Post by TheShadow on Dec 5, 2003 21:17:38 GMT -5
www.sfgate.com
By Nancy G a y
Barret Robbins' chronic knee problems prompted the Raiders on Thursday to downgrade their starting center from questionable to doubtful for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. That means a long-awaited start for Adam Treu, whose value as a long snapper never made him a serious contender in training camp to replace the injured Robbins.
"I think that had a lot to do with it, but this is a business,'' said Treu, who started the first three exhibition games while Robbins -- on the comeback trail from alcohol abuse and problems with bipolar disorder -- recovered from offseason knee surgery.
The Raiders then settled on Matt Stinchcomb, who started the first two games of the regular season before giving way to Robbins.
Economics, Treu reasons, may have been the deciding factor.
"Player 'X' is supposed to make 'Y' amount this year,'' Treu explained, "so why are they going to have him not play?"
Stinchcomb's base salary is $1.32 million this season; Robbins' hefty salary of $3.2 million was renegotiated in the preseason to reduce his base salary to about $1 million with lucrative playing-time incentives. Treu's base salary is $660,000 for 2003.
Treu is embracing any opportunity to start, even at this late stage, because the value of a good performance captured on film significantly affects his NFL longevity. As it stands, his error-free status as long snapper, and his thrifty salary, makes him a candidate to stick with the Raiders for a while.
"It's a job, and in the long run maybe (long snapping) will keep me around longer,'' said Treu, 29. "I've been around long enough to understand that and realize that this is my seventh year and, unlike some other guys, I haven't hit a big payday. And I don't know if that will ever happen. But longevity can make up for that.''
Raiders coach Bill Callahan said Robbins' arthritic knee is "not good" right now and that he would not play even if the team were in playoff contention.
A similar arthritic knee condition could land right guard Mo Collins on the sideline Sunday, giving the start to Brad Badger. Collins did not practice Thursday.
Briefly: FB Chris Hetherington is recovering from strep throat but will play Sunday.
By Nancy G a y
Barret Robbins' chronic knee problems prompted the Raiders on Thursday to downgrade their starting center from questionable to doubtful for Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. That means a long-awaited start for Adam Treu, whose value as a long snapper never made him a serious contender in training camp to replace the injured Robbins.
"I think that had a lot to do with it, but this is a business,'' said Treu, who started the first three exhibition games while Robbins -- on the comeback trail from alcohol abuse and problems with bipolar disorder -- recovered from offseason knee surgery.
The Raiders then settled on Matt Stinchcomb, who started the first two games of the regular season before giving way to Robbins.
Economics, Treu reasons, may have been the deciding factor.
"Player 'X' is supposed to make 'Y' amount this year,'' Treu explained, "so why are they going to have him not play?"
Stinchcomb's base salary is $1.32 million this season; Robbins' hefty salary of $3.2 million was renegotiated in the preseason to reduce his base salary to about $1 million with lucrative playing-time incentives. Treu's base salary is $660,000 for 2003.
Treu is embracing any opportunity to start, even at this late stage, because the value of a good performance captured on film significantly affects his NFL longevity. As it stands, his error-free status as long snapper, and his thrifty salary, makes him a candidate to stick with the Raiders for a while.
"It's a job, and in the long run maybe (long snapping) will keep me around longer,'' said Treu, 29. "I've been around long enough to understand that and realize that this is my seventh year and, unlike some other guys, I haven't hit a big payday. And I don't know if that will ever happen. But longevity can make up for that.''
Raiders coach Bill Callahan said Robbins' arthritic knee is "not good" right now and that he would not play even if the team were in playoff contention.
A similar arthritic knee condition could land right guard Mo Collins on the sideline Sunday, giving the start to Brad Badger. Collins did not practice Thursday.
Briefly: FB Chris Hetherington is recovering from strep throat but will play Sunday.