Player Rep For Broncos Criticizes Votes
Denver Broncos cornerback Ray Crockett on Thursday questioned the voting procedure used for the Pro Bowl, saying he was embarrassed by some of the ballots cast by his teammates.
Crockett suggested his teammates made questionable choices, perhaps to protect Denver’s Pro Bowl candidates by voting for undeserving players instead of the Broncos’ main competitors.
“On our final list - the list we sent to the NFL - we had (Oakland’s) David Klingler as our backup quarterback and (Buffalo’s Tim) Tindale as the backup running back,” Crockett said.
Both players saw little action this season.
“And we had (Marvin) Harrison from Indianapolis as a backup receiver and (New England’s) Terry Glenn, who played five games, as a backup receiver. I don’t know if that was a joke or what. But the bottom line is we sent that into the league, so those guys got votes.”
Serving as a player rep for the first time, Crockett insisted he didn’t cast his own votes for undeserving players.
“As our player rep, this is the list I had to sign and send in to the league,” Crockett said. “I was embarrassed. I didn’t want to sign it. It’s ridiculous, and I think the league has to look at it and think it’s ridiculous.”
Rice says he’s ready
Steve Mariucci glanced out the window to the practice field. What he saw convinced him Jerry Rice was ready to come back.
“It was Monday morning, you know, a players’ day off, and it was pouring rain and Jerry was out there in full pads, the full uniform, the knee brace and everything,” the 49ers coach said. “He was running routes, doing his drills. He’s on a mission to be healthy and play.”
And barring a setback in practice this week, he’ll make his return Monday night against Denver. Rice, who had reconstructive surgery the day after tearing two ligaments and damaging cartilage in his left knee in the Aug. 31 opener at Tampa Bay, was upgraded Thursday to probable from doubtful.
“Basically, I’m doing everything exactly like I was doing before I got injured,” Rice said. “I was running good routes, coming out of my cuts and I felt like I was very explosive.”
Cowher gets word to stay put
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher promised to stick to NFL rules when his team plays the New England Patriots on Saturday.
Cowher said he’d been warned by league officials about violating its rules by straying on to the field beyond the 35-yard line.
Cowher rushed on to the field Sunday to cheer the Steelers offense when they made a first down on a fourth-down play by against Denver.
In Jacksonville on Sept. 22, Cowher moved onto the field and raised his arm as the Jaguars’ Chris Hudson ran back a blocked field goal.
Steelers LB Greg Lloyd’s staph infection will sideline him for the last two regular-season games.
xxxx COMING UP Sunday: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders, 1 p.m.