Emtman Tells It Like He Sees It
Emtman on Colts
Miami’s Steve Emtman is predictably ripping his former team, the Colts, who released him:
“That was too calculated to be done in good faith. It was not about helping the team. It was a straight pay cut. They basically gave up on me and said that I can’t stay healthy. I was totally dedicated to the team. I was a 9-to-5er, a lunch-bucket guy. Teams that do things like that are not dedicated to winning. They take advantage of the players by leaving them no leverage.
“I had three major injuries. The owner was saying Steve Emtman took my money and I got nothing out of it. Well, I gave plenty. Look at this scar, this scar and this scar. I wasn’t hurt in a car accident. I was working on the field for him.”
Green on the Steelers
Tight end Eric Green, who left the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Dolphins as a free agent, bruised his shoulder on July 18 and hasn’t gone full speed in practice since, but he’s kept himself in the headlines.
First, he charged that the Pittsburgh media is unfair to blacks. Then he said that Steelers quarterback Neil O’Donnell “panicked” on the fourth-down pass to Barry Foster at the end of last season’s AFC title game loss to San Diego.
On the fourth-down pass from the 3, Green said, O’Donnell never looked his way and threw backing up.
“You don’t throw the ball to Barry Foster,” Green said. “You give it to him and let him run. This is the most crucial play probably in all our careers. You’re throwing it to a guy you don’t throw it to 20 times a year. He panicked.”
Feeling better
Tom Braatz, director of college scouting for the Miami Dolphins, was reported to be feeling better at a Miami hospital after becoming ill during the Dolphins game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Team spokesman Harvey Green said doctors were still uncertain what caused the illness.
No Coke, Pepsi
When the Raiders used the Cowboys practice facility last week, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked if Al Davis asked permission to put a Raiders banner on the Cowboys fence.
“Al doesn’t ask for permission. He hasn’t anywhere else,” Jones said.
Jones, though, one-upped Davis last week. He made a $40 million deal with Pepsi even though Coke is paying the league to be the NFL’s official drink.
This move caused concern throughout the league because it’ll devalue leaguewide deals if each owner starts cutting his own deals.
Davis even jokingly said last week: “I’m just concerned I’ll get blamed for it.”
Replied Jones: “Al, you’re always so innocent.”
Prediction time
Three incredibly brazen predictions that can be found in the approximately 1 billion preseason football publications now on newsstands:
Indianapolis will make the playoffs.
The Eagles’ Ricky Watters will win the NFL rushing title.
The New England Patriots will play in the Super Bowl.
“Our expectations as a team are really high, but some people are getting a little bit crazy,” said Pats quarterback Drew Bledsoe of prediction No.3.
Bledsoe said the team to beat in the AFC East is Miami. He adds that everyone now “expects” the Patriots, coming off a fine season, to be good.
“I don’t think we’re going to sneak up on anybody,” Bledsoe said.
But later, he said this: “I’ve always taken the point of view that I’d rather have people expect too much of me than too little.”
Browns want McMahon
Uncomfortable with the prospect of Brad Goebel and rookie Eric Zeier backing up Vinny Testaverde, the Browns are close to signing 35-year-old Jim McMahon.
McMahon, a 13-year veteran who was released by the Arizona Cardinals after last season, would likely receive a one-year deal worth $178,000, plus incentives. He could join the Browns by Monday.
PRESEASON ROUNDUP
Packers 27, Saints 17
At Madison, Wis., Ty Detmer atoned for a pair of fumbles with two touchdown passes and Charles Jordan returned a kickoff 96 yards for a score as Green Bay defeated New Orleans.
Cardinals 16, Oilers 13
At Houston, Arizona rookie quarterback Stoney Case stole the spotlight from Houston millionaire quarterback Steve McNair, throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Knox with 4:18 to play to rally the Cardinals.
McNair, the Oilers’ quarterback of the future after signing a seven-year, $28.5 million contract, bobbled his first pro snap to start the third quarter. He had the presence to recover and throw an 20-yard completion to Malcolm Seabron to the Oilers 45.
Broncos 24, 49ers 10
Big-play passes by John Elway and Bill Musgrave and a long interception return by Keith Burns propelled Denver to a win earlier today in Toyko.
With about 50,000 mostly Japanese spectators on hand, the Broncos took charge with 17 points in the third quarter. Jason Elam kicked a 40-yard field goal, Musgrave threw a 6-yard TD pass to Owens and Terrell Davis converted Burns’ long return into a 2-yard scoring run.
Elway and San Francisco starter Steve Young played the first quarter before Musgrave took over for Denver and Elvis Grbac for the 49ers.
Eagles 25, Falcons 17
At Philadelphia, Randall Cunningham and Rodney Peete ran Philadelphia’s new offense with precision, making coach Ray Rhodes’ debut a success in the Eagles’ win.
Former Steeler Gary Anderson, replacing Eddie Murray as the Eagles’ kicker, hit six field goals.
Raiders 27, Cowboys 14
At Irving, Texas, backup quarterback Billy Joe Hobart, formerly of University of Washington, threw two touchdown passes to make Mike White’s NFL coaching debut a success for Oakland.
Hobart hit Napoleon Kaufman, a 1995 first-round draft pick from UW, with a 27-yard pass and found third-string wide receiver Phillip Bobo, formerly of Washington State, with a 13-yard scoring pass as the Raiders dropped the Cowboys to 1-1 in exhibitions.
Jets 9, Buccaneers 3
At Tampa, Fla, four interceptions and three Nick Lowery field goals keyed New York’s win. Adding to Tampa Bay’s frustration was an injury to receiver Alvin Harper, who is expected to be sidelined 3-4 weeks with a sprained left knee and ankle.
Chiefs 37, Redskins 21
At Kansas City, Steve Bono’s perfectly timed first-quarter touchdown was the only highlight in a brief appearance for Joe Montana’s replacement in Kansas City’s win.