The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 34

i i'irWr ry "4i 6P 10 1995 THE HERALD FUOTBALL leg Rams fire Knox NFL ROUNDUP From Herald Wire Services The Emmitt Smilh watch is on Smith was undergoing around-the-clock treatment Monday for the he felt in his left hamstring during Sunday's 35-9 playoff romp over the Green Bay Packers feel Smith said after the game was just a little grabbing sensation in the muscle" He wasn't talking about it much Monday walking with electrodes attached to his leg Coach Barry Switzer said Smith told him the leg was should practice late in the week and we'll find out what's going Switzer said he can go five plays or maybe the whole game Who knows? We'll have Blair Thomas ready to go not much swelling in the Switzer said not optimistic I told the team we're going to win with or without him" A trainer will be staying with Smith all week treating the hamstring muscle that first acted up Dec 19 against New Orleans He was out three weeks but get past the first quarter against the Packers Other Cowboys are beat up after the Packers game too Offensive linemen Mark Tuinoi Nate Newton and Larry Allen limped olT the field against the Packers All are expected to play Sunday Knox fired Chuck Knox who failed to revitalize the Los Angeles Rams in his second tour of duty as head coach was fired with one year remaining on his contract Knox 62 signed a four-year contract with the Rams on Jan 8 1992 as successor to John Robinson but failed to change their fortunes as he had done with them in the 1970s The Rams were 6-10 in 1992 and 5-11 in 1993 Playoffs roundup 49ERS: Heavy rains are driv- can Steclcrs safety Darren Perry said Four go pro Penn State tailback Ki-Jana Carter the son of a single mother who runs her own business has decided to enter the NFL draft a year early so she can retire Carter (5-1 1 215 pounds) ran for 1539 yards and 23 touchdowns in 1994 and his 78-yard average was best among the top 50 rushers respects this was not a hard decision because it gave me the opportunity to provide some security for my Carter said Monday mom has worked so hard for 15 years to provide for me and my little brother over here I want her to work Pro scouts told Penn State Coach Joe Paterno the running back should be a topTive pick don't really think he can improve his situation athletically by coming back to Penn Paterno said No 1 obligation he has is to do best for him and his NOTRE DAME: Defensive back Bobby Taylor (6-3 201) said he will give up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft Taylor a junior was an Associated Press third-team All-American He had 46 tackles one sack and one interception while starting all 11 regular-season games NORTH CAROLINA: Tailback Curtia Johnson (5-10 200) and defensive tackle Greg Black (6-5 288) say forgo their final season of eligibility at North Carolina to enter the NFL draft Johnson was the Tar second-leading rusher in the 1994 season gaining 721 yards and scoring seven touchdowns Around the league BUCCANEERS: A 1 63 million bid by local investors seeking to buy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and keep them in Tampa was ing the San Francisco 49ers out of state for their key practices leading up to NFC championship game against the Dallas Cowboys The team which cut short its workout because of rain will leave tonight for Phoenix where it will practice Wednesday and Thursday at the Arizona facilities The 49ers will return to practice at their Santa Clara headquarters on Friday CHARGERS: The team is 0-6 in Three Rivers Stadium since a 31-28 victory during the one and only Super Bowl tournament during the strike-interrupted 1982 season They are 1-9 overall in Pittsburgh STEELERS: You think Pittsburgh is rooting for cold weather for AFC Championship game at Three Rivers Stadium? take any advantage we Did dark locker room cost fFRESDOlBHlNSI The following is the list of Miami's unsigned players listed as unrestricted free agents restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents Unrestricted These players with four or more accrued seasons can negotiate with any other team and sign without compensation to the Dolphins rejected Developer Tommy Shannon who headed an investment group that also included Outback Steak-house executives Chris Sullivan and Bob Basham said the three-man trust overseeing the team flatly rejected the bid as too low are evidently two three maybe even four offers on the table that are substantially Shannon said are led to believe they may be as much as $20 million to $30 million more than what we BRONCOS: Denver owner Pat Bowlen spent four hours interviewing former Bronco coordinator Jim Fassel for the headcoaching job But Bowlen said he still wants to talk with San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and several other coaches Because league tampering rules prohibit teams from contacting coaches until their season is over Bowlen cannot meet with Shanahan Erickson impresses Seahawks He likes Seattle but UM is From Herald Wire Services KIRKLAND Wash Seattle Seahawks majority owner Ken Behring speaking publicly for the first time since he fired Coach Tom Flores last month said he likes Dennis Erickson a lot but offered him the head coaching job yet If Erickson the University of Miami coach is leading candidate he wouldn't say arc pluses and minuses with Behring said at the headquarters adding he wasn't sure whether a new head coach would be hired this week Behring said he has three or four other interviews scheduled He said he planned to interview fired defensive coordinator Rusty Tillman in Danville Calif today but refused to identify other candidates my interview with him he never mentioned Behring said of Erickson have to have a chemistry In one meeting it looked fine But you need it both Behring said his interview of Erickson went well He said he liked Erickson because of his winning record "It's pretty hard to Behring said "And in a tough program It's tough at Miami You either win or you're in real trouble down Erickson 47 has won two national championships and has a 63-9 record in six seasons had some options But to be very honest with you if I decide to go to the NFL it would be this year and obviously with he said So what's stopping him? a matter of whether I want to leave Miami or Erickson reiterated a great program and I've spilt a lot of blood there over the last six Behring said he admired pro-style offense at Miami and thought he could make a quick adjustment from college to the NFL Restricted These players with three accrued seasons can negotiate with other team but Dolphins get compensation or right of first refusal depending on the offer By ARMANDO SALGUERO Herald Sports Writer The Dolphins arc privately fuming that the lights in their locker room during halftime of Sunday's game at San Diego did not work And it may have directly cost the team when it gave up the second-half safety in the 22-21 loss The Dolphins had to make their halftime adjustments in the dark at Jack Murphy Stadium because a circuit breaker to their locker room had been tripped or was thrown cutting the power off Team officials fell short of accusing the Chargers of throwing the circuit breaker Monday although several players and coaches said it was a strange coincidence that the breaker to the Miami locker room was the only one that was thrown Now here's how the lack of lighting may have cost the Dolphins: While defensive coaches made their adjustments in the dark offensive coaches scrambled to find a lit hallway and small room adjacent to the Miami locker room In that small dimly lit room that had no blackboard offense coach Gary Stevens discussed possibly running at San overshifted nose tackle a departure from the team's game plan Miami plans called for players to read which way the defense was shifted on running plays then run away from the overshift hese are called plays it was so dark and there was no blackboard and some players even fit into the room some of us thought we had decided to make the change and others didn't said one offensive player The offensive linemen thought the change had been made Quarterback Dan Marino think the change had been made Some running backs thought the change was made and others didn't know In fact Stevens did not make the change It wouldn't be important except the Dolphins used their check-with-me play on the a ol Bernie Parmalee com i ng out of the end one right calf is weaker than left Miami? thoughts when I signed the contract extension were coaching and that changed DON SHULA Dolphins coach sity of Miami Stevens and Olivadotti have let it be known they would be interested in that job although neither has actively campaigned for it Stevens declined to be interviewed Monday Olivadotti was unavailable for comment Another high-ranking Dolphins official whose status will be decided in the next month is General Manager Eddie Jones Jones has a contract through March and has in the past been told by owner Wayne Huizenga that he is welcome to remain with the team But Huizenga will hire a team president soon and that likely will affect status guess is that after the Super Bowl everything will be discussed and decisions will be made about my future with the Jones said not sure what I would like to do and I probably be sure until I sit down with Mr Huizenga and he gives me an DOLFHINS NOTEBOOK The offensive linemen on the right side of the line were as surprised as anyone in the stadium to see Parmalee squeeze up behind them on the play They thought he would be running left sounds like sour grapes now but if we been in the dark at halftime there have been any confusion on one player said what happens when trying to read somebody's lips in the Under equity rules the Dolphins could have requested more time in the locker room once lights were turned on but It is speculation whether the NFL would have granted Miami more time to make its halftime adjustments once the lights were turned on A return on replay Dolphins Coach Don Shula said he remains a strong proponent of instant replay and that if he thought there was a chance it could make a comeback he would reintroduce the idea to the Competition Committee which he co-chairs with Giants GM George Young Sunday's game at San Diego featured several obviously incorrect calls that inay have been corrected by the use of instant replay will be a feeling about how much support there is out there to reintroduce Shula said a groundswell of support I think it should be brought up before the membership "My opinion hasn't changed and I know the negatives I know that not a perfect system we still have that level of error But if we can correct calls we should do that Just because we use it doesn't mean instant replay will go away used on the stadium screens and by television I think if we have the ability to correct calls we should get the right calls out Byars of Fullback Keith Byar said Monday his rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery is "a i 4' X- 3K Jf 1 1 4 (C CHRISTER EUNEMARK Herald Staff SFEAKING OUT: Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino will get a couple of opinions before having tendon surgery opinions but surgery is a good Marino said guess I have to do it But I have to improve the atrophy on my calf and improve my ankle I want to improve my ability to Hamilton may be only one of two or three opinions Marino gets The delicate nature of another surgery and the arduous nature of rehabilitation requires a wise decision be made soon not going to jump into anything going to research it as much as I Marino said do know that either way be back next year If I have to play on one leg play on one CHRISTER EUNEMARK Herald Staff MOVING DAY: Free-agent center Jeff Dellenbach leaves the facility with his equipment maybe for the final time little ahead of and he be playing in that preseason plans to be hair short of 100 game against Tampa which is on percent when training camp Byars said know what opens in mid-July jt taLcs to be prepared and be I saw the doctor last week and ready when the regular season the way plans arc right now No staff changes planned for Years tfVnr-j NFL playoffs Sunday's gamut at Pitts 12 (Chs 4 5) (Pitt by T) Dallas at 4 (Chs 7 29) (S by 7) Sunday Jan 29 Super Bowl 27 at Joe Robbie Stadium (Chs 10 25) Sunday Feb Pro Bowl at Honolulu i pm (ESPN) Exclusive rights These players with less than two accrued seasons cannot negotiate with any other team idea what direction going to go with the presidency of the Certain players also have uncertain futures with the Dolphins Free agents such as center Jeff Dellenbach defensive end Jeff Cross and defensive tackle Chuck Klingbcil are free to negotiate with other clubs although all three have said they would like to return to Miami would like to be right here next Dellenbach said think the offensive line did some positive things this year and can only get better I would like to see us stay together and as long as they deal fairly with me I would come Drew Rosenhaus agent said his client would like to remain in Miami but he will be the marquee defensive end available in free agency In fact Rosenhaus said some clubs already have asked about Cross draw a lot of interest and will be signed early in the free agency Rosenhaus said Dolphins have until Feb 17 to deal with Jeff exclusively and I would like to see them start talks with us before then If they start talking to him sure he will not be lacking for Other players such as tight end Greg Baty safety Chris Green linebacker Jesse Solomon and running back Cleveland Gary probably have spent their final days on the Miami roster I DOLPHINS FROM ID thoughts when I signed the contract extension were coaching and that Shula said Monday In discussing his coaches Shula did not say if there would be changes to the staff but he tell any of the assistants of any plans for changes Monday during their meetings The most likely changes would come if offensive line and assistant head coach John Sandusky 69 decided to retire or if either defense coach Olivadotti or offense coach Stevens found a head coaching job Sandusky has made it known he feels strong and healthy and would like to continue coaching but that decision ultimately would fall to Shula Sandusky declined an interview request Monday sit down and evaluate the job everyone has done and make the decisions necessary based on those Shula said It is almost guaranteed neither Olivadotti nor Stevens would be dismissed offense finished the season first in the NFL and the defense made a latc-sea-son improvement that often kept the team in games while the offense was struggling One factor that could cause a change in coordinators is Dennis status at the Univer- I MARINO FROM 10 specially designed brace and shoe Marino's right calf is visibly smaller than his left calf because of atrophy following the surgery Tests conducted by the Dolphins determined the right calf is only 80 percent as strong as the left calf Marino cannot stand on the toes of his right foot has had a courageous year to come back from the severity of the injury that he has Coach Don Shula said you think about the year despite all of the discomfort he had with the ankle after the surgery you want to stand back and applaud his courage and the accomplishments he Because he will be busy seeking second opinions on his ankle and possibly having more surgery Marino will not play in the Feb 5 Fro Bowl Marino who threw for 30 touchdowns and 4453 yards was voted to be the starter for the AFC New Drew Bledsoe will likely start in place of Marino get a lot of different 4 iMn.