Defensive overhauls leave two teams with high hopes

Sporting News, The, May 21, 2001 by Gary Horton

Some of those signed by NFL teams will make the cut, but those who don't will join the rest of McMahon's guinea pigs in the Arena League. Ironically, without the XFL, all non-NFL pro football games south of Canada will be played indoors. That is unfortunate.

Although the XFL fell short in some areas--television ratings being No. 1--it died too soon. --TWR

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Panthers owner Jerry Richardson says he's 100 percent behind coach George Seifert's plan to build patiently with young players. And there is no reason to doubt one of the league's most employee-friendly owners. But it could get interesting if Seifert has a third straight nonwinning season. Richardson isn't known for his patience. Back in 1998, he emphatically told assistant coaches that Dom Capers would be the team's coach forever. A few weeks later, Capers was fired.... New Chargers G.M. John Butler has tightened the screws on access, though not so much to the media. Word is that Butler is not going to allow players and coaches to have family members at camp. And the Chargers are really cracking down on friends of players or other members of the organization who just come around to watch practice. Hey, when you're coming off a 1-15 season, you have much to hide.... Don't think Cris Carter's pending retirement--he will walk away after this season--will affect Randy Moss' future with the Vikings. True, there is speculation in the Twin Cities that Moss, who is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season, will be more apt to leave because Carter will not be around any longer. And yes, Carter has been a tremendous influence on Moss. However, the two are not inseparable off the field. They are 11-plus years apart in age and don't spend a lot of time together. The factor that could take Moss away from Minnesota is money, not the departure of Carter.... Browns director of football operations Dwight Clark was livid when DT Gerard Warren, the third pick in the draft, reported overweight and out of shape to a recent minicamp. Clark, a former wide receiver, had lobbied hard to get the team to take Michigan wideout David Terrell with that selection.... Speaking of Clark, he has burned quietly (mostly) this offseason while everyone has said his power has been usurped and given to new coach Butch Davis. And make no mistake: The 2001 draft was Davis' through and through. At least no one can blame Clark for Browns fifth-round pick Jeremiah Pharms, a linebacker from Washington, who was charged recently with armed robbery.

The War Room, headed by former NFL scout Gary Horton, analyzes NFL personnel and college prospects. E-mail The War Room at warroom@ sportingnews.com