When the Houston Oilers bumped up against the NFL salary cap, it was third-string quarterback Bucky Richardson who had to go. Guard John Flannery could be next.
"It's like Monopoly, you only have so much money," Oilers offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome said. "When you run out, you have to get rid of people."Richardson, a favorite in Texas, was waived by the Oilers on Tuesday to make room under the team's cap for rookie running back Rodney Thomas. Ironically, both Thomas and Richardson are from Texas A&M.
"This has nothing to do with ability, it's all starts with money and the salary cap," Richardson said. "They've already told me they want me back."
Chris Chandler is the Oilers starting quarterback, and Will Furrer is now the backup at the NFL's $178,000 minimum salary. Steve McNair, the Oilers' No. 1 draft pick who signed a seven-year pact worth $28.5 million, is No. 3.
Speculation continued that Flannery and his $900,000 salary could be the next to go to make room for All-Pro center Bruce Matthews, who has agreed to a four-year, $10.4 million deal.
"They've told me it's not a matter of performance, it's a matter of money," Flannery said. "That helps me to deal with it. If it happens, it doesn't mean my career is over. It's just over with the Oilers."
Bengals
Rookie quarterback John Walsh, who played collegiately at BYU, dislocated a knee cap while stepping off a curb and is expected to be out at least four to six weeks.
Packers
Green Bay wide receiver Mark Ingram says his 11-day absence from training camp was due to poor communication with Packers general manager Ron Wolf.
"We had a couple of phone conversations," said Ingram, who also skipped the mandatory post-draft minicamp and the voluntary June minicamp. "I told him what was on my mind, and he told me what was on his mind. After a few more conversations, we went further into detail, and we ironed them out.
"I always wanted to be here. Missing camp isn't something you want to do, but I have to do what's best for my family, and Ron has to do what's best for the Green Bay organization."
Rams
Day-long rain forced the Rams to move their practice indoors. The workout also was shortened due to a lack of space.
Coach Rich Brooks said the Rams talked Tuesday to Lamont Smith, the agent for holdout running back Jerome Bettis. Bettis has run up $48,000 in fines at $4,000 a day since July 21, the day of the first full-squad workout.
"All I know is that there has been some communication," Brooks said. "He's still got a three-year contract, and we're figuring that that's what ought to be honored."
Redskins
Washington kick returner Brian Mitchell says there's nothing especially difficult about returning a kick or a punt.
"Just try to catch the ball and go straight upfield," Mitchell said. "Most of it is the wall and blocking."
Last season, Mitchell's 1,930 combined kickoff and punt return yards set the NFL single-season record, and his 2,477 all-purpose yards were second to the league mark of 2,535 set by San Diego's Lionel James in 1985.
"I think punts are easier to score on," Mitchell said. "Guys are coming down so quickly, you can just hit a crack and you're gone. Kickoffs are a lot harder to score on, but you can get big plays. The thing about a kickoff, you can catch the ball at the 10 and run 35 yards; that's a big return. As long as I have enough space between me and the defender when I catch the ball, I'm happy."
Panthers-Browns
The expansion Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns sweltered through a joint practice in Berea, Ohio.
Panthers coach Dom Capers wanted to show his squad an experienced NFL team in four practices, two each Tuesday and today, at the Browns' training facility.
Browns coach Bill Belichick has a different goal.
"Carolina is one of only three teams in the league to use a three-man defensive front. The others are Pittsburgh, who we'll play twice, and New England, who we also play," he said. "So our players will get to work against an alignment they need."