NFL -- Rosenbach's Mom Blasts Cardinals For `Cheap Shot'

Those who really think that promising quarterback Timm Rosenbach quit the Phoenix Cardinals to become a rodeo cowboy are denying the reality of life on the dark side of the NFL.

Rosenbach, according to close friends and his mother, could not handle the pressures from those who questioned everything from his durability to his sanity. And so the ex-Washington State quarterback simply walked away from a $1.1-million salary.

"When the NFL turns on you, it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy," Cardinal kicker Greg Davis said. "When things aren't going your way, it's the worst thing you can imagine."

The final straw, according to his mother Rosie, was the Cardinals' decision to put Rosenbach in last season's finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for only the final play.

The move gave Cardinal fans one last chance to boo him after an injury-plagued fall during which he lost his starting job. Two seasons earlier, he had been one of the league's top passers.

She said the incident humiliated her son, who has not spoken to Cardinal teammates, officials or reporters since.

"That was what finally convinced Timm to leave," Rosie Rosenbach said from her home in Gig Harbor. "It was a cheap shot. It was thoroughly disgusting."

Cardinal coaches denied they tried to humiliate Rosenbach.

On the previous play, with Phoenix deep in Tampa Bay territory, starting quarterback Chris Chandler was injured and left the game.

Phoenix coaches told the Arizona Republic that they were trying to win the game and Rosenbach was their next-best quarterback.

So you mean that after all of the recent publicity, Rosenbach did not leave the team to rope calves?

"Sure, he has his ranch, and he enjoys that stuff," Rosie said, laughing.

"But he is not going to be a rodeo person. No. He left because the excitement for him was no longer there. He was tired of the lifestyle, he did not like the limelight."

In fact, Rosenbach, who threw for 3,098 yards in 1990, will start attending classes again at Washington State in the next couple of weeks. He will stay there at least a year while finishing his agricultural business degree.

Don't expect Cardinal Coach Joe Bugel to attend the graduation ceremonies. He is still angry that Rosenbach never confronted him with his retirement plans.

"I would like for him to at least tell me to my face what his problem is," Bugel said.

"We went a long way with him. Just show some professionalism and come talk to us. This guy is a real mystery."

Chargers 23, Rams 17

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Shawn Jefferson caught two touchdown passes - one each from Stan Humphries and John Friesz - to help San Diego beat Los Angeles in an NFL exhibition game.

Saints 26, Packers 17

MADISON, Wis. - New Orleans rallied from a 17-0 deficit behind quarterback Steve Walsh, who was 8 of 12 for 103 yards, to improve to 3-0 in exhibition play.

Browns 12, Patriots 9

TORONTO - Matt Stover kicked four field goals, including the game-winner from 34 yards with 6:34 to play.

Falcons 20, Bucs 10

ATLANTA - Third-string quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver came on in the fourth quarter and keyed a 10-point rally with his pinpoint passing to lift Atlanta.

Cardinals 11, Bears 10

CHICAGO - Greg Davis' third field goal of the game with no time left gave Phoenix the win over Chicago. Davis kicked field goals of 45 and 31 yards around a safety in the final seven minutes.

Bengals 24, Colts 7

INDIANAPOLIS - David Klingler passed for two touchdowns and Cincinnati took advantage of Don Majkowski's shaky debut to beat Indianapolis.

Dolphins 19, Redskins 10

MIAMI - Pete Stoyanovich kicked field goals of 37, 46, 29 and 24 yards and Miami recovered seven turnovers to beat Washington.

Washington's Mark Rypien and Miami's Dan Marino both struggled at quarterback. Rypien was 8 of 11 for 90 yards. Marino was 5 of 9 for 28 yards.

Cowboys 13, Raiders 7

IRVING, Texas - Jimmy Smith turned a short pass into a 41-yard touchdown play to lead Dallas past Los Angeles.

Steelers 23, Giants 17

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Mike Tomczak threw two short touchdown passes as Pittsburgh outgained New York 340-226.

NOTES

-- Reggie White created a ruckus without even making a play yesterday. White gave the Green Bay Packers a momentary scare when he went down in the first quarter with a leg injury, then gave the crowd at Camp Randall Stadium a momentary lift when he barked at New Orleans Saint tight end Frank Wainright after he got up. The net sum of it wasn't much: White suffered a sprained ankle and was back on the field three plays later.

-- The Chicago Bears are close to trading their embattled offensive tackle, Stan Thomas. Thomas' agent, Mike Merkow, confirmed that they asked the Bears for a trade last week.

-- The already battered San Francisco offensive line took another hit when starting right tackle Harris Barton went down with a severely sprained left knee during a drill. He'll be out at least three weeks.

Compiled from Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Green Bay Press Gazette, Rockville Register Star.