Post by TheShadow on Dec 12, 2003 22:35:34 GMT -5
www.bayarea.com
By Ann Tatko
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
ALAMEDA - Mounting injuries continue to make the prospect of winning remote
for the 3-10 Raiders.
Knee injuries took a double whack at the offensive line Thursday. The
Raiders downgraded the playing status of center Barret Robbins and right
guard Mo Collins from doubtful to out for Sunday's game against the
Baltimore Ravens.
Center Adam Treu and guard Brad Badger will start in place of both players
for the second straight week.
Collins said the schedule for his impending knee surgery hasn't been set
yet. Although there's no ligament damage, he added, the knee requires "a
little maintenance."
Collins has started all but three games this season, though he missed last
week's 27-7 loss at Pittsburgh. He first hurt the knee in late September and
then aggravated it during practice the week before a 22-8 loss to Denver on
Nov. 30. Even then, he didn't want to sit on game day.
"As long as I can walk, I'm going. Game day comes, you just turn the switch
on," he said. "I wanted to send a message to my teammates and the
organization -- I'm not quitting yet. This is my home since I started and I
want to finish here. I tried to do for the team and now it's time to do for
Mo."
Collins said he realized he had to pull himself from the lineup when X-rays
revealed a noticeable difference in his knee from three months ago.
To some degree, Collins proved himself by returning in November from the
initial knee injury and playing five games. Now, he may be paying the price
for that, although there's no talk of placing him on injured reserve. Were
that to happen, he'd join 11 other teammates on IR, including center Matt
Stinchcomb.
Right tackle Lincoln Kennedy also has battled injuries this season. He
missed five starts with a calf injury and sustained a concussion against the
Steelers. The past two weeks, Kennedy returned to the game after having to
be helped off the field.
Collins said he wished younger players would learn from the dedication of
players such as Kennedy, an 11-year veteran.
"But we don't have that nowadays. They don't give a damn," said Collins,
who's in his sixth season. "Lincoln Kennedy's from the old school. I came up
underneath him. As long as you can walk and you can breathe, you got to go.
You're missing a lot of that in the league nowadays. ... Guys are getting
money before they had to earn it."
Because of the injuries, a few offensive linemen have gotten a chance to
earn their paychecks, and perhaps even a starting role next season.
Only left tackle Barry Sims has started every game this season. Second-year
tackle Langston Walker has filled in for Kennedy in five games. Badger, a
seven-year NFL veteran, has made eight total starts at guard, five of them
on the left side.
"You have Treu, who has experience. You have (guard Frank) Middleton, who's
played the left position and Brad Badger, who has the versatility to swing
across the board," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "We've patched stuff
pretty good."
Badger's ability to play either guard or tackle may ensure his return next
season. The real question is whether he returns as a starter.
In 2001, he made 12 starts at tackle for the Minnesota Vikings. Last season
with the Raiders, he saw most of his playing time only in short-yardage
situations.
"It's frustrating," Badger said of the backup role. "But if you think of
yourself in a team frame, when the opportunity comes to do more, you have to
be ready. You have to play like you were on the first team. When my time
came around, I just had to take advantage."
NOTES: Quarterbacks coach Jim Harbaugh is one of four finalists to become
football coach at Division I-AA San Diego, according to an Associated Press
report. ... Linebacker Eric Johnson (knee) was removed from the injury
report. He practiced Thursday and said he will be ready to play Sunday. ...
Kennedy, who was sick Wednesday, returned to practice. ... Sunday's game
will be blacked out on local television. Several thousand tickets were
available by Thursday's 1 p.m. deadline, Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor said.
By Ann Tatko
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
ALAMEDA - Mounting injuries continue to make the prospect of winning remote
for the 3-10 Raiders.
Knee injuries took a double whack at the offensive line Thursday. The
Raiders downgraded the playing status of center Barret Robbins and right
guard Mo Collins from doubtful to out for Sunday's game against the
Baltimore Ravens.
Center Adam Treu and guard Brad Badger will start in place of both players
for the second straight week.
Collins said the schedule for his impending knee surgery hasn't been set
yet. Although there's no ligament damage, he added, the knee requires "a
little maintenance."
Collins has started all but three games this season, though he missed last
week's 27-7 loss at Pittsburgh. He first hurt the knee in late September and
then aggravated it during practice the week before a 22-8 loss to Denver on
Nov. 30. Even then, he didn't want to sit on game day.
"As long as I can walk, I'm going. Game day comes, you just turn the switch
on," he said. "I wanted to send a message to my teammates and the
organization -- I'm not quitting yet. This is my home since I started and I
want to finish here. I tried to do for the team and now it's time to do for
Mo."
Collins said he realized he had to pull himself from the lineup when X-rays
revealed a noticeable difference in his knee from three months ago.
To some degree, Collins proved himself by returning in November from the
initial knee injury and playing five games. Now, he may be paying the price
for that, although there's no talk of placing him on injured reserve. Were
that to happen, he'd join 11 other teammates on IR, including center Matt
Stinchcomb.
Right tackle Lincoln Kennedy also has battled injuries this season. He
missed five starts with a calf injury and sustained a concussion against the
Steelers. The past two weeks, Kennedy returned to the game after having to
be helped off the field.
Collins said he wished younger players would learn from the dedication of
players such as Kennedy, an 11-year veteran.
"But we don't have that nowadays. They don't give a damn," said Collins,
who's in his sixth season. "Lincoln Kennedy's from the old school. I came up
underneath him. As long as you can walk and you can breathe, you got to go.
You're missing a lot of that in the league nowadays. ... Guys are getting
money before they had to earn it."
Because of the injuries, a few offensive linemen have gotten a chance to
earn their paychecks, and perhaps even a starting role next season.
Only left tackle Barry Sims has started every game this season. Second-year
tackle Langston Walker has filled in for Kennedy in five games. Badger, a
seven-year NFL veteran, has made eight total starts at guard, five of them
on the left side.
"You have Treu, who has experience. You have (guard Frank) Middleton, who's
played the left position and Brad Badger, who has the versatility to swing
across the board," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "We've patched stuff
pretty good."
Badger's ability to play either guard or tackle may ensure his return next
season. The real question is whether he returns as a starter.
In 2001, he made 12 starts at tackle for the Minnesota Vikings. Last season
with the Raiders, he saw most of his playing time only in short-yardage
situations.
"It's frustrating," Badger said of the backup role. "But if you think of
yourself in a team frame, when the opportunity comes to do more, you have to
be ready. You have to play like you were on the first team. When my time
came around, I just had to take advantage."
NOTES: Quarterbacks coach Jim Harbaugh is one of four finalists to become
football coach at Division I-AA San Diego, according to an Associated Press
report. ... Linebacker Eric Johnson (knee) was removed from the injury
report. He practiced Thursday and said he will be ready to play Sunday. ...
Kennedy, who was sick Wednesday, returned to practice. ... Sunday's game
will be blacked out on local television. Several thousand tickets were
available by Thursday's 1 p.m. deadline, Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor said.