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Email Update 6/17/02 Volume 3 Issue # 3
IN THIS ISSUE
1. Regan Upshaw lost for Raider's 2002 season; Trace Armstrong
just wants to "hit someone".
2. Charlie Batch cancels weekend flight; Batch signs with Steelers
Monday.
3. Chris Weinke throws in practice for first time since shoulder
surgery; DeShaun Foster practices with the Panthers for the first
time since April.
4. Why Footballguys can't wait for the start of Training Camp
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Regan Upshaw lost for Raider's 2002 season; Trace Armstrong just
wants to "hit someone".
Clipped from an article by BayArea.com's Samuel Chi:
ALAMEDA -- Whatever the Raiders accomplished during this three-day
minicamp might not compensate for their one setback: They have lost
defensive end Regan Upshaw for the season because of a torn knee
ligament.
Upshaw injured his right knee during the Thursday afternoon practice.
It was not initially believed to be serious. But an MRI exam on
Friday revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and Upshaw is
expected to miss the 2002 season.
"He made a spin move and looked like he tweaked his knee," Raiders
coach Bill Callahan said Saturday after the final practice of the
minicamp. "His body was in a funny position, but we didn't know how
serious it was at first."
Callahan said DeLawrence Grant, Emil Ekiyor and Tony Bryant are
leading candidates to replace Upshaw, who led the team with seven
sacks last season. Upshaw said he will have surgery within a week to
repair the ligament, and the rehabilitation likely will take up to a
year.
"I was hurting for about 10 minutes," Upshaw said. "But I am very
upbeat now. This is just another obstacle that I have to overcome and
I've got faith that I'll get through this. I'm prepared to do
whatever it takes to get back."
Almost ready
Defensive end Trace Armstrong is "anxious to hit somebody."
He's coming off a lengthy rehab from a torn Achilles tendon. After
signing with the Raiders last season, Armstrong was supposed to be
the team's primary pass-rush threat. But the Raiders never got to
find out how effective he would be. Armstrong sustained a season-
ending injury during the third week of the regular season.
At 36, Armstrong could have opted for retirement. But instead he
submitted to a rigorous rehabilitation program. That finally reached
its conclusion at this week's minicamp as Armstrong returned to the
practice field for the first time since that Sept. 30 game against
Seattle.
As a precaution, though, the Raiders are still holding him out of
contact drills.
"I'm close to being 100 percent," he said. "But I'm not hitting
anybody. I'm very pleased with the progress I'm making. I've had a
few minor bumps along the road, but overall I'm on target as far as
where I want to be."
Even with Upshaw's season-ending injury, Armstrong's role isn't
expected to change. He will be the Raiders' third-down pass-rush
specialist. In his last full season in 2000, Armstrong led the AFC
with 161/2 sacks for the Miami Dolphins.
"He's just about 100 percent, but we're holding him out because it's
not worth taking the risk," Callahan said. "We're certain he could
and will play -- he's a situational player and we'll keep him in that
capacity."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Losing Regan Upshaw is a definite blow to the Raider's defensive
front, but as the article noted, they enjoy decent depth at this
position. Tony Bryant, entering his fourth pro season, seems like the
most likely player to step into Upshaw's role in 2002 � if
you play in a league with IDP's, you should look for an
opportunity to snag Bryant, especially if you have just lost
Upshaw's services for 2002.
Bryant played in 16 games in 2000, and 15 games in 2001, and put up
25 tackles, 13 assists and 6 sacks in 2000, 29 tackles, 11 assists
and 5 sacks in 2001.
If Trace Armstrong is indeed 100% at the end of training camp, he
should be a nice addition for teams in leagues with IDP's --
especially those leagues that award lots of points for sacks.
Numbers from his last three active seasons (excluding 2001, ruined by
the Achilles injury):
1998 Miami � played in 16 games, with 20 tackles, 2 assists and
11 sacks.
1999 Miami � played in 16 games, with 16 tackles, 9 assists and 8
sacks.
2000 Miami � played in 16 games, with 24 tackles, 10 assists and
17 sacks.
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Charlie Batch cancels weekend flight; Batch signs with Steelers
Clipped from an article by Pittsburghlive.com's Jerry DiPaola.
Free-agent quarterback Charlie Batch remained in Pittsburgh on Sunday
night while awaiting word on the status of contract talks between the
Steelers and his agent Tom Condon.
Batch had scheduled a flight out of town for Saturday, but he put
those plans on hold after meeting Thursday and Friday with coach Bill
Cowher, team officials, coaches and doctors.
Negotiations were expected to occur today, and both sides are
interested in a quick resolution. If he signs, Batch wants to begin
learning the Steelers' offensive system as soon as possible.
Batch visited the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans and Jacksonville
Jaguars before his trip to Pittsburgh, where he spent the past
weekend with his mother and other family members and friends in
Munhall. Batch, 27, grew up in Homestead, not far from where the
Steelers now train, and he played at Steel Valley High School.
He has planned a trip to New Orleans for Tuesday, but the Saints are
not nearly as eager to sign him as the Steelers. It appears that the
Jaguars, who are seeking a backup to starter Mark Brunell, are the
Steelers' chief rivals in the pursuit of Batch.
The Steelers, who also have Tommy Maddox and Tee Martin, are looking
to upgrade their quarterback depth behind starter Kordell Stewart.
Batch, who was released by the Detroit Lions two weeks ago, would
like to sign a one-year contract with his new team, spend the 2002
season as a backup and search for a starting job next year in free
agency.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
It looks like Pittsburgh has a definite edge over the other main
Batch suitor, Jacksonville. Either way, there is an entrenched
starter ahead of Batch, so the outcome of this signing will have
little fantasy importance unless the guy Batch ends up behind on the
depth chart actually goes down to an injury. Franchises in large
leagues who start Kordell Stewart or Mark Brunell should keep an eye
on this developing situation, though.
Update: According to Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com
Charlie Batch has signed with Pittsburgh � a one year deal worth
$525,00.00. The lure of playing for his home-town heroes won out over
larger contracts elsewhere in the league, apparently. The Steelers
now have four quarterbacks on their roster (Stewart, Maddox, Batch
and Martin), with NFL Europe gunslinger Tee Martin the obvious odd
man out.
Batch will be the #3 quarterback on the depth chart heading into
training camp.
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Chris Weinke throws in practice for first time since shoulder
surgery; DeShaun Foster practices with the Panthers for the first
time since April.
Clipped from an AP article at gopbi.com.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke returned to the practice
field Monday for the first time since undergoing shoulder surgery two
months ago.
Weinke, who had been limited to light throwing since the surgery,
threw several crisp passes to receivers on the move and didn't appear
to be hindered by his shoulder. His throws were limited to no more
than 15 yards.
``He hasn't thrown any real deep balls yet,'' Panthers head coach
John Fox said. ``But we're being really careful about that. I was
impressed with what he did today, I really was. We've got a lot of
work to do, but he's on target and he should be full-go by training
camp.''
Weinke, the 2000 Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State, was 293-of-
540 (54.3 percent) for the Panthers last season as they finished 1-
15. He threw for 11 touchdowns and was intercepted 19 times.
Meanwhile, second-round draft pick DeShaun Foster joined the team on
the practice field for the first time.
The running back from UCLA had missed two weeks of coaching sessions
because of an agreement between the NCAA and NFL that bars athletes
from practicing with teams until after their school's semester is
complete. UCLA's spring semester ended Friday.
The Panthers sent Foster a playbook while running backs coach Jim
Skipper kept him informed of new plays installed while he was out.
Fox admitted that Foster is now a little behind his teammates, but
believes he will catch up soon.
``When it's a guy like DeShaun, somebody we're counting on for this
season, that's a little bit of a setback,'' Fox said. ``But he's a
bright young man and we were able to get the notebook to him and he
spent some time with it. He'll catch up fast and we've still got all
of training camp.''
Foster he didn't have much else to do the last two weeks than study
the team's playbook and workout. He took one class in the spring
semester and didn't have any final exams last week.
``Being a rookie, you want to get in there and learn the playbook as
fast as possible,'' said Foster, who figures to challenge veteran
Lamar Smith for the team's starting spot. ``Plus they're putting in
new stuff. But they were saying to me that it looked like I must have
picked it up pretty good on my own.''
Foster participated in a three-day rookie minicamp in April, which is
allowed by NCAA rules.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Great news for Weinke owners, so far. He looks like he is on the
mend. With venerable Rodney Peete playing tutor, and his main
competition in camp being Matt Lytle and Randy Fasani, Weinke should
be the man at QB in 2002, barring complications from the injury.
DeShaun Foster is locked in a battle for the top running back slot,
but it appears as of today that Lamar Smith has the inside track on
the starting role. Stay tuned for training camp, though, when the
players put on the pads and start actually hitting each other.
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Three Reasons Footballguys can't wait for Training Camp:
Clipped from an article by Green Bay News-Chronicle's Bill Huber
(Writing on why the Pack should be top contenders for the Super Bowl
in 2002 � go here
"�Baseball probably won't have a World Series. The World Cup is
conducive to napping. Tiger is winning again.
Training camp can't come soon enough."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
I agree 100% with that statement! � MW.
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That covers it for Tonight!
Mark Wimer
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