Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 24, 1994 TAG: 9408250048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JIM DUCIBELLA LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Tuesday, he was just another name on a cluttered list of spare parts and rejects, a victim of a serious knee injury last season and improved competition on the Washington offensive line.
Meanwhile, one of his buddies in the '92 draft, defensive end Shane Collins, continued being victimized by bad health. Collins, a second-round pick, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday. While it's not considered serious, Collins is unlikely to be back in time to open the season against Seattle on Sept. 4.
In addition to getting down to the league limit of 60 players Tuesday, the Redskins may have set themselves up to pick up an additional player or two the next several days.
Joining Elliott on waivers were receivers Greg Clifton, formerly of VMI and Johnson C. Smith, and Keith Williams; tight end Ray Rowe, a sixth-round pick last year; linebackers Tyler Lawrence and Gonzalo Floyd, both free agents; and defensive end Jason Simmons, another free agent.
In addition, former VMI receiver Mark Stock was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He automatically must miss the rest of the season.
Defensive end Marty Hochertz was placed on the Waived/IR list, meaning he will be cut as soon as his injured knee heals.
Finally, Washington claimed a defensive tackle Anthony Abrams off waivers from Buffalo. Abrams, a 6-4, 298-pounder from Clark College, was the Bills' sixth-round pick last spring. Washington was impressed enough by what they saw in Abrams when the Redskins played the Bills a couple of weeks ago to give him a shot at making the team.
In a 13-11 Buffalo victory, Abrams was credited with one pass-defensed, though he put some heat on rookie Gus Frerotte.
The moves at receiver mean that in all likelihood, coach Norv Turner is preparing to grab a pass-catcher, either from among those waived by other teams Tuesday or when final cuts are made on Sunday.
Other than starters Henry Ellard and Desmond Howard and reserves Tydus Winans and Stephen Hobbs, Washington's only other receivers are free agents Willie Hinchcliff and Damon Wright.
Hinchcliff comes from the Auckland Institute in New Zealand. Wright is just 5-9, 163 pounds, a free-agent rookie from Carson-Newman.
From the first day of camp, general manager Charley Casserly has maintained that the Redskins would keep 5 receivers. It is unlikely either Hinchcliff or Wright have enough potential to warrant filling the No. 5 spot, though Wright has been impressive as a kick returner.
Elliott, a 6-1, 265-pounder, was the 336th, and last, player chosen in the 1992 draft. That earned him the title ``Mr. Irrelevant,'' and an all-expenses-paid trip to California prior to his rookie training camp.
But he was anything but irrelevant that season, making the team and starting in two games at center. He also played in several others at guard and snapped for placekicks and field goals. He was an All-Rookie selection.
But he blew out his left knee during an intrasquad scrimmage last training camp and missed the entire season. Though he made a complete recovery, the offseason additions of John Gesek and Trevor Matich, the drafting of Tre' Johnson and Joe Patton and the improved performance of Greg Huntington proved to be too much for Elliott to overcome.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB