ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 20, 1996 TAG: 9608200058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher confounded fans and conventional wisdom Monday by choosing third-year pro Jim Miller to start at quarterback in the Steelers' regular-season opener.
Fans had picked second-year pro Kordell Stewart by a wide margin in straw polls this past week, and wisdom handed the starting job to 12-year pro Mike Tomczak because Miller had a less-than-thrilling training camp.
``I don't look at it as anybody winning,'' Cowher said. ``I think they're all winners. As I told all three, what I'm trying to do is define roles.''
Miller, a sixth-round draft pick in 1994 out of Michigan State, has never started a regular-season game. He will Sept.1 against Jacksonville.
Cowher said Tomczak will back up Miller and Stewart will return to his multipurpose ``Slash'' role as a quarterback, wide receiver and running back
In other NFL news:
PANTHERS: There was a new face at Carolina's practice: first-round draft choice Tshimanga Biakabutuka.
Four days after training camp closed and three days after the running back ended his contract holdout, Biakabutuka worked out with his new teammates for the first time.
``It's fun. We had a lot of jokes in the locker room, but it's time to take care of business now,'' Biakabutuka said. ``The other part is over with. I want to move forward and play football.''
Working almost exclusively with the first-team offense, Biakabutuka took part in all phases of the team's two-hour workout at its new practice complex behind Ericsson Stadium. The players wore shorts, shoulder pads and helmets for the non-contact practice; they will resume full contact at today's workout.
Meanwhile, starting guard Sean Love and wide receiver Ray Crittenden, a Virginia Tech alumnus, were among 18 players waived by the Panthers. The moves reduced Carolina's roster to 61 players one day before the NFL deadline for clubs to trim their rosters to 60. The Panthers have been granted a one-player roster exemption because they signed Biakabutuka on Friday.
RAVENS: Baltimore waived 18 players, including former Virginia quarterback Mike Groh.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Ray Crittenden, a former Virginia Tech soccer playerby CNBwho began his NFL career with the New England Patriots, was one of
18 players waived Monday by the Carolina Panthers.