Slacker Hobert Fired
The Buffalo Bills waived backup quarterback Billy Joe Hobert on Wednesday, two days after he admitted he was unprepared for an injury to starter Todd Collins.
Hobert told the Associated Press earlier this week he glanced over the passing plays and was not ready last week when Collins sustained a strained shoulder in a loss to the New England Patriots.
Hobert admitted slacking off last week. The former University of Washington standout said he was ashamed of himself for not preparing, especially after throwing two interceptions on his first three passes in a 33-6 loss to the Patriots.
Hobert was acquired for a third-round draft pick from the Oakland Raiders in the off-season. In addition to losing the draft pick, the Bills were scheduled to pay Hobert $750,000 this season. He will not receive his full contract now that he has been released.
Buffalo remained unsure whether Collins would be healthy before Monday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. If Collins is not ready, Alex Van Pelt will start.
Peete, Collins to start
Faced with few other options to spark his 2-4 team, Philadelphia Eagles coach Ray Rhodes benched Ty Detmer and named Rodney Peete his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game with the Arizona Cardinals.
It will be Peete’s first start this year. He led Philadelphia to a 3-1 start in 1996 but sustained a season-ending knee injury in a 23-19 loss to Dallas in Week 5.
Carolina’s Kerry Collins, benched earlier this month after turning the ball over nine times in two games, will start against New Orleans on Sunday.
Steve Beuerlein, who strained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in last week’s loss to Minnesota, was unable to move around adequately in Wednesday’s practice.
Raiders suspend Brown
The Oakland Raiders suspended cornerback Larry Brown for four weeks for conduct detrimental to the team, another setback for the 1996 Super Bowl Most Valuable Player who has struggled during his two seasons with the Raiders.
Raiders coach Joe Bugel said there were several reasons for the suspension, refusing to be specific. Brown was suspended the maximum time for conduct detrimental to the team: four weeks without pay.
Cowboys lose Tuinei
The Dallas Cowboys’ struggling offense received some bad news when MRI results revealed a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in left tackle Mark Tuinei’s left knee. Tuinei, who has started 96 of the last 99 games, will miss Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.
San Francisco gets Super Bowl
NFL owners voted to award San Francisco the 2003 title game, to be played in a new stadium that will replace 3Com Park.