Daily Record from Morristown, New Jersey • Page 24

B4 Oaily Record, Morris County, N.J., Tuesday, August 20, 1991 FOOTBALL Fast Break Buffalo Garretts9 Bi 11 cut by Jets will go with O'Brien A i Jl? Associated Press Former Princeton All-America Judd Garrett, left, pictured during a Tigers-Holy Cross game in 1988, was cut by the Bills along with brother John and Flemington's Tom Bill. All played in Jersey Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Judd and John Garrett and Tom Bill, all of whom played their scholastic or collegiate football in New Jersey, were cut yesterday by the Buffalo Bills. Judd Garrett, an All-America running back while at Princeton University, was the leading receiver in the World League last spring. In 1989, Judd Garrett, drafted by the Eagles in the 12th round of the 1990 draft, rushed for 1,347 yards for the Tigers.

John Garrett, Judd's older brother, played for the Bengals in 1989. He earned All-America honors in 1988, also at Princeton. Flemington's Bill, a quarterback, is a graduate of Penn State. He played much of last season behind Tony Sacca, completing 15 of 26 passes for 235 yards. Yesterday was the first day this season of wholesale cuts as NFL teams that opened training camp with 80-man rosters worked to get down to 60 by 4 p.m.

today. They must cut to 47 by noon next Monday, six days before the start of the regular season. "This is probably the worst part of the job," said Bill Belichick, the first-year coach of the Browns, who was making his first major roster reduction. "Most of these players have been busting their tails for four or five weeks, and we've got to tell them they can't play anymore." Scott Norwood, who missed what could have been the game-winning field goal in last year's Super Bowl, won the battle for his placekicking spot when Buffalo cut Bjorn Nittmo, a former New York Giant. Also cut were defensive back Brett Young and four 1991 draft choices: defensive back Shawn Wilbourn (5th round), wide receiver Millard Hamilton (6th round), offensive lineman Tony DeLorenzo (10th round) and tight end Steve Clark (12th round).

Levy has six more moves to make, but his most pressing problem is on the defensive line, especially after veteran defensive tack- Trottier signs with Penguins PITTSBURGH (AP) -Bryan Trottier signed a one-jtfe'ax contract with the Penguins almost identical to the deal that paid him $400,000 last season. Trottier, 35, said he sought a multi-year deal, but no NHL team made the offer. Another free agent, right winger Mark Recchi, is seeking a contract worth at least $800,000 per year. Seles withdraws from tournament WASHINGTON (AP) -Top-seeded Monica Seles withdrew from the Virginia Slims of Washington, this time getting her mother to call in her absence. Seles was asked to compete in "the $350,000 event when Steffi Graf, the world's top-ranked player, pulled out with a shoulder injury.

The 17-year-old Yugoslav said she'd consider the request, then had her mother call a tour official to say she would not play in Washington. Kramer found innocent again MINNETONKA, Minn. (AP) For the second time in four years, former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer has been found innocent of drunken driving charges. A Hennepin County District Court jury deliberated about two hours before acquitting Kramer of driving while intoxicated, careless driving and refusal to take a blood-alcohol test on March 19. NL'sandAL's top players named NEW YORK (AP) Ken Griffey Jr.

of the Seattle Mariners is the American League Player of the Week. Griffey led the league with a .412 batting average (13-24) and had its best on-base percentage at .586. Bobby Bonilla of the Pirates, who batted .577 with seven multi-hit games and a .633 one-base average, was named Player of the Week in the National League. Sports fact Daytona 500 speeds driver and average speed of winning car HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) Ken O'Brien is still in as the starting quarterback of the New York Jets.

But two-time Pro Bowler Erik McMillan has one preseason game to get his act together or he may find himself out as starting free safety. It was no surprise when head coach Bruce Coslet finally declared his starting quarterback would be O'Brien, the nine-year veteran who will open his seventh season as the Jets' starter. Second-year backup Troy Taylor did nothing to indicate he was capable of beating O'Brien out in completing 18-of-34 passes for just 138 yards in three exhibition games. Meanwhile, O'Brien completed 13-of-25 passes for 202 yards, including the team's lone touchdown in Saturday night's 24-10 loss to the Giants. "Ken O'Brien is our starter," Coslet said.

"Nothing that Troy did to lose or win the job. It's just that right now, Ken O'Brien is our best quarterback." That's not to say O'Brien will be the best quarterback come Week 5. "I told Troy he better be ready," Coslet said. "He's a sprained ankle away from being the starter." O'Brien, who will start the team's last exhibition game Saturday night against Washington, took the news in stride, saying he expected Coslet's decision from the outset of training camp, despite the coach's contention that the job was There is some doubt as to whether McMillan or Lonnie Young will wind up as the starting free safety come the Sept. 1 opener against Tampa Bay.

Coslet declared the position still open yesterday, perhaps as a way of pushing McMillan, who was badly beaten on Phil Simms' 59-yard touchdown pass to Odessa Turner Saturday. NOTES: The Jets' roster stands at 62 after the waiving of rookie draft choice defensive backs Doug Parrish, Mike Riley, Tim James, linebacker Rocen Keeton, tackle Mark Hayes and defensive tackle Paul Glonek. In addition, wide receivers Pete Balistrieri, Grantis Bell (injury settlement), Ron Young and Phil Logan were also cut. Jets trade Mattes LAKE FOREST, 111. (AP) The Chicago Bears obtained offensive tackle Ron Mattes from the Jets yesterday in exchange for an undisclosed conditional choice in the 1992 draft.

Mattes, a six-year veteran, was selected as a defensive lineman in the seventh round of the 1985 draft by Seattle. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, Mattes started every game at left tackle from 1986 through 1988. He brings experience to the Bears' offensive line. Starting left tackle Jim Covert is out for the year with a back inury and rookie Stan Thomas is starting in his place. Mattes, 27, is 6-foot 6 and 300 pounds.

He was traded to the Jets from the Seahawks this past offseason in exchange for a 1992 draft pick. le-end Gary Baldinger went down in Saturday's 35-24 exhibition loss to the Green Bay Packers. Baldinger is believed to have suffered a strained right knee and the prognosis for his speedy return to the lineup are bleak. Patriots Hart Lee Dykes, New England's No. 1 draft pick in 1989, was expected to miss the 1991 season following surgery to repair a fractured right knee cap.

The wide receiver damaged the knee cap in Saturday night's 46-0 exhibition loss to Phoenix. Dykes, who caught two passes for 21 yards, underwent surgery yesterday at Massachusetts General Hospital which also corrected a tendinitis problem that had plagued him for two weeks. Cardinals Mike Wilcher, an 8-year starter for the Los Angeles Rams; Al Del Greco, the Phoenix Cardinals' placekicker for the past four seasons and veteran backup quarterbacks Don McPherson and Rusty Hilger were cut by the Cardinals. The 31-year-old Wilcher, who played in 122 games, was perhaps the best known player cut. But he was beaten out by a group of younger players as Los Angeles worked to revamp a defense that ranked next-to-last in the NFL last season.

Browns Cleveland cut tight end Charles Arbuckle, leaving only two tight ends on the roster second-year man Scott Galbraith and Lee Rouson, a Plan pickup who had spent his previous six seasons as a running back with the Giants. Safety Thane Gash was placed on the physically unable to perform reserve list because of a neck injury that will probably cause him to miss the entire season. Steelers Pittsburgh cut three veterans, center Chuck Lanza, wide receiver Lorenzo Davis and defensive lineman Karl Dunbar. Lanza, a fourth-year man and Dunbar, in his second season, spent all of last year on injured reserve. Davis was in his second year and saw action in four games last season without catching a pass.

Packers Safety Jerry Woods and tight end William Harris, who were on Green Bay's roster last season, were among nine players cut. Woods played in all 16 games last season for the Packers last season and Harris, who had formerly played for the Cardinals and Bucs, played in four games. Saints The Saints sent unsigned cornerback Robert Massey, a two-year starter, to the Cardinals for guard Derek Kennard and an undisclosed draft choice. Kennard will help fill the gap caused by a season-ending knee injury to Steve Trapilo. Bengals Cincinnati cut its Uth-round draft pick, tight end Chris Smith as well as Dennis Arey, a free agent wide receiver.

LT may return to action by tomorrow By Tom Canavan Associated Press 1990 DerrikeCope 148.124 mph 1989 Darrell Walt rip 1176.263 mph "The time I want him ready is Sept. 2," Handley said. "That's what I'm worried about. I won't rush him to get back on the field." Taylor sprained the ankle Saturday night when his turf shoes seemed to catch on the playing surface at Giants Stadium just as Jets tackle Ron Mattes pushed him to the ground, twisting the leg and ankle. Down to 60 players The Giants got down to the 60-man limit a day early as they placed four players on injured reserve, waived nine others and designated two for assignment.

Cornerback Simmie Carter and guard Luis Cristobal, the Giants' seventh and 10th round draft choices, respectively were among the nine players released. Also cut were nose tackle Henry Blades, placekicker Philip Doyle, punter Tom Rouen, defensive tackle Stanley Jones, linebacker Matt Kelly, wide receiver Alex Shell and running back Tony Satter, who may have sealed his own fate Saturday mishandling two punts and mis-playing a third. Plan free agent safety Thorn Kaumeyer headed the group put on injured reserve, meaning they are ineligible to play this season. Also placed on IR were defensive linemen Clint James and Tim Downing and offensive tackle Jay Butler. Linebacker Chad Thorson and tight end Ted Popson, the Giants 11th round draft choice, also were moved, but team spokesman Ed Croke did not know if the players were waived-injured or placed on injured reserve.

The Giants have until today to decide on which list to place them. Waived-injured would allow other teams to claim them. No signings Handley said he had no word on efforts to sign veterans Jumbo Elliott, William Roberts, Mark Ingram and Dave Meggett. Elliott and Roberts are the Giants starting left tackle and guard, respectively, so getting them into the fold takes on more importance. EAST RUTHERFORD Lawrence Taylor could be back on the field as early as tomorrow at least that's what the perennial Pro Bowl linebacker told coach Ray Handley.

Handley said Taylor's sprained right ankle continued to show improvement yesterday, adding Taylor would tell him when he's ready. No decision has been made on whether Taylor will play in the New York Giants final exhibition game against the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Mass. Handley said if Taylor practiced this week, he probably would play a couple of series against the Patriots. 1988 Bobby Allison 1987 Bill Elliott 148.466 mph .1986 Geoff Bodlne ffiaffi 165.761 mph OURCt: 1991 World Almwac List 7 QBs Continued from BI Broncos break out, defeat Miami, 21-13 Elway, Lewis do majority of damage NO-HITTERS vs. New York Mets SANDY KOUFAX Los "Angeles, on June 30, JlM BUNNING Philadelphia, on June 21, 1964, $-0.

JIM MALONEY Cincinnati, on June 14, 1965, JM. BOB MOOSE Pittsburgh, Sept. 20, 1969, A-0. 6JLL STONEMAN Montreal, Oct. 2, 1972, 7-0.

EO HALICKI San Francisco. Aug. 24, 1975, 6-0. loser in his eyes. "I feel if anything happens to the first guy, the second comes in and doesn't miss a beat," Handley said.

"I feel I have two quality quarterbacks, two guys who have shown they can move the team, who the team has confidence in. How can there be a loser in that situation?" Once a choice is made, Handley said he would give the starter as much work as needed to be effective. However, he said he wanted to make sure the backup got enough, too. In past years, Simms has taken almost all the snaps in practice, leaving Hostetler little chance to run the offense. "I'm not going to make a bad decision." Handley said.

"It might not be the popular decision or the one that in the long run is deemed to have been the best decision. It won't be the wrong decision when I make it" atively soon." Hostetler, who passed for one touchdown and ran for another in the Giants' 24-10 victory over the New York Jets last Saturday, has had the better statistics in the first three exhibitions. He has completed 24 of 32 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown, including a 9-for-9 passing performance against the Jets. Simms is 20 of 38 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. However, he has been victimized by his receivers, who dropped at least five passes against the Jets, including a botch of a sure touchdown by rookie Ed McCaffrey.

Handley said that whoever doesn't get the job will probably be identified as the loser, but that the No. 2 quarterback would not be a DENVER (AP) Rookie running back Greg Lewis scored twice, and John Elway passed for 62 yards to Ricky Nattiel for another touchdown as the Broncos broke out of an offensive slump with a 21-13 exhibition victory over the Dolphins last night. The Broncos (2-2) showed signs of life on their first offensive play, when Elway hit Mark Jackson on a 46-yard pass play. That series ended when safety Jarvis Williams intercepted Elway at the Dolphins' 12. But Elway later found Jackson on a 31-yarder to set up Lewis' 3-yard run for a 7-3 Broncos lead midway through the second quarter.

Nattiel got behind cornerback i Chris Green on a streak pattern and hauled in Elway's long pass in stride at the 20, putting the Broncos up 14-6 with 6:59 left in the third quarter. On the next play from scrimmage, Broncos linebacker Karl Mecklenburg stripped the ball from rookie running back Aaron Craver and defensive end Warren Powers recovered at the Dolphins' 25. Lewis swept the right side for his second touchdown with 632 remaining in the period. 49ers 24, Chargers 13 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Steve Young turned a scramble into a 47-yard touchdown mn and threw for another score as the 49ers beat the i Trivia John Elway Chargers in an exhibition game. Young, starting a second time in place of Joe Montana, raced past linebacker Henry Rolling, broke Donald Frank's tackle at about the 5-yard line and carried comerbacks Gill Byrd and Sam Seale into the end zone for the games first score midway through the opening period.

Montana missed most of practice in the week leading up to the game because of elbow tendinitis in his throwing arm. THE SAN FRANCISCO 9ers have retired seven jerseys Can you name any of them? Answer on page B5..