ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 3, 1996 TAG: 9609040061
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
THE CAROLINA DRAFT PICK comes out of Africa to make a good start for the Panthers.
After Tshimanga Biakabutuka had showered and dressed Sunday following his first experience in the NFL, he summed up his success succinctly - and sorely.
``It's more physical than I thought it would be,'' said the first Zaire native to wear an NFL uniform.
Biakabutuka was talking about Carolina's 29-6 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, not his extended contract negotiations that ended with the signing of a seven-year, $12.7 million contract - but only after he'd missed the Panthers' first 31 preseason workouts.
``I'm physically exhausted,'' said the former Michigan running back, whose 27 carries for 69 yards were significant in Carolina's methodical victory at Ericsson Stadium. ``I missed a lot. I'm not where the other guys are, mostly because I need conditioning work. About two weeks, I should be there.''
That should thrill Panthers coach Dom Capers, who saw enough from the club's top 1996 draft pick to know the Panthers will have more offensive options than Kerry Collins' arm. In the quarterback and his first-round follower on the Panthers' roster, owner Jerry Richardson has invested more than a combined $34 million through 2002.
Biakabutuka's deal appears to be a good one. Panthers general manager Bill Polian, who built Buffalo's Super Bowl teams, played it tough in negotiations. When Biakabutuka finally signed, the Panthers had budged only an average of $52,000 annually, with added years, from their pre-training camp offer of $1.8 million over four years. His incentives don't kick in until 2001.
These numbers were pretty much forgotten Sunday, as Biakabutuka, in his first game, just missed Derrick Moore's single-game club record of 28 carries only two weeks after the rookie arrived in camp.
``I didn't have any idea I'd get the ball that much,'' said Biakabutuka. ``I didn't have any expectations, because I didn't know how much I'd play or run the ball. That's what I want to do. A running back wants the ball. I'm not different from other running backs.''
Still, he is. Biakabutuka, the sixth of 11 children, moved with his family from Kinshasa to Montreal when he was 6. He didn't play football until 10 years later, in 1990, leaving behind soccer during his high school days. By that season, his new teammate, ex-New Orleans linebacker Sam Mills, already had played in two Pro Bowls.
Recruited at Michigan, the 6-foot, 215-pounder burst to prominence in 1994, sharing Wolverine tailback duties with Tyrone Wheatley. He also picked up the nickname ``Tim'' but now wants to be called by his given Tshimanga. He also is the only NFL player who speaks Lingala and Tshiluba along with French and English.
The Panthers feel good about their ground game for another reason, too. Another rookie, Winslow Oliver, the club's third-round pick from New Mexico, was solid in training camp while Biakabutuka was absent. Oliver added 37 yards on six carries Sunday, and also returns punts and kickoffs.
``You only saw Tshimanga basically, with two weeks under his belt,'' Capers said. ``The thing that is encouraging to me is that he's going to do nothing but get better. He's practiced hard since he's been here. He's done everything we asked him to do, and we put a load on him [Sunday]. I feel really good about him.''
Biakabutuka was the second running back picked in the draft, behind Nebraska's Lawrence Phillips by St. Louis, and the Canadian resident was given a $5.1 million signing bonus. He's earning a base salary of $617,000 this year, a figure that escalates to $1.541 million over the life of one of those complicated NFL contracts. He can void the seventh and last year if he has back-to-back seasons of 1,100 and 800 rushing yards. His incentives are rooted in NFL rushing rankings and Pro Bowl appearances.
``I'll be OK once I get a feel for the game,'' Biakabutuka said.
He's probably said that before in his brief, but budding football life out of Africa.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Tshimanga Biakabutuka (left) eludesby CNBAtlanta defender John Burrough in their game on Sunday. color.