Post by TheShadow on Feb 4, 2005 16:38:49 GMT -5
cbs.sportsline.com
Notes, quotes
--The Raiders take great pride in their history of centers starting with Hall of Famer Jim Otto in 1960. Until recently, there had only been three to hold the position on a regular basis since Otto retired after the 1974 season -- Dave Dalby (1972-85), Don Mosebar (1983-94) and Barret Robbins (1995-2003).
All share the distinction of being Pro Bowl selections. But this proud tradition also seems to have come with a high price.
First there was Otto and his battered body, a recent battle with cancer and other family tragedies. Then it was Dalby, an apparent suicide victim, which left friends shaking their heads. Mosebar's career ended when he was struck in the eye in a training camp scrimmage with the Cowboys in 1995 and was all but blinded.
A year later, Robbins replaced him. Nine years later, he is the latest to fall. His battles with depression, bi-polar syndrome and alcohol were well-chronicled at the time he retired last summer due to a knee injury.
Life without football and a recent separation from his wife may have been the blow that sent him over the edge and found him unlawfully in a Miami Beach office building hiding in a women's bathroom after hours last weekend. The ensuing encounter with police ended with a struggle and Robbins being shot twice.
No one knows whether his presence in the building was a case of burglary, trespass or mere confusion, but when he attacked the police officer and tried to get his gun, he was shot. He is hospitalized in critical condition after one bullet passed through his lung and another lodged in his heart.
Miami police said there was no choice, that Robbins, whose weight is believed to be hovering near 400 pounds, was throwing officers around like rag dolls prior to shots being fired.
A police spokesman called it an "unfortunate incident," noting the shooting took place because officers feared for their lives.
"I am sure there are a lot of blanks ... I can't fill them in for you right now," Robbins' agent Drew Pittman said, noting that Robbins had been in south Florida for about a week.
Robbins has been charged with trespassing and battery on a police officer. Additional charges could be pending.
One month after being selected to his first Pro Bowl, Robbins made news when he bolted from the team's hotel and went on a two-day bender in San Diego prior to Super Bowl XXXVII. He was suspended for the game, sent home and eventually entered a clinic to deal with alcohol abuse.
He eventually won his job back in 2003 and appeared to have straightened his life out. However, his problems then shifted to the field. A badly damaged knee ended his season early. Radical surgery to try to re-grow cartilage subsequently failed last winter and in July, he failed his physical and retired.
"It's sad," former teammate Travian Smith told Associated Press. "It was good to see somebody like that who had a bad thing happen get a second chance with the team. It's always good to see somebody get a second chance in life. I guess he couldn't get well enough."
Of the total of 55 Raiders who have been selected to the Pro Bowl since the 1970 merger, only three remain with the club today and of that group, it is possible only one will line up for them in 2005.
--Punter Shane Lechler's selection to the Pro Bowl this year made him the only Raider who will go to Hawaii.
Tim Brown, released in August, has the most Raider Pro Bowl appearances (9) followed by Howie Long, Art Shell and Steve Wisniewski with eight.
The legendary Jim Otto only had three appearances, but that is only because his first 10 years in the league the Raiders played in the American Football League. He was the only all-league center the AFL ever had, earning the honor from the league's inception in 1960.
--Although he did not start a game until the fourth week of the season, Kerry Collins passed for 3,495 yards -- the sixth most passing yards ever compiled by a Raider quarterback.
His 259-yards per game average would have netted him 4,142 for the full season. That would rank No. 2 behind Rich Gannon's 4,689 yards in 2002.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Norv (Turner) really appreciates special teams. I don't know how much (Bill) Callahan appreciated (them). I remember times it was fourth down, going in to punt and he (Callahan) wouldn't even look at you. Norv is like `All right, we need to get good field position here -- you've got to flip the field. Let's see what you've got.' He's real upbeat about it and understands that part of the football game." -- Punter Shane Lechler.