Friday, June 14, 2002
Denver's Davis making quick recovery
Participates in minicamp 3 weeks after knee surgery
The Associated Press
DENVER — Terrell Davis was back on the practice field Thursday, just three weeks after having knee surgery.
The injury-plagued Denver running back didn't expect to be back until the start of training camp after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee May20. But after running on the side without pain Tuesday, Davis decided to test the knee on the fourth day of the five-day minicamp.
“It felt good. I haven't run in about a month, so I just wanted to come out,” Davis said. “I was initially scheduled to come out tomorrow, but I wanted to come out today and just break the ice a little.”
Davis took a few handoffs during one drill, then ran a route on a passing drill before sitting out the rest of the workout. He ran without a limp and bounced right up after falling during one drill.
“It is always good to have him back,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “Hopefully there are no setbacks.” He has been working hard. Once he gets to camp, hopefully he will be healthy.”
Davis was the league's MVP in 1998 after rushing for 2,008 yards but has been plagued by injuries the past three seasons.
He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the fourth game of the 1999 season, then played just four games the next year with foot and ankle injuries in his left leg.
Last season, Davis played just eight games after having arthroscopic surgery on both knees. The latest operation cleaned out loose cartilage fibers and scar tissue from under the kneecap.
49ERS: Quarterback Cade McNown, a former first-round draft pick of Chicago, was traded by Miami to San Francisco for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2003.
The Dolphins acquired McNown from Chicago last season for two draft picks, but the former UCLA star didn't throw a pass last season as Miami's third quarterback. He was the 12th overall selection in the 1999 draft and started 15 of his 25 games with the Bears, completing 281 of 515 passes for 3,111 yards with 16 TDs and 19 interceptions.
BEARS: Wide receiver David Terrell was charged with misdemeanor simple battery Thursday morning after an argument with parking attendants, police said.
Terrell and two other men allegedly argued with attendants outside a downtown nightclub and punches were thrown, police spokesman Ozzie Rodriguez said. One attendant was struck in the face but did not seek medical treatment.
Two men with Terrell also were charged with the misdemeanor, Rodriguez said.
Terrell posted $100 bail and was released about six hours later, according to police spokeswoman Laura Kubiak.
STEELERS: Pittsburgh agreed to a one-year, $775,000 contract with Terance Mathis, a 12-year veteran who led Atlanta in receiving last season.
Mathis' deal includes a $25,000 signing bonus but will count only $475,000 against the team's salary cap under new NFL rules designed to make it easier for teams to sign older veteran free agents, said Mathis' agent, Stephen Zucker.
The Steelers have said they wanted a veteran receiver to add depth and to mentor their younger receivers including Plaxico Burress, Troy Edwards and — most notably — their highly touted second-round draft pick, Antwaan Randle El. A star quarterback at Indiana, Randle El will be a receiver for the Steelers.
CARDINALS: Defensive end Dennis Johnson, the second of Arizona's two 2001 third-round draft picks, signed a three-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Johnson, the 113th pick overall out of Kentucky, is the fifth of the Cardinals' eight picks to sign.
Arizona earlier signed defensive tackle Nate Dwyer (fourth round), wide receiver Jason McAddley (fifth round), running back Josh Scobey (sixth round) and tight end Mike Banks (seventh round).
Still unsigned are the Cardinals' top three draft picks — defensive tackle Wendell Bryant, outside linebacker LeVar Fisher and quarterback Josh McCown.
Bryant, a first-round selection from Wisconsin, refused to sign an injury waiver and participate in a mini-camp here earlier this month.
As the No. 12 pick this year, Bryant is in line for a bonus of around $6 million when he comes to terms, and he wants that kind of money guaranteed beforehand.
The Cardinals' injury waiver offer is $225,000 — the minimum salary for a rookie.
COWBOYS: The Dallas Cowboys released wide receiver Darrin Chiaverini, center Ben Fricke and running back Josh Ranek.
Chiaverini had 10 catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns with Dallas last season.
Fricke spent three seasons with the Cowboys, playing guard or center in 16 games and starting five.
Ranek signed as an undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State, where he set several NCAA Division II rushing records.
FALCONS: Almost seven weeks after signing as a free agent, receiver Jeff Graham finally worked out with the team.
The 11-year veteran, who played the last three seasons in San Diego, was named in a federal search warrant last month in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. Though he has not been charged with a crime, Graham, 33, didn't want to leave Dayton until he felt the time was appropriate.
“Situations like that go on in your life — you've just got to iron those things out and move forward,” Graham said. “This is a good time for me to come here and do the things that I need to do.”
Graham declined further comment on the situation but said he doesn't think any legal matters will keep him from attending the rest of the Falcons' voluntary passing camp.
Graham's name was listed in a federal search warrant, unsealed May 16 at a U.S. District Court in Dayton, that's part of the government's case against Joe L. Wright and Graham's sister, Carolyn Graham. Wright and Carolyn Graham each pleaded innocent following their indictments in the largest cocaine seizure in Dayton history. They were arrested for possession and intent to distribute over 100 pounds of pure cocaine.
If convicted, Wright and Carolyn Graham could face life in prison.
Graham's attorney, Kenneth Lawson, held a press conference May 18 in front of the receiver's Dayton home, claiming Graham was named in the search warrant because of a lawsuit he filed April 8 against Montgomery County sheriff Dave Vore.
Graham believes he was a victim of racial profiling when deputies arrested him in January for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon. Though Vore's office did not charge him, Graham felt he was treated unfairly.
On April 26, Graham signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with Atlanta. He averaged 895.3 yards and 54.6 receptions in his last three years with the Chargers.
Graham, a career wideout, was used at flanker in his debut at the Falcons' voluntary passing camp. He was wearing No. 81 — Terance Mathis' old jersey number. Mathis, the all-time leading receiver in Atlanta history, was cut in February.
“Being around so many offenses, pretty much all the plays are the same,” Graham said. “You've just got to get down the terminology. Once you keep hearing it in the huddle and once you go to meetings and that nature, you feel like you get kind of a head start, but I'm not all that comfortable with it yet.”
Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick thought Graham's first day went well. Vick has just one experienced receiver, 12-year veteran Shawn Jefferson, at his disposal. Graham will compete with Jefferson and Brian Finneran, who's projected to be a starter, for playing time.
“He's a crafty veteran,” Vick said. “You know he can play. Just hope he's gotten everything taken care of that he needs to.”
The Falcons' passing camp concludes July 2. A mandatory three-day mini-camp begins July 10, and the team opens training camp July 25 at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
Atlanta's season opener is Sept. 8 at Green Bay.
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