Post by TheShadow on Dec 5, 2003 21:44:12 GMT -5
www.bayarea.com
By Craig Lancaster
Mercury News
The injury bug has bitten another Raider, with starting center Barret Robbins downgraded to doubtful for the game Sunday at Pittsburgh. Robbins is being dogged by arthritis in his surgically repaired right knee.
If Robbins can't play, Adam Treu would step into a familiar role. In 2001, he started 14 games after Robbins suffered a knee injury. He also filled in last January in Super Bowl XXXVII after Robbins went AWOL. And he battled Robbins and Matt Stinchcomb for the starting job throughout training camp.
``It's just an opportunity to go out there and put stuff on tape to hopefully keep me around here,'' Treu said.
Stinchcomb started the first three games of the season before yielding to Robbins, who worked slowly to regain teammates' trust after his Super Bowl meltdown. Coach Bill Callahan said earlier this season that Treu's job as long snapper played a big role in his not getting the center job; Callahan prefers the roles be separated.
Treu said he accepts that reasoning, although the Raiders' dire injury situation would force him to do both jobs this weekend. He also hinted at some other reasons.
``This is a business,'' he said. ``Player X is supposed to make Y amount this year, so why are they going to have him not start?''
Robbins' salary this season is $1 million plus several playing-time incentives. Stinchcomb, who is on injured reserve because of a bad shoulder, is making $1.32 million. Treu's number: $660,000.
``He understands his role,'' Callahan said of Treu. ``He does an outstanding job when called upon to step up. I appreciate what he goes through. He does a lot for this team.''
Another year for Brown?
Wide receiver Tim Brown, who has been with the Raiders through good, bad and middling years since he joined the team in 1988, gave a succinct answer when asked if he wants to return in 2004:
``Certainly.''
The 37-year-old is mired in one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, with 40 catches for 470 yards and two touchdowns through 12 games. His pace for the season:
• 53 catches, which would be his lowest total since 1992.
• 627 yards, his fewest since 1991.
• Three touchdowns, one more than he had last season.
``This is the time of year, and the circumstances, that you really have to prove that you love football,'' he said.
Injury update
Callahan said Thursday that starting right guard Mo Collins, who has been hindered much of the season because of an injured left knee, is ``very questionable'' for the Pittsburgh game. Like Robbins, Callahan said, Collins is dealing with a knee that gets less sturdy with each game.
By Craig Lancaster
Mercury News
The injury bug has bitten another Raider, with starting center Barret Robbins downgraded to doubtful for the game Sunday at Pittsburgh. Robbins is being dogged by arthritis in his surgically repaired right knee.
If Robbins can't play, Adam Treu would step into a familiar role. In 2001, he started 14 games after Robbins suffered a knee injury. He also filled in last January in Super Bowl XXXVII after Robbins went AWOL. And he battled Robbins and Matt Stinchcomb for the starting job throughout training camp.
``It's just an opportunity to go out there and put stuff on tape to hopefully keep me around here,'' Treu said.
Stinchcomb started the first three games of the season before yielding to Robbins, who worked slowly to regain teammates' trust after his Super Bowl meltdown. Coach Bill Callahan said earlier this season that Treu's job as long snapper played a big role in his not getting the center job; Callahan prefers the roles be separated.
Treu said he accepts that reasoning, although the Raiders' dire injury situation would force him to do both jobs this weekend. He also hinted at some other reasons.
``This is a business,'' he said. ``Player X is supposed to make Y amount this year, so why are they going to have him not start?''
Robbins' salary this season is $1 million plus several playing-time incentives. Stinchcomb, who is on injured reserve because of a bad shoulder, is making $1.32 million. Treu's number: $660,000.
``He understands his role,'' Callahan said of Treu. ``He does an outstanding job when called upon to step up. I appreciate what he goes through. He does a lot for this team.''
Another year for Brown?
Wide receiver Tim Brown, who has been with the Raiders through good, bad and middling years since he joined the team in 1988, gave a succinct answer when asked if he wants to return in 2004:
``Certainly.''
The 37-year-old is mired in one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, with 40 catches for 470 yards and two touchdowns through 12 games. His pace for the season:
• 53 catches, which would be his lowest total since 1992.
• 627 yards, his fewest since 1991.
• Three touchdowns, one more than he had last season.
``This is the time of year, and the circumstances, that you really have to prove that you love football,'' he said.
Injury update
Callahan said Thursday that starting right guard Mo Collins, who has been hindered much of the season because of an injured left knee, is ``very questionable'' for the Pittsburgh game. Like Robbins, Callahan said, Collins is dealing with a knee that gets less sturdy with each game.