FOR USE AS DESIRED
            NFL-PRE-2          8/6/02

 NFL SWINGS INTO FULL SLATE OF ACTION;
JETS PLAY STEELERS ON ESPN THURSDAY NIGHT,
GRUDEN DEBUTS WITH BUCS VS. DOLPHINS ON MNF

 Six new coaches will make their debut, as will two high-profile tradees, a new stadium – and the NFL’s first sleepover!

All that is on tap this week as the NFL plays its first full slate of preseason games starting and ending with national TV contests.

It kicks off on Thursday night on ESPN (8:00 PM ET) when the New York Jets visit the Steelers in Pittsburgh – with two hometown guys playing in front of the homefolk.

Jets running back CURTIS MARTIN was born in the city, went to high school there – being named MVP of the renowned “Big 33” high school all-star game in 1991 – and lettered three years at the University of Pittsburgh.  (Fact: there has never been a Super Bowl without a “Big 33” player on the field.) 

But really coming – and staying – home and seeing his first action in his hometown is new Pittsburgh quarterback CHARLIE BATCH, who joined the Steelers this year from the Detroit Lions after starting there for most of four years.

A native of Homestead, Pennsylvania – 6.3 miles from Pittsburgh – Batch is happy to be back as a veteran free agent signee of the Steelers.  “It’s home and an opportunity to play in front of the home fans,” he says.  Batch grew up not only a Steelers fan, but as one of their head coach BILL COWHER, the longest-serving active coach with one team in the NFL – 11 years, 1992-2002. 

At the other end of the head coaching longevity scale will be the debuts this weekend of six of the eight new coaches of 2002 – Oakland’s BILL CALLAHAN (at Dallas), Indianapolis’ TONY DUNGY (at Seattle), Carolina’s JOHN FOX (vs. Washington), Tampa Bay’s JON GRUDEN (vs. Miami), San Diego’s MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER (vs. Arizona), and Minnesota’s MIKE TICE (vs. Cleveland).  Houston’s DOM CAPERS and Washington’s STEVE SPURRIER made their debuts with their new teams last week.

Other debuts this week?  In the 10th anniversary year of one of the most successful trades in NFL history – the Green Bay Packers’ deal for BRETT FAVRE – two high-profile offseason trade acquisitions will play in their new uniforms – quarterback DREW BLEDSOE with the Buffalo Bills and running back RICKY WILLIAMS with the Miami Dolphins.

Bledsoe will really be in a new uniform -- the Bills join the Seattle Seahawks and 70th anniversary-Washington Redskins as teams with new uniform designs this year.  He was traded to Buffalo this spring from the division-rival New England Patriots. 

“I’m excited about it,” says the 10-year NFL veteran as he gets ready to face the visiting Cincinnati Bengals Friday night.  “It’s like being a rookie again.  You’re stepping into a new situation, a new area, new teammates, and so on.  I’m ready to roll.”

Williams – who rushed for 3,129 yards in three years in New Orleans -- will see action for his new team when the Dolphins conclude the weekend Monday night in a nationally televised game on ABC (8:00 PM ET) at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Not only will it be Williams’ debut, but Jon Gruden’s as coach of the Bucs after four years leading the Oakland Raiders, the last two to AFC Western Division titles.  

Although BRAD JOHNSON is officially the Bucs’ starter, fans tuning in Monday night should expect to see all three Tampa Bay quarterbacks – ROB JOHNSON and SHAUN KING joining Johnson.  “I just want desperately for one of those three guys to step up and clearly show the city of Tampa, and the National Football League, who’s the most deserving to be our quarterback,” says Gruden about which QB will start the season.  

Three stadiums will be in the news this week, too.  In Seattle, the Seahawks will play their first game (against Indianapolis Saturday night) in the new 67,000-seat Seahawks Stadium, which features sweeping views of the Seattle skyline, the Cascades, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.  In Champaign, Illinois, the Chicago Bears (against the Denver Broncos Saturday night) play their first game at the venue they’ll use throughout the year while Soldier Field is renovated for next year – Memorial Stadium on the University of Illinois campus. 

And in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome after the hometown Saints take on the expansion Houston Texans Saturday night, it will be the NFL’s first sleepover!  After the game, 250 children (and an accompanying parent/guardian) will be allowed to play on the field that their heroes just appeared on – and then, after other planned activities and a midnight snack of popcorn and pizza, “sleep over” right there on the Superdome AstroTurf.  What better way for a young NFL fan to spend the night!

THIS WEEK’S NFL SCHEDULE (AUGUST 8-12)
(All times ET)

 

 

NEXT WEEK’S NFL SCHEDULE (AUGUST 15-19)
(All times local)