because of an ailing right knee and is out for the season. ... Doctors found a stress fracture in Clarence Jones' leg that will sideline the left tackle for at least four weeks.
SEAHAWKS: Quarterback Brock Huard, who has started the past two games, might miss Sunday's game against the Chiefs with a concussion. Jon Kitna, who also sustained a concussion, was much better and is expected to take the snaps as the No. 1 quarterback this week.