The Sideline
Springfield to skip senior season for try at NFL
Cornerback Bo Springfield will forgo his senior season to enter his name in the NFL draft.

Sprinfield, who turns 26 later this month, said he wants to try to play professionally while he physically is able to.

Despite an ankle injury, he started the final four games and the galleryfurniture.com Bowl game. Springfield recorded 12 tackles and forced one fumble this year.

Sprinfield spent four years in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm club before joing the Horned Frogs.

Spurrier inks 5-year, $25 million deal as ‘Skins head coach
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Steve Spurrier made his mark on the NFL even before coaching his first game or running a practice.

He became the highest-paid coach in league history Monday, hired by the Washington Redskins a day after they fired Marty Schottenheimer.

The national championship-winning coach at Florida signed a five-year deal worth $25 million.

The deal, confirmed by a team source speaking on condition of anonymity, surpasses the previous NFL high of $4 million a year Mike

Holmgren makes as Seattle's coach and general manager.

Spurrier, who abruptly left Florida on Jan. 4 after a 12-year run that also included six Southeastern Conference titles, will be introduced Tuesday at a news conference at Redskin Park.

While Snyder thought Schottenheimer's job as coach was acceptable, the owner was unhappy with personnel moves involving Larry Centers, Jeff George and others.

Schottenheimer will receive the $7.5 million remaining on the four-year, $10 million contract he signed a year ago, with the Redskins picking up the difference in deals if Schottenheimer signs with another team.

The next step for Washington is to hire a general manager, with Bruce Allen, Vinny Cerrato, Bobby Beathard and Ron Wolf among the top candidates.

Old Mile High Stadium to be demolished for new stadium
DENVER (AP) — After months of preparation, wrecking crews are scheduled to begin tearing down Mile High Stadium this week.

The crews will begin demolishing the south stands and move clockwise round the former home of the Denver Broncos, Metropolitan Football Stadium District spokesman Matt Sugar said Monday.

It will take up to four months to remove the rubble once the demolition is complete, he said.

The preparatory work for demolition began several months ago. Crews have removed such things as asbestos and lead-based paint, Sugar said.

The Mile High site eventually will become a parking lot for the new stadium, creating about 1,800 parking spaces.

NBA suspends O’Neal for 3 games for throwing punch
NEW YORK (AP) — For once, Shaquille O’Neal can be thankful for his poor aim.

The Los Angeles Lakers star drew a three-game suspension Monday from the NBA for throwing a punch and fighting with Chicago center Brad Miller.

O’Neal actually threw at least two punches, the first of which barely missed the side of Miller’s head. Had the roundhouse right from the 340-pound, 7-foot center connected with full force, it’s safe to assume that Miller would have been injured and O’Neal would have been facing a much longer suspension.

NBA vice president Stu Jackson, who issued the suspension and a $15,000 fine, would not comment.

Aikman declines interest of signing with Miami Dolphins
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Jay Fiedler, who has played for two years in the shadow of Dan Marino’s legacy, now must endure comparisons with another likely Hall of Famer: Troy Aikman.

Coach Dave Wannstedt said he wants Fiedler back and denied that the Dolphins have talked to Aikman. But Wannstedt, who was defensive coordinator in Dallas during Aikman's prime, declined to say whether Miami would be interested in him if he wants to play next season.

Aikman, 35, led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in a 12 seasons before retiring last April. Ten concussions and problems with his back contributed to his decision, and on Jan. 6 he said it was “extremely doubtful” he would play next season.

The TCU Daily Skiff © 2002