Panthers Put Collins On The Bench

Kerry Collins, the first draft choice in Carolina Panthers history, was benched Wednesday after turning the ball over nine times in the past two games.

Coach Dom Capers said he was making the move at quarterback because he felt the Panthers had rushed Collins back into the lineup too fast after he broke his jaw.

“When you’ve been away from it, you can’t just jump back in and expect everything to fall back in place the way it was,” Capers said. “It’s a step-by-step process.”

Steve Beuerlein will take over as the starter for the Panthers, who have a bye this week and play the Vikings in Minnesota next week.

Capers did not set a timetable for Collins’ return to the lineup, but he made it clear the Panthers still feel he is their No. 1 quarterback.

Collins, who the Panthers took with their top choice in the 1995 draft, had his jaw broken in two places on a hit by Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski on Aug. 9. Collins returned to the lineup Sept. 14, at least one week earlier than expected. In his three games since then, he has been intercepted eight times and thrown for four touchdowns, and he has a lower quarterback rating than anyone in the NFL except Heath Shuler of New Orleans.

Detmer still No. 1

Philadelphia Eagles coach Ray Rhodes, who Monday hinted he might make a change at quarterback in Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins, has decided to stay with Ty Detmer.

Rhodes said Wednesday he wasn’t planning to make a change two days after saying that he was looking at all areas of his team after last week’s 28-19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Asked several times whether he meant he was considering a change from Detmer to Rodney Peete, Rhodes on Monday had declined to say that the job was definitely Detmer’s.

On Wednesday, Rhodes made it sound like there was never any doubt in his mind.

“Did I say there was a change? There’s no change. Next question.”

Around the league

Aaron Glenn has agreed to terms on a five-year, $19.3 million contract extension with the New York Jets that will make him the second-highest paid cornerback in the NFL behind Deion Sanders… . The Denver Broncos signed former Florida State kicker Scott Bentley to their practice squad in case Jason Elam can’t play Monday night because of a hip flexor injury… . Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas will miss his fourth straight game because of a triceps injury.