Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice
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Jerry Rice of the "All Pro Sports Football Series"

Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 12:00 AM

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper looks for an open receiver during Saturday's exhibition game against the Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla. He was 7 of 9 for 86 yards.

NFL Wire Roundup: Culpepper passes important test

By Gannett News Service and The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper received his first regular-season-like contact since he suffered a right-knee injury in late October.

And Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms faced equal defensive intensity Saturday during the second exhibition game for both teams.

The Dolphins defeated the Buccaneers 13-10 in front of an announced crowd of 65,140. Both teams are 1-1.

Culpepper and Simms each were fine after taking their first in-game hits of 2006.

Culpepper completed 7 of 9 passes for 86 yards. Simms completed 2 of 7 for 27 yards.

Ex-Minnesota Viking Culpepper, making a comeback from reconstructive knee surgery, went virtually untouched during last week's exhibition. Tampa Bay's defense made sure that didn't happen again, combining for sacks on consecutive first-quarter plays against Culpepper.

"It was beautiful to finally get a hit because everybody was kind of waiting to see what would happen, what would be my reaction," Culpepper said. "I think I handled it pretty well."

Miami's Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson, all 6 feet 4, 349 pounds of him, sacked Simms on consecutive plays in the first quarter.

Other games

Panthers 17, at Jaguars 10

David Garrard, usually Jacksonville's reserve quarterback, got a chance to show what he could do with the first-team offense. But he fumbled three times and had a pass picked off as the Jaguars (1-1) lost to Carolina (2-0).

Vikings 17, at Steelers 10

Brad Johnson and rookie Tarvaris Jackson each threw for a touchdown and Minnesota (1-1) got production from starters and backups alike in beating Pittsburgh (0-2) in the Steelers' first home game since they beat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl in Detroit in February.

Ben Roethlisberger, a surprise starter because of his right-thumb injury, threw for a touchdown on Pittsburgh's opening drive before the offense virtually shut down for the rest of the game.

At Packers 38, Falcons 10

Brett Favre led Green Bay (1-1) on its first two touchdown drives of the exhibition season as the Packers routed Atlanta (1-1).

Favre was 16 of 22 for 134 yards, throwing two touchdown passes to cap long drives and leading the Packers toward a field goal after a pass by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was intercepted.

Vick was 5 of 7 for 59 yards.

Jets 27, at Washington 14

Derrick Blaylock made a promising bid to win the starting running-back job, gaining 46 yards on 10 carries as New York (1-1) beat Washington (0-2).

Texans 27, at Rams 20

Vernand Morency, who did not play in the exhibition opener (partly because of a hip injury), scored on touchdown runs of 4 and 43 yards to help Houston (2-0) beat St. Louis (1-1).

At Patriots 30, Cardinals 3

Rookie quarterback Matt Leinart from USC was 4 of 11 for 45 yards for Arizona (1-1), which struggled at New England (1-1). Tom Brady of the Patriots was 15 of 20 for 149 yards.

At Broncos 35, Titans 10

Mike Bell scored ran 10 times for 73 yards and scored on two 1-yard runs to help Denver (1-1) beat Tennessee (0-2).

Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer was 6 of 8 for 97 yards before giving way to backup Jay Cutler, a rookie who led Denver on touchdown drives on his first two series.

Notes

• Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens is going to have to practice more before he plays for coach Bill Parcells. Parcells said Owens won't play Monday night against New Orleans. Owens went through his fifth straight practice since missing 14 in a row because of a hamstring problem.

• Jerry Rice, who holds most of the league's significant receiving records, will retire as a member of the San Francisco 49ers this week.

Ex-Seahawk Rice, 43, won three Super Bowls during 16 seasons with the 49ers. He will sign a contract Thursday before making his retirement official. Rice will be honored again at half-time of the 49ers' game against the Seahawks on Nov. 19.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

... see http://www.allprosportsfootball.com ... for the most innovative football series ever produced for home entertainment: the HBO Sports Video Spirit Award and Telly Award winning "All Pro Sports Football Series" featuring: outstanding NFL players Brett Favre; Ronnie Lott; Jerry Rice: Reggie White; Jack Del Rio; Jim Lachey; Brent Jones; Eric Allen; Rodney Hampton; Jeff Gossett; and Jeff Jaeger ...; and Don Shula ... the most successful coach in NFL history ... sharing their life stories through exclusive one-on-one in-depth interviews and never before seen home movies and demonstrating their skills ... in a very entertaining setting of upbeat music, three dimensional digital graphics and NFL Films action footage ... narrated by Emmy Award winning sports journalist and television personality Roy Firestone ...