THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 TAG: 9608280609
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 48 lines
Former Norfolk State receiver James Roe has won a job with the Baltimore Ravens, but for a handful of other local players trying to make NFL teams, the news last week was not as good.
Released over the weekend were Roe's ex-NSU teammate, Kenneth McDaniel, by the Dallas Cowboys; and Suffolk native Johnnie Barnes, by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Released last week were Portsmouth's Hugh Hunter, by the New York Jets; Virginia Beach's Keith Goganious, by Tampa Bay; and Chesapeake's Jim Kitts, by the Washington Redskins.
Another player, Suffolk's Terrance Warren, was placed on injured reserve and released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Aug. 6.
Roe is a rookie, as are McDaniel, Hunter and Kitts. A sixth-round pick, Roe caught just four passes in preseason, for 23 yards, and one touchdown. But he impressed coaches with his sure hands and work ethic.
``He doesn't drop anything,'' Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda said during training camp.
Roe has a calf injury but is expected to dress for Sunday's opener against Oakland, a Ravens spokesman said.
McDaniel, a guard picked in the fifth round, was considered to have a good chance of making a Dallas team that is starved for linemen. But the 6-foot-3, 322-pound McDaniel didn't show much improvement during camp.
``He's not shown the progress we would have hoped from a small-college guy,'' Cowboys director of scouting Larry Lacewell told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Hunter, a defensive end from Wilson High and Hampton University, did not play much in preseason and was released during the first cut-down. Hunter is a client of Virginia Beach agent Ron Del Duca, who also represents Barnes and Warren.
Del Duca said other teams have shown interest in all three players. Barnes and Warren, both receivers, were former teammates at John F. Kennedy High and Hampton University. Barnes is a four-year veteran. Warren, who has three years' experience, broke his hand in preseason and negotiated an injury settlement with Jacksonville before his release, Del Duca said.
Goganious is also a veteran. A linebacker from Green Run High and Penn State, spent three years with Buffalo before being picked by Jacksonville in last year's expansion draft. He was released by Jacksonville July 26. Tampa Bay picked him up, only to release him last week.
Kitts, a free-agent linebacker from Great Bridge High and Ferrum College, had been considered a longshot to make the Redskins. by CNB