Hall of Fame C Mike Webster dies
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Hall of Fame center Mike Webster, the anchor of an offensive line that helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win four Super Bowls, died Tuesday morning of a heart attack. He was 50.
Webster, regarded by many as the best center of his time, is the Steelers' all-time leader in games played with 220 from 1974-88, and appeared in nine Pro Bowls.
"We at the Pro Football Hall of Fame were stunned and saddened by the news of the passing of Mike Webster," said Hall of Fame Executive Director John Bankert. "Mike's toughness and unswerving dedication to excellence, often hidden by his quiet demeanor, inspired all who knew him."
Webster, a native of the small town of Tomahawk, Wis., was originally a fifth-round draft pick in 1974. He joined the Steelers as a part of a draft that included future Steelers standouts Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert and John Stallworth, Hall of Famers all.
He went on to be the player that set the standard for centers in the NFL and is still respected and admired by players today.
Webster was the rock that held the Steelers offensive line together during his career. He played in every game for 10 consecutive years from 1976-85. He played in those four Super Bowls and six AFC Championship games.
Webster had serious financial and health problems since retiring from the NFL in 1990 and was homeless for a time in the early '90s.
He was presented by teammate Terry Bradshaw when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, and the two had one last snap together on the steps of the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio the day he was inducted.
Unfortunately, Webster was charged with passing a prescription for the drug Ritalin, claiming he needed it to treat head trauma caused by playing football.
Many of his former Steelers teammates, among them Bradshaw, Rocky Bleier, Mel Blount and Randy Grossman, wanted to help provide medical treatment for Webster, who often refused help for his recurring financial woes.
"Mike always had time and concern for everyone else's problems and troubles, but never his own," said Kansas City President Carl Peterson.
Webster dispelled rumors that he sold his four Super Bowl rings and Hall of Fame ring to get out of financial trouble.
The 6-1, 255-pounder, who once won the NFL's Strongman competition and was then suspected by many of taking steroids, a charge that was disputed by Steelers President Dan Rooney,
was named to both the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team and the Silver Anniversary Super Bowl squad.
After 15 glorious seasons with the Steelers, Webster signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 as an offensive line coach, but within a few weeks was at center and started all 16 games. He completed his 17-year career in 1990 with the Chiefs, even playing his last four games with a severe knee injury.
"He first came here with the intention of becoming a coach, but he indicated to both (Coach) Marty Schottenheimer and myself that he can do more to help us as a player on the field," Peterson said.
Chargers C Raymer done for season
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- San Diego Chargers center Cory Raymer will miss the balance of the 2002 NFL season after undergoing surgery Monday to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon. Raymer is expected to be placed on injured reserve this week.
Jason Ball, an undrafted rookie free agent from New Hampshire, replaced Raymer at center against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Raymer, who was in his ninth season out of Wisconsin, came south for this season after playing for the Washington Redskins in 2001. He should be able to do physical work again in six months.
"It's really unfortunate, but it's part of our game," said Chargers Coach Marty Schottenheimer. "Somebody goes down in this business and somebody else steps up. The young man from New Hampshire did a pretty solid job, being thrust into that situation the way he was. That's about as tough a situation that you can be thrown into with the way their defense was playing. He really did a very, very nice job in there."
Meanwhile, the news on two Pro bowl defenders from last season was a bit better.
Linebacker Junior Seau (ankle) and strong safety Rodney Harrison (groin) both said they are "day-to-day." Harrison is hoping to practice some on Wednesday, while Seau should be okay, Schottenheimer said, "as long as he gets in one practice by Friday."
Seau suffered his injury near the end of the game, while Harrison has missed the last two-and-a-half games after straining his groin on the last play of the first half of the season opener at Cincinnati.
Bucs lose two linemen in Rams game
TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The morning after their decisive win over the NFC defending champion St. Louis Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tuesday found out that it was a costly victory as they learned that two members of their restructured offensive line will be sidelined for some time.
Head coach Jon Gruden said Tuesday at his weekly news conference that starting offensive linemen Kerry Jenkins and Kenyatta Walker will be lost at least for the next month, a serious jolt at a time that the front line was just starting to gel.
Both Jenkins, the starting left guard, and Walker, the starting right tackle, were hurt in the third quarter of Monday night's game against the Rams.
"Kerry Jenkins has a small crack in his left fibula and it looks like he'll be out 2-4 weeks," Gruden said. "Kenyatta Walker has a high ankle sprain. It's fairly serious and he could be out a month. We'll see how that goes, but obviously that's a big loss to our football team."
Gruden also revealed that cornerback Brian Kelly and linebacker Derrick Brooks, the two players who made key fourth-quarter interceptions Monday night, may be unable to play in Cincinnati next Sunday.
Kelly has a right shoulder sprain and Brooks is dealing with a left hamstring strain. Both players are likely to start the week as questionable on the injury report.
The injuries to Jenkins and Walker likely will force the Bucs' personnel department to be very active. The Bucs are down to just six healthy offensive linemen.
If Cornell Green steps back into his right tackle spot, and the versatile Todd Washington takes over at left guard, the team's only reserve will be 39-year-old tackle Lomas Brown.
"Obviously, we'll look for ways to maybe add a player to help us out in those two guys' absence," said Gruden, though he did not address any specific possibilities.
Walker's injury, the type of high ankle sprain that is often difficult to overcome quickly, adds more to his frustration.
The second-year pro was asked to switch from left tackle to right tackle at the beginning of training camp, then he lost his job at the onset of the regular season to Green because of mental errors. Walker regained his starting spot with a sharp week of practice prior to the Ravens game in Week Two, and reportedly was showing consistent improvement.
"Kenyatta came on, like we expected him to do," Gruden said. "Now, he's injured and Cornell Green, though inexperienced, will get a lot more experience here in the next week."
The Bucs allowed just one sack of quarterback Brad Johnson on Monday and didn't have to rein in the offense to keep the pocket intact.
The injury to Brooks could lead to some movement among the team's other four linebackers. Before he was hurt, the team had just two linebacker reserves -- Nate Webster, who is in his third year, and rookie Ryan Nece.
Arizona tries again to clinch NL playoff spot
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks will try again Tuesday night to clinch their third playoff appearance in the five-year history of the franchise, but if they do, it will be bittersweet,
A win by Arizona (94-62) or a loss by the Los Angeles Dodgers (88-68) will clinch at least the National League wild-card spot for the Diamondbacks, who have lost their last four games as well.
Their best hitter, leftfielder Luis Gonzalez, suffered a separated left shoulder in Monday's 13-1 drubbing by the St. Louis Cardinals. He will be sidelined indefinitely and possibly through the postseason.
Gonzalez was chasing a fly ball off the bat of former high school teammate Tino Martinez of St. Louis in the fourth inning when he collided with shortstop Tony Womack. He was struck on the shoulder by Womack's right knee and went down in obvious pain.
Gonzalez, 35, was hitting .288 with 28 home runs and was the team leader with 103 RBI. He enjoyed a career season in 2001, batting .325 with 57 homers and 142 RBI in the regular season, then singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the decisive seventh game of the World Series.
The Diamondbacks again play at St. Louis while the Dodgers host the Colorado Rockies.
Arizona's magic number for clinching the National League West title remains three.
The San Francisco Giants (90-66) are in second place in the NL West, two games ahead of the Dodgers in the wild-card race.
The Cardinals captured the NL Central Division title for the second time in the last three seasons last Friday.
With its spot in the postseason secured, St. Louis could be headed for another showdown with Arizona. Last season, the Cardinals lost in five games to the Diamondbacks in the Division Series.
Angels go after AL playoff spot
ARLINGTON, Texas, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Anaheim Angels try again Tuesday night to clinch their first playoff berth in 16 years when they play the Texas Rangers.
Anaheim (96-60) trails the Oakland Athletics by three games in the American League West with six to play, but can earn at least a wild-card spot with a win Tuesday.
The Angels had two previous chances to seal a playoff berth, but lost on Saturday and Sunday to the Seattle Mariners (90-66), who host Oakland on Tuesday.
Anaheim can also make the playoffs for the third time in the 42-year history of its franchise with a loss by Seattle and a loss by Boston (89-66), which plays the Chicago White Sox.
The New York Yankees already have clinched their fifth straight American League East title and eighth consecutive playoff berth and the Athletics secured their third straight postseason berth Friday with a 4-2 triumph over Texas.
Oakland is one win away from becoming the 18th team in major league history and first since the 1997-99 Atlanta Braves to post back-to-back 100-win campaigns.
Olowokandi accepts Clippers' offer
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Clippers center Michael Olowokandi has accepted the team's one-year qualifying offer, paving the way for him to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2002-03 NBA season.
Financial terms were not made public.
The announcement came after talks on a long-term deal broke down recently.
"We expect that Michael will work hard to continue to improve and that he will be prepared to make a big contribution to our team's success this year," said Vice President of Basketball Operations Elgin Baylor.
Olowokandi, the top overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft, had the best season of his four-year career in 2001-02, averaging 11.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per contest in 80 games.
"I'm looking forward to getting to work," the 7-footer from Nigeria said in a statement released by the team. "We have a very good team and I'm excited to get the season under way."
Olowokandi, who was a restricted free agent this summer, will be paid approximately $6.2 million in 2002-03, according to the Orange County Register. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
Olowokandi said he likely will leave the team, even for less money elsewhere.
"For me to be able to play here and make a commitment, I'd have to buy into what they're doing here," he told the paper. "I feel that there are certain individuals in the organization that are interested in winning and building a championship team while there are people that are just interested in making a profit. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's their business to do with as they please. I'm just not buying into it anymore."
Baylor remained adamant about his center's future.
"We expect Michael will work hard to continue to improve and that he will be prepared to make a big contribution to our team's success this year," Baylor said in a statement.
