Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 31, 1993 TAG: 9308310229
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff, Associated Press and Baltimore Sun reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Former Virginia Tech quarterback Will Furrer, who started the final game of the 1992 season for the Chicago Bears, was waived by the team on Monday. Shawn Moore, who was 1990 ACC player of the year for Virginia, was cut by the Denver Broncos.
All teams made their so-called final cuts Monday, getting their 60-man rosters to 47. But they will be allowed to go back to 53 today, meaning 168 of Monday's victims will be back in the league after 24 hours.
A report out of Denver said the Broncos were expected to reclaim Moore, who completed 17 of 34 passes in limited action last year.
New Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said he did not intend to reclaim Furrer.
David Ware, from William Fleming High School in Roanoke, was kept by the New York Jets and will be on the Jets' 53-man roster even if he does not dress for Sunday's opener. Ware, a fourth-round draft pick, played collegiately at Virginia.
Ray Crittenden, a free-agent wide receiver who had nine receptions in his career at Virginia Tech, was retained by the New England Patriots. Not as fortunate were former Hokies Victor Jones and Phil Bryant, cut by Detroit and Buffalo, respectively.
Hebron, a free-agent running back who was undrafted last spring and was considered a long shot to make an NFL roster, will be the backup tailback behind Hershel Walker when the Eagles open the season at home Sunday against against the Phoenix Cardinals.
Siran Stacy, the Eagles' top 1992 draft pick, was cut.
In the end, Hebron's preseason performance held more luster than Stacy's draft history. In four games, Hebron, at 5 feet 8 and 196 pounds, rushed for 239 yards and one touchdown, averaging 7 yards per carry. He also had 10 catches for 132 yards and returned four kickoffs.
The other rookie on the Eagles' roster is free agent Marcus Thomas.
"These kids just went out and played," Eagles coach Rich Kotite said. "You say he [Stacy] was a second-round draft choice. Well, I'm making a big mistake if I keep somebody I don't think is deserving of staying.
"That's the bottom line for me, keeping the best players. It doesn't matter where they come from. If you have to cut somebody you had high hopes for, you can't worry about it. You got to go on."
In Hebron, Kotite sees a younger version of the New York Giants' Dave Meggett. The Eagles are expected to use him in a similar manner, as a third-down back who can beat a defense with his speed and pass-catching ability.
In the past, all players released had to go through waivers, meaning they could be claimed before being re-signed by their own teams. Now any player with more than four years' experience is simply "terminated," not waived, so his team doesn't risk losing him unless he chooses to negotiate a contract and learn a new team's system.
Many teams released kickers and punters for a day so they could keep younger players they didn't want to subject to waivers.
"You're liable to see a lot of `name' guys out there because of the way the system is set up now," said Ken Herock, Atlanta's director of player personnel.
The Falcons "terminated" Tim Green, one of coach Jerry Glanville's favorite defensive players and author of a recently published novel about pro football called "Ruffians."
"We'll bring back at least a half-dozen," said Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson, who cut to 45 so he could look over the waiver wire.
But Dan Reeves, who took over the Giants, who were subjected to two years of bickering and backbiting under Ray Handley, was more serious.
He summarily cut Pepper Johnson, an All-Pro linebacker in 1990, when the team won the Super Bowl. Reeves also released defensive end Eric Dorsey, a first-round draft pick in 1986 and a starter when healthy for the past five years, and Lamar McGriggs, the starting strong safety most of last season.
Johnson, 29, who led the Giants in tackles last year, reported late and had complained about being taken out on third downs in the new defense installed by Reeves and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. He also had complained last year about Handley and defensive coordinator Rod Rust.
"I had a decent career with the Giants," said Johnson, who could be headed for Cleveland, New England or Miami. "I don't feel my football career is over because the Giants don't think I fit into their scheme for the future. So I'll go from here."
Todd Marinovich, who had a history of drug problems, was waived by the Los Angeles Raiders - two years after he elected to leave Southern California early and was a surprise first-round draft pick. He had fallen behind Jeff Hostetler, 37-year-old Vince Evans and rookie Billy Joe Hobert.
Some players were in limbo, like Hugh Millen, Dallas' backup quarterback, and defensive tackle Bill Hawkins, first-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1989. Millen, who was cut, apparently lost the No. 2 job to free agent Jason Garrett, and might not be back.
But it was certainly clear that a lot of the name players released Monday would have one day off and be back in pads.
Eleven-year-safety Bill Bates of Dallas was called into Johnson's office, told he was being cut for a day, then asked to spread the word among teammates who also were getting a 24-hour vacation, like backup fullback Tommie Agee and long snapper Dale Hellestrae.
Among the others who may be in that category: three of Johnson's Giants' teammates - center Bart Oates, kicker Matt Bahr and running back Ottis Anderson, MVP in the 1991 Super Bowl.
Among the younger players waived was Keith McCants, the fourth overall pick in 1990, who was picked up by New England last week after being waived by Tampa Bay.
by CNB