Giants Cut Backup In Favor Of Maddox

Dan Reeves dropped his annual first-week-of-the-season bombshell, and it was a doozy: The New York Giants waived backup quarterback Kent Graham and signed Tommy Maddox to replace him.

“I’m so shocked I don’t know what to think,” Graham said. “The conversation took 1 minute. Dan said: ‘Kent, we’re waiving you. Tommy Maddox is coming in. Have a good day.’ That was it. I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say.

“Tommy is Dan’s boy. That was the guy I was always worried about all along. I know how Dan brings his boys here.”

Two years ago, Reeves cut standout linebacker Pepper Johnson the week of the season opener. Last year, he re-shuffled the linebackers.

Reeves drafted Maddox while coaching in Denver.

Bates quits Raiders

Oakland’s search for stability took a detour when its starting strong safety, Patrick Bates, left the team. Bates, the 12th player taken in the 1993 draft, will not play in Sunday’s opener against San Diego.

Bates may not return at all. Coach Mike White said Bates left the team for unspecified “personal reasons.” The Raiders re-signed defensive back Dan Land, cut earlier this week, and moved Derrick Hoskins into Bates’ starting spot.

According to Land and Hoskins, Bates lost his desire to play football.

Oakland defensive end Anthony Smith has been replaced in the starting lineup by Nolan Harrison. Smith will replace tackle Jerry Ball on passing downs.

Ross returns

Bobby Ross was back, and it wasn’t long before he was getting ribbed for his six-day hospital stay.

“You got your red jersey on, coach?” San Diego Chargers defensive end Leslie O’Neal hollered as Ross headed out to practice riding a motorized cart. A red jersey signifies a player who’s not supposed to get hit in practice.

Although Ross looked and sounded weak during a news conference, he seemed in good spirits and eager to get ready for Sunday’s opener. He was released from the hospital Tuesday, five days after having scar tissue removed from around his small intestine.

Around the league

Deion Sanders expects to decide his football future by Sept. 8. … Buffalo special-teams star Steve Tasker pulled a hamstring and will likely miss three weeks. … Safety Eric Turner signed a three-year, $8.4 million deal with a $2.75 million signing bonus with Cleveland, then demanded to start Sunday. … The Seahawks added guard Kris Pollack to their practice squad.