Packers Withdraw Offer For Raiders’ Robinson
The Oakland Raiders traded running back Greg Robinson, their leading rusher in 1993, to the Green Bay Packers for a draft choice, only to have the transaction apparently fall through when he failed a physical.
“Greg just called me,” his agent, Harold Lewis, said. “He said, ‘This is the craziest thing. I was ready to go into a meeting with their running backs and they told me I failed the physical.’
“They said something was not right with his left knee. Supposedly an MRI showed some level of swelling in the knee. But he played in all the double sessions and played in a game.”
Robinson was reported heading back to Los Angeles.
The Raiders initially announced the trade, but the Packers refused to say the deal had been completed.
Robinson started 12 games and gained 591 yards for the Raiders as a rookie in 1993 before a torn knee ligament ended his season. He missed all of 1994 season while rehabilitating the knee.
Saints’ quarterback battle continues
New Orleans is still trying to decide if former University of Idaho standout Doug Nussmeier or Tom Hodson will be the backup to quarterback Jim Everett.
However, Saints coach Jim Mora said Hodson threw the ball better and was more poised against Seattle than in the first two games.
Damaged Georgia Dome assessed
Atlanta Falcons officials are cautiously optimistic they’ll be able to play host to the Carolina Panthers Sept. 3 in the storm-damaged Georgia Dome.
Engineers, architects and contractors met to assess the damage from Sunday’s thunderstorms that caused four of the dome’s Teflon-coated fiberglass roof panels to collapse, damaging seats and precast concrete in the upper decks.
McGwire earns roster spot
Former Seattle quarterback Dan McGwire won Miami’s No. 3 job when the Dolphins waived Doug Pederson.
McGwire, 6-foot-8, was drafted in the first round by the Seahawks in 1991 and signed with Miami as a free agent.
“We just decided that Dan McGwire has all the tools to be a good quarterback in the National Football League,” head coach Don Shula said.
“He started some games for Seattle. He has looked good at times here. We wanted to continue to look at him further as our third quarterback.”
McGwire will back up Dan Marino and Bernie Kosar.
Patriots’ Brown nears return
New England linebacker Vincent Brown, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee July 31, will return to the practice field this week. But he won’t play this week in the exhibition finale against the Raiders.
“He’ll be on the field in pads,” coach Bill Parcells said. “He won’t be practicing quite yet, but we want to get him used to carrying around some equipment again.”
Kotite downplays accusations
Rich Kotite, responding to accusations by the New York Giants that the New York Jets used dirty tactics in Saturday night’s preseason game, admitted a couple of players on his team were “over-rambunctious.”
But the Jets’ coach said the Giants were no angels, either.
“I have to say, with all honesty, you’re going to see the same things (on tape) from the blue jerseys as well,” Kotite said.
After reviewing the tape of the game, Kotite said there were “some late hits,” but he said the aggressiveness was the result of the pressure of young players trying to make the roster.
“I don’t stand for those things,” he said. “Good football teams don’t do that.”
Broncos 20, Cowboys 17
Bill Musgrave, battling Hugh Millen for the backup quarterback job, threw a third-quarter touchdown pass to Jerry Evans as the Broncos defeated Dallas Monday night in Denver.
Musgrave’s 1-yard TD throw to Evans produced a 17-17 tie, and Jason Elam’s 27-yard field goal with 9:37 left accounted for the difference.
End zone
LeVar Ball, a former Washington State basketball player trying to make the New York Jets as a tight end, was released… . Former University of Washington receiver Mario Bailey was dropped by Atlanta, while ex-Huskies cornerback Le-Lo Lang was cut by Buffalo. … Pittsburgh signed former Seattle and Atlanta kicker Norm Johnson… . San Francisco signed free-agent cornerback Toi Cook.
The NFL will hold a hearing Thursday to review the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of Saturday night’s exhibition game between the Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers… . Former Kansas City wide receiver Tim Barnett was sentenced to three years in prison for the second-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.