Former Browns-Eagles coach Skorich dies
CLEVELAND, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Former Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles Coach Nick Skorich, who had heart surgery recently, died Saturday night, it was reported Monday. He was 83.
A report from the Browns said funeral arrangements were being made in Hamilton Square, N.J. Skorich, a native of Bellaire, Ohio, was a longtime New Jersey resident.
Skorich, who was an NFL player in the 1940s, coached the Eagles from 1961 through 1963 and the Browns from 1971 through 1974.
Skorich's overall record as a head coach was 45-48-5. He was 15-24-3 with the Eagles and 30-24-2 with the Browns.
Skorich also was an assistant coach for the Browns, Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers and was an NFL supervisor of officials.
He played for the Pittsburgh team as a guard and linebacker from 1946 to 1948.
Buccaneers' Murphy done for season
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay wide receiver Frank Murphy has been lost for the balance of the 2004 season because of a ruptured left Achilles' tendon.
Murphy was injured on the opening kickoff of a 16-13 loss to the Denver Broncos Sunday.
He is to undergo surgery Wednesday, the team said on its Web site.
The Buccaneers previously had lost tight end Rickey Dudley, running back Charlie Garner and wide receivers Sylvester Morris and Edell Shepherd to injuries.
"We will take a look at the availability of players," Coach Jon Gruden said. "We've got some guys on our practice squad who we might look at; we will have to see. It's a difficult situation, but one we will look at carefully."
The injury-riddled Buccaneers still are awaiting the return of wide receiver Joey Galloway, who was lost for at least six weeks in the season-opener Sept. 12 against Washington.
Packers trade Mike McKenzie to Saints
GREEN BAY, Wis., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Defensive back Mike McKenzie of Green Bay was traded Monday to the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints gave up a second-round pick in 2005 and third-string quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan for McKenzie and a future draft choice.
McKenzie, a former all-pro, had been in a contract dispute with the Packers and missed all of training camp before ending his holdout in mid-September. When he returned, he played in only one game and sustained a hamstring injury.
McKenzie was a third-round draft pick by the Packers in 1999 out of Memphis.
The 6-foot, 194-pounder started 67 of 69 career games at left cornerback and recorded 291 tackles (246 solo), 15 interceptions, one sack and one fumble recovery. He made six pass interceptions as a rookie.
Singh, Els 1-2 in World; Woods now No. 3
WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Vijay Singh and Ernie Els are the top two golfers the latest Official World Golf Ranking, with Tiger Woods No. 3.
Singh took over the No. 1 spot from Woods late this summer. Els replaced Woods as No. 2 by winning the WGC-American Express Championship Sunday in Ireland.
Singh, who did not play in the event, now has 14.14 points in the rankings to 12.48 for Els and 12.02 for Woods, who finished ninth in Ireland.
The ranking, which is endorsed by the world's major professional golf tours, is released each Monday.
Phil Mickelson and Refief Goosen retained their fourth and fifth spots. They are followed by Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink and Sergio Garcia at No. 10.
