05
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2005
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 9A
▼ NFL
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San Diego Chargers' Antonio Gates can't quite handle a pass while on his back in the third quarter as the Kansas City Chiefs' Sammy Knight defends Sunday in San Diego. The Chargers won, 28-20.
Five Chiefs players submit to MRIs
Green plays well despite father's death
BY DOUG TUCKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cornback Patrick Surtain was one of five Kansas City Chiefs undergoing MRIs on Monday, but is probably the only player whose availability for Sunday might be in question.
Surtain, who has been the Chiefs' only consistent comback, hurt his knee during their 28-20 loss on Sunday at San Diego.
"We're waiting on the MRI on Patrick Surtain. I'll know more tomorrow," head coach Dick Vermei said Monday afternoon. "He didn't have any lateral movement on it."
Backup cornerback Dexter McCleon, who has been sidelined, could be ready for Sunday's game with Oakland.
"I'd say there's a good chance he will be." said Vermeil.
Also undergoing MRIs in the wake of a loss that left the Chiefs 4-3, two games behind Denver in the AFC West, were guard Will Shields, defensive end Gary Stills, cornerback Eric Woods and safety Jerome Woods. Vermeil said that was not an unusual number.
"It's pretty much a normal Monday around here," he said.
Quarterback Trent Green will miss Wednesday's practice to attend services in St. Louis for his father, Jim Green, who died unexpectedly on Thursday. Team president and general manager Carl Peterson and some other representatives of the organization also will attend.
Green, despite the shock of losing his father at the age of 58.
recovered from a shaky first half against the Chargers and had his best game of the year. Despite spotty pass protection, he hit 31 of 43 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns.
"He hit 72 percent of his passes and had two dropped, and threw a couple for touchdowns," Vermeil said. "He had a quarterback efficiency rating of 111. It's just amazing. That's the kind of person he is. He
didn't want (his father's death) to be the center and focus on Sunday."
Although the Chiefs would never say so, they're probably looking at the softest part of their schedule. They're home this week against the Raiders (3-4), whom they already beat in Oakland, then have road trips to Buffalo (3-5) and Houston (1-6).
West, they had better win all three.
If they're to stay in the AFC
They also have home games looming with Denver and San Diego after going 1-2 in their three road trips to their AFC West rivals. They beat Oakland and lost to Denver and the Chargers.
"I feel we should have won more than one," Vermeil said. "At San Diego, we had an opportunity and a good team
beat us. We lost to a good team in Denver. Now we've got an opportunity to get it done at home."
Beating the Raiders, who have won two in a row, would seem paramount.
"They're all important," Vermeil said. "When you get to the eighth game of the season and you're 4-3 and playing division games at home, they are magnified."
NFL
Jack Demosev/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Denver Broncos wide receiver Todd Devoe celebrates as he crosses the goal line while Philadelphia Eagles safety Quintin Mikell defends and Matt Ware looks on during the fourth quarter in Denver on. Devoe's touchdown helped the Broncos defeat the Eagles.
BY EDDIE PELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Devoe steps up for Broncos
DENVER — He was a quiet player from a small school and fit the profile of someone who might max out on a practice squad or in NFL Europe, not with the big boys on Sundays.
The problem with that profile was that Denver receiver Todd Devoe had a knack for making big plays — in training camp, practices, preseason games.
Finally, he made a big play on a Sunday — with the game on the line — and now, everyone knows why the Broncos took a chance on the kid from Central Missouri State.
"It was all about patience." Devoe said after his 44-yard touchdown catch helped the Broncos stave off a Philadelphia comeback en route to a 49-21 victory Sunday. "I just stayed patient along the route, and it finally got me to me I am today."
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Signed first by Baltimore in 2003 as a rookie free agent, he spent his first two NFL seasons on three practice squads and one
He signed with Denver over the summer, although it seemed unlikely anyone would ever get to know him well.
I just stayed patient along the route, and it finally got me to where I am today."
Early in camp, some of it was dismissed because, those plays were coming against the third- and fourth-team defenses. And, as coach Mike Shanahan emphasized when asked about Devoe, the kid was still having trouble mastering the blocking and route-running details that help distinguish those who make final NFL rosters.
On a team with Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie and last year's second-round pick, Darius Watts, Devoe's name was easy to overlook, ninth and last on the depth chart, awkwardly placed below the veterans, hangers-on from last year, free-agent rookies and the like.
Soon, though, Devoe started separating. In the preseason opener, he caught a winning 92-yard touchdown pass in a 20-14 victory against Houston. There was also a 32-yard catch against San Francisco, a ball Devoe caught with one hand because the defender was holding his other arm.
catch.
He survived the first cut. Then, Rice retired. Then, the Broncos opted to keep Devoe on their final roster. At the time, Shanahan conceded it was tough to use a roster spot on a developing player who was still rough around the edges.
spring in NFL Europe, where he caught five touchdowns with the Cologne Centurions.
But it seemed like every day, No. 14 was coming up with something noticeable — a nice block, a diving catch, a one-handed catch, a big run after a
But Devoe's practice-squad eligibility had been used up and Shanahan knew if he cut the promising receiver, he might end up elsewhere, hurting the Broncos down the road.
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ATHLETICS CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY
Game against Texas to be televised
— Ryan Colaianni
Volleyball vs. Colorado, 7 p.m., Horeisi Family Athletics Center
FOOTBALL
Soccer vs. Nebraska, Big 12 Soccer Tournament, 1:30 p.m., San Antonio
THURSDAY
Men's Golf, All Day, Beach, Calif
If you have:
FRIDAY Soccer vs. Texas A&M or Missouri Big 12 Soccer Tournament, 4:30 p.m., San Antonio
The football game against Texas, scheduled for Nov. 12, will be televised on ABC at 2:30 p.m.
SOCCER Jayhawks honored before championship
Swimming vs. Iowa and Missouri State, 6 p.m., Robinson Gymnasium
Men's Golf, All Day, Beach, Calif.
Several KU players were recognized yesterday by the Big 12 Conference after great seasons.
Holly Gault, junior defender, was named Big 12 defensive player of the week after helping Kansas defeat Missouri 3-2 Friday. Gault had the gamewinning goal.
This marks the first time since 2000 that Kansas will be televised on ABC, when it played Nebraska.
Tennis, All Day, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Gault, along with senior forward Caroline Smith, were named to the All-Big 12 first team yesterday. Two freshmen, Jessica Bush and Missy Geha, also were recognized after being named to the Big 12 newcomer team.
This will be the 22nd time that Kansas has appeared on ABC.
The team travels to the Big 12 championship this week. Kansas, seeded No. 5, takes on Nebraska, seeded No.4, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in San Antonio. Earlier in the season, the Jayhawks and Cornhuskers tied 0-0 in Lincoln, Neb.
— Drew Davison
FOOTBALL
— Ryan Colaianni
Kansas Border War victory to air on TV
The channel is carried on the digital tier by most national cable providers, including Lawrence's Sunflower Broadband. In Lawrence, Fox Sports College is channel 145.
Turns out Kansas' 13-3 victory against Missouri will be on TV after all.
Fox Sports College will air a taped version of the game at 7 tonight and at 1 p.m. Thursday
TALK TO US
Tell us your news. Contact Kellis Robinett or Eric Sorrentino at 864-4858 or sports@kansan.com
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