The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 31

Beasley ready to make impact JnfE T73TTT1 when you're out jr nil thfrp nnsnrp When I get used to the speed of The Jags' rookie, whose shoulder blade has healed, will start in place of ailing cornerback Dave Thomas. By Mike Dame OF THE SENTINEL STAFF will start at halfback Monday night when the Oakland Raiders play host to the Denver Broncos. Kaufman gained 56 yards on 13 carries, including one touchdown, Oct. 21 against San Diego. Safety Eddie Anderson, coming back from surgery to repair his torn triceps tendon, practiced and is expected to start against Denver.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS WIDE RECEIVER Yancey Thigpen (hamstring) and running back Erric Pegram (knee) are practicing again and could play Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. Thigpen has missed all but one game this season. SAN FRANCISCO 4SERS CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY Patrol officers found a loaded, unlicensed .357 magnum in the black Corvette of fullback William Floyd when they arrested him in San Jose on suspicion of drunken driving charges, CHP reports said. Floyd is scheduled to be arraigned Dec.

9 in San Jose Municipal Court on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, carrying a concealed weapon without a license and having a loaded weap-on in a vehicle. Compiled from wire reports JACKSONVILLE Got milk? For the first two months of Aaron Beasley's NFL career, that was more than an advertising campaign slogan. That was his modus operandi to try to offensive tackle Tony Boselli and middle linebacker Bryan Schwartz missed several games early in the season because of injuries, only to recover in the second half and earn myriad NFL all-rookie honors. Of course, Jaguars officials made Beasley's injury out to be a minor one when he went down in their second exhibition game, at St. Louis.

They announced Beasley would be out 10 days. It turned into 10 weeks. During that time, milk sales in Jacksonville likely skyrocketed "There's nothing you can do about a broken bone but drink your milk and hope it's the healing time a little shorter than what they say," said Beasley, a 5-foot-ll, 206-pounder who had a Big East Conference-record 18 interceptions at West Virginia. "It was a bad injury. They were fearing they might have to put a screw in my shoulder.

"The first couple of weeks, I couldn't do anything. My arm was in a sling, so I just rested my bone hoping it would come together, drinking a lot of milk. As time went on, I started lifting a little weight at a time." Today, Beasley said he feels no pain and no apprehension as the Jaguars (3-6), who are off this weekend, approach the second half. "They think it healed all the way," Beasley said. "I hope I can finish the rest of the season without getting injured again.

You can get hurt any play. I don't have any fear of getting hurt again." DALLAS COWBOYS THE TEAM is trying to sign free-agent tight end Johnny Mitchell, an indication that they do not think Pro Bowl tight end Jay Novacek will play this season, the Dallas Morning News reported Thursday. This is the first tangible evidence that owner Jerry Jones and coach Barry Switzer believe Novacek is out for the year. The Cowboys expect to sign Mitchell early next week because he will not be ready to play Sunday, and they will not have to pay him this week. Novacek, signed through 1998, has not practiced since the week of Super Bowl XXX and still cannot run without some pain.

NEW YORK GIANTS THE TEAM placed rookie wide receiver Amani Toomer on injured reserve and signed running back Gary Downs to a 1-year, $161,000 contract. Toomer, who returned two punts for touchdowns this season, had surgery to repair torn knee ligaments on Monday and will be out the rest of the season. OAKLAND RAIDERS COACH MIKE White said "it looks like" Napoleon Kaufman Next opponent: the game, Til be Baltimore all right." Ravens A week ago, at Jacksonville Beasley said he Nov. 10, 4 p.m. thought he would have to wait until next season for a chance to start The way opportunity came was not welcomed.

Thomas broke his left femur (thigh bone) in a collision with teammate Dana Hall in an onside kick in Sunday's 28-21 loss at Cincinnati. Thomas had been emerging as an intimidating player in the secondary. Beasley, however, also has proven to be a big hitter. In his NFL debut two weeks ago at St Louis, Beasley who played in the Jaguars' nickel and dime packages the past two games flattened wide receiver Isaac Bruce to break up a pass. Beasley's shoulder blade had passed the test "We had to get the clearance that really made me confident that he wasn't going to get hurt on one hit" Jags coach Tom Coughlin said, "and he made a heck of a hit and had no second thoughts about it He's an athlete.

He's a cover guy. Tm excited about his ability to help us." Based upon the Jaguars' brief history, it would be no surprise if Beasley has an excellent second half of the season. Last year, two rookies Beasley speed up the healing of a broken shoulder blade. Now, he is operating under a different maxim: You ready? Beasley, a rookie comerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars who missed the first seven games because of the injury, has moved to No. 1 on the depth chart after a season-ending injury to Dave Thomas.

Ready or not, it's time. "I finally feel like part of the team again," said Beasley, a third-round draft pick out of West Virginia whose NFL experience totals 33 plays. "A couple times, I've been unsure of myself. It's hard to play your best NFL Named St. Louis Rams WRKR Eddie Kennison and Miami Dolphins LB Zach Thomas offensive and defensive rookies of the month for October.

i "I think we'll probably start Reggie, but it's still a little too early to tell," Bucs coach Tony Dungy said. "We don't want to tip our hand," SUPER HOSTS Next opponent: Chicago Bears at Chicago Sunday, 1 p.m. get there as a unit. Hopefully, we can get to one before that 2001, but that certainly would be nice to host one and play in it." ALSTOTT GOING HOME AGAIN BUCS FULLBACK Mike Alstott grew up near Chicago, but he never has played at Soldier Field. His only trip there to watch a game ended prematurely when cold weather chased him and a friend away from a Bucs-Bears game before it began.

"I know it's going to be exciting," said Alstott, who grew up a fan of the Washington Redskins. And costly. Alstott, who signed a 3-year, $1.8 million package in August, bought 26 tickets. "This only comes once a year," he said. "People are excited to see me play.

CHAREAN WILLIAMS of the Sentinel staff Rhett expects to play bigger role this week Running back Errict Rhett, who ended a 94-day contract holdout last week, had just 29 yards on 12 carries in his debut last week. Rhett, who knew just 40 percent of the first- and second-down plays, is expected to carry a bigger load this week against the Chicago Bears. "I think I've got the offense pretty much down," Rhett said. "I'm ready to explode, but you're only as good as the offensive line makes you, to be honest. I'm going to get those guys really pumped up." Rhett got the bulk of the work with the first-team offense in Thursday's practice, but Reggie Brooks still might get the starting nod.

THE BUCS won the right to play host to the 2001 Super Bowl on Thursday. Now if only the Bucs ever can get to a Super Bowl without having to buy a ticket. "It's going to be a wonderful thing," said Dungy, who played in Super Bowl XIII. "Anytime you get one, it's a big event for the city and for the team hosting it. That's a positive for us.

Now, we've got to just make some strides and see if we can Owners took 2nd vote to OK Smith still may need more knee surgery MARQUETTE from C-1 for himself. "Thank God for them," Smith said. Even with help, the road back will be difficult. Smith weighed a nearly fat-free 202 pounds when injured but now is down to a weak 170. And it's possible the injured knee will need more surgery this month or next.

"Getting back into shape will be tough because I am completely out of shape," he said, "I'm counting on muscle memory to help." Meanwhile, he can't just mope around the house. On Saturday, he turned up on crutches at Central Florida's game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta. "We played hard, and we're proving that we're tough," Smith said. Not the luckiest team in the country, however. Smith was there Saturday to talk with one of his successors at tailback, Mike Grant, after Grant lost a fumble at Tech's 1-yard-line.

"I told him I got stopped at the East Carolina 1-yard-line on fourth down in 1994 when a touchdown could have won the game," Smith said. "It happens to every running back. But then, I also told him about Illinois State." The Knights play host to Illinois State in their homecoming game Saturday. In 1994, the Knights beat Illinois State, 27-26. Smith ran for 165 yards, including a 52-yard burst late in the game that protected the Knights' lead.

"I get a special feeling at a UCF game or a Lake Howell game," Smith said. "I can't make homecoming, but I will be down there in two weeks." And next year? Smith was drafted in the fifth round by Carolina and signed for the NFL minimum, plus an undisclosed signing bonus. He ran for 57 yards on just nine tries in the Panthers' second exhibition season game against Denver. One week later, against Buffalo, his anterior cruciate ligament popped. The Panthers placed him on injured reserve, meaning he was out for the season, though he still collects his $131,000 salary.

But it was just the start of his long medical jour-ney. More than a month after the surgery, Smith knew something was wrong when he was with the Panthers at Jacksonville. "My knee was swollen and painful," he said. "I suffered through that weekend." Then the news of a massive staph infection. How did that happen? "A lot of speculation," Smith said.

"One germ can do it any time you open the body. I was my doctor's first." He soon will get his medical bag off his back. And he is getting support from his newest team. "The Carolina coaches seemed really happy to have me on the squad," he said. "They keep checking on me now, so I feel comfortable that will give me every chance to come back." Will he come back? "Count on it!" "Wayne is a good owner, and he's proven he's a good owner," Jones said "I don't understand why we haven't settled this situation.

It makes no sense." Next opponent-New England Patriots at Foxboro, Mass. Sunday, 4 p.m. NBC INJURY UPDATE LINEBACKER Executives irked over delay in cross-ownership vote NFL owners again have delayed voting on the cross-ownership issue, and Miami Dolphins President Eddie Jones said he does not understand why. Jones attended the league meetings, which ended Thursday in New Orleans, and the owners agreed to put off a vote until their March meetings in Palm Beach. Dolphins owner IL Wayne Huizenga will be directly affected because he would have to sell controlling interest in the Carolina Panthers and Florida Marlins by June 1997 unless NFL owners change their longstanding rule against cross-ownership.

At least 23 of the 30 league owners would have to vote to change the rule, and it is not clear whether that many owners support Huizenga's position. Bills owner Ralph Wilson is among those who want to keep the current rule in place. "I believe that it will be resolved," Huizenga said, "and if we need a year's extension on the current status, we'll ask for it "When you have 30 owners, naturally you're not going to have everybody agreeing on everything. The ownership is seeking the right comfort zone where this issue is concerned. When it believes it has reached it, that's when there will be a vote." Jones is less patient, however.

South Florida SUPER from C-1 showcase all the qualities that make it outstanding," South Florida could not win the requisite three-fourths vote on the first ballot, so a second vote of the 30 owners was taken with the winner needing only a simple majority. Dolphins President Eddie Jones said he did not know the final vote count. "They don't tell anybody," he said. The vote came on the last day of the owners' meeting. Among the other considerations was a stadium presentation by a group of Los Angeles politicians and businessmen.

"There were a number of questions raised, however," Tagliabue said. "I raised the question of how comfortable were the construction experts with the estimates of the total project costs. There were a number of questions raised as to the financing." The Los Angeles delegation hoped to convince the owners that the $229 million Coliseum renovation project could be ready for a team as early as 1999. DWIGHT Hollier (an- kle) and tight end Troy Drayton (knee) made significant progress at practice Thursday, and Dolphins coach Jim-my Johnson said he believes both could be ready to play Sunday at New England. Defensive end Jeff Cross, who practiced Wednesday for the first time since undergoing back surgery in July, participated in more drills Thursday but coaches said it's still too early to determine when he might be ready to play.

DRARNETT SLOWED WIDE RECEIVER Fred Barnett came back just nine weeks after major knee surgery, but Johnson said he believes the lack of conditioning has caught up with him. "The knee is stable, but he was a little heavy-legged last week and this week," Johnson said. "I dont know that he's got the quickness at this stage that hell have in a couple of weeks." DAVID O'BRIEN and CRAIG BARNES Miami Bureau.