Sports Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

BRADFORD SLAYING SHUTS DOWN MEMPHIS

Classes at the University of Memphis were canceled yesterday after a football player was fatally shot on campus, in what school officials said was a targeted attack, but city police later said could have been random.

By late yesterday afternoon police had not identified any suspects in the slaying of Taylor Bradford, who was shot about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, apparently near a university housing complex.

After the shooting, the 21-year-old junior crashed a car he was driving into a tree. Police said they had not determined whether he was shot before or after he started driving the vehicle. They were responding to a car crash when Bradford was found slumped over in the vehicle on a campus street.

FOOTBALL

WILLIAMS, PETITGOUT TO HAVE SEASON-ENDING KNEE SURGERY

Coach Jon Gruden cringed at the thought of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing the rest of the season without running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and tackle Luke Petitgout.

“You lose a lot of skill,” Gruden said yesterday after revealing both players will undergo season-ending knee surgery this week.

“Watching Philadelphia yesterday play without their left tackle and without their running back, it’s not an easy thing to overcome,” the coach added. “Experience and production at those positions is something an offense relies on.”

SUSPENDED WILLIAMS APPLIES FOR REINSTATEMENT

Suspended running back Ricky Williams applied for NFL reinstatement yesterday, his agent said.

“Ricky is extremely excited about the prospect of playing in the NFL again and hopeful for a positive response,” agent Leigh Steinberg said.

Williams has played in only 12 NFL games since the start of the 2004 season, but rushed for 3,225 yards in 2002-03. His current suspension began in April 2006 after he violated the league’s drug policy for the fourth time. He tested positive for marijuana this April, again delaying his return.

SMITH TO MISS SUNDAY GAME, BUT WON’T NEED SURGERY

Although Alex Smith probably will miss more than one game after separating his right shoulder, the San Francisco quarterback is sticking with the best-case scenario until he hears something worse.

Smith definitely won’t play in the 49ers’ next game against Baltimore after getting hurt on the third play of their 23–3 loss to Seattle on Sunday. The Niners have a bye next week, and Smith is cautiously optimistic he’ll be back after that — but given the injury’s severity, he knows it seems unlikely.

“They wouldn’t put an exact date on it, but yeah, a few weeks,” Smith said yesterday when asked to estimate his return. “Having the bye week helps, but I’ll just push it as hard as I can and try to get back as soon as possible.”

VETERAN WR MCCARDELL SIGNS WITH REDSKINS

Keenan McCardell signed with the Washington Redskins yesterday, adding depth to a team with only one healthy wideout who has caught a pass this year.

McCardell has 861 career catches with Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and San Diego. The two-time Pro Bowl selection was cut by the Chargers after last season and nearly signed with the Redskins in July, but opted instead for Houston because he wanted to play in his hometown. The Texans released him at the end of preseason.

Associated Press

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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