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NFL Briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 15, 2000

Steelers bench Burress after four poor games

PITTSBURGH -- Plaxico Burress, a $9-million bust in his first season as a wide receiver with the Steelers, was benched Tuesday by coach Bill Cowher.

Burress, the eighth pick in the April draft, has largely disappeared from the offense in recent weeks, making four catches for 45 yards in Pittsburgh's past four games.

"The play has just been too inconsistent," Cowher said.

Burress left Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to Philadelphia after being hit hard by linebacker Jeremiah Trotter on a throw over the middle. Courtney Hawkins, like Burress a former Michigan State receiver, entered and made a team-high four catches for 71 yards. Hawkins had one catch this season going in.

Hawkins, the only receiver left from quarterback Kordell Stewart's standout season of 1997, will start Sunday. He survived the final roster cut in August only because the Steelers waived fourth-round draft pick Danny Farmer. He and Hines Ward are the starters.

"He is a guy who had to come in and accept a (backup) role he didn't particularly like, but he accepted it as a true professional," Cowher said. "He went about his business and worked very hard, and when he had an opportunity, he came in and performed."

The move means the Steelers have two of the NFL's highest-paid backup receivers. Their past two first-round draft picks, Burress and Troy Edwards, have lost their starting jobs since the season began.

Between them, Burress and Edwards have 37 catches, none for touchdowns, and have been criticized for not running precise routes and for dropping passes. Last season, Edwards tied Ward for the team lead with 61 catches.

"I think (Burress) is going to be a good player, just like I think Troy is going to be a good player," Cowher said. "But right now we need consistent play, people being where they need to be and doing it on a consistent basis."

The Steelers have the league's 30th-rated passing offense. They haven't had a 200-yard passing game since Kent Graham threw for 254 yards against Tennessee on Sept. 24.

BRONCOS: The arraignment of linebacker Bill Romanowski in a prescription drug fraud case was postponed until Dec. 12.

Denver waived wide receiver Robert Brooks, who returned this season after a one-year retirement, and offensive lineman Jon Blackman, who was on the practice squad.

Also, offensive lineman Mark Schlereth said he expects to go on injured reserve because of recurring problems with his left knee, on which he has had 14 operations.

COWBOYS: Dallas must replace more than its punter while rookie Micah Knorr is sidelined.

Knorr, out 3-6 weeks with a fractured lower left leg, also handled kickoff duties and was the holder on field goals and extra points.

"The kickoff situation may be as critical as the punter, maybe more so," coach Dave Campo said. "And Micah Knorr did a good job for us in the holding area. That's a concern because the execution is every bit as important as the kicking."

Knorr sustained the hairline fracture during the Cowboys' 23-6 win over Cincinnati on Sunday. Bengals defensive end Reinard Wilson ran into Knorr while trying to block a punt during the second quarter.

Barry Cantrell, a rookie free agent from Fordham, got a tryout. Campo said the Cowboys also might look at another punter today.

GIANTS: New York re-signed tight end Adam Young to the practice squad and waived wide receiver Anthony Tucker, who was signed to the practice squad Nov. 8.

EAGLES: Coach Andy Reid said he would consider starting Stanley Pritchett at running back in place of Darnell Autry. The coach has a tendency to abandon the run game, but he made a point of going back to it in the fourth quarter in Philadelphia's win over Pittsburgh.

LIONS: Offensive tackle Aaron Gibson's severely sprained right shoulder could keep him out of Sunday's game against the Giants.

RAMS: Quarterback Kurt Warner probably will start against the Panthers on Dec. 3, which would be six weeks after breaking the pinky on his throwing hand, coach Mike Martz said.

Warner, 29, had surgery Oct. 24 to insert two pins into the finger after breaking it in the Rams' 54-34 loss to the Chiefs. Warner will have the pins extracted from the finger on his right hand Tuesday.

REDSKINS: One day after Derrick Fletcher was demoted to the practice squad, Washington promoted the guard back to the 53-man roster. Fletcher was moved down as the team tinkered with its roster after deciding to keep two kickers, Eddie Murray and Scott Bentley.

Fletcher is seen as insurance in case the Redskins suffer another injury on an offensive line that has lost two starters this season. To make room for Fletcher, the team released receiver Derrius Thompson, who has played in three games with no receptions.

SAINTS: Running back Ricky Williams will have surgery today on the broken left ankle that ended his regular season. Williams, hurt Sunday against Carolina on a run that gave him 1,000 yards for the year, is expected to need 6-8 weeks of rehabilitation.

New Orleans signed former Pro Bowl running back Terry Allen for the rest of the season.

CARRUTH TRIAL: The final alternate juror was selected for the murder trial of former Panthers receiver Rae Carruth in Charlotte, N.C. Opening arguments could begin Thursday, the first anniversary of the shooting death of Cherica Adams, who was eight months' pregnant with Carruth's child.

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