Show I Wf‘rV t'"' V Vf 9 it W p y V i 'jv--)- ' ' - ' - ! v' ' id f r "'y yy ' : yf- ' ' Vi""' v ' : The Herald Journal Logan Utah Saturday July 20 2002 — B3 cam iqs 1 'ei j ” ' ' Texans Gaffney ink deal rl1 GOLDBERG Writer SUAVE - nj I : t'1 ' v If J V- I Leu teas six months after Adam v : Vinatieri’s field goal gave New Eng-lan- d its first Super Bowl victory the " NFLis back Most training campa " ' open this weekin a new league marked by the redan of a franchise in Houston - But things are likelyto be the sape on the fiela where 10 seasons the salary cap has ensured that anV team has a chance to win the tula! The ' truly Patriots proved that last season but' enter this one as no better than tee third choice in their own division That's not to demean a team teat ' tuned team chemistry into an art form as Bill Belichkk mixed backup quarter- back Ibm Brady with a group ofjour-' ntymen he had coached at previous turned and them into champions stops - It's just that iio one has repeated in five seasons and no one but St Louis stays good for very kmg Tfe Baltimore Ravens who preced-ed the Patriots as champions are Exhibit A They have just 16 players left from thcteamthat beat the New ' V York Giants 34-- 7 for the 2000 championship and will have to get lucky to get to 500 this year "We knew teat we would be facing some serious cap issues in 2002 but the opportunity tt win two Super Bwb in a row was overwhelming to us” said director Qzzie Newsome who spent heavily last year in an attempt to repeat “What we're timing foday is not aometeing teat’s unexpected” One statistic defines what’s happening in today’s NFL: he past three champions were a combined 1 die year before they won the Supa BowL in 1998 tee The Rams were Ravens were 8 in 1999 and tee Patriots were in2000 Camps open witemore stringent medical measures in place because of the death last summer of Minnesota offensive tackle Korey Stringer who died after a workout This yeat medical monitoring has been stepped up some dietary supplements HOUSTON (AP) — Jabar Gaffney the Houston Texans’ second-roun- d draft pick contract Frisigned a four-ye- a day assuring that all 12 selections will be present Saturday for tee start of tee expansion team’s training camp “I feel really relieved All I want to do is play football and it’s nice to get the business part of it out of the way” said Gaffney the forma Florida 32-tea- m' aght-divisk- m - j receiva “We are all in camp now and ready to go This is our first yea and we have a lot of catching up to do” Gaffney expected to play a key role in the Texans’ offense got a $2 15 million signing bonus and will play for an average of $900 000 pa seasot&r He played two seasons SA tee Gators setting NCAA records'? for afreshman with Mtouch- -' downs and 1184 yards He caught 13 TD passes and gained 1191 yards as a sophomore “The Texans were very fair with the contract they gave him” agent Drew Rosariums said “It’s more like a first- - ' round contract if he gets Ids incentives If he plays like a er he’ll get paid like a The Texans signed two otha draft picks on Thursday temporarily leaving Gaffney as the only unsigned player The Texans also signed full- : ' ’ per-aor- 17-3- ' first pick in tee draft and there are fans in Texas wha seriously believe die new guys have a chance They've sold 57000 season tickets more than tee Oilers ever did “You have to remember that our gays have neva played together” said coach Dom Capos who coached Car-olina to a 9 record in 1995 their first season in tee league “Other teams have a lot more cohesion’ ' Actually tee turnover is extreme in some places such as Buffalo Minnesota Tampa Bay and Indianapolis They may have as much trouble learning each others’ names as the Tfcxans Another team to watch is Washington where SteveSpurrierbecomes tee' fourth coach in the three seasons that Dan Snyder has owned tee team Spurrier is convinced all he needs is tee “system” be used at Horida and has broughtin journeyman NFLquar- terback hd coached at Florida — Danny Wuerffel and Shane Matthews Spunia is one of six new coaches most of teem “old” ones Tmy Dungy was fired by Tsnma 4-- 12 5--11 -- atw an expansion oraiinenBatiism a IV sqcjh as crop ofeinrent tad past ofierohre tacHelbi BoaeDL'slin just 30 He was let go by Jacksonville because of a series of recent injuries — he just had ‘ arthroscopic dioulder surgery again— and his sabay cap numbers are huge Add quarterback David Carr the aD-R- Roll I r’ r' e three gooes of tee Marinos who hadn’tlost by 12 or more runs since a 14-- 2 defeat against Texas bn July 5 last year Ramon Ortiz (9-- won for fire first time ini five starts allowing two runs and seven ' hits in seven innings gave Freddy Garcia (1 up six runs and 11 hits in 4 3 innings He was 0 against the r t ' 7) ( and had five RBIs as Anaheim got 2d hits and ended a : homo losing streak against Seatfla vAnahirim closed witeu:- ’ ingathree-nmhoma- 12-ga- me 6) 2-- 5-- i Seattfe switching from tee AFC to the NFC and play in the West with St Louis San Ranawo and Arizona in kqgue that is more geographically correct That means each team will play only six'ofits 16 games within its division : There will be six playoff teams from each conference — the four champi- - - j ons and two wildcards leaving open tee possibility teat teams will miss tee ' playoffs with betta records that a champion in a weak division Just look at last year If there had been an AFC South Tennessee would have won it with a 1- - assaulting a man who was witeha - Rodjgers did not speak at his appearance before Circuit r ' odd team out would have been Baltid more which was the final team at 10-- 6 This year the AFC East seems loaded with the Patriots and two other playoff teams the Jets and Dolphins New York and Miami are improved on papa but it’s hard to see three playoff teams from one division “I think we all realize that can happen” Snyder said last month when asked about the possibility “But I don’t think we’ll address it until it happens” Indeed the issue came up a year ago when the league realigned Com- - first-rounde- r” wild-car- back Jarrod Baxta to a three-ye$1035 million contract that included a $130000 signing bonus anid running back Jonathan Wells to a three-yecontract worth $1255 million and a S350JDOO signing bonus ar ar General managa Charley Casserly is pleased to have all players signed before tee Texans report for training camp in the shadow of their new address the situation if it happens The obvious solution would be to add tnore southwest Houstonstadium “There is added importance for us because we are counting on so many rookies to play” Casserly said “We are excited to get training camp started on tee right foot with all of our draft choices unda contract” V" teams Given how quickly teams go from had to good and vice versa they could go beyond that by letting everyone in In uie absence of that how about these two teams meeting in the Super Bowl in San Diego: Cleveland (7-- 9 last season) vs Minnesota wild-car- d (5-11- )? : : ' vV-- -: ' “ " V3 ‘ Judge Murray Klein who set arraignment for Aug' 8 on ' charges of battery and resist- ing arrest Police said Rodgers kicked and punched his wife Kareff Rodgers aid struck a man in tee head with a chair afta seeing die man sitting withha at a Soute Beach restaurant Thursday afternoon! : ’ -- f AP and tee Stuzz the Miracle ahead couldn’t get the deficit under 12 points' until less than 30 seconds remaned “(Johnson) controlled the game the way a pant guard should” Utah coabh i1 f ry Candi Harvey said' The Miracle led by as many as 21 V points until Utah rallied against Orlando! do’s substitutes in the final four minutes Dydekhad 18 points and eigfit ' rebrainds for the Starzz (14-while Andrea Gardna had 14 points andMarie ie Williams added 12 62-5-0 v 'fourth game back from an injury to lead which lost for the Sacramento Uth time in 12 road games v f UbcrijTL Fever 62 ' Becky Hammbri scored 15 points on as New York beat Indiana five on the road to close within 212 games of Washington m the Eastern f 7) t look at new digs - first-pla- Tkmika Whitmore added 13 points and ' Yickie Johnson had 12 to help New York increase its winning sfreak to teree j (13-games Tamika Catchings led Indiana (8--' 13) with 21 pants and 12 iiounds ' x Sol 61 Lynx 58 ' ! Sheri Sam had seven of ha 11 points in 9) v to open a 124 Including two ldad bandy three minutes into the game That was die biggest deficit Utah had S i SEATTLE (AP) — “Mona Blue” has been a devout Seat- tie Seahawks fan for the past 27 years so die wasn’t about to miss Biday’s dedication of the team’s new stadium “It’s like a dream come : true” stud Patti Hammond ce tee second hdf as visiting Miami sentT-iMinnesota to its seventh strairiit loss: with Katie Smite led tee Lyn 2 points but ha chance to tie tee game on a with 2 seconds'left was an : : known as Mama Blue for her outfit featurzany game-da- y with hair blue twinkling : ing liris Uue green and sihrer tvsd earringsand pompoms 1 (6-1- 5) photo-TTi- new Seattle Seahawks stadum is seen Thursday afternoon The $430 miion 67000-se- at stadum is ready for its grand i (4-1-6) 10:46 left put a a i 4 v y ''games! 16 Ycdanda Griffith had a season-hig- h 10 rrixxinds in and ha grabbed points ConfinnedfromBl throws in a qian of less than five min- ' 7 v': UjgS i ' v kicking and punching ha and 8) first-round- : Mfmi TViphin linriwclmr was arrested on chagesof 14 pointatb heldthe Sting (13-Increase their winning streak to four i: : Ha two foul shots with ' MIAMI (AP)— Derrick Rodgers was released from jafi Friday on a $10000 bimd posted by his wife afia the " Angds 15 Mariners 3 11m Salmon tied a carea hiiwitefive hits includ-- - er 9 record and made tee playoffs The Miami LB out of jail first-plac- Continued from B2 Bay arid signed on in Indianapolis Jon Gruden left Oakland to replace Dungy and Snyder fired Marty Schotten-heimafter a season Schottenheimer aided up in San Diego Bill Callahan replaced Gruden in Oakland and Mike Tice replaced Den- nis Great in Minnesota bote moving uplroi assistants' jobs Jolm Fox the Giants’ forma defensive coordinator replaced George Seifert in Carolina The other X factor is the new alignment— 32 teams eight divisions with 7-- with tee players union has been updated ' to allow team physicians to go beyond tee standard in adnmnsteringphyskads Meanwhile every team thinlm it can be tee next New England Even tee Houston Tbxans can dream A ap Me photo v After 12 successful years at the University of Florida head coach Steve Spurrier! middle opens his first NFl training camp Monday ' when hte Washington Redskins report to CariMe Pa bringing a fresh approach many of his players think is long overdue 8-- ! '' i I and ceremonial presentations for the chance to get on the field and stand at center line She'D also thrilled about her seating whichwillckr eye- level views (tftpudidown antics ' “When I think of how close I’m going to be to catching a ball or hugging a Seahawkl” Hammond said “Thuj is real-l- y for tee fans” With a countdown from five ' and tee blast of streamers tee line fims surged onto die field some shedding a After two years aid $430 mil- t the GJfiQOsest Seahavria boh AP photo T:'v airbalL expdiencedinfiregames ‘ - built on tee site of I their shoesto walkovatee Edwards StadumCharlotte earta’ StihgVTorrya had dm tie rallied Starzz Lamox Former Alteoui iquiddy jdaya Betty : new BeWHirf the old demolished Kingdome which replaced goes hard to the basket Friday nighL Orlando kept tee pressure on behind hot ' 1'! lOjpointsaqd sevehreboumls to held die ' artificial lV-die tha covered turf a ls s shooting The Miracle made a ' — Seahawks field the tee Kingdome formany induing : MlreaL reflitod " neW : owner Psu AQen - vriu The first event in the lOgdne winning i wite Saks and Palma each perfect on teree Q Flre70Comets 60 ' Meremyd v stpdium is July 28 when the :i attempts —and led 44-3- 8 Husky Stadium for his team at halftime ! v u Tkmicha Jackson scored a careerJugh -- h SeOtie Sounders Aaing the past two seasons “Our game plan was to not allow die 3-- r: 21 points and AlisaBurras added 4' a set half host Seattle as first Vancou- exceeds stadium team “This rocca son-hig- h as 10 rebounds and tried said ypoiptslnthe 19j)oints plas the every :poimshot7IfavCT V ' Victory oyer Whatweimsgiiiedaswe PrtlaidbeatHouston for tee first ??mi!!C0F?!"i!h yaWhitecaps way to stop than The bottom line is if V : eritereddus project vean ago" TheSeahawks’ test fiome in time team history wegiveup2sandnot3sftaclosai : for added fVbdichkova ? Kamila sa!d Allen who i for scored nine 14pomts Walka TDeMya preseason game is Aug 10 points ‘ ' " ' who broke tiieir victo- - Microsoft with Bill Gates '' ’ tiie Fue (13-- 9) Storm the (KM the I'! ninth 1) for won vdw against the Indianapolis Colts ' 70 MonarchsSl Sting i " Hammond who was inducted ' Seattle which improvedfiran mark of 26 ret against Sacra- Kelly Milla scored 16 pants and host U time in 10 gamei B was Portland’s first v matto'Ust lhaite and alsq set a team into the Bo Football Hall of a 6:10 record to a 9-- 7 took v win this yea ova one of the top three Chariotte limited Sacramento to 29 pa ! ' V Fame in January 1999 was one last season opens the regular record wite 49 rriwunds Vv teams in the Western Conference cent shooting in die win ' of hundreds of fans who eagejly season athome Sept 15 GoidanaGnibin scored 10 points for from tee field in just: Tina Thompson aid Sheryl Swoopes V Millet was waited terough official speeches against the Arizona Cardinals 16 mimites and Qiarlotte Smite added '' 50-yud- : b Lix ' -- — ' f area' lrt ' pto9 'tsi? a ' : fa ’Jl ed - ' tn ' 4 4: iP V v " l |