NFL teams released two former Utah collegiate gridders on Tuesday - the Detroit Lions let former Utah State quarterback Eric Hipple go while the Dallas Cowboys cut loose former Weber State kicker Roger Ruzek.
The Lions and Hipple ended a 10-year association, as the team released the veteran signalcaller to create roster space for Chuck Long.Coach Wayne Fontes says he hadn't intended to cut a quarterback to make room for Long, but Hipple insisted on being released on waivers.
"He felt that in a young program, a 10-year veteran would probably be better off somewhere else. I tried to talk him out of it. Eric Hipple's been nothing but class," Fontes said after Tuesday's release.
Hipple, 32, the Lions' fourth pick in the 1980 NFL draft, spent the 1987 season on injured reserve with a sprained thumb and played in only five games in 1988, backing up Long. Long has been out this season with an elbow injury.
Rookie Rodney Peete, more mobile and a natural to lead the new run-and-shoot offense installed after Fontes took over as coach last season, replaced both veterans this season.
"I'm not ready to retire, not by any means. It's just that over the years I've taken a little bit of wear and tear, and I need to be sitting back in the pocket," Hipple said.
Hipple said he realizes he stands to lose his $400,000 annual salary because of the move, but said he thought the move was worth the chance.
"The gamble is, I hope I get picked up and go that route," Hipple said. "I'd just as soon try somewhere else.
"I think I've got a lot of playing time left."
Other NFL teams have 24 hours to claim him.
Hipple made his only 1989 start Oct. 8 at Minnesota while Peete was injured. He completed seven of 18 passes and tossed three interceptions before being replaced by Bob Gagliano.
It appeared Hipple would turn things around for the Lions last season, but disaster struck again. After replacing a struggling Long against San Francisco, Hipple hit 10 of 18 for 139 yards before his ankle was fractured on a sack.
Hipple started 57 of the 102 games in which he played for the Lions. He completed 830 of 1,546 passes for 10,706 yards and 55 touchdowns.
The Cowboys released Ruzek and replaced him on the roster with Luis Zendejas.
"Roger had been struggling with his kickoffs and his field goals," Cowboys Coach Jimmy Johnson said. "He has been in a slump that was a carry-over from a year ago."
Ruzek, a third-year player, was 5-of-11 on field-goal attempts this season and missed a 35-yarder Sunday night in the first quarter of the Cowboys' 13-3 victory over Washington. He later kicked field goals of 20 and 43 yards.
Ruzek was released during training camp in 1987, but re-signed before the start of the season. In 1987, Ruzek set club records for field goal accuracy in a season (22-of-25) and field goals in a game, with five against the Los Angeles Rams. He tied the NFL record for field goals in a quarter with four in the fourth quarter of a game against the New York Giants.
His 88 percent accuracy in 1987 led the NFL.
Last season, Ruzek held out of training camp and missed the Cowboys' first two games. He was 12-of-22 on field goal attempts.
In three seasons, he converted 66 of 67 extra point attempts, his only miss coming in the Cowboys' fifth regular-season game against Green Bay.