Hawks’ Plan Hurt By Injuries
Dennis Erickson changed the offensive philosophies of the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday based on healthier receivers, an experienced Warren Moon at quarterback and left tackle Walter Jones, a talented pass-blocker.
The team’s injury report Friday might make Erickson’s aggressive game plan a passing fancy. The Seahawks might be without three of their top five receivers and Jones this Sunday at home against the San Diego Chargers.
“We’re still going to do that,” Erickson said of passing. “We may have to do it with different guys.”
Joey Galloway and Mike Pritchard remain the starters, but the third receiver is anyone’s guess. The knee injury of Brian Blades improved enough for him to be upgraded from questionable to probable Friday. Ronnie Harris’ hamstring problem didn’t improve and he remains questionable.
James McKnight, who worked with the scout team, is one week away from recovering from a knee injury and joined the inactive list.
Jones’ injury, suffered during practice Thursday, remains the biggest concern. The left ankle is so sore that Jones can’t put any weight on it, so questionable might be an optimistic prognosis.
Rice wants to play this season
Jerry Rice can’t say exactly when he’ll be back from his left knee injury, only that he will be back - and he intends to return later this season.
“Even though I live and die on the football field, I have to be smart with an injury like this,” the 49ers receiver said Friday, addressing reporters for the first time since he was injured in San Francisco’s season-opening 13-6 loss at Tampa Bay.
“But I’m really going to give it a shot because I feel it can be done. I’m going to work hard and I’m a fast healer,” Rice said.
Provoked Newton charged
Nate Newton, the Dallas Cowboys’ All-Pro offensive guard, has been charged with a misdemeanor - punishable by a fine of up to $500 - after swearing at a woman who asked whether his dining companion was his wife or his mistress.
“He admitted that, yes, he did curse her,” Fort Worth, Texas, police Lt. Mark Krey said Friday.
The incident occurred Monday when Newton was eating lunch with a companion at a Fort Worth mall, Krey said.
Another diner, 41-year-old Vickie Miller of Fort Worth, came up to Newton’s table and asked for an autograph, a request Newton declined, Krey said. Later, as the woman left the restaurant, she yelled back at the diners, including Newton. According to Krey, she called out, “Mr. Newton, is that your wife or your mistress?”
Newton walked over and “spoke to her in profane and abusive language, with the main gist of the terms expressing his displeasure with her statement,” Krey said. “She just stood there and told him, ‘If you want to hit me, go ahead.”’ Newton told reporters Friday that he regretted the incident.
Lynch fined $7,500
The NFL fined Buccaneers safety John Lynch $7,500 for an out-of-bounds hit on Minnesota Vikings receiver Chris Walsh on Sunday.