Associated Press
Friday, November 2, 2007
Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence was fined $15,000 by the NFL yesterday for his helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Texans quarterback Matt Schaub a concussion.
While Florence said he'll appeal the fine, Houston General Manager Rick Smith said the fine wasn't enough. Schaub won't start Sunday's game against the Raiders.
"We are disappointed in the sense that we have lost our starting quarterback for at least one game after the player took the crown of his helmet and delivered an illegal blow to Matt's jaw and the fine levied is only a small fraction of the player's weekly pay," Smith said in a statement released by the Texans. "Is that equitable? The punishment doesn't appear to fit the crime when all factors are considered."
With a base salary of $896,000, Florence makes $52,706 a week.
Schaub was blindsided by Florence after throwing his second interception in a 35-10 loss at San Diego on Sunday. He did not return after the second-quarter hit. Linebacker Stephen Cooper also hit the quarterback.
Two personal fouls were called, a hit to the head and unnecessary roughness. The first penalty was declined.
It was the second straight week Schaub was knocked out of the game by a helmet-to-helmet blow. He injured his hip on the first one.
¿ TEXANS: With Schaub out for Sunday's game, Houston will go with Sage Rosenfels. It will be the third start of his career and first in two years.
Craig Nall, who was signed on Tuesday, will be Houston's backup. Coach Gary Kubiak said Schaub could be used if necessary.
¿ RAIDERS: Looking to spark an offense that has scored just two touchdowns over the past three games, Oakland will start Josh McCown at quarterback on Sunday against the Texans.
McCown, the opening day starter, replaces Daunte Culpepper, who has struggled to move the offense in recent weeks after taking over for McCown in Week 4.
"I felt Daunte played really well for us, but with Josh coming back and looking healthy again, we're going to go back with Josh," Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin said.
McCown missed the past four games while recovering from a broken toe on his left foot suffered on Sept. 23 against the Browns. He only returned to practice last week and was a backup to Culpepper for the a 13-9 loss to the Titans.
Oakland has lost three straight games since beginning the season 2-2. The offense, ranked 24th overall, has scored just 23 points during the skid after scoring 20 or more in the first four games of the season.
During the three-game slide, Culpepper has thrown four interceptions and fumbled six times.
Culpeper will serve as McCown's backup while rookie JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, will be the Raiders' emergency quarterback.
¿ PANTHERS: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde missed practice for a second straight day with an Achilles' tendon injury, increasing the chances David Carr will start on Sunday at Tennessee.
Testaverde, 43, aggravated an existing injury in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Colts.
¿ DOLPHINS: Running back Ronnie Brown and safety Renaldo Hill, both sidelined for the rest of the season because of knee injuries, had surgery.
Both players had torn anterior cruciate ligaments repaired by physician James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Both were hurt Oct. 21 against the Patriots and were placed on injured reserve three days later.
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