Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 61

II MlW.H IV C7 Thk Arizona Ki ri itur Bucs QB hurts leg at home, may miss start of camp SPOUTS Packers NFL NOTES Republic tervttet Tampa Bay quart ri hack Brad Johntofi is expected to miss the start of training camp this weekend after cutting his left leg in an accident at his Tallahassee home. The quarterback was moving furniture when be was hurt. The Buccaneers described it as a minor injury that required 15 stitches above the left knee but did not damage any muscles or tendons. The Buccaneers rejHui to training camp on Sunday and Johnson, who signed a five-year, $2 million contract in March likely will miss the first few days of workouts. Patriots Running back Robert Edward passed his conditioning test Tuesday, one day after failing it.

and was cleared to practice. Kdwards, New England's first -round draft choice in 1998, injured his left knee in February 1999 during a beach football game held in conjunction with the lYo Bowl in Hawaii. He also suffered nerve damage in his left leg in addition to the severe knee injury. Jaguars Jacksonville signed second-round draft pick Maurice William, leaving only tup pick Marcu Stroud unsigned before training camp begins later this week. The Jaguars did not release terms of the contract for the offensive lineman from Michigan.

But senior vice president Michael Huyghu said it was a "strictly slotted deal." for Williams' position in the draft, which means it was worth around $2 9 million over four years. Panthers WiJe receiver Patrick Jef- fw underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Tuesday and will miss at least three weeks of practice. The surgery could sideline Jeffers for the opener against Minnesota on Sept. 9. Jeffers missed all of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee during a preseason game in Pittsburgh.

He is also having problems with swelling in his left knee. yvVA pi 1 I I ft 4 1 Muhael Chowtlie Anoiid RpixiWk: Quarterback Brad Johnson, who left the Redskins to sign a five-year, $28 million contract with the Buccaneers in the off-season, cut his left leg moving furniture and needed 15 stitches. Michigan 500 thrills may get even better Bowl game to stay at BOB for 5 years 7 M'iDiii i 1 Tf fc e- Last year's lnsight.com Bowl game, at BOB for the first time, between Iowa State and Pittsburgh drew nearly 42,000 fans. 11 -year run in Arizona Stadium in Tucson. Bank One Ballpark's 45,000 seats are a better fit for the second-tier bowl, according to Junker.

"I am really encouraged about the future. We had reached a critical point," Junker said Tuesday. "It was particularly important to us to control our own manifest on tickets. "The involvement of Chairman (Jan) Brewer and the Board of Supervisors was very helpful. They took a personal interest in it and helped the two sides reach common ground.

We received assurances that our concerns for the future have been addressed." The Insight.com Bowl was moved to BOB on a one-year contract last year after struggling through three corporate sponsors in Tucson since its inception as the Copper Bowl. The initial game at BOB drew nearly 42,000 fans and was greeted enthusiastically by Copper Square merchants in downtown Phoenix. Iowa State, with its fan base of more than 20,000, defeated Pitts- Ahman Green, who for 1.175 yards last season after stepping in for the injured Doruy Levent, has re-signed with (ireen Bay for the next five seasons, BI am thrilled that we could get this deal done before the season." coach and general manager Mike Sherman said. "This is a young, talented player who works bard at bis job and will only get better." Green had 7J pass receptions, second in team history among running backs to the 7X by Edgar Bennett in 199 1. Seahawks Seattle released Jermalne Smith, a former I'niversity of Washington defensive back who was allotted to Ml.

F.urope last spring. Smith. 2.1. was credited with 12 tackles and two interceptions during a season with the Amsterdam Admirals. Titans Tennessee agreed to terms with cornerback Andre Dyson and tight end Shad Meier.

bringing all seven of their 2001 draft picks under contract. TT rm Pi Assoculed Press Patrick Carpentier hoisted the winner's trophy after an action-packed race. AUTO NOTES Graham Light, NHRA senior vice president for racing operations. "And due to space considerations at Firebird, we elected that it would be one of the events the Federal-Mogul series would not compete at." Firebird President Charlie Allen is on vacation and was unavailable for comment. The NHRA also announced a reclassification of Pro Stock Truck, which is moving to competition eliminator.

With some modifications, the same trucks also can race in super gas and super comp, which reduces the professional categories to four (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Pro Stock Bike). Pit stops Three-time Sprint Car Racing Association champion Richard Griffin suffered a badly cut right wrist in an accident with a grinder at work last Wednesday in Silver City, N.M. "Griffin, who formerly lived in Tempe, cut tendons and an artery. He said doctors believe he will regain full use of the arm. Jeff Gordon will appear on ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in a special "Sports Superstars" edition scheduled to air the week of Sept.

10. Other contestants include Leila AM, Charles Barkley, Johnny Bench, John Elway, Tony Hawk and Serena Williams. Jay Drake leads after the first two rounds of Indiana Sprint Week. No Arizona driver is ranked in the top 10. Jeremy Sherman of Phoenix, however, finished eighth Sunday at Haubstadt, Ind.

and Jerry Coons Jr. of Tucson was 10th. Reach the reporter at mark.armijoarizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8323. (2) Vivid 4 Hour Videos only $19 99 DVD's Buy 2 Gel 1 FREE only $29 99 (2) 2-Hour Movies only $13 99 1 -Hour Movies only $4.98 Five Star Video Outlet 1415 University 6, Tempe 480 967-3662 University Plaza-Between Rural McCIintock pick Wilson OKs 3-year deal By Mark Annijo The Arizona Republic On a scale of 1 to 10, wit one being a child's doodle and 10 being artwork worthy of wall display in a fancy Scottsdale gallery, Sunday's Michigan 500 won by Patrick Carpentier was a masterpiece. It was beautifully crafted, a car race for the ages.

It was open wheel racing's version of a NASCAR restric-tor plate race, which is to say it was a brave collection of modern-day warriors duking it out at 220 mph, dicing in and out of harm's way by only the barest of inches. And the final laps were as engrossing a few minutes as any in sport. Kirk Gibson's dramatic homer in the 1988 World Series? Muhammad All's stirring triumph over gladiator Joe Fra-zier in the "Thrilla in Manila?" Forget it. No emotion compares to drivers daringly competing for the same piece of asphalt at breakneck speeds, with a checkered flag in sight. Which is why Billy Boat can hardly wait for next year.

"That was a great race," Boat said. "They always are at Michigan. But I think we can put on an even better race." By "we," Boat is referring to the Indy Racing League, which is replacing the rival Championship Auto Racing Teams circuit at Michigan International Speedway in 2002. According to Boat, the best may be yet to come. "I think our formula will pro vide the same type of side-by- side racing, Boat said.

I he Handford (wine device CART mandates) really leaves the leader hanging out, and so no body wants to lead. "But our formula adds a little bit more to the racing side of it. I think we can get more packs of cars running to gether." If so, next year won come soon enough. What a drag Two significant changes in the Tuesday release of the 2002 National Hot Rod Association 23-race schedule affect Firebird International Raceway Park. First, the date has been pushed back to Feb.

24 to prevent a head-to-head battle with the Daytona 500. Second, the Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Funny Cars have been axed from the Fire bird national event schedule. "With the addition of two events in Las Vegas, two in Pomona and one in Sonoma, we felt there was adequate cover age within Division 7," said By IceShappcll The Arizona Republic Organizers of the Bowl and the Maricopa County Stadium District agreed Tuesday to a five-year contract to save the struggling postseason college football game by keeping it at county-owned Bank One Ballpark. The agreement also includes a December date at BOB the day after the football game for the national high sch(x)l bands pageant staged by the Fiesta Bowl committee, which owns and operates the Insight.com Bowl. Four months of slow-moving contract talks, centered on game-day stadium operation, had threatened the future of the struggling homeless game that has no other viable venue in Arizona.

John Junker, president and chief executive officer of both the Insight.com and Fiesta bowls, had said the game isn't big enough to be staged in Sun Devil Stadium or in the new Cardinals stadium that is scheduled to open in 2004. The game had faltered during an 3rd-round By Kent Somcrs The Arizona Republic The Cardinals have agreed to contract terms with safety Adrian Wilson, their third-round pick, leaving first-round selection Leonard Davis as their only unsigned player. Wilson's three-year deal is believed to be worth about $1.44 million, including a signing bonus of around $540,000. The salaries are the NFL mini-mums of $209,000, $298,000 and $389,000. "We just wanted the best deal for both parties," said Wilson, who plans to sign the contract Thursday, the day before players are scheduled to report to training camp in Grizzlies on Associated Press PARK CITY, Utah Let's end the drama for anyone wondering which team is the preseason favorite to win the Big Sky Conference.

"It's no mystery," said Montana State coach Mike Kramer. "You start in Missoula and go from there." Missoula, of course, is home of the Montana Grizzlies, who reached the Division I-AA national championship game last season and on Tuesday were picked to win their sixth Big Sky Conference title in the last Emmanuel lozanoTtte Arizona Republic "Maricopa County is com mitted to bring quality non baseball events to BOB each year to ensure the stadium's fi nancial stability for our tax payers," said Brewer, chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. The Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship has at traded nearly 10,000 specta tors the three years it has been held at BOB. More than 3,000 high school students travel to Phoenix each year to participate. "We feel very good about the community support for the Bowl, which was a huge success last year," Fiesta Bowl chairman Kevin Hickey said.

"And the Band Championship is one of the bowl's most successful and popular events." talk to Cardinals negotiator Rod Graves daily until an agreement was reached. Steinberg could not be reached for comment Tuesday, and Graves does not discuss negotiations. The unveiling The team launches its redesigned Web site, Friday morning. The site will contain new sections and features, concentrating on multimedia and interactive areas for fans, including a section detailing team history and daily audiovideo updates from training camp and practices throughout the season. poll had Northern Arizona, Weber State, Idaho State and Montana State at the bottom.

The Grizzlies were an easy No. 1 choice, returning 13 starters from last season's 13-2 squad. Seven starters are back from a unit that led the Big Sky in passing and total offense while six return on a defense that ranked eighth nationally. "They're not a rebuilding team at all. They're a reloading team," said Weber State coach Jerry Graybeal.

The only other consensus was Montana State's projected last-place finish. burgh, 37-29, in an entertaining game. Junker estimated the economic impact of the game and the bands pageant at $25 million. Tempe-based Insight Enterprises signed on as the latest sponsor of the football game four years ago and last year signed a multiyear extension for approximately $1 million annually. The Fiesta Bowl purchased the Insight.com Bowl three years ago and tried unsuccessfully to revive it in Tucson.

The Insight.com Bowl, to be played Dec. 29 this year, matches the second- or third-place team in the Big East Conference against either the fifth-place team from the Big 12 or independent Notre Dame. Williams, who was traded to St. Louis before the draft. Corey Chavous is the starter on the right side, but he faces challenges from several young players.

Wilson, a safety in college, is willing to play corner-back if asked. "It's all up to them (coaches)," Wilson said. "It doesn't matter to me, as long as I get the opportunity to prove I can play." Ongoing negotiations The Cardinals remain hopeful they can sign Davis before training camp practice opens Saturday morning. Davis' agent, Leigh Steinberg, has said he planned to playoffs, it only whets your whistle. It makes you want it worse, the farther you go," said Glenn, who won two Division II national titles at Northern Colorado.

Montana was listed first in the coaches and media polls. Next came Eastern Washington, Portland State and Sacramento State. The second-place Eagles got the only first-place vote that didn't go to Montana. The last four teams in the coaches poll were Weber State, Idaho State, Northern Arizona and Montana State. The media CARDS NOTES Flagstaff.

"(The Cardinals) did everything very professionally." Wilson, from North Carolina State, was impressive during minicamps, and coaches are intrigued with the possibility of playing him at cornerback in addition to safety. The club is set this season at safety with starters Kwamie Lassiter and Pat Tillman, but both players are in the last year of their contracts. There is an opening at cornerback, however. Tom Knight has moved from the right side to the left, replacing Aeneas top of coaches, media Big Sky polls seven years. Coach Joe Glenn welcomes the news, saying it will be a priority and a challenge to defend the crown.

"You can't be 12-0 unless you're 1-0," Glenn said. "I've never been a guy who looks way down the road. We all want to go back to Chattanooga but that won't happen unless you get ready for the first game." Chattanooga, of course, is where Georgia Southern beat Montana 27-25 in the national championship game. "When you get to that point, at least in my experience in the fmlB i .1 tlrt i ilv4 i 24 HOURS ti i S. I 11 EraaNudE CabaKtK- i Glendale's Qnjy TOPLESS CABARET 78ZO Norm bin Ave.

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