THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 24, 1994 TAG: 9408240698
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Two years ago, Matt Elliott was the surprise of Redskins training camp - a lineman who made the team and played respectably despite being the last player selected in the 1992 draft.
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, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. 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, linebackers Tyler Lawrence and Gonzalo Floyd, and defensive end Jason Simmons.
In addition, receiver Mark Stock, formerly of VMI, 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/injured reserve list, meaning he will be cut as soon as his injured knee heals.
Finally, Washington claimed a defensive tackle off waivers from Buffalo. He's Anthony Abrams, a 6-foot-4, 298-pounder from Clark College who was the Bills' sixth-round pick last spring. The Redskins were impressed enough by what they saw in Abrams when they played the Bills a couple of weeks ago to give him a shot at making the team.
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 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, a free-agent rookie from Carson-Newman, is just 5-9 and 163 pounds.
From the first day of camp, general manager Charley Casserly has maintained that the Redskins would keep five receivers. It is unlikely either Hinchcliff or Wright has enough potential to warrant filling the No. 5 spot, though Wright has been impressive as a kick returner.
Elliott, a 6-1, 265-pounder from Michigan, 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 PATs 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 too much for Elliott to overcome. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Matt Elliott
by CNB