Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 29, 1995 TAG: 9508290045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED HARDIN LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ROCK HILL, S.C. LENGTH: Medium
The Carolina Panthers solved one of their biggest problems Monday. They cut Barry Foster.
The $2.5 million running back with the 2.8 yards per carry average was waived by the Panthers on Monday morning, thinning the Carolina backfield but ridding the team of its most embarrassing situation.
``There are no easy decisions when you reach this time of the year,'' Panthers coach Dom Capers said. ``Barry was no exception.''
Actually, Foster made the decision easy. The sixth-year back missed practices and games because of nagging injuries that ranged from a sore foot and inflamed ankles to swelling in his knee. In three exhibition games, Foster gained 62 yards in 22 carries, the lowest output of any Carolina running back.
``There was concern about the amount of production in the preseason and how it would extend to the regular season,'' Capers said.
Foster, who rarely spoke to the media in his short stay with the Panthers, could not be reached for comment.
His teammates expressed shock over the team's decision to waive its highest-paid runner.
``I never expected this in a million years,'' Randy Baldwin, Foster's apparent replacement, said. ``Everybody's in disbelief.''
Dwight Stone said that no one talked to Foster on Monday.
Stone, a teammate of Foster's at Pittsburgh, said Foster told him Sunday that he was looking forward to playing this year.
``He was talking about the season,'' Stone said. ``He was talking about Atlanta. This is shocking.''
Capers said that the sixth-year back, acquired on May 30 in a trade with the Steelers, might have anticipated the decision.
``We have to have players on the practice field, working, to get a feel for what they can do,'' Capers said. ``The whole key is preparation on the football field practicing and in the classroom. It's hard to give effort if you're not out on the practice field.''
Foster missed more than half the practices during training camp and played in only three of five exhibition games. He was the team's fourth-leading rusher in preseason.
``We thought the production we saw did not warrant the investment,'' Capers said.
And while many young players were stunned by the decision, several veterans on the team had seen it before.
``Every year it's the same,'' cornerback Tim McKyer said. ``You never know who's going to be here. I might not be here next week. There are no guaranteed contracts in the NFL.''
``Nobody's untouchable in this business,'' fullback Howard Griffith added.
But Foster, at times, did appear to be untouchable. General manager Bill Polian had said only a couple of weeks ago that
the team had a double-standard for the former Pro Bowler.
Michael Reed, who sat beside Foster in the locker room, figured nothing was up when he walked in Monday.
``I thought they'd just moved his locker,'' Reed said.
In other moves Monday, the Panthers waived cornerback James Williams and signed four players, including running back Derrick Moore, who played for Detroit last year, and wide receiver Michael Bates, who played for Seattle.
Carolina also signed Travis Hill, a linebacker from Cleveland, and Jeff Zgonina, a defensive lineman who played for Capers with the Steelers last year.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB